To all u ppl criticizing this: its not about technicals - how well they play guitar, what tune you sing in - its about the mood, the feeling, the atmosphere, the attitude. Part of the drama of his singing is its being slightly off tune - a certain dissonance. Captures brilliantly the early 80s post-punk scene sound and feeling in Britain. A historical document. Thanks so much for uploading.
Exactly! When I saw SDC I'd never heard of them before but I was mesmerised and you're right,it was the whole atmosphere that they created !And that drum and that bass!!! It was tribal and all about a decade before Drum and Bass was even a music genre!
Ian's one of those frontmen who was born a rockstar and could be playing in front of twelve people, who'd all go home saying they'd watched a brilliant band.
Billy was able to fill a whole stadium playing his guitar . The last song on this video is pure Cult. Had the pleasure to see them live in 87... The opening act? None other than GnR on their first stadium tour..
I remember this gig well. SDC had already built up a sizeable following. Saw them many times particularly supporting Bauhaus in 82. Happy days hitching up and down the UK!!
I was in my first year at Leeds Uni in 1982, so seeing Bauhaus play there (I'm from Northampton) was fantastic, but the icing on the cake was witnessing SDC and their mad fans - that took the night to another level!!
I was at this amazing gig as well. I've come back here today as I don't like the world today and wanted some old lovely memories filling my head. Moya 💚 where has 40 years gone?!
SDC , DC and The Cult (Before Electric, so Dreamtime and Love era) was one of the BEST bands at that time. I met Ian Astbury three times, I was a star struck kid. I've always wanted to ask...what happen to that revolutionary mentality??!!!!!!!! 'the kids of a coca-cola nation are to darn dumb to realize....' nothing has changed brother....nothing. And given the amount of hits on this post There is over 8000 people with good taste. Thanks for posting.
I am probably wrong, but doesn't the line say "the kids of the coca-cola nation, too doped up to realize"? and I think during this period he found Jamie and Billy and started Death Cult? I don't know for sure, but I do know I love this and everything else Ian helped create!
Hope J With the mention of the "Islamic" band, I assume that you are referring to "Into a Circle", formed by Barry (who plays bass here) and Bee. As it happens, they were not Islamic, but utilised that imagery. They did that from a frequently homoerotic perspective (Bee is gay) and were further influenced by the artist and author Brion Gysin, as well as William Borroughs and others. That project was, in itself, formed out of the ashes of "Getting the Fear", which effectively comprised of all the members of Southern Death Cult you see here, minus Ian Astbury, and with Bee on vocals instead. However, I am not whether it's entirely true to say that's where all the revolutionary energy went. Both "Death Cult" and "The Cult" were excellent, at least up until "Dreamtime" / "Love". Billy Duffy, Jamie Stewart and Nigel Preston (R.I.P.) all had roots in early "goth" or "post-punk" music, too, having played for the likes of Theatre of Hate and Sex-Gang Children.
Stahlgewitter777 the islamic band the person mentions is who the drummer Aki firmed in the 90s called Fundamental. The record label was Nation records and included bands like Transglobal Underground/Loop Guru/Fundamental/Natasha Atlas. Asain dance based sounds fused with western dance beats. Fundamental had a more of a hip hop influence than the test of the label. It was all good stuff.
Cloughjordan23 Thanks! I must confess to being aware of Fundamental. However, I had no idea that Aki was involved with them, let alone that he founded them!
Awesome! Was into them two years before Love came out saw them open for Iggy Pop on the Love tour here in the states, seen them once after that a few years back.- This is the earliest footage I have seen them in yet - Thanks!
As a fan of The Cult, I'm delighted to see this as I've never seen The Southern Death Cult before. I can't recognise Billy Duffy or Jamie Stewart, so this could be before their arrival
Totally different band. Billy & Jamie joined up with Ian, after SDC split. For unknown reasons Ian decided to call the new band 'Death Cult' & then shortened the name once again, to simply, 'The Cult'.
Woah. The Cult before the Cult was the Cult!? Ian before he grew out his long luscious locks! And a pre-Billy Cult, too? Hard to imagine, but Ian's got that voice!
+jimmy shine+.......ken this Jay, cannot believe how many ardent Cult fans divent kna that The Cult was born out of the ashes of SOUTHERN DEATH CULT!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!! I do feel genuine pity for them! Especially when you see clips of this particular concert!?! I mean The Girl & Moya it really did not get any better than this boy!?! CONSEQUENTLY that would mean that there is a massive void in their lives as they would not have heard the album SOUTHERN DEATH CULT.......tell you what Jay, I'm taking that particular piece of vinyl to my grave. 1981 tive 1983 SDC & Theatre of Hate, changed & shaped my life to become what it has today!!!! Keep on Rockin' Jimmy
Working on a metal village in the North Sea for 3 weeks at a time Bob. Mechanical scrapheap challenge considering the production platform Forties Delta is coming up to 43 years old!?! Still the 3 weeks off is good & the four weeks off every 3rd trip is even better!!!! Works in really good for upcoming mini-Spear Tour & the annual jaunt to Crewe for Westworld.......then on the other hand I can miss everything!!! Xmas is always a bit of a bas been away from the family like. COMPROMISE, LIVE, COMPROMISE, LIVE & BE FREE. THE SOUTHERN DEATH CULT IN 1983!!!!
I never realised till now Acky doesn`t use a hi-hatt and only touched his symbols at the end of Moya. Cant believe it took nearly 40 years to notice that.
What's so cool to me about these guys is they were post punk AND hard rock and could do both well and retain that mood. I'd almost like to see them don this style again and flip flop with the hard rock side or even combine the two again (ala. Love).
This is not the band you are talking about. SDC was a different band that Astbury ended before joining up with Duffy, which would start the band your talking about.
Most people I knew at those gigs still considered themselves punk or coming from punk. Goth was mostly still just a descriptive term then, certainly in London.
Great upload from a great series on C4 - really great mix of bands - some on the up, some at their peak and some never to be heard of again! Am I correct in thinking the was SDC supporting Killing Joke? Haven't read all the comments, so someone will tell me if I've got it wrong! Cheers for sharing.
The Southern Death Cult 1983 and now me here in 2023 wondering how the hell the last four decades went by so fast. Time is running out....
i hear that
To all u ppl criticizing this: its not about technicals - how well they play guitar, what tune you sing in - its about the mood, the feeling, the atmosphere, the attitude. Part of the drama of his singing is its being slightly off tune - a certain dissonance. Captures brilliantly the early 80s post-punk scene sound and feeling in Britain. A historical document. Thanks so much for uploading.
Jonathan Goodall I think all the ppl that are criticizing, are mostly all uptight hipsters. #eyerolls
Jonathan Goodall Well said!
+Jonathan Goodall YEAH RIGHT ON MAN
Exactly! When I saw SDC I'd never heard of them before but I was mesmerised and you're right,it was the whole atmosphere that they created !And that drum and that bass!!! It was tribal and all about a decade before Drum and Bass was even a music genre!
not many people understood southern death cult .I still blast them out .Wishing i could turn back the clock .Their songs still means so much
Was a piece of Cult history!
Awesome
Absolutely! I'd label this under early goth. It has that Chorus pedal sound to it
Before the Cult only Ian in Both bands.
@@barryleslie7727they were 100% a Goth band came up after UK Decay(originators) /Sex Gang Children/Theatre of Hate etc
Ian's one of those frontmen who was born a rockstar and could be playing in front of twelve people, who'd all go home saying they'd watched a brilliant band.
Las buenas bandas no suspenden un concierto porque vaya poco público a verlas, actúan y lo dan todo.
The distinctive voice of Ian Astbury - can't beat it.
He changes his accent to suit his bank balance.
🦋.. Exactly, the timbre and placement of the voice, the rapport between musicians and the mystique.
My eternal love..Southern Death Cult Death Cult The Cult
Fantastic picture clarity for an ancient VHS transfer & MOYA is an absolute 80s classic.
The early sparks of greatness. So glad this video exists.
Brilliant! Ian, one of the most charismatic frontmen of all time. So, some folks think they ain't playing well? They sound perfect.
seeing the embryonic stage of a band fascinates me.
Billy was able to fill a whole stadium playing his guitar .
The last song on this video is pure Cult.
Had the pleasure to see them live in 87...
The opening act? None other than GnR on their first stadium tour..
I remember this gig well. SDC had already built up a sizeable following.
Saw them many times particularly supporting Bauhaus in 82.
Happy days hitching up and down the UK!!
I envy you
Que bien saludos de chile
I was in my first year at Leeds Uni in 1982, so seeing Bauhaus play there (I'm from Northampton) was fantastic, but the icing on the cake was witnessing SDC and their mad fans - that took the night to another level!!
Same here - used to hitch all over the uk to see bands back in the early eighties…such brilliant memories and experiences
I was at this amazing gig as well. I've come back here today as I don't like the world today and wanted some old lovely memories filling my head. Moya 💚 where has 40 years gone?!
I’ve been in love with this voice for many years in the punk and goth clubs
Sophisticated fantastic music. I love it . Huge respect just grew for Astbury. Delightful. xxx Thanks Kel
I love Ian Astbury! Mohawk Indian awesome!
I like bands who put out a good album in every era. This is one of them. A rare breed.
They were not even a band for that long, You must be thinking about Death Cult, which would become The Cult. SDC were a different band.
He probably had no idea his music would one day be a mainstay on American Rock Radio stations.
Beautiful guitarist😊
imagine this with auto tune ahhhhhhhhhhh noooooooooooo ...... so raw
SDC , DC and The Cult (Before Electric, so Dreamtime and Love era) was one of the BEST bands at that time. I met Ian Astbury three times, I was a star struck kid. I've always wanted to ask...what happen to that revolutionary mentality??!!!!!!!!
'the kids of a coca-cola nation are to darn dumb to realize....'
nothing has changed brother....nothing.
And given the amount of hits on this post
There is over 8000 people with good taste.
Thanks for posting.
I have the same question to ask: "what happened to that revolutionary mentality?"
I am probably wrong, but doesn't the line say "the kids of the coca-cola nation, too doped up to realize"? and I think during this period he found Jamie and Billy and started Death Cult? I don't know for sure, but I do know I love this and everything else Ian helped create!
Hope J
With the mention of the "Islamic" band, I assume that you are referring to "Into a Circle", formed by Barry (who plays bass here) and Bee. As it happens, they were not Islamic, but utilised that imagery. They did that from a frequently homoerotic perspective (Bee is gay) and were further influenced by the artist and author Brion Gysin, as well as William Borroughs and others. That project was, in itself, formed out of the ashes of "Getting the Fear", which effectively comprised of all the members of Southern Death Cult you see here, minus Ian Astbury, and with Bee on vocals instead. However, I am not whether it's entirely true to say that's where all the revolutionary energy went. Both "Death Cult" and "The Cult" were excellent, at least up until "Dreamtime" / "Love". Billy Duffy, Jamie Stewart and Nigel Preston (R.I.P.) all had roots in early "goth" or "post-punk" music, too, having played for the likes of Theatre of Hate and Sex-Gang Children.
Stahlgewitter777 the islamic band the person mentions is who the drummer Aki firmed in the 90s called Fundamental. The record label was Nation records and included bands like Transglobal Underground/Loop Guru/Fundamental/Natasha Atlas. Asain dance based sounds fused with western dance beats. Fundamental had a more of a hip hop influence than the test of the label. It was all good stuff.
Cloughjordan23 Thanks! I must confess to being aware of Fundamental. However, I had no idea that Aki was involved with them, let alone that he founded them!
So Astbury would be about 21 years old here!
Who cares?!?
Yes
AMAZING this got captured on video! thank you
Love this. Timeless. It still looks raw and fresh today.
Awesome! Was into them two years before Love came out saw them open for Iggy Pop on the Love tour here in the states, seen them once after that a few years back.- This is the earliest footage I have seen them in yet - Thanks!
Thank you.raw and superb.
All ways on my mind and heart.. Praise the young shaman
Thanks for upload. Amazing !to see this.
Brilliant stuff. Loved, and still love the SDC. Still got my Moya t-shirt. Thanks for posting.
An exciting time in rock music history that paralleled the mid-late 60s.
As a fan of The Cult, I'm delighted to see this as I've never seen The Southern Death Cult before. I can't recognise Billy Duffy or Jamie Stewart, so this could be before their arrival
Totally different band.
Billy & Jamie joined up with Ian, after SDC split. For unknown reasons Ian decided to call the new band 'Death Cult' & then shortened the name once again, to simply, 'The Cult'.
I think it is Buzz and AKi who later formed Into a Circle?
Love it all. I am not British but I identify a lot with this genre.
That's pretty cool to see. Impressive picture quality. The period in time before Billy Duffy came over from Theatre of Hate and lit the fuse.
Saw sdc 82 plymouth.. hooked immediately...still play the album now.. not one weak track.. love it
Wow this was something.
Brilllllllliant,,, prostutiong you . 1983....
Thank You for Posting. I Saw them as the Cult early on, what a great memory
thanks for this
Early days of rocker Ian Astbury.
Fledgling greatness!
Esta si que es para vosotras chicas
Its's only a split second....
And you're absolutely sure "it's the Cult.
Wow!Thx!Real treasure!
Nice! Now the poem clip is in HD, finally!
Woah. The Cult before the Cult was the Cult!? Ian before he grew out his long luscious locks! And a pre-Billy Cult, too? Hard to imagine, but Ian's got that voice!
Thanks for this throwback 💜
when they were immaculate..still great today but this is the true cult
+jimmy shine+.......ken this Jay, cannot believe how many ardent Cult
fans divent kna that The Cult was born out of the ashes of SOUTHERN
DEATH CULT!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!! I do feel genuine pity for
them! Especially when you see clips of this particular concert!?! I mean
The Girl & Moya it really did not get any better than this boy!?! CONSEQUENTLY
that would mean that there is a massive void in their lives as they would not
have heard the album SOUTHERN DEATH CULT.......tell you what Jay, I'm
taking that particular piece of vinyl to my grave. 1981 tive 1983 SDC & Theatre of Hate,
changed & shaped my life to become what it has today!!!! Keep on Rockin' Jimmy
+Phil Wiles . . . and what has your life become today? :D
Working on a metal village in the North Sea for 3 weeks at a time Bob. Mechanical scrapheap challenge considering the production platform Forties Delta is coming up to 43 years old!?! Still the 3 weeks off is good & the four weeks off every 3rd trip is even better!!!! Works in really good for upcoming mini-Spear Tour & the annual jaunt to Crewe for Westworld.......then on the other hand I can miss everything!!! Xmas is always a bit of a bas been away from the family like. COMPROMISE, LIVE, COMPROMISE, LIVE & BE FREE. THE SOUTHERN DEATH CULT IN 1983!!!!
+jimmy shine the arrival of Billy Duffy was the true CULT.
+cinemar I agree..I'm more partial to the older songs he uses is big gretsch falcon on then the les paul....
Native American English on lead. Ian is a natural educator in trans-Atlantic history. Imagine him in front of a class. That’d help the kids.
thank you. What a discover.
I love the cult and death cult, but i havent really listened to sdc before this. The first song has kindof a bow wow wow feel to it. Really cool.
fantastic quality!!! more!!!
MOYA..... Fantastic.
immaculate...yes.
Wish I had been There're .. Cry Cry CRY
Is that Ian Astbrury???
'Tis ,bai!!
Jonathan Baker-Bates Yup.
or maybe Hetfield?
Of course. This is how The Cult started!
Jonathan Baker-Bates Yep
thank you so much for sharing you rock
Awesome! Been a few years since I listened to this..... can't play my vinyl anymore.
Good stuff. Late to the party but still enjoying this early version.
Skol Vikings!
I never realised till now Acky doesn`t use a hi-hatt and only touched his symbols at the end of Moya. Cant believe it took nearly 40 years to notice that.
What's so cool to me about these guys is they were post punk AND hard rock and could do both well and retain that mood. I'd almost like to see them don this style again and flip flop with the hard rock side or even combine the two again (ala. Love).
This is not the band you are talking about. SDC was a different band that Astbury ended before joining up with Duffy, which would start the band your talking about.
Super Brilliant. Please PEOPLE listen to this amazing....
Wow! I have never seen this! Thanks!
Holy shit!
Brilliant. Brilliant.. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. brilliant. Incredible and lovely....So are they now. Fu....g Brilliant.
Brilliant works I guess, but this is not an early version of the band that would become The Cult.
Seen them Glasgow university Southern Death Cult Grip the heart
Origional and great, love it.
Pure awesomeness. 'nuff said.
Interesting version of moya
Surprisingly I liked this.
Astbury's a Northern Adam Ant.
You can hear the Adam and Ants influence in this early stuff with the tribal drumming and squawking vocals.
I hear early Yes, live they sound like in Yessongs, particularly the guitar and bass but the vocals too.
Was thinking the same ...And their style of haircuts / gear
@@kendo5862
Haha. I don't think Jon Anderson ever got that daring with his haircut ;)
This is positively amazing. Thanks so much for uploading.
for long time i lost this song
Go Paul Jay in the front row, still nodding after all these years
These days, we compromise to survive. Astbury's 5 years older than me.
Most people I knew at those gigs still considered themselves punk or coming from punk. Goth was mostly still just a descriptive term then, certainly in London.
yeah!
Espírito revolucionário muito bom
Punk was dead but not back in again, Goth didn't yet exist. I think it was what we were looking for back then to get to either of them, or both
Man, they got so much better later on.
Very early days, nice upload, thanks!
super great........CULT.......
A great gig
Support band for bauhaus - thanks go to buzz the guitarist that got us in over the wall! Just where is Buzz now?
DigitalSWebVideos do you know what gear buzz used while in SDC?
I believe that this is him currently
www.davidburrowssculpture.com
Great music,Raw and to the point.
FK Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMFAO!!!!!!!
this is faken cool, cheers thanks fer sharin
No Billy yet. Super Brilliant though...
oh my god i was only 15 then in 83 when i got this on cassette
walk hard 🙏🏻 god bless u
16 here
Bad Fucking Ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks¡
I love and respect the early years, I miss music like this; the rawness, primal honesty.
Man, he's 20 and thin here and 50 and heavy now.
That's life
This band were also as well goth band
Ian Ashbarty dance like the Girlie
Am I the only one who thinks that Ian's voice during this era is reminiscent of Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! ?
Great upload from a great series on C4 - really great mix of bands - some on the up, some at their peak and some never to be heard of again! Am I correct in thinking the was SDC supporting Killing Joke? Haven't read all the comments, so someone will tell me if I've got it wrong! Cheers for sharing.
Documentary guy:"And all that shit.." Lol that is so something I'd say.
Anyone at Death Cult 8323 Brixton Electric this week? ☠
The Band.
*Perfect* ♥