THEIR STORY ISN’T EASY TO FOLLOW. IT LEADS THROUGH DARK TURNS OF FAME, SNOWY HIMALAYAn TOPS, bluring the past, moments of glory and doubts. every stage of the cult’s history is a triumph of passion and power carried by their music.
T
he three guys in the band come on stage and there are kind of weird. They have a strange, tribal kind of sound. No singer. And then, suddenly this guy comes: he dances across the stage. He’s got bells on his feet and moccasins. And we were looking at each and couldn’t believe what we were seeing. We were like: ‘who is that guy?’ – Billy Duffy recollected on VH1’s series Behind The Music the first time he saw Ian Astbury. Yes, that guy in moccasins was the future vocalist of The Cult.
the choice of weapon
It was a spring of 1982 when paths of two bands: Theatre of Hate with the guitarist Billy Duffy and Southern Death Cult with Ian Astbury on vocals, crossed on one stage. 22-years old Billy Duffy was already an admired guitarist with his own, defined guitar play style and The Noisebleeds album under his belt. One year younger Ian Astbury was becoming an idol for hundreds of freaks, who, just like Ian, couldn’t find an acceptance among a proper society. His passion to live, real music that was an expression for emotions, live and truth led him into fascination with bands such as Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones. Southern Death Cult was was gaining popularity all over United Kingdom. It also took an attention of the record company Beggars Banquet, which offered the band a deal. Does it sound cool for the guy who knows that all he wants to do in his life is music? Yes, for sure it does. However, this is the time Ian decides to leave the band. His return to the right music
way is fast, though. With the remembered from Theatre of Hate Billy Duffy, Ian forms Death Cult, soon shortened to The Cult. The two stands at the prelude of their lavish, hard rock adventure. The adventure which would lead through many turns, highlights and shadows, lives and deaths, friendship and hate. And music - their choice of weapon.
and the world turns around
Ian, fascinated with Native Americans’ culture, smuggled its elements to his surroundings. They were visible in his image as well as in music: rhythm and lyrics. It sounded very special in connection with The Cult’s punk and rock influences. The trail of The Cult led through Native American legends and myths, references to the most beautiful stories like, for example, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, American Indian’s ceremonies and shamans’ wisdom. However it didn’t make the record label that was waiting for a hit song, satisfied. After Dreamtime fulfilled with Astbury’s musical dreams and interesting sounds, there came the time for Love.
It wasn’t too long, though, to make charts reflects the echo of She Sells Sanctuary sounds. It reached 15th charts position. Today, it is well known for Budweiser commercial, video games such as Guitar Hero and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, film scores including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Layer Cake and few more. It pushed The Cult from Manchester to New York City where, with a help of the producer Rick Rubin, Billy Duffy appointed new, hard rock way for the band, while Ian was getting lost in an entanglements of fame, money, passion,
ROCK AXXESS
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