The Hype Cult Following? Band from The Past Reunites, But It's Not for The Money, Really It's Not
By: Los Angeles Daily News
June 7th 2001 12:16am
The guys in the Cult are convinced the world wants them back.
Funny how the mind works. The Brit hard-rock quartet, which crossed Cream and Motorhead to
lasso brooding yet melodic hits like "Fire Woman" and "Edie (Ciao
Baby)," believes business was left unfinished when the original
lineup split 11 years ago. Who knows? Maybe leather-lunged singer Ian Astbury, guitarist
Billy Duffy, ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum and bassist Billy
Morrison are right. "When we came together again we realized we weren't done," Astbury
said. "I feel like we were exiled to the mountain and now that things
aren't working we've been called back." Sorry, Ian, we're not sure exactly which things are working so
badly that only the return of the Cult can fix 'em. Could one of
those things be the band's shrinking bank balance, perhaps? "We want people to see this isn't a one-off cash-in thing," Duffy
insists. "That's why we went on the road in '99 the old-school way
without a record deal. This isn't some kind of rushed project." The Cult is back on the road - with a record deal this time - and
a new album to support. "Beyond Good and Evil" (Lava/Atlantic), the
group's first since 1994, is out today and to kick it off, the hairy
horde will sign copies from 6 p.m. at Tower on Sunset Boulevard. That's not all, Cult-o-philes. The first 200 fans to arrive for
the autograph session will receive wristbands allowing them entry to
a secret show at the Whisky immediately following the store
appearance. Beyond that, promoters are apparently clamoring for the Cult. The
band is booked June 23 for the much-anticipated "KROQ Weenie Roast"
at an as-yet undisclosed location and at the Universal Amphitheatre
on Aug. 3. "We've got one foot in the past and one foot in the future," Duffy
said. "We remember where we started. The first time we came to Los
Angeles was 1984 to play the Music Machine for the door money and we
made 69 bucks. "We built it from there. And I think people appreciate that. Now
we just have to get back out and prove we've still got it." - Fred Shuster THE CULT What: The veteran rockers sign copies of a new album before
playing a secret show at the Whisky for 200 fans. Where: Tower, 8801 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. When: 6 tonight. Information: (310) 657-7300.
 (C) 2001 Los Angeles Daily News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reservedi
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