The Cult had a successful run in the 1980’s, thanks, in large part, to the success of their records Love and Sonic Temple. The band was led by the songwriting duo of singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy.
As the ’90s rolled around, the Cult’s star would fade with the release of their 1991 album Ceremony, which was hit with litigation over the album’s front cover.
Ian Astbury Leaves The Cult
The band split up for the first time in 1994, following the release of their self-titled record as both Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury were at odds over the group’s self-titled album. Astbury liked the record, while Duffy didn’t. So fed up and exhausted, Astbury walked away and formed a new group that intended to move away from the commercialism of The Cult called The Holy Barbarians.
The late 90’s were a rough time for former Guns N’ Roses and The Cult drummer Matt Sorum. Sorum had originally played in The Cult in the late 80’s for a few years until he was offered a job to become Guns N’ Roses permanent drummer, following the firing of Steven Adler.
“Let’s book a tour and go to the press and say The Cult is back.” – Matt Sorum
Following a stint in rehab and downsizing his life, Sorum recalled in his recently released book, Double Talkin’ Jive how he was one night watching tv and saw a new band called Buckcherry on TV and called up his ex-bandmate guitarist Billy Duffy, saying, “‘Billy,’ I said, ‘I saw a band on tv and they are look like a watered-down, poor man’s version of The Cult.
I think rock n’ roll should be coming back.’ We talked through a lot of shit after that, what had been going down since I left GNR, what he was up to, which wasn’t much. Eventually I said, ‘Let’s get the band back together. Let’s book a tour and go to the press and say The Cult is back.”
Duffy agreed and soon reconnected with Astbury. Duffy flew to Los Angeles and stayed with Sorum for a bit. The Cult organized a sold-out theatre tour and it was around this time that record labels started sniffing around, including Atlantic and Warner Brothers. The band would eventually sign a million dollar deal with Atlantic Records.
Beyond Good and Evil
The working title of The Cult’s new album that they were working on was called Bring Me The Head of Dave Grohl, which was in reference to an interview that the Foo Fighters frontman had given disparaging The Cult. Eventually the title would be changed to Beyond Good and Evil.
“Ian and I write the songs for The Cult. You just play your bass and I’ll give you the ideas.” – Billy Duffy
As the band began work on their new record, tensions were brewing in the band. Bassist Martin LeNoble tried to contribute song ideas but quickly met resistance. Sorum recalled in his book, “Billy had come up with a bunch of riffs and we began rehearsing, but then one day when our bassist Martin LeNoble said something like, ‘What do you think about trying this?’ Billy just stared at him and without batting an eyelid he said, ‘Ian and I write the songs for The Cult. You just play your bass and I’ll give you the ideas.’
Each time we wrote songs, it was the same story. No one but Ian or Billy was allowed a say and I remember Martin coming over to me one day and whispering, ‘Why are we even here?’ ‘I don’t know,’ I said with a shrug. Eventually Martin would leave the band and would be replaced by Chris Wyse.
Released in 2001, Beyond Good and Evil marked the first Cult album in over 6 years and the album was a commercial disappointment, only peaking at No. 26 on the album charts in the US and selling about 500,000 copies.
Regardless, the band soon toured behind the record and according to Sorum, Astbury and Duffy soon got bored with being on the road. Sorum told the record label that the guys aren’t doing meet n’ greets. They ain’t kissin’ any babies, they just don’t want to do the work. According to Sorum, it was that attitude that didn’t help record sales, but the band did have strong attendance for their concerts.
The Cult Supports Aerosmith on Tour
The band got to support Aerosmith in 2001, but Astbury quickly sabotaged the opportunity. The first show the band opened for Aerosmith was in Canada and prior to hitting the stage, Aerosmith’s then manager Jimmy Aires warned the band not to run up the huge ramps that went from the stage out into the audience with an enormous hand at the end of it.
According to Sorum, one song into the band’s set, singer Ian Astbury ran all the way down the ramp up to the hand. And immediately began jumping up and down on it. As The Cult finished their set, they headed back to the dressing room. Aerosmith’s manager came in and fired the band from the tour.
Sorum told his bandmates and Aerosmith’s manager to hold on before running over to Aeromsith’s dressing room and having a word with frontman Steven Tyler. He revealed to Tyler how Astbury, being from England, didn’t understand what a ramp is. It was merely a miscommunication. Tyler gave the band one more chance.
“These guys could sing but they were their own downfall.” – Matt Sorum
Following the show, Sorum remembered, “I was so sick of him,” referring to Astbury. “Everytime we had an opportunity to go big, he’d completely eff it up. He was such a dark cloud always hanging over us and with every gig he just got more and more sulky… These guys could sing but they were their own downfall.”
As the tour wore on, the mood in the band only got worse. The 9/11 attacks impacted a lot of bands’ tours and The Cult cancelled their European tour. By November of 2001, Astbury gave an interview in which he showed his indifference. The interview asked, “So what’s next for The Cult?” Astbury would sigh, “We’re burnt.”
The Cult is Dropped By the Record Label and Splits Once Again
Eventually the band would be dropped by their record label and they pulled all support for the album and the band split once again.
Sorum revealed in his book that he was owed about $140,000 since his name was on the contract with Atlantic Records, but he wouldn’t get his share of the money until years later.
The band took a 4-year break, during which Ian Astbury fronted The Doors. The Cult eventually reunited for good in 2006. Sorum went on to play in other bands including Kings of Chaos and Motorhead.
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