One of my favorite bands at the time, Death Cult were to me the real deal, soon enough though they got super big with a cod-metal attitude and were much less favoured by myself.
This debut 12″ was a fine start to the career of the band, and Ian Astbury was such an immense showman on the stage, that he now is the vocalist for The Doors, who I believe were quite big in the 1960’s and early 1970’s!
The origins of the Cult lie in the Southern Death Cult, a goth rock outfit formed by vocalist Ian Astbury (born May 14, 1962) in 1981. Astbury was the son of a merchant navy man, which meant he moved frequently during his youth; at one point in his childhood, his family lived in Canada, where the young Astbury became fascinated with Native Americans, which would become a recurring theme in his songwriting. Astbury eventually settled in Bradford, Yorkshire, where he met a group comprised of David Burrows (guitar), Barry Jepson (bass), and Haq Queresui (drums). Ian joined the group as their lead vocalist (performing with the last name of “Lindsay,” which was his mother’s maiden name) and had the group renamed the Southern Death Cult. At only their fifth concert, the band was attracting audiences of 2,000. In December 1982, the Southern Death Cult released their first single — the double A-side “Moya”/”Fatman” — and the following month, they supported Bauhaus on tour. Though the group’s future was looking bright, Astbury pulled the plug on the band because he was frustrated with the positive articles he was receiving in the press. The remaining three members joined Getting the Fear, which eventually became Into a Circle; in the late ’80s, Quereshi became a member of FunDaMental. All of the Southern Death Cult recordings were eventually released in 1986.
Following the disbandment of the Southern Death Cult, Astbury shortened the name of the group to Death Cult and recruited guitarist Billy Duffy — who had previously played with Morrissey in the pre-Smiths band the Nosebleeds, as well as Theatre of Hate — and drummer Ray Mondo and bassist Jamie Stewart, who had previously played with Ritual. Death Cult released an eponymous EP in the summer of 1983; on the EP, Astbury reverted back to his given name. Later in the year, Mondo was replaced by Nigel Preston, who had previously played with Duffy in Theatre of Hate; coincidentally, Mondo became the drummer for Preston’s previous band, Sex Gang Children.
In early 1984, the band shed “Death” from the title, fearing that the word gave them the misleading appearance of being a goth band. Where both Southern Death Cult and Death Cult had been overtly influenced by post-punk, the Cult was a heavy hard rock band with slight psychedelic flourishes. Dreamtime, the group’s first album, was released in the fall of 1984, accompanied by a single “Spiritwalker,” which reached number one in the U.K. in the spring. Dreamtime reached number 21 on the U.K. charts. In the spring of 1985, Preston left the group.
betab
October 16, 2008 at 4:04 pmJamie was instrumental for me in a band that never was. All set to get it together and then got a note from him to say he’d just been given a slot with this band….
If I remember there was quite a lot of good stuff on Situation 2 for while
Nic
October 16, 2008 at 4:07 pmDamn! You’re joking?!?
I reckon this band could have been bigger than the Heretics…
By the Halls of Valhalla, this life of missed opportunities gets me down sometimes…
😉
baron von zubb
October 16, 2008 at 6:30 pmThey would never have made it had not Ian stayed with us for a while. . . .
He even had the honour of participating in some of the gluein up locks n stenciling sessions.
Such rebels.
We even got mentioned in an interview in the nationals.
And yes Andus that mention was about smack x x
Actually he was a lovely bloke and it was a pleasure to have him around.
Good luck to ’em.
andus
October 16, 2008 at 10:06 pmNaughty boy. Saw this band in the early 80s, along with the other goth bands, Skeletal Family, Balaam and the Angel, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus. brilliant band, especially horse nation, ghost dance, full of energy live, became the cult, best track moya ? if i remember right. Best ever gig, Alien Sex Fiend at the tin can club Birmingham, 1983, best ever gig of all time in fact. This band were absolutely manic live, pure eletricity.
luggy
October 16, 2008 at 10:41 pmIan moved into our squat in New North Road when we moved on to our Black Sheep house in Grosvenor Avenue. He was living in a damp room in the basement that no-one wanted when we lived there (apart from Mike from Lincoln for a short while). It was not much bigger than a single bed & needed constant heating to keep the damp at bay. Bet he’s got fond memories of staying there!
dan i
October 16, 2008 at 10:46 pmHaq Quereshi, or Aki Nawaz as he is known in the world of Nation Records which he has helped to run as well as produce and record for since at least the late 1980s. Nation has brought the world Fun>Da>Mental, Natacha Atlas & Transglobal Underground, Zab Zum, Jah Wobble and many more. Fun>Da>Mental still release music and play gigs featuring Aki & Dave Watts/Blacka D (long-time stable lineup), with a host of singers and players from around the world. Aki also produced an album with a South African choir called The Mighty Zulu Nation called Abantu!, which is absolutely wicked, it has a lovely On-U style series of beat-based tunes featuring the choir, followed by a sequence of chants from the choir.
Does anyone remember Global Sweatbox nights at The Dome and other London venues? Like the On-U Sound System gone global.
Jamie Stewart used to live around the corner from me in Harrow, as did several members of Ritual, weirdly enough. Lovely blokes, all of them, a good crew. Ritual hadn’t been finished for long when Jamie and Ray joined up with Ian & Billy for Death Cult. I’m not convinced that Jamie got the ride he was expecting with The Cult. I think he ended up just being on the payroll, rather than being allowed to be a creative force in the band. He had been a key writer in Ritual, and was the most musical person I had ever met.
Did anyone else go the Brixton Ace Death Cult show with Rubella Ballet supporting? Exciting times
Chris
October 17, 2008 at 12:09 amI think I might have seen Southern Death Cult at the Centro Iberico or is that just a product of too many party pills down the line and it ws somewhere else around that time? Ritual definately played as I ended up with a poster for that show. In fact, i’ve got a feeling it may have been the night before the Apostles/Conflict/Icons etc gig I went to with Nic and Miles so I’ve a feeling one or both of them may have been at the Ritual show too. Could be talking complete fanny batter tho 🙂
Saw SDC in Glasgow supporting Theatre of Hate too. Great band.
Never saw Death Cult but caught the Cult on the dreamtime tour. The drummer they had on that LP was phenomenal.
And again on the Electric tour. They may as well have been a completely different band to how they were a year or two before and all their existing followers hated them but I thought they were great! “Wild Flower” is probably my all time favourite rock song.
PS: Pengy, you should have put the SDC photos from KYPP up with this posting. I remember thinking they looked well mental all done up like that.
Sam
October 17, 2008 at 3:03 am“They would never have made it had not Ian stayed with us for a while. . . .
He even had the honour of participating in some of the gluein up locks n stenciling sessions.
Such rebels.
We even got mentioned in an interview in the nationals.
And yes Andus that mention was about smack x x
Actually he was a lovely bloke and it was a pleasure to have him around.
Good luck to ‘em.”
Where was this…Lymington Rd? I don’t remember him at all.
The Punk / Post Punk Tribe
October 17, 2008 at 4:20 amSouthern Death Cult was and still for sure on my top band list!Thanks for that post (Mike/Lena)
Nic
October 17, 2008 at 11:12 amYou can’t knock a band that used a lyric which included the immortal phrases:
“Outlaw – from the Badlands, baby, the Badlands baby! Bandido!”
That’s true magic, right there…
I loved SDC and Death Cult at the time, and saw both groups live…
They were required listening if you had any kind of interest in girls with a penchant for crimpers, Bristow’s hairspray and ‘stash boxes’ for their draw (oh, and Pixie Boots 🙂 )…
I have to agree Andus: that Alien Sex Fiend gig at the Tin Can strip club was a blinder…I loved that place: very sleazy vibe and they would let you in even when you patently looked 14 years old…
Did you go to the Play Dead gig where the skinhead fell through the skylight?
andus
October 17, 2008 at 11:35 amNo I did not go to the Play Dead gig although me and my mates were intending to go, but my mate had a row with his Mrs that night, I didn’t fancy going on my own, Yeah, The chap died if I recall and it was closed down after that event. So you were at that gig, and we didn’t even know each other, I think I may have been wearing my tarten trousers that night. The singer collapsed, and they brought him back out sat him on a chair and he carried on. Brilliant, brilliant gig. I still have a vivid memory of that gig apart from not being sure what year it was, either 82,83 or maybe 84
andus
October 17, 2008 at 11:37 amA pity it wasn’t filmed
andus
October 17, 2008 at 11:40 amI remember seeing Tones on Tail at the Tin can as well, they were brilliant live as well, Daniel Ash former Bauhaus.
Trunt
October 17, 2008 at 1:33 pmGreat band, SDC, Death Cult. Got into them after my ears got tired of listening to a million discharge type groups. He says typing this while recording a Toxic Reasons live tape for Will ‘Still Dying’ fanzine, remember that zine Chris. Didn’t catch SDC live but went to a few Death Cult gigs, they were awesome. Remember having a crack with Ian, when he was a roadie for the Poison Girls, top bloke, but why the heavy metal shite? Nigel Preston great drummer (Cult) and a sad miss, another who took his own life due to depression. Must be a thing with drummers, look out Chris.
chris
October 17, 2008 at 2:40 pmhey Trunt, hope you’re well. wasn’t it you who had been trying to track down a contact for Part 1? Out of the blue Mark, their guitarist, sent me a message via facebook only yesterday.
Hoho, think it’s only GOOD drummers who have to worry about that so no fear of me jumping off a chair any time soon 😉
Trunt
October 17, 2008 at 3:46 pmNo it wasn’t me trying to track down Part 1, been in contact with Mark for a few years now, sent him a copy of the tape I had of Part1. He was getting tracks together for a proper c.d. release, do you know if there is anything in the pipe line. Watch them chairs matey and not to many pills Ha Ha. cheers Chris. All the best Trunt.
alistairliv
October 17, 2008 at 5:31 pmKYPP 5 interview and photos of SDC here
http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/killyourpetpuppy/KYPP%20issue%205/?action=view¤t=page14.jpg
http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/killyourpetpuppy/KYPP%20issue%205/?action=view¤t=page15.jpg
Penguin • Post Author •
October 17, 2008 at 6:15 pmOr here in Zig Zag
http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/killyourpetpuppy/Zig%20Zag%20magazine/?action=view¤t=img709.jpg
http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/killyourpetpuppy/Zig%20Zag%20magazine/?action=view¤t=img710.jpg
baron von zubb
October 17, 2008 at 6:30 pmYep 66A.Was dibbles mate so stayted in his room.
Guess you were busy. A while latar we went to see ’em. Mitch was right in to ’em.
Old Ian he was a groover on stage. He realy is now Jim Morrison? Wild.
I’ve touched fame.
(Like my better half knew David Parsons from school He went on to be guitarist in Bush via Transvision Vamp & that classic punk band that released ’17 years of Hell’)
Good gig.
Another funny connection is a mate of ours from Cornwall played bass in one of the many Fundamental incarnations.
What a wicked band they were,
oh oh oh. I’m on a musico sight.
One of you will know the answer to this.
The track by them with the sample of the phone call from the BNP thus
‘hang you from every flag pole n Britain for buring the union jack. You bastards.’
Jesus what a track I’ve gone all goose bumpy.
Please.
Whats that track called and what album is it on?
Then I can, buy it.
Cheers
Ian
October 17, 2008 at 8:39 pmbaron von zubb Says:
October 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
…Whats that track called and what album is it on?
Pretty sure its Dog Tribe from the only Fun-da-mental lp I’ve got, Seize The Time.
Alan Rider
October 17, 2008 at 10:48 pmI remember Jamie from a band called Ritual. They had a SDC vibe, but never really got anywhere. I have a few demos and singles by them somewhere (probably in the loft).
Penguin • Post Author •
October 17, 2008 at 10:54 pmAll uploaded on this site Alan if you care to search for Ritual in the search function. save you going up in the loft.
dan i
October 18, 2008 at 8:21 amyep, it was dog tribe all right – it was on the Seize The Time LP and a 12″. Dangerous tune!
baron von zubb
October 18, 2008 at 4:58 pmDangerous indeed.
Incredible samples from tamil (i think) cinema.
Ive tried to get them translated but aint met an indian yet who could understand a word of it.
Picture me in a dusty indian town, ‘dog tribe’ squelchin outa batery operated ghetto blasta.
In 30 different locations.,
Yes, I realy know how to live.
I swear that commas moved Mr P. Uncanny…
Cheers for that.
baron von zubb
October 18, 2008 at 7:05 pmJust listened to that track on u toob.and it ain the one I mean. Different toon and its got lyrics.
The one I mean only got that BNP sample in english. No rappin or anything.
Its just got severe looped film score of some demonic sounding filmstarlet.
Got it on home made tape but getting a bit ropey now,
guess Ill just have to go to the shop.
cheers BVZ
baron von zubb
October 18, 2008 at 8:03 pmsos about the triple postin’
Dunno what the track on u toob was. But the track i’m on about is the second track on the album, bracketed by some pakistani brethren chanting allah akbar in front and some drumming at the end.
(No demonic tamil or bengali film score that was the osmani soundz track on anokha. Another dangerous toon)
This one has the lady chanting ‘eeee/eeeee/eeeeee/aaaaagh/aaaaaiiyy.
A truly great album.
Only made in england.
cheers
dan i
October 19, 2008 at 12:14 pmAre you thinking of countryman or tribal revolution? earlier 12″ than dog tribe, but dont have the LP so dont know for sure.
Martin C
October 20, 2008 at 12:35 amAgree with the pro-ELECTRIC comments, that album was ace and better than SDC, in my opinion. All the cool girls wore the logo on their leather jackets, with iron crosses and foxtails, and they did interesting stuff like read and write and go hitchhiking on the M1.
mrg
December 9, 2012 at 5:30 ami think the link to Horse Nation/Christians is down or my computer is playing up. The other side’s fine. Still a great site by the way.
Penguin • Post Author •
December 21, 2012 at 1:00 amThe missing link is now cool again…
Steve Pearn
January 2, 2023 at 10:47 amSaw SDC in February 1983 –
Death Cult(Whitley Bay and Redcar)also 1983
Was in the audience at The Tube,when they dropped the “Death” part
and saw them again at Durham(both 1984)
Still boils my p**s that they became a cock rock band!