The Cult is a British alternative rock band.
Singer Ian Astbury originally formed a band called Southern Death Cult in Bradford in 1981. This quartet, featuring Astbury and three single-named bandmates (Buzz, Barry and Aky), toured and recorded for about two years, releasing one single ("Moya") before breaking up in early 1983. Shortly thereafter, Astbury teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy to form Death Cult. Duffy had previously been in Theatre of Hate, a band Southern Death Cult had toured with in 1982.
Death Cult existed on the fringes of the Gothic scene in London, and originally consisted of Ian Astbury (vocals) Billy Duffy (guitar), Jamie Stewart (bass) and Raymond Taylor Smith (aka Ray Mondo) (drums). Death Cult relased two singles during 1983 ("Brothers Grimm" and "God's Zoo"). In September of that year, Mondo was replaced by drummer Nigel Preston. To tone down the Gothic connotations of their name, and to gain broader appeal, the band changed its name simply to The Cult on January 13 1984, just before appearing on Channel 4 television show "The Tube" .
In April 1984 the Cult released the single "Spiritwalker" which reached #1 on the independent charts in the UK, and acted as a teaser for their forthcoming album "Dreamtime". This was followed by a second single, "Go West" that summer, before the release of "Dreamtime" in September, an album which reached UK#21. Both before and after the album's release, the Cult toured extensively throughout England before recording another single, "Resurrection Joe" (UK # 74), released that December. Following a Christmas support slot with Big Country, The Cult toured Europe with support from the Sisterhood (soon to become " The Mission").
Following the breakthrough success of the band's fourth single, "She Sells Sanctuary" (UK chart #15, and recently voted #18 in VH1s Indie 100), The Cult entered Jacob Studios in London to cut the Love album. Prior to recording, the band fired drummer Nigel Preston, who had become increasingly unreliable, due to his drug use. Big Country's drummer Mark Brzezicki filled the gap left by Preston. During this time the band's music and image shifted from its punk-oriented roots to 1970's psychedelia. In spite of severe criticism from the English music press, "Love" was a startling success for an independent record, selling big in Europe and cracking the international market. Over the next eight months, the band toured the world, this time with drummer Les Warner (who had played with Julian Lennon and Johnny Thunders).