Ian Robert Astbury[Cult Biography, Camelot Music 1988] (born 14 May 1962) is a British singer, best known as the lead vocalist, frontman and a founding member of the rock band the Cult.
Early life
Ian Astbury was born in
Heswall,
Cheshire, near
Liverpool,
[Larkin, Colin (2011) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Bish Bash Books, , p. 461] and is of Scottish and English descent.
He moved with his family to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, from England in 1973 when he was 11. He attended Glendale Secondary School.
Astbury's early musical influences took root in Hamilton, where he became a fan of
David Bowie,
Iggy Pop and New York Dolls. He did not start performing until after his return to the UK.
In 1979, while living in Glasgow, Astbury was influenced by the Doors' song "The End", which he heard while watching the film Apocalypse Now, later describing this as "a religious experience".
Career
Early career
In 1980, Astbury was in Liverpool, where he was active on the punk scene based around Eric's Club. He moved to Bradford in late 1980, and by 1981 he helped found the
post-punk band Southern Death Cult, which lasted until March 1983. Along with guitarist
Billy Duffy, bassist Jamie Stewart and drummer Raymond Taylor Smith, Astbury formed a new band, Death Cult, and released the
Death Cult extended play (EP). To help broaden their appeal, the band changed its name to "
the Cult" in January 1984 before appearing on the Channel 4 television show,
The Tube.
The Cult's debut studio album, Dreamtime, was released in 1984, followed by Love in 1985. Love featured the single "She Sells Sanctuary", which introduced the band to an international audience. Many songs of these early albums focus on Native American themes, a particular interest of Astbury's. On their third studio album, Electric (1987), the Cult made a transformation to a hard rock sound with the help of producer Rick Rubin.
After the release of the 1989 studio album Sonic Temple and the single "Fire Woman", Astbury relocated to Los Angeles, California, US.
1990s
In 1994, the Cult returned with an eponymous studio album and a musical change of pace. Their hard rock sound was gone, as a result of Astbury's growing interest in alternative music, fashion and introspective lyrics. Although the album produced two singles ("Coming Down" and "Star"), it was not a commercial success. They toured to support the album, but in Brazil creative differences with guitarist Duffy reached their nadir, which resulted in him leaving the band.
Astbury soon assembled another group of musicians and began writing new songs. He called the band Holy Barbarians, and in 1996 the band released the studio album Cream, which was not a commercial success. The band appeared at the small Tunbridge Wells Forum, where Jim Moir joined the band onstage for a rendition of "Wildflower".
Personal difficulties and a drive for further introspection drove Astbury away from his new group, and he began working on a solo studio album, eventually released as Spirit/Light/Speed in 2000.
In 1999, Astbury and Duffy reformed the Cult. The band signed a new recording contract with Atlantic Records, and in 2001 Beyond Good and Evil was released. The band initially enjoyed radio success with the single "Rise", until a falling out with Atlantic, which ended all commercial promotions and radio play for the album. Disillusioned by the fight with the record label, Astbury brought the Cult to another hiatus in 2002.
2000–present
Astbury became lead vocalist of
Manzarek-Krieger in 2002. The group featured original Doors members
Robby Krieger and
Ray Manzarek.
In 2003, Astbury performed with the surviving members of MC5 at the 100 Club in London.
He re-formed the Cult with Duffy in 2006, for a series of live shows.
On 29 May 2010, the Japanese band Boris performed "The End" with Ian Astbury at Vivid Festival in Sydney.[Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: ] Boris and Astbury released a four-song EP in September 2010 on Southern Lord and Daymare Records, containing four tracks entitled "Teeth and Claws," "We are Witches," "Rain" and "Magickal Child."
Other musical ventures
Astbury is featured on the
UNKLE tracks "Burn My Shadow", "When Things Explode" and "Forever." He also sings "Flame On" on
Black Sabbath lead guitarist
Tony Iommi's debut solo studio album
Iommi (2000), and recorded a duet with
Debbie Harry on her 1989 solo studio album
Def, Dumb and Blonde, called "Lovelight".
In 2010, he provided the vocals for the song "Ghost" on guitarist Slash's self-titled solo studio album. The track also featured former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar. Astbury is also credited for playing the drums on a track called "Gasp" by Japanese Cartoon.
Personal life
Astbury lives in Los Angeles. He has played on the amateur soccer team Hollywood United with Billy Duffy and Steve Jones of
Sex Pistols. He is a supporter of English Premier League club Everton.
On 26 May 2012, Astbury married the Black Ryder singer and guitarist Aimee Nash in Las Vegas.
Discography
The Cult
-
Dreamtime (1984)
-
Love (1985)
-
Electric (1987)
-
Sonic Temple (1989)
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Ceremony (1991)
-
The Cult (1994)
-
Beyond Good and Evil (2001)
-
Born into This (2007)
-
Choice of Weapon (2012)
-
Hidden City (2016)
-
Under the Midnight Sun (2022)
Holy Barbarians
Solo
-
Spirit\Light\Speed (2000)
Guest appearances
-
Care band by Ian Broudie, Paul Simpson (1983) Very short-lived band whose album "Love Crowns And Crucifies" (a collaboration between the duo with Ian Astbury, Paul Sangster, Tony Wikelan and Alan Wills never saw the light of day due to Simpson and Broudie's opposing musical views and imminent split a year later.
-
Debbie Harry, Def, Dumb & Blonde (1989) – backing vocals on "Lovelight"
-
The Fuzztones — (1989) "Down On The Street" guest vocals
-
Steve Jones, Fire and Gasoline (1989) – Co-producer, words , Percussion , backing and lead vocals
-
The Four Horsemen, Rockin Is Ma Business (1991) – percussion, backing vocals
-
Messiah, 21st Century Jesus (1993) – vocals on "Creator" and samplers on more 4 songs
-
Circus of Power, Magic and Madness (1993) – vocals on "Shine"
-
The Future Sound of London , (1995) vocals on (unreleased track) "The Shinning Path"
-
Zen Mafia, (1999) Choir, Chorus on – "California"
-
The Wondergirls, (1999) backing vocals on "Let's Go All The Way"
-
Tony Iommi, (2000) Iommi – vocals on "Flame On"
-
Various artists. (2000) – vocals on "Touch Me" and ´´Wild Child´´
-
Witchman, (2001) Samples the song Tyger off Ian Astbury's solo record Spirit\Light\Speed "Angel Art"
-
Zilch guest vocalist (2001) songs "Ape Messiah", "Make The Motherfuckers Wake Up!", "Tekmotopsyshosister - Virusmaker7"
-
Various artists, Sonic Revolution: A Celebration of The MC5 (2001) – vocals on "Kick Out the Jams"
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Unkle, War Stories (2006) – vocals on "Burn My Shadow" and "When Things Explode"
-
Slash, Slash (2010) – vocals on "Ghost"
-
The Fuzztones - (2010) "Cheyenne Rider" *recorded in 1989 and another 5 songs live
-
Japanese Cartoon – (2010) In the Jaws of the Lords of Death drums on "Gasp"
-
Boris and Ian Astbury, BXI EP (2010)
-
Boris, Heavy Rocks (2011) – backing vocals on "Riot Sugar"
-
Unkle, Only the Lonely EP (2011) – vocals on bonus track "Forever"
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The Fuzztones (2013) Snake Oil vocals on "Kick Out The Jams (Live)"
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George Harrison (2016) vocals on "Be Here Now"
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David Bowie (2017) Cast - Celebrating David Bowie – Celebrating David Bowie vocals on "Rock 'n Roll Suicide"
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Nine Inch Nails, Bad Witch (2018) – backing vocals on "Shit Mirror"
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Unkle, (2019) – backing vocals on "Crucifixion / A Prophet"
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Black Asteroid (2024) Infinite Darkness vocals on "Dirge Out"
Notes
External links
