Ian Astbury (born
Ian Robert Astbury, 14 May 1962,
HeswallHeswall is a town on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. Administratively, it is a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. At the time of the 2001 Census, the total population of the ward was 16,012 , which included the nearby villages of Barnston and Gayton...
,
MerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. Taking its name from the River Mersey, Merseyside came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and the county consists of five metropolitan...
) is an
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
musicianA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
, known for his role in the
The CultThe Cult are an English rock band, formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as...
.
Biography
Astbury made his appearance in the Liverpool
punkPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene in the late 1970s. He became friends with many of the other younger punks based around the
Eric's ClubEric's Club was a music club in Liverpool, England. It opened on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street opposite The Cavern Club where The Beatles and other bands of the 1960's played, and became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands.The club was...
punk scene. He was in and out of various bands before moving to Bradford and forming the Positive Punk band
Southern Death CultSouthern Death Cult was a gothic rock band in the early 1980s. It is now primarily known for having given its lead singer and parts of its name to the multi-platinum hard rock band The Cult. Despite the similarities in the names, "Southern Death Cult" was distinct from "Death Cult"/"The...
in 1981. At that time, he was going by the name Ian Lindsay. Southern Death Cult gigged to support its "Moya" single, and secured a slot as an opening act for
BauhausBauhaus were an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
in 1983. Shortly after that tour, the band split up.
Along with
guitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :...
Billy DuffyBilly Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known for his membership of The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
, bassist
Jamie StewartJamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums ....
and drummer Ray Mondo, Astbury (now going by the surname "Astbury") formed a new band, Death Cult, released the
Death Cult (EP)The Death Cult compact disc is a compilation which collects the first single and EP by the then post-punk band, The Cult. These two recordings were issued under the band's original name, "Death Cult"...
and later dropped Death from the name. He has two sons named Dustyn and Che.
The Cult
The CultThe Cult are an English rock band, formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as...
was a successful British rock band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With the 1983 release of their first album,
Dreamtime, The Cult became the darling of the indie
post-punkPost-punk is a popular musical movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
scene, their chart topping single "Spiritwalker" having held at number one for three months. Their second album,
LoveLove is an album by the English rock band The Cult, released in 1985 on Beggars Banquet Records. The record has been released in nearly 30 countries worldwide, and sold an estimated 2.5 million copies...
, evoked memories of 1960s psychedelia such as
The DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They are considered a controversial and influential band, due mostly to Morrison's cryptic lyrics and unpredictable...
and the
Pretty ThingsThe Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London. They pioneered a raw approach to rhythm and blues that influenced a number of key bands of the 1960s British invasion, including The Rolling Stones...
. It also featured their now classic hit "
She Sells Sanctuary"She Sells Sanctuary" is a song by English rock band The Cult, the song is released as a single from their album Love.The band has released various versions of the song. In June 1985, a few months prior to the release of the Love album, three versions had been released: The Long Version, The...
", which introduced them to an international audience. On their third album,
ElectricElectric is the pivotal third album by The Cult. Released in 1987, the album marked a deliberate stylistic change in the band from a goth to a hard rock group. Rick Rubin, the producer on Electric, had been specifically hired to remake the band's sound...
, The Cult made a radical transformation to hard rock reminiscent of
AC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock and are considered pioneers of heavy metal, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll".AC/DC underwent several line-up...
and
AerosmithAerosmith is an American hard rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and seen by some as America's greatest rock and roll band. Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues,, and has...
with the help of
Rick RubinFrederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and, as of mid-2009, the co-head of Columbia Records....
. This further broadened their audience as rock began making a comeback in the late 1980s.
Guns n' RosesGuns N' Roses is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band, led by frontman and co-founder Axl Rose, has gone through numerous line-up changes and controversies since its formation...
, which was heavily influenced by
Electric, opened for The Cult on their 1987 North American tour, before going on to sell millions of copies of their debut album,
Appetite for DestructionAppetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Released in 1987 , it was well-received by critics and topped the American Billboard 200 chart. As of September 2008, the album has been certified diamond by the RIAA, accumulating worldwide sales in...
.
Although they went on to greater heights with their mainstream hit single "
Fire Woman"Fire Woman" is a rock song by the band The Cult, written by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album Sonic Temple, and was subsequently featured on all of The Cult's compilation/ greatest hits albums, as well as being a steady...
" (from the followup 1989 album
Sonic TempleSonic Temple is the fourth album by the The Cult, released in 1989. In addition to being a continuation of the band's hard rock sound that was introduced on their previous album, Electric, Sonic Temple features some of the band's most popular songs, "Fire Woman", "Sun King", "Edie " and "Sweet Soul...
), Astbury relocated to
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
anyhow. He became friends with
The FuzztonesThe Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in the 1980s, playing through the 1990s and now. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi in New York City in 1981 , the band has gone through several member changes but is currently active in Europe...
, often jumping up onstage with them at live concerts. One such concert, at Scream in Los Angeles, was recorded and a cover of
The StoogesThe Stooges are an American rock band that were first active from 1967 to 1974, then reformed in 2003. The Stooges sold few records in their original incarnation and often performed for indifferent or hostile audiences...
song "Down on the Street" was released as a picture disc in the UK on Situation Two Records. It featured Astbury on vocals and the
In Heat-era Fuzztones (John Carlucci, Jordan Tarlow, Mike Czekaj, and Jason Savall) as his backing band.
1990s
The dent in their reputation was amplified by the loss of many
Sonic Temple fans, when their next album,
Ceremony, released in 1991, delivered disappointingly in the wake of an oncoming
grungeGrunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
movement.
In 1994, The Cult returned with an untitled album and a change of musical pace. Gone was their hard rock sound, replaced instead by Astbury's growing interest in alternative music, fashion and introspective lyrics. The self titled album was not a commercial success, due mostly to the lack of radio support for the albums two singles (Coming Down and Star). To support the album they set out on a tour; in Brazil, however, Astbury's creative differences with guitarist Duffy reached their peak, and the former walked out on The Cult.
Inspired by his sudden change in direction, Astbury soon after assembled another group of musicians and began writing new songs. He called the group The Holy Barbarians, and in 1996 the band released the album
Cream. Although they were not a commercial success, the Barbarians were well received by many who had regained respect for Astbury as an artist. One notable appearance by the band was at the small Tunbridge Wells Forum which saw them being joined onstage by
Vic ReevesVic Reeves is an English comedian, best known for his double act, with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
for a rendition of The Cult's classic "Wildflower."
Personal difficulties and a drive for further introspection drove Astbury away from his new group, as he began working on a solo album (eventually released as
Spirit\Light\Speed). Despite its rich texturing and diverse style, it received mixed reviews and low sales.
In 1999, Astbury and Duffy reformed The Cult to head one of the most financially successful tours that year. A new contract with
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
was inked, and in 2001 came the release of
Beyond Good and EvilBeyond Good and Evil is the seventh studio album by English hard rock band The Cult. It marked their first new recording in six and a half years. The record debuted at #37 on the charts in the United States, #22 in Canada, #25 in Spain....
. Early radio success was being had by the single "Rise", until the band had a falling out with Atlantic and they ended all commercial promotions and radio play for the album. Astbury described the fight with the
record labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
as "soul destroying"; disillusioned, he brought The Cult to another hiatus in 2002.
Astbury said he had some minor drug problems. He revealed that in an interview for Dr.Drew's newsletter saying: 'I was cultivating a nice healthy drug habit. I was your run-of-the mill adventurist, I'd try anything once. I was a day-tripper, though - I never really became a hardcore user. When drugs aren't working for you, forget about it. I don't want to spout philosophical that "drugs are evil" [because] drugs had a place in my life. I think achieving a balance is the key, though.'
2000s
Having long been influenced by
Jim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, poet, writer and filmmaker. He was best known as the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors and is widely considered to be one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock music history. He was also the author of several books of poetry ...
, in 2002 Astbury followed in his hero's footsteps by becoming lead singer in an updated version of
The DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They are considered a controversial and influential band, due mostly to Morrison's cryptic lyrics and unpredictable...
, with original members
Robby KriegerRobert Alan Krieger is an American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire", "Love Me Two Times", "Touch Me" and "Love Her Madly".He is listed as number 91 on Rolling Stones list of the 100...
and
Ray ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder, and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, and the Doors of the 21st Century since 2001.-Early life and career:Ray Manzarek is of Polish descent, born...
, known as
The Doors of the 21st Century, renamed in 2005 at the VH1 Classic Decades Rock Live Concert TV Special at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City to become
Riders on the Storm. In 2003, Astbury also performed with surviving members of
MC5KICK OUT THE JAMS The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan in 1964 and active until 1972. They played hard rock music that also included blues-rock, psychedelic rock, rock & roll and garage rock...
at the
100 ClubThe 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1.The 100 Club has a legendary status within the history of modern British music, having played live music since 24 October 1942...
in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
, before finally reforming The Cult with Duffy again in 2006, for a series of live dates and rumours of reissues and another greatest hits compilation in the works.
During early 2007, The Cult entered the studio to begin production on
Born into ThisBorn Into This is The Cult's eighth studio album, and was released on in the US and Canada, also South Africa and Sweden. It was released in Hungary, Denmark, Spain and France on October 1, and in Finland on the 3rd. It is the follow-up to 2001's Beyond Good and Evil, the band's first reunion...
, the group's first album in six years. Also planned for release was a DVD of the band's November 13, 2006, concert at
Irving PlazaThe Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza is a 1,200-person ballroom-style nightclub at 17 Irving Place and East 15th Street in New York City, New York...
in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
.
The Cult's current lineup consists of Astbury and Duffy, alongside
bassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Chris WyseChris Wyse is the current bass guitarist for the influential hard rock band The Cult. He is also the vocalist and bassist of his own band, Owl.Wyse tried out for Metallica to replace Jason Newsted in 2003, and can be seen on the DVD Some Kind of Monster...
,
drummerA drummer is a person who plays drums, particularly a drum kit , marching percussion or hand drums. The term percussionist applies to a musician performing on any percussion instrument, but usually refers to one who plays classical or Latin percussion. Most bands for Rock, Pop, Jazz, R&B etc...
John TempestaJohn Tempesta is a metal drummer who has worked several bands, namely Exodus, Testament, and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist, and served as drum tech for thrash outfit Anthrax for a while...
and touring rhythm guitarist Mike Dimkitch. In October 2007, The Cult finally released
Born into This. The first single was "Dirty Little Rockstar," which enjoyed strong radio airplay. He lives in Los Angeles and plays on the soccer team Hollywood United with Billy Duffy and
Steve JonesStephen Philip Jones is an English rock guitarist and singer, best known for his highly influential work as guitarist and founding member of the punk band Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
of "The Sex Pistols" and is a supporter of English Premier League club Everton FC.
In 2009, The Cult announced a series of shows across the US, Canada, and Europe billed as "'Love' Live", where the band will perform its classic album, "Love," in its entirety.
Other musical ventures
Astbury is featured on the
UNKLEUnkle is a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy...
tracks "Burn My Shadow" and "When Things Explode." He also sings "Flame On" on
Tony IommiFrank Anthony "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and the sole constant band member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists...
's (
Black SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple lineup changes, with a total of twenty-two former members...
lead guitarist) solo album
IommiIommi is a heavy metal album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and myriad guest musicians and vocalists, including:*Henry Rollins of Black Flag*Skin of Skunk Anansie*Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters*Phil Anselmo of Pantera and Down...
, as well as duets with
Deborah HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer–songwriter and actress, most famous for being the lead singer for the New Wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she also performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
on her 1989 album
Def, Dumb and BlondeDef, Dumb & Blonde is the third solo album by Deborah Harry, which saw Harry reverting from "Debbie" to "Deborah" for her professional name. Released in October 1989 via Sire Records, it was produced by a variety of producers including Mike Chapman, who had previously produced the last four Blondie...
s song "Lovelight".
External links
by Sonya Koshuta
Sacred Soul - Fan site/magazine