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Punk had faded and synth-pop bands had begun to rule the roost when Yorkshireman Ian Astbury formed Southern Death Cult as a hard rocking reaction to the posturing pop bands he saw getting all the attention from the London-dominated British music industry. Given strong support by John Peel, their intense shows quickly won them a reputation as rock anti-heroes before he teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy and changed the band into Death Cult, amending it in 1984 to The Cult. Mixing a passion for uncompromising metal-influenced rock with Astbury's deep, abiding interest in American Native Indian history and elements of psychedelia, they had a big hit with Spiritwalker ahead of breakthrough album Dreamtime, followed by another major hit She Sells Sanctuary. Their success continued through the 1990s until, with Astbury involved in solo projects, he announced that The Cult were "on ice" in 2002. However, they reformed in 2005, releasing their eighth studio album Born Into This in 2007. Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
