The Cult are an English hard rock band from Bradford. Formed in April 1983, the group were originally known as Death Cult, but shortened their name to simply The Cult. They featured vocalist Ian Astbury, guitarist Billy Duffy, bassist Jamie Stewart and drummer Ray "Mondo" Taylor-Smith. The group's current lineup includes Astbury and Duffy, alongside drummer John Tempesta (since 2006), bassist Charlie Jones (since 2020), and keyboardist Mike Mangan (since 2022).
History 1983–1988
Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy formed Death Cult in April 1983, enlisting Ritual members Jamie Stewart and Ray Mondo as a rhythm section to complete the band's initial lineup. After the release of a self-titled debut EP, the group fired Mondo in September and replaced him with Nigel Preston of Sex Gang Children (Mondo took Preston's place in Sex Gang Children). Death Cult issued one more release under their original name, "Gods Zoo", before renaming themselves the Cult in January 1984. The band released their full-length debut Dreamtime in September, early copies of which were packaged with Dreamtime Live at the Lyceum. Another single, "Ressurection Joe", followed at the end of the year. Shortly after the release of "She Sells Sanctuary" in May 1985, Preston was fired from the Cult as he had "become too unreliable".
Mark Brzezicki of Big Country, who had initially substituted for Preston at the filming of the "She Sells Sanctuary" music video after he hadn't shown up, recorded drums for the rest of the 1985 album Love as a session member. During the sessions, Les Warner took over as the band's new permanent drummer. The new lineup recorded a planned third album Peace in late 1986, however the result was scrapped and remained unreleased until it was featured on the 2000 box set Rare Cult. Working with new producer Rick Rubin, the group issued Electric in April 1987. For the album's tour, Stephen "Kid Chaos" Harris from Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction joined on bass and Stewart switched to guitar. Harris has claimed that he actually contributed to the recording of Electric, having joined the band in January 1987.
1988–1995 After the conclusion of the Electric touring cycle, Harris and Warner were both fired at the beginning of 1988. The group returned to the studio to record several demos, first with Badlands drummer Eric Singer and later with Chris Taylor from producer Bob Rock's group Rock and Hyde, before tracking the final version of Sonic Temple with Mickey Curry of Bryan Adams's band. For the subsequent promotional tour, Matt Sorum was hired on drums after auditioning in addition to Taylor. After the tour ended in April 1990, founding bassist Stewart left the Cult "to concentrate on producing, composing, and spending time with his wife". He was followed in July by Sorum, who was hired to replace Steve Adler in Guns N' Roses. After a brief hiatus, Astbury and Duffy reconvened to record a collection of new demos with bassist Todd Hoffman and drummer James Kottak in early 1991. As with Sonic Temple in 1989, drums on the final version of Ceremony were performed by Mickey Curry, while Keith Richards's bandmate Charley Drayton was brought in to contribute bass.
The Cult returned to touring in October 1991, with Astbury and Duffy joined by bassist Kinley Wolfe and drummer Michael Lee. The tour spawned a live album, Live Cult, which was released in 1993. At the beginning of that year, Wolfe and Lee were replaced by Craig Adams (formerly of the Mission) and Scott Garrett (formerly of Dag Nasty), respectively. Mike Dimkich, formerly of Channel 3, joined the band as touring rhythm guitarist at the same time, before he was replaced by James Stevenson the following year. In between the two tours, the band's core lineup recorded their only album with Adams and Garrett, The Cult, which was released in October 1994. In March 1995, the band cancelled a string of tour dates and broke up, which was attributed primarily to tensions between Astbury and Duffy.
Since 1999
After four years away, Astbury and Duffy reformed the Cult in April 1999 with returning drummer Matt Sorum and new bassist Martyn LeNoble. Mike Dimkich also returned as touring rhythm guitarist. LeNoble left after tour dates ending in the summer of 2000, with Chris Wyse taking his place for the bulk of the recording for 2001's Beyond Good and Evil. In preparation for the album's promotional tour, LeNoble was reported in March 2001 to be returning, however by May this had changed to be Billy Morrison in a touring capacity. In February 2002, it was reported that the band had been dropped by their label Atlantic Records and all but disbanded, which according to Sorum was again due to tensions between Astbury and Duffy. After a short tour with returning members Craig Adams and Scott Garrett, the band officially went on hiatus in October.
Following several months of rumours, a second Cult reunion was announced in January 2006, with bassist Chris Wyse and drummer John Tempesta (formerly of Exodus, Testament and more) added to the band's lineup the next month. This lineup remained stable for several years, releasing Born into This in 2007, two singles in 2010, and Choice of Weapon in 2012. In July 2013, touring guitarist Dimkich left to join Bad Religion, with James Stevenson taking his place again. By early 2015, both Stevenson and Wyse had left, with Chris Chaney contributing the majority of bass recordings on the group's 2016 album Hidden City. After the album was finished, the band returned to touring with new members Grant Fitzpatrick on bass and Damon Fox on keyboards and rhythm guitar.
The band released their eleventh studio album Under The Midnight Sun in 2022 which featured new bassist Charlie Jones and session drummer Ian Matthews of Kasabian, the album was also the last (to date) studio appearance of Damon Fox who was replaced by Mike Mangan later in the year.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsIan Astburyall Cult releasesBilly DuffyJohn Tempesta2006–present all Cult releases from Born into This (2007) onwards except Under The Midnight Sun (2022)Charlie Jones2020–presentUnder The Midnight Sun (2022)
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJamie Stewart1983–1990Ray Mondo1983drumsDeath Cult (1983)Nigel Preston1983–1985 Les Warner1985–1988Kid Chaos1987–1988noneMatt SorumKinley "Barney" Wolfe1991–1993Live Cult (1993)Michael Lee1991–1993 drumsScott GarrettThe Cult (1994)Craig AdamsMartyn LeNoblebassBeyond Good and Evil (2001) Chris Wyse Grant Fitzpatrick2015–2020noneDamon Fox2015–2022Under The Midnight Sun (2022)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsJohn Webster1988–1990 keyboardsWebster performed on 1989's Sonic Temple and the subsequent promotional touring cycle through 1990.John Sinclair1991–1993 Sinclair joined the Cult's touring lineup following the release of Ceremony, featuring on 1993's Live Cult.Mike Dimkichrhythm guitarDimkich first joined the Cult's touring lineup for the band's 1993 touring cycle. He was replaced by James Stevenson the following year, but returned when the group reformed in 1999 and remained until 2013. During his time with the band Dimkich appeared on the live album Music Without Fear: Live from the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles (2002)James StevensonStevenson replaced Dimkich for the 1994 tour in promotion of The Cult, and again when he left in 2013.Billy Morrison2001–2002 After the recording of Beyond Good and Evil, Morrison joined the Cult as the band's touring bassist. Morrison appeared on the live album Music Without Fear: Live from the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles (2002)Mike Mangan2022–2023Joined for the Under the Midnight Sun tour.
Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetails/release contributions Mich Ebeling 1984backing vocalsDreamtime (1984)Mae McKenna1985Love (1985)Lorenza JohnsonJackie ChallenorMark BrzezickidrumsEric Singer1988 Chris TaylorIggy Popbacking vocalsSonic Temple (1989)Bob Buckleystring arrangement Mickey CurrydrumsJames Kottak 1991 Ceremony (1991) Todd Hoffman1991 bassCharley DraytonCeremony (1991)Tommy Funderburk backing vocalsDonny GerrardMona Lisa Yvonne St. James Suzie KatayamacelloBenmont TenchScott ThurstonRichie Zito Alex AcuñapercussionJim McGiueray1993–1994The Cult (1994)Scott Humphrey Bob Rock Youth2007additional bass tracksBorn into This (2007)David Nockadditional drum tracksJamie Edwards2011–2012Choice of Weapon (2012)Chris GossA.J. Celi backing vocals Chris Chaney 2014–2015bassHidden City (2015)Jamie Muhoberac Dan Chaseadditional drumsIan Matthews2020–2022Under the Midnight Sun (2022)Tom Dalgety
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesApril – September 1983Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals Ray Mondo – drumsDeath Cult (1983)September 1983 – June 1985Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals Nigel Preston – drums, percussion"Gods Zoo" (1983) Dreamtime (1984) Dreamtime Live at the Lyceum (1984) "Ressurection Joe" (1984) "She Sells Sanctuary" (1985) Ghost Dance (1996) Love (2009) June – July 1985Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals, keyboards Mark Brzezicki – drums Love (1985)July 1985 – January 1987Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals Les Warner – drumsElectric (1987) Peace (2000) Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (2002)January 1987 – early 1988Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – lead guitar, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Les Warner – drums Kid Chaos – bass, backing vocalsSpring – summer 1988Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals Eric Singer – drums Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (2002)Summer – fall 1988Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals Chris Taylor – drums Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (2002)Fall – late 1988Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals, keyboards John Webster – keyboards Mickey Curry – drums Sonic Temple (1989)Spring 1989 – April 1990Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Jamie Stewart – bass, backing vocals John Webster – keyboards Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (2002)April – July 1990Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocalsrowspan="2" July 1990 – January 1991Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocalsJanuary – spring 1991Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Todd Hoffman – bass James Kottak – drums Rare Cult: The Demo Sessions (2002)Spring – summer 1991Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Charley Drayton – bass Mickey Curry – drums Ceremony (1991)October 1991 – January 1993Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals Kinley Wolfe – bass, backing vocals Michael Lee – drums John Sinclair – keyboards Live Cult (1993)January – June 1993Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – lead guitar, backing vocals Craig Adams – bass, backing vocals Scott Garrett – drums Mike Dimkich – rhythm guitar Summer 1993 – September 1994Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – lead guitar, backing vocals Craig Adams – bass, backing vocals Scott Garrett – drums Bob Rock – rhythm guitar, bass Scott Humphrey – keyboards Jim McGiueray – percussion The Cult (1994)September 1994 – March 1995Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – lead guitar, backing vocals Craig Adams – bass, backing vocals Scott Garrett – drums James Stevenson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Band inactive March 1995 – April 1999April 1999 – fall 2000Ian Astbury – lead vocals Billy Duffy – lead guitar Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals Martyn LeNoble – bass