The Cult

[FunkyMonkey]

IAN ASTBURY Talks About His Collaboration With BORIS - July 31, 2010

CraveOnline.com recently conducted an interview with THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury about his collaboration with Japanese rockers BORIS. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

CraveOnline.com: How did the collaboration with BORIS come about?

Ian Astbury: It was kind of a long time in the making, I'd say about two years. I saw BORIS play about five years ago at the Knitting Factory in New York and seeing them perform was such a profound experience. I tried to get them to perform with THE CULT, I kept emailing their manager, but our schedules never matched up Eventually being a big fan of SUNN O))) I got to meet up with Stephen (O'Malley) and Greg (Anderson) at a performance and they kind of made the introduction to BORIS a lot quicker. The collaboration was something BORIS instigated knowing I was a big fan of them and their music. They sent me ten pieces of music and worked out when the best time for me to come out and do vocals. I had a long time to live with the music and become very familiar with it so I choose three pieces I liked and went to Tokyo to do vocals.

CraveOnline.com: What was it about BORIS that drove you to want to work with them?

Ian Astbury: I was just struck by the commitment of what they do and the totality of their music. There's no sort of jocular joking around or high fiving or "rock 'n' roll" (does it with a high voice) stuff, none of that. It's all about business very serious, it's fine art and Shakespearean in the scope. Very layered, very textured, the performances are incredibly committed. Every note they play, every sound the play is very serious.

CraveOnline.com: I was curious where the connection between the singer for THE CULT and a band like BORIS might come from musically speaking.

Ian Astbury: Well you have to understand when I was a kid I was into JOY DIVISION and PUBLIC IMAGE so I've always had an interest in the avante guarde. The kind of persona I have the kind of voice I was born with, this barrel chested voice was what I would perform with. As I got older I wanted to try new things so I went off and made solo records, worked with Trent Reznor, U.N.K.L.E. and THE DOORS, so I was heading in that direction. Working with more serious artists. Not to say that THE CULT aren't serious about what they do but THE CULT very much revolves around Billy Duffy's guitar, he's the lead musician, so I'm kind of restricted to that. It's not as experimental, as I'd like it to be where as THE DOORS who I worked with have a history of experimentation and in many of ways they are the roots of a lot of experimental rock, psychedelic rock and tonality and texture and depth and invention. It's just a desire to collaborate with other artists who are serious about what they do.

CraveOnline.com: What does this involvement in experimental music mean for the future of THE CULT?

Ian Astbury: There's new CULT stuff coming out in September but THE CULT are like children I had a long time ago. Especially the "Love" album or "Sonic Temple" or "Electric", those records are very dear to me, the legacy I'll maintain. I don't want to see it rot in a ditch somewhere I want to keep it alive and we're becoming more prolific in terms of our writing. We've recently started working with Chris Goss and having him in the room has really pulled the band more towards where I see it going than the arena-rock stuff, which was more of a goof or more semi-serious. It was of its time and a place to be and we just embraced it and held on for the ride. Then it became more introspective and self destructive and darker. Now it's at a place where there's a balance between that. I think having the experience with THE DOORS helped me walk into a studio with BORIS. It was a university education. Ray (Manzerek) is unforgiving as a taskmaster and was in the day from everything I could tell being around those guys. Ray ran the ship in much the same way Atsuo is the driving force behind BORIS. Not to say that Takeshi and Wata don't contribute but Atsuo is really the visionary. He's a funny fucker, too.

Read the entire interview from CraveOnline.com.

Mojo Radio recently conducted an interview with Ian Astbury about his collaboration with BORIS. The chat can be streamed in two parts below.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=143833

[Falcon]

Knebworth setlist

Lil Devil
Sweet Soul Sister
Phoenix
Rain
Every Man And Woman Is A Star
Fire Woman
Rise
She Sells Sanctuary
Wild Flower
Love Removal Machine

[Falcon]

‎"Everyman and Woman is a Star" is now in every iTunes store worldwide.

link to worldwide release

http://itunes.apple.com/album/everyman-woman-is-star-single/id383112642 

 

[Falcon]

Another US tour date, Vegas..

Las Vegas, NV Thu, 09/16/10
08:00 PM

Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort

[Falcon]

The digital liner notes for the cult's "Everyman and Woman is a Star" can be viewed /downloaded here:

http://emawias.com/

[Falcon]

BXI exclusive release on iTunes tonight (8/3) at 10 pm [West Coast Time]

BXI EP Track Listing:

1. Teeth and Claws
2. We are the Witches
3. Rain
4. Magickal Child

[FunkyMonkey]

‎"Everyman and Woman is a Star" is now in every iTunes store worldwide.

I haven't been to iTunes yet, is the single streaming anywhere?  I assume you've heard it.

[Falcon]

‎"Everyman and Woman is a Star" is now in every iTunes store worldwide.

I haven't been to iTunes yet, is the single streaming anywhere?  I assume you've heard it.

A full stream isn't available (yet), a preview on itunes is up though.

A live version from The Hague last night can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JqAYxZkO58

[Falcon]

BXI exclusive release on iTunes tonight (8/3) at 10 pm [West Coast Time]

BXI EP Track Listing:

1. Teeth and Claws
2. We are the Witches
3. Rain
4. Magickal Child

BXI preview/purchase info here:

http://itunes.apple.com/album/boris-ian-astbury-ep/id384089600

[Falcon]

Click below for free downloads associated with the release of "Everyman and Woman is a Star"

http://twitter.com/aderra

Lot's of cool stuff planned beyond that - new official site, store and forum launch is "imminent" with the release of the full capsule in September.

[FunkyMonkey]

A full stream isn't available (yet), a preview on itunes is up though.

A live version from The Hague last night can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JqAYxZkO58

Cool and cool -- I listened to them both.  I like the song.

[FunkyMonkey]

THE CULT: Performance Footage Of New Single Available - Aug. 4, 2010

Fan-filmed video footage of THE CULT performing its new single, "Every Man and Woman is a Star", on August 3 in The Hague, Holland can be viewed below.

THE CULT's first new studio recording since 2007, "Every Man and Woman is a Star" is being released as a two-week exclusive through the iTunes store. This is the lead-off track of a four-song "capsule" scheduled to be released in fall of 2010.

Rock fans worldwide will immediately recognize Billy Duffy's blistering guitars and Ian Astbury's powerful vocals soaring over a relentless beat.

"The latest recordings from THE CULT, guided by legendary producer Chris Goss (MASTERS OF REALITY, KYUSS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), are a mixture of violent guitars, emotive vocal performances with high melody and driving beats," Astbury said in a statement. "Textured metaphysical rock music for the contemporary music head."

Rather than revisit the traditional method of releasing a long-form CD, THE CULT is getting new material to fans in the form of a "capsule" a collection of not just new music, but film, art and fashion. The "capsule" will span across multiple media formats including vinyl, digital, USB, CD and DVD formats.

The first opportunity fans will get to hear "Every Man and Woman is a Star", outside of seeing the band live, is through an exclusive distribution through Apple's iTunes store.

This new release is a partnership between the band's New Wildernesslabel and media pioneers Aderra.

In 2009, Aderra recorded several live shows on THE CULT's U.S. and European tours, including a sold-out appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The live recordings were released exclusively through a USB flash drive housed in a dog tag necklace.

The success of this initial project lead to this partnership to release the new capsule material on multiple formats.

THE CULT in 2008 parted ways with Roadrunner Records, the label that released the group's latest album, "Born into This". That CD sold 12,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. It was recorded in London with producer Youth (VERVE, PRIMAL SCREAM).

THE CULT's current touring lineup includes principals Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy alongside bassist Chris Wyse, drummer John Tempesta (ex-WHITE ZOMBIE, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, HELMET) and rhythm guitarist Mike Dimkich.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=144013

[Falcon]

Cool and cool -- I listened to them both.  I like the song.

Duffy's signature tone, Astbury's baritone and a big catchy chorus, definitely pure Cult.

It's getting alot of positive run, I've heard it a few times already on XM Octane and Alt Nation.

[Falcon]

And the giveaways continue, from Aderra:

Get 25 of your friends who love rock music to Tweet about the Cult and EMAWIAS from http://emawias.com/Tweet/ and you will get a free copy of The Cult LOVE LIVE concert recorded in San Diego, August 2009! This live recording has NEVER been released before! It was not available on the LOVE LIVE USB Dog Tag.
Each person on your list of 25 friends who Tweets about the Cult using the form at http://emawias.com/Tweet/ gets a free copy of LOVE REMOVAL MACHINE recorded LIVE in Los Angeles!
All you have to do to get the full concert recording is email a list of the Twitter Users they got to Tweet to: CultTweets@aderra.net.
Aderra will verify and then send you the details to download the tracks.

[Falcon]

Another US date..

Ogden Theatre
Denver, CO
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 09:00 PM

[mrlee]

I got to play some Cult covers with the band in rehearsal today. (its just something i HAD to get out my system....same for the singer).

We did Firewoman which kicked so much ass to play, you cannot imagine the buzz i got from when that song kicks in properly.

After doing a cover of Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole, we went straight into Love Removal Machine. And, inspired by true Ian Astbury fashion, i kid you not, we trashed the rehearsal space. I booted the mic stand n microphone over, the singer slung it across the room, dived into the drums , i pulled some of the drums apart, the singer bent the drummers cymbal inside out (he was not happy). It was GOOD. TIMES.

[Falcon]

"Everyman and Woman is a Star" - complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQPbC5gMXZs

[FunkyMonkey]

"Everyman and Woman is a Star" - complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQPbC5gMXZs

  It sounds great.

[kaasupoltin]

Saw them tonight while working at Sonisphere, they were fucking great!

[Falcon]

Another date:

The Cult
The Warfield
San Francisco, CA
Sun, Sep 19, 2010 07:00 PM