Gothic rock band, The Cult, started in 1981 under the name Southern Death Cult, later shortened to Death Cult and then finally just The Cult in 1984. Founding members Ian Astbury (vocals) and Billy Duffy (lead guitar) are the only common thread in a series of various lineups leading up to present day.

Front man, Astbury, made waves with his eccentric, Native American fashion while still labeled Southern Death Cult but later donned black leather and long hair which was to become a staple look for those of the hair metal genre. Duffy was in a series of bands including Theatre of Hate before joining the band in 1983.

The Cult had a dedicated, underground following leading up to their 1985 album release Love which featured hits like She Sells Sanctuary and Rain. The band managed to break into the coveted American market with their third album Electric which was supported by a tour with then little-known Guns 'N' Roses. Sonic Temple followed in 1988 which featured the mega-hit Firewoman.

In 1991, Ceremony was released and received mixed responses from critics. It also became the center of controversy when the parents of the Native American boy pictured on the cover sued the band for unauthorised use and exploitation. This was of particular damage to Astbury as he had always maintained a staunch support for Native American and First Nations’ causes.

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The success experienced in the late 80s and early 90s proved to be The Cult’s downfall as alcohol abuse tore the band apart. They announced an official split in 1995 during a South American tour. Since then, the group has had a series of on-again, off -again reunions but never has managed to list the same accomplishments achieved pre-1990. The first of these reunions kicked off with a performance at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1999, a contribution to the soundtrack Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie and an album release with Atlantic Records which later Astbury described as “soul destroying”. But this was short lived as Astbury put Cult projects on hold again to be the front man for the reformed Doors.

In 2007, to the delight of many die-hard Cult fans, the band reformed and recorded new material in the form of Born Into This. The band continue to tour and release new material.

Members included Ian Astbury (born c. 1962 in England), vocals; Billy Duffy (born c. 1961 in England), guitar; Jamie Stewart (replaced by Craig Adams, 1994), bass; and Les Warner (replaced by Matt Sorum, 1989, and then Scott Garrett, 1994), drums.

Group formed in 1983 as Southern Death Cult in Bradford, England; shortened name to Death Cult and finally the Cult; released first album, Love, on Sire/Reprise Records, 1985; group disbanded, 1995.

When it came time to tour again, Astbury and Duffy seemed to have kicked their bad habits, and the band looked to be back in business. But things soon went downhill. Like so many reviewers, Appleford deemed Ceremony, released in 1991, "disastrous, irrelevant, and unheard," noting that the band's perennial substance abuse problems seemed to have been a factor in the album's failure. After a few years on hiatus, more personnel changes occurred: Sorum was replaced by a former jazz drummer, Scott Garrett, while Stewart's bass slot was taken by Craig Adams, an old friend of Astbury and Duffy. Together the new formation worked on a more enigmatic release, 1994's The Cult, recorded in Vancouver with producer Bob Rock.

Albums:

Dreamtime, Beggars Banquet, 1984.

Love, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1985.

Electric, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1987.

Sonic Temple, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1989.

Ceremony, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1991.

The Cult, Beggars Banquet, Sire, 1994.

Beyond Good and Evil, Atlantic, 2001.

Sources: Juanita Appleby; Carol Brennan

This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com

Why Not Check Out:

The Doors

Theatre Of Hate

Led Zeppelin

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Scottish heavy metal is a rarity, yet Glaswegian hard-rockers The Almighty transformed all this in 1988. The four members; vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Tantrum, bassist Floyd London and drummer Stump Monroe, all came from a punk-rock background, taking their main influences from bands such as The Ramones and The Cult.

They were signed by Polydor in 1989, through which they released their first album, Blood Fire and Love. A live version of the album was released a year later, after the group embarked on a European club tour, following their failed attempt to break the USA. This was soon followed by a live mini-album, which included a cover version of the Bachman-Turner Overdrive's standard, 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'. Shortly after, tensions between band members, left to, funnily enough, the departure of Tantrum. He was replaced by Peter Friessen, former guitarist for Alice Cooper’s backing band.

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In 1992, The Almighty performed at Donnington’s Download Festival, and their aggressive performance lead to comparisons between the band and rock greats such as Metallica and Soundgarden. It was from this festival appearance where The Almighty really began to live up to their name. They were asked to support Iron Maiden across Europe, and played multiple stadium dates with Metallica.

In 1993, the band split from their Polydor manager Tommy Tee, and signed to Crysalis in 1994, a record label which the band claimed were ‘less demanding’. This attitude still lead to the band releasing two top 30 UK singles, Despite this, singer Warwick left the band in 1996, and the band split shortly after. They may not be together anymore, but the bands music still lives on as some of the best British metal ever made.

Albums:

Blood, Fire and Love, Polydor, 1989.

Blood, Fire and Live, Polydor, 1990.

Soul Destruction, Polydor, 1991.

Powertrippin', Polydor, 1993.

Crank, Chrysalis, 1994.

Crank and Deceit: Live in Japan [Japan only release], 1995.

Just Add Life, Chrysalis, 1996.

The Almighty, Sanctuary Records Group, 2000.

Psycho-Narco, Sanctuary Records Group, 2001.

Wild and Wonderful – compilation, 2002.

Anth'f**ing'ology – compilation, 2007.

All Proud, All Live, All Mighty – live, 2008.

Source: Carly Page

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This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com

Why Not Check Out:

Metallica

Alice Cooper

The Ramones

Aerosmith - The Greatest Hard Rock Band Of All Time?