About The Southern Death Cult
If everyone knows The Cult, few know that before getting to this point there was The Southern Death Cult, a bubbling emanation of the desires of its author, Ian Astbury. In 1982, he protested against injustices against the American Indian peoples on the stage of the Batcave. Relying on a voice recognizable among thousands, he already pulls on his vocal cords, resulting in an epic and theatrical timbre. An urgency emerges, in terms of the rhythm, always rolling, thanks to the freneticism of Aki on drums, or the punk playing of David Burroughs and Ian Astbury.Since the band disbanded immediately after forming, Beggars Banquet had to release an anthology in 1983 to keep track of its first titles. It featured the singles “Moya” and “Fatman”. The first announces the whole gothic style, with an admirable bass, and interlacing guitars, on a background of military drums. On the second, after a sententious introduction, a guitar sharp as a thread launches into a crazy litany, speeding up the rhythm, before a percussive riff and the wild wolf cry of Ian Astbury. We are also entitled to sessions at John Peel, David Jensen or live shows. In a new wave vein, very Psychedelic Furs (the bass of “All Glory”) or evoking the ghosts of The Shadows (“Apache”), Southern Death Cult has an inimitable style, already incandescent. The atmosphere remains cold, especially because of the preparation of the instruments. And Ian Astbury radiates (“The Girl”). Even unfinished, these songs have personality (“False Faces”, “The Crypt”).
With The Cult, which he founded with Bill Duffy (ex-Theatre of Hate), Ian Astbury gradually abandoned the positive punk of his beginnings to offer two albums that were very rock in spirit. He wanted to expose the Gothic to as many people as possible. He also had a hit with Love, carried by his single “She Sells Sanctuary”, full of guitar solos and echoes. He gains in power what he loses in spontaneity. If the talent for writing hits is intact, the darkness has been diluted. Thereafter, it was hard-rock, its testosterone-fueled anthems and fame.
Achieving success with The Cult plunged Ian Astbury into a deep depression. He remembers his first band and thinks he has renounced his ideals. He had to go into exile in California to finally find a semblance of peace. And to make a living from his first passion: Rock.
Browse all Songs and Lyrics published on The Southern Death Cult