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All Music Guide:
Best known as the longtime frontman for the Cult, singer Ian Astbury was born on May 14, 1962 in Merseyside, England. The son of a career merchant naval officer, he led a peripatetic childhood, finally settling in the Yorkshire area in 1981; there Astbury formed the goth-rock outfit the Southern Death Cult, which following a series of roster shifts and name truncations emerged as simply the Cult in 1984. Also featuring guitarist Billy Duffy, the band's darkly-psychedlic hard rock approach found favor both at home and abroad thanks to their fine sophomore effort Love; 1987's Electric featured an even harder-edged sound, and on the strength of the hit "Love Removal Machine" cracked the U.S. Top 40. 1989's Sonic Temple was the Cult's commercial peak, generating the smash "Fire Woman, " but subsequent efforts like 1991's Ceremony failed to recreate earlier successes, and the group disbanded in 1995; Astbury soon resurfaced in the Holy Barbarians, issuing Cream in 1996. The Holy Barbarians proved short-lived, however, and in 1999 Astbury reunited with Duffy to tour under the Cult banner; that same year, he issued his solo debut Natural Born Guerilla.
Wikipedia:
Ian Astbury (born Ian Robert Astbury, 14 May 1962, Heswall, Merseyside) is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band The Cult.
Pre-Cult
In 1979, while living in Glasgow, he was deeply struck by the Doors song "The End", which he heard while watching the movie Apocalypse Now. He later described this as "a religious experience". In 1980 he was in Liverpool, where he was active on the punk scene based around Eric's Club. After he was made homeless due to a dispute with a landlord over a party at his bedsit apartment, he ended up following Anarchist Punk band Crass. After a period of living in squats and sleeping rough, he moved to Bradford in late 1980. Here he was a founding member of the positive punk band Southern Death Cult in 1981. Southern Death Cult lasted until March 1983, when it was dissolved. Along with guitarist Billy Duffy, bassist Jamie Stewart and drummer Raymond Taylor Smith, Astbury formed a new band, Death Cult, released the Death Cult (EP) and later dropped Death from the name to become the Cult.
The Cult
The Cult are a Post Modern Rock band active since 1983. Their first album, Dreamtime was released in 1984, and followed by Love in 1985. Love featured the single "She Sells Sanctuary", which introduced them to an international audience. On their third album, Electric, The Cult made a transformation to hard rock sound with the help of Rick Rubin.
After the release of the 1989 album Sonic Temple, and the single "Fire Woman", Astbury relocated to Los Angeles, California.
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 grunge movement.
In 1994, The Cult returned with an untitled album and a change of musical pace. Their hard rock sound was gone, 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 Reeves 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.
In 1999, Astbury and Duffy reformed The Cult to head one of the most financially successful tours that year. A new contract with Atlantic Records was inked, and in 2001 came the release of Beyond Good and Evil. 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 label as "soul destroying"; disillusioned, he brought The Cult to another hiatus in 2002.
2000s
Astbury, who resembled The Doors' Jim Morrison, became lead singer of The Doors of the 21st Century in 2002. The group featured original Doors members Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek. In 2003, Astbury also performed with surviving members of MC5 at the 100 Club in London, 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 This, the group's first album in six years. Also planned for release was a DVD of the band's 13 November 2006, concert at Irving Plaza in New York City.
The Cult's current lineup consists of Astbury and Duffy, alongside bassist Chris Wyse, drummer John Tempesta 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.
In 2009, The Cult announced a series of shows across the US, Canada, and Europe billed as "'Love' Live", where the band performed its classic album, "Love," in its entirety.
On 29 May 2010 Boris performed "The End" with Ian Astbury at Vivid Festival on Sydney. 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 (The Cult cover), Magickal Child.
He lives in Los Angeles and plays on the soccer team Hollywood United with Billy Duffy and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols and is a supporter of English Premier League club Everton FC.
Other musical ventures
Astbury is featured on the UNKLE tracks "Burn My Shadow", "When Things Explode" and "Forever." He also sings "Flame On" on Tony Iommi's (Black Sabbath lead guitarist) solo album Iommi, as well as duets with Deborah Harry on her 1989 album Def, Dumb and Blonde's song "Lovelight". In 2010, he provided the vocals for the song "Ghost" on guitarist Slash's self-titled solo 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."
