Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy brought back their early new wave goth days in Belfast on Monday night (6th November 2023) as the Death Cult took to the stage for the opening night of their first tour in four decades. Resurrecting their former moniker from before they became The Cult, the evening saw the pair dig deep into their past for the special performance.
Photo: Darren McVeigh.
Taking place at the atmospheric Telegraph Building in the city, Astbury, Duffy and co delved back into their past, eschewing their biggest commercial hits for their formative beginnings, in a way that few bands have dared.
With a commanding stage presence and his unmistakable vocal tones, front man Astbury led the four-piece (completed current Cult by bassist Charlie Jones and drummer John Tempesta) on a merry dance through the early Cult pre-history.
Although not the first night for these special Death Cult shows - they had earlier performed a one-off gig at The Theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles on 23rd October - the singer admitted that that show was; "a nice, paid for Hollywood rehearsal", marking the Belfast show special, as; "this is with the people!"
Despite playing material that the people were largely unfamiliar with due to it being unavailable commercially, the evening was a musically grandiose spectacle that showcased the darker roots of the band that would go on to conquer America and beyond.
With a suitably gothic mood-setting keyboard intro announcing their arrival, the four piece ambled on stage to the doomy strains of '83rd Dream' from debut Cult album 'Dreamtime'. With slow its Black Sabbath strains giving way to an explosion of pent up energy, when Astbury wailed "I'm alive!", it sent a shiver down the spine.
One of the most captivating front men of a generation, the singer's every gesture held meaning, and he commanded attention with every move, none more so than during the evocative 'Christians'.
Picking up the pace, 1983 Death Cult single 'Gods Zoo', and the new wave strains and tribal beats of 'Brothers Grimm' brought the audience right back to the band's beginnings, with echoes of 'October'-era U2 in their sound.
Welcome the crowd to "the first real Death Cult Show", Astbury admitted; "This is pretty fucking raw!"
Stripping back to the core duo of Duffy and Astbury for the atmospheric 'A Flower in the Desert', Astbury admitted; "we're a little bit nervous", however the reaction to the storming 'Resurrection Joe', which followed, proved that the nerves weren't showing.
Asking the audience; "How many of you were at the Ulster Hall in 1980?" - scene of a legendary early punk gig in the city that the singer attended while resident on the Newtownards Road - he continued; "some things do get better with age..."
Closing out with a slew of hits, including a rousing 'Spiritwalker' and storming 'Rain', they took their bows to what else, but 'She Sells Sanctuary'. "Thank you for helping us break our cherry", said the famously moody front man, in unsarcastically upbeat form.
What The Cult do next isn't certain, but with the 'Sonic Temple' album celebrating it's thirty-fifth anniversary in 2024, it seems likely that a celebratory tour of their more familiar material will follow. In the meantime, the Death Cult will stick around for just a little while longer. Don't miss you chance to see them before they go back in their casket.
With a commanding stage presence and his unmistakable vocal tones, front man Astbury led the four-piece (completed current Cult by bassist Charlie Jones and drummer John Tempesta) on a merry dance through the early Cult pre-history.
Although not the first night for these special Death Cult shows - they had earlier performed a one-off gig at The Theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles on 23rd October - the singer admitted that that show was; "a nice, paid for Hollywood rehearsal", marking the Belfast show special, as; "this is with the people!"
Despite playing material that the people were largely unfamiliar with due to it being unavailable commercially, the evening was a musically grandiose spectacle that showcased the darker roots of the band that would go on to conquer America and beyond.
With a suitably gothic mood-setting keyboard intro announcing their arrival, the four piece ambled on stage to the doomy strains of '83rd Dream' from debut Cult album 'Dreamtime'. With slow its Black Sabbath strains giving way to an explosion of pent up energy, when Astbury wailed "I'm alive!", it sent a shiver down the spine.
One of the most captivating front men of a generation, the singer's every gesture held meaning, and he commanded attention with every move, none more so than during the evocative 'Christians'.
Picking up the pace, 1983 Death Cult single 'Gods Zoo', and the new wave strains and tribal beats of 'Brothers Grimm' brought the audience right back to the band's beginnings, with echoes of 'October'-era U2 in their sound.
Welcome the crowd to "the first real Death Cult Show", Astbury admitted; "This is pretty fucking raw!"
Stripping back to the core duo of Duffy and Astbury for the atmospheric 'A Flower in the Desert', Astbury admitted; "we're a little bit nervous", however the reaction to the storming 'Resurrection Joe', which followed, proved that the nerves weren't showing.
Asking the audience; "How many of you were at the Ulster Hall in 1980?" - scene of a legendary early punk gig in the city that the singer attended while resident on the Newtownards Road - he continued; "some things do get better with age..."
Closing out with a slew of hits, including a rousing 'Spiritwalker' and storming 'Rain', they took their bows to what else, but 'She Sells Sanctuary'. "Thank you for helping us break our cherry", said the famously moody front man, in unsarcastically upbeat form.
What The Cult do next isn't certain, but with the 'Sonic Temple' album celebrating it's thirty-fifth anniversary in 2024, it seems likely that a celebratory tour of their more familiar material will follow. In the meantime, the Death Cult will stick around for just a little while longer. Don't miss you chance to see them before they go back in their casket.