The Cult

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The Cult is a British rock band.

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History

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Early days: Gothic scene and debut (1981-1984)

In 1981, singer Ian Astbury joined a local, singer-less band, and renamed the outfit "Southern Death Cult". This quartet toured and recorded for about 16 months, releasing one single ("Moya") before breaking up in early 1983. Shortly thereafter, Astbury teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy to form Death Cult. Duffy had previously been in The Nosebleeds and then Theatre of Hate, a band that Southern Death Cult had toured with in 1982.

Death Cult existed on the fringes of the Gothic scene in London, and originally consisted of Ian Astbury (vocals) Billy Duffy (guitar), Jamie Stewart (bass) and Raymond Taylor Smith (aka Ray Mondo) (drums). Death Cult relased an EP and a single during 1983 ("Brothers Grimm" and "God's Zoo"). In September of that year, Mondo was replaced by drummer Nigel Preston. To tone down the Gothic connotations of their name, and to gain broader appeal, the band changed its name simply to "The Cult" on January 13 1984, just before appearing on Channel 4 television show The Tube.

In April 1984 The Cult released the single "Spiritwalker" which reached #1 on the independent charts in the UK, and acted as a teaser for their forthcoming album Dreamtime. This was followed by a second single, "Go West" that summer, before the release of Dreamtime in September, an album which reached UK#21. Both before and after the album's release, The Cult toured extensively throughout England before recording another single, "Resurrection Joe" (UK # 74), released that December. Following a Christmas support slot with Big Country, The Cult toured Europe with support from the Sisterhood (soon to become The Mission).

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Mainstream success (1985-1993)

Following the breakthrough success of the band's fourth single, "She Sells Sanctuary" (UK chart #15, and recently voted #18 in VH1s Indie 100), The Cult entered Jacob Studios in London to cut the Love album. Prior to recording, the band fired drummer Nigel Preston, who had become increasingly unreliable, due to his drug use. Big Country's drummer Mark Brzezicki filled the gap left by Preston. During this time the band's music and image shifted from its punk-oriented roots to 1970's psychedelia. In spite of severe criticism from the English music press, "Love" was a startling success for an independent record, selling big in Europe and cracking the international market. Over the next eight months, the band toured the world, this time with drummer Les Warner (who had played with Julian Lennon and Johnny Thunders).

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Once back in England, the band booked themselves into the Manor with producer Steve Brown (who had produced Love), to record a new album called Peace. But with the album finished, the band decided they needed a new approach. They headed off to New York City to meet with producer Rick Rubin in hope of him saving the album. Rubin suggested they re-record the entire album. This entirely new version appeared as Electric with the previous version "Peace" only surfacing on the Cult boxset. A few tracks from the Peace album appeared on singles. The Cult then headed on a world tour in support of the increasingly popular album with the help of Kid Chaos on bass with Jamie Stewart moving to rhythm guitar.

In the United States, they were supported by a then unknown Guns N' Roses. At the end of the tour the band was caving into self destruction. In an effort to salvage what was left of their cohesion with some much needed change, Astbury and Duffy fired Kid Chaos, Les Warner, and moved to Los Angeles with Jamie Stewart. Les Warner sued the band for his firing, resulting in a lengthy court battle. The Cult moved on undeterred, signing a new management deal and writing many new songs.

For the next album, "Sonic Temple", the band recruited session-drummer Mickey Curry (Bryan Adams) to fill the drumming role and Aerosmith sound engineer Bob Rock to produce. Recorded in Vancouver B.C.,Canada in late 1988, the album gained multiplatinum status. The band went on tour in support of the new album and new single "Fire Woman" with drummer Matt Sorum. In Europe they toured with Aerosmith, and in the States, they spent 1989 touring in support of Metallica. After the tour the band was on the verge of splitting with Jamie Stewart and Matt Sorum leaving (to move to Canada and join Guns N' Roses respectively).

In 1990, Ian Astbury organized the A Gathering of the Tribes festival in Los Angeles and San Francisco with artists such as Iggy Pop, Public Enemy and Queen Latifah appearing.

By the next summer, Astbury and Duffy were writing again for the upcoming "Ceremony" album. Mickey Curry again played drums, with Charley Drayton on bass. The Cult were sued again, this time by the mother of the Native American boy pictured on the cover, for alleged exploitation.

A world tour followed with backing from Kinley Wolfe and Michael Lee, with the Gathering of the Tribes moving to the UK. Here artists such as Pearl Jam performed. The warm-up gig to the show, in a small nightclub, was dedicated to the memory of Nigel Preston, who had died a few weeks earlier at the age of 31.

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The Cult album and first hiatus (1993-1998)

Following the release of the single "The Witch", produced by Rick Rubin, and in support of a Greatest Hits release "Pure Cult", a greatest hits compilation which debuted at UK #1, Astbury and Duffy fired the "backing band" and recruited Craig Adams (The Mission) and Scott Garrett for performances across Europe. With the same line-up, the band released "The Cult", an album produced by Bob Rock. The single "Coming Down (Drug Tongue)" was released with the band going on tour in support of the new album. But during the 1994/95 tour, Astbury quit to form The Holy Barbarians, and The Cult was no more.

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Resurrected Cult (1999-2002)

1999 saw Astbury and Duffy regroup with Matt Sorum, and re-establish The Cult. The band signed to Atlantic Records and recorded a new album (Beyond Good and Evil) with Bob Rock in the producer's chair again.

In 2000 the band contributed the song "Painted on My Heart" to the soundtrack of the movie Gone in 60 Seconds. The song was featured prominently and the melody was fused into parts of the score.

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Second hiatus (2003-2005)

In late 2002, Ian Astbury declared the Cult to be "on ice" indefinitely, after performing a breif series of dates in October 2002. During this second hiatus, Astbury performed as a member of The Doors, later The Doors of the 21st Century, later still D21c, most recently known as Riders On The Storm, a group that also contained members of the original Doors. Astbury also recorded a solo album.

At the same time, Billy Duffy was a member of Dead Men Walking, and later Cardboard Vampyres.

Drummer Matt Sorum joined Velvet Revolver.

In 2003, all Cult records were issued on cd, with several bonus tracks each, in Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania. These eastern European releases had many printing mistakes on the jacket sleeves and lyric inserts.

In October 2004, all Cult records were also remastered and issued again on cd in Japan in different cardboard foldout sleeves.

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Second reunion (2006-present)

The Cult reunited for a series of shows during 2006, making their first live appearance in three and a half years on 24 February 2006, on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. They played a surprise warm up gig at Cinescape, in LA on 27 February 2006. Their first stage show was on 1 March 2006 in San Francisco, California, at The Fillmore. Rumours are that The Cult will be touring in Europe later in the year, with Astbury hinting at a "full tour Autumn with some dates in the summer". CD reissues and another greatest hits package are also rumoured to be in the works, but there is no word yet if or when the band will record a follow-up to 2001's Beyond Good and Evil. Billy Duffy reported near Detroit in March that dates in Canada will be scheduled in May.

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Discography

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Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
UK US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock
1982 "Moya" (as Southern Death Cult) -#1 (independent charts) - - - Non-album single
1983 "Brothers Grimm/ Ghost Dance/ Horse Nation/ Christians" (as Death Cult) -#2 (Independent Charts) - - - Non-album e.p. [extended play] single
1983 "God's Zoo" (as Death Cult) -#4 (independent charts) - - - Non-album single
1984 "Spiritwalker" #1 (independent chart) - - - Dreamtime
1984 "Go West"  ? - - - Dreamtime
1984 "Resurrection Joe" #74 - - - Non-album single
1985 "She Sells Sanctuary" #15 (#56, re entry in 1986) - - - Love
1985 "Rain" #17 - - - Love
1985 "Revolution" #30 - - - Love
1987 "Love Removal Machine" #18 - - #15 Electric
1987 "Lil' Devil" #11 - - #34 Electric
1987 "Wild Flower" #25 - - #39 Electric
1989 "Fire Woman" #15 #45 #2 #4 Sonic Temple
1989 "Edie (Ciao Baby)" #25 #93 #17 - Sonic Temple
1989 "Sun King" / "Edie (Ciao Baby)" #34 - #21 - Sonic Temple
1990 "Sweet Soul Sister" #42 - - #14 Sonic Temple
1991 "Wild Hearted Son" #34 - #4 #12 Ceremony
1992 "Heart of Soul" #51 - #21 - Ceremony
1993 "Sanctuary MCMXCIII" #15 - - - Non-album single
1993 "The Witch" - - - - Pure Cult
1994 "Coming Down (Drug Tongue)" #51 - #26 #13 The Cult
1994 "Star" #65 - - - The Cult
2001 "Rise" #86 #41 #19 #2 Beyond Good and Evil
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