THE CULT Singer Says Album Is 'A Dead Format'
- Sep. 13, 2009
Fan-filmed video footage of THE CULT's September 6, 2009 performance at the House of Blues in Houston, Texas can be viewed below (courtesy of "reaganomics78").
THE CULT is performing its entire 1985 album, "Love", on the current tour. However, frontman Ian Astbury tells Metro that he doesn't want the "Love Live" tour to be seen as a remember-when show.
"I fucking hate nostalgia," says the singer. "It fucking makes me sick."
"These songs were written in a very earnest way, and the music I listen to now really reminds me of myself when I was 23," he continues. "You have to go away from yourself to discover yourself."
"We're at the point in our career where we have this body of work, a legacy that we can exploit, in a way. We're kind of between the old world and the new world in the sense that the music industry is dead, while we're finding our feet, and we still want to move forward and we still want to be out here performing."
Regarding the possibility of a new THE CULT studio album, Astbury says, "It's a dead format; we don't have the attention span for albums. The idea of going into a studio and spending a year-and-a-half creating a body of work which you put out as a body of work is pointless. By the time you put it out, it's already been leaked. … It's a year-and-a-half worth's of work down the fucking tubes. We need to put out bite-sized chunks."
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COMMENT | . posted by : Blackenistheyend 9/13/2009 8:57:59 PM
The album isn't dead, but you're helping kill it
COMMENT | So Ian Astbury hates "nostalgia"...... posted by : The Govner 9/13/2009 9:01:15 PM
Yet had no problems trying to pass himself off as Jim Morrison a few years back and now is playing a 24 year old album in it's entirety.
Shit....The Cult has been nostalgia act for the last 10 years!
COMMENT | Pointless posted by : BarryWhiteManilow 9/13/2009 9:10:06 PM
So, instead of the album leaking out weeks ahead of time, now just the individual tracks will.
COMMENT | The Cult posted by : RiotAct666 9/13/2009 9:12:19 PM
Gotta agree with Ian on this. He is spot on and right. Downloading is killing the music biss. A band works hard to put an album together in the studio, Not to have it posted all over thw web before it is even out. Can you have art work , liner notes etc with a MP3? No you can't.
COMMENT | posted by : cpopken1 9/13/2009 9:12:53 PM
I think The Cult is a dead format. They don't have the attention span for albums because they can't come up with more than 1-2 good songs at a time. Seriously, they weren't that great in the 80's.
COMMENT | posted by : tstep182 9/13/2009 9:12:56 PM
Well said, Blackenistheyend. Albums are the backbone of metal and hard rock, not individual songs.
COMMENT | Agree with Metal til death... posted by : deflepplin 9/13/2009 9:38:04 PM
Electric is BY FAR their best album...Sonic Temple was good, tho Electric will be their magic moment. LOVE fucking sucks.
COMMENT | posted by : therebel 9/13/2009 9:57:35 PM
The music industry is dead, in a way, because of downloading...but more because the marketplace has spoken. What they have said is that recorded songs have little to no value. It always bothers me that these guys in bands have a perception that they are due payment for recording. They just aren't. Is illegal downloading wrong - yeah, sure it is. But in today's world, it's all so completely disposable that it really doesn't have any value. The labels, who do all the complaining, fail to see that the lack of artist development has crushed the loyalty that fans had to their favorite bands in the past. Now, there'd better be 3-4 radio songs to tour on, or they are dropped. It's another reason people don't want to buy music. In the 80s, you would end up getting 4-5 songs from a band handed to you before you ever made a decision to buy something. You'd hear it on radio, on mtv, get a tape free at concrete corner, tape trading, etc...before spending the first dime on a band. When you bought the album, you knew half of it was good. Now, if you don't buy the new album today, it doesn't matter because there's be another one with a different name that sounds exactly the same tomorrow.
The problem with guys like Ian Astbury is that they just have expectation of big contracts because they have musical talent. It's never been genius...just the ability to write something people like. In the 80s, we all tape traded all the time. Everyone had a dual tape recorder to copy everyone else's music. And the business was better than ever. Downloading is the exact same thing as tape trading, except the artist development is no longer there so there's no building a following to where you eventually buy the product.
Old bands and old record label execs understand this...but just don't want to face it. Your product has little value to the average person these days, and until you improve it, it never will.
COMMENT | Year and a Half? posted by : McTurdly 9/13/2009 10:12:23 PM
Pffft! I hate asshats like this. The album is NOT dead. Vinyl isn't even fucking dead! Embrace digital, but you don't abandon the album.
COMMENT | ^^ posted by : dutchinggood 9/13/2009 10:14:53 PM
Why are bands not due payments for recording? I mean, I understand if that's your view on the subject and I can totally respect it, but when a band goes to record an album, they should be at least compensated for the time, effort, and energy they put in to the entire recording process... not to mention most bands (usually not so well known ones) come out with a slight debt after spending time recording, considering that most of these bands barely make enough dough from the album sales.
"Downloading is the exact same thing as tape trading, except the artist development is no longer there so there's no building a following to where you eventually buy the product."
I...somewhat agree there, the problem is, is that you completely ignore the fact that the internet and computers are quite possibly the most important technological inventions of the past few centuries. Now everyone has one in there room, no need to leave the house and pick up a bootleg tape at a concert, when everythings a few button clicks away for anyone with a computer, and internet connection. When some kid in korea can download a bands entire discography in under an hour, well then, then you know that technology has once again in history changed the entire way that we function and perceive things.
But you're right, the market place has spoken, and they're saying HEY, we like free stuff, and since there's no consequence, we'll download away. I have plenty of friends who are rabid metal and hard rock fans, that haven't bought an album in their life, and of course, will never.
COMMENT | yeah posted by : FenderFM212 9/13/2009 10:19:01 PM
I'm not even a Cult fan in the least bit, but I agree with Ian. I still go to the store and buy CD's from my favorite bands. The excitement of opening it up and listening to it in my car for the first time, you can't beat it.
More often than not, free MP3s have shit quality, and if I'm gonna pay to download music, I might as well go to the store and buy a CD. At least I know it's going to sound fantastic.
Quit crying about the way things have changed. Man up Ian, and put out some rocking tunes while you have a tight band to do it. You are fortunate to have such great musicians in your band, and they probably want you to ROCK instead of POUT. Write songs, make Cult music, for MUSIC'S sake!
COMMENT | VINYL IS THE CURE posted by : tommthos666 9/13/2009 10:44:29 PM
Vinyl Vinyl Vinyl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Record at closed sessions on good old analog tape the release it in vinly format only.
Ian Astbury and Joe Elliot should start a band called "We Say Random, Vague Shit And Present It As Fact".
COMMENT | posted by : Skanna 9/13/2009 11:38:31 PM
Thank you Generation Download for killing the album, which is the format Metal has always been known for.
Now we can go back to the days of singles. What an advance of civilization.
COMMENT | posted by : TimeLord 9/13/2009 11:56:02 PM
It is unfortunate that the downfall of the recording industry has coincided with a deep economic recession. People just don't have the disposable income available anymore to purchase 5 or 10 CDs (or digital downloads) a month. Digital music has become promotion for live concerts. Record companies will all eventually morph into promotion and/or concert booking agencies and the industry will then "re-align" itself. Bands will just have to tour more than in the past in order to keep a steady income stream. Even music that is downloaded illegally has a great value as a promotional medium. Young persons just don't see it as stealing. In the minds of many- the record companies just shaft the bands anyway,so why make the record companies richer? I don't agree,but that is a common mindset which is difficult to sway. Big bands and smaller bands still make a great deal of money touring.
COMMENT | Generation Download! posted by : deflepplin 9/14/2009 12:01:28 AM
Ha, thats a good one! Yeah, you fucking generation download fucks! Thanks for ruining these guy's posh rock n roll lifestyle with all your downloading. Musicians were gods until YOU came along and said "Hey, I just got all their albums for the price of an internet connection. COOL!"
Before you came along and stole everything, rockers were putting lubed monkeys on their riders, and now, thanks to you, they have to sleep in Motel 6 and spank their own monkey.
Is this sarcastic or serious I don't know...probably a little bit of neither.
COMMENT | ha ian posted by : megal0maniac 9/14/2009 12:07:10 AM
this is somewhat naive !
As people would steal a whole album, people will steal your single too.
You failed to sell on both Atlantic and Roadrunner, although you did hell some 5 and 6 figure numbers, from what the rumor suggested.... you couldn't get added on tv stations as much as MTV is DEAD. and those companies didn't support you with big bucks. Rise and libertine were uber cool songs - but you left libertine - outside the album ? WHY ? and honestly - the latest album - was somewhat mediocre.
Ah and BTW i as a fan who has your body on work on CDs, will NOT BUY any DOWNLOAD ONLY singles !
COMMENT | also lets consider this.... posted by : megal0maniac 9/14/2009 12:17:32 AM
an album could be sold for around 7 $, if mass produced and massively purchased. Which would be fair !
Kiss will go platinum, on sonic boom, cause people will buy their album, a triple CD for 12 $ ! It's simple...
But not every body is kiss and Walmart will not become a record company.
YUP THE BIZ NEEDS TO CHANGE. SO NEEDS LEGISLATION ! THE FANS ALSO NEED TO LEARN TO RESPECT MUSICIANS.
Because if this goes on - i say #$@#$# this, i say musicians should go into restaurants, eat up and then say - hey you know, i didn't like your food - F$%$ OFF - goodbye - i m not paying ! hahahahaha ! And walk away !
COMMENT | Got my ticket yesterday...... posted by : Neil Young's Cocaine Booger 9/14/2009 12:41:11 AM
for the Cult show here!!!!!!!
Looking forward to the 'Love' in it's entirety.....other than on CD.
COMMENT | The Cult is dead not the album format posted by : born1972 9/14/2009 1:32:50 AM
Deep Purple, Sabbath, Free to name a few used to spent a couple of weeks to record their master piece albuns like Burn, Paranoid and Fire ans Water.
Even if Cult spend a decade they can't release anything better than Ceremony album. Wgy? because they aren't that good.
No more excuses Ian, your band is the real dead and buried one.
COMMENT | hate the title mtv posted by : lostinfaith343 9/14/2009 1:38:11 AM
when is the last time you saw music there. Am I old for complaining that there isnt even music on there any more shit I remember when I used to hear stuff on there I hadnt heard before I would stay up all night just to watch "the ball" now they arent shit....playing the same song 20 times day is the same shit we hate about radio, and radio is dead...fix your shit...sorry about the rant..just saw mtv and had to let it out.
"I fucking hate nostalgia," says the singer. "It fucking makes me sick."
Be happy that you have that "nostalgia" catalog. New bands these days will never have a "nostalgic" moment.
Generation Download are killing the art of the CD, whats next? Digital CD's?
COMMENT | Love is the Cult's best album posted by : mfiasco 9/14/2009 4:49:06 AM
Electric was a huge step backwards, in my opinion.
COMMENT | You're naive Ian posted by : disintegrating man 9/14/2009 6:46:26 AM
The format is not dead just because people are downloading it beforehand. They are downloading films too, does this push the film makers into releasing films in a short episode format through internet? No. Does it kill DVD's? No. Can people download i-tunes singles illegally? Yes they can.
Besides, you always need a new album to tour. Without a new album, you're only touring as a novelty act.
Ian, you really need a new manager, and a real one at that. The last album (although it sounded a bit rushed) sounded great. The same goes for Beyond Good And Evil. Give us fans a new album - you need to work hard and have patience to reach the top again, it doesn't come for free!
COMMENT | If you are over 25, this statement is true posted by : Putrid Guts 9/14/2009 9:02:04 AM
I have to agree with him as far as the WHOLE album idea, seems like our attention spans are getting too short these days. No one sits down with a couple of Doobies and goes through the whole album like a movie anymore.
But, I think a lot of people...especially the younger generation will miss out on this type of thing.
Just my opinion, I am 30.
COMMENT | I fucking hate nostalgia... posted by : mummyman 9/14/2009 9:16:53 AM
Yet he's been a Jim Morrison impersonator , is playing Love in it's entirety as already pointed out and since no one wants to hear you play anything accept the material off Electric,Temple and Love....AOR is dead in his estimation and to a large degree he's correct, but bitching about that is also a nostalgia trip..wake the fuck up dude! Please also explain to me how a year and a half in the studio is down the tubes if something is leaked? the songs are what the songs are fuckhead and no one is exactly up in arms over trying to get those latest Cult songs anyway. Astbury is totally fucked in the head and apparently imagines himself and his band as something more than they are
COMMENT | ALBUM FOREVER posted by : krasherr 9/14/2009 11:42:41 AM
Fuck all that single track bs. An album is supposed to be enjoyed in the whole aswell as one-by-one. We've come to this because of record companies from the beginning releasing singles for commercial successes. Hence people have lost attention spans and don't value artist's work anymore. Society has taken a turn for the worst and this emphasised in the depression of album sales in particular. Myself, I buy a couple albums a week (although no new releases)
COMMENT | At least with the internet... posted by : AlienMind 9/14/2009 1:00:48 PM
We don't have to waste money on shitty albums anymore...
COMMENT | The most original band of the 1980's posted by : SOLA 9/14/2009 1:14:49 PM
Saw the Love Live tour a couple of weeks ago, amazing show. The Cult are the most underrated band a perfect mix of; New Wave, Goth, Punk and Hard rock. True originals and one of the best bands ever.
COMMENT | If you think Loved sucked posted by : SOLA 9/14/2009 1:23:27 PM
Your ears must be broken or you're just too dumb to hear it. Love is by far their best complete album. ( I love Electric and Sonic, but they're simply straight forward rock albums, Love is a classic & fundamentaly diverse album that shows off their vast musical talents. It's one of the greatest albums of the 80's era, and is so timeless that it sounds like it came out today if your listening to it for the first time. If all you want to hear is straightforward ac/dc type of riffs and hooks, it's not the album for you...But for a great complete album that pulls from everything from; Led Zep, Hendrix, Stones, Stooges, Doors and Gen. X, this is a great start. They just released the remastered version; Nirvana, Big Neon, Rain, Hollow Man, Revolution & Sanctuary =amazing tracks
COMMENT | Hmmmm... posted by : chaosboy 9/14/2009 1:51:50 PM
The Govner 9/13/2009 9:01:15 PM Yet had no problems trying to pass himself off as Jim Morrison a few years back and now is playing a 24 year old album in it's entirety.
...I think that about says it all right there!
COMMENT | A dog without a bone, and actor out on loan.. posted by : paulster9072 9/14/2009 2:05:43 PM
Im going to go on record as saying somethng that noone else here would probably say or agree with.Ian Astbury is a douchebag for not recording, or finishing (which ever), the album with Ray Manzarek and Robbie Kreiger because I personally really wanted to hear it,especially after them giving so many details and talking about it for so long. I realise alot of people (including the original Doors drummer trashed this from the get go because it cant be "The Doors" without Jim Morrison.Point taken, however, if this album by doors of the 21st century, d21c, or riders on the storm, which ever name it was going to be under had come out it would have given somewhat of a glimpse into what might have been even if Ian is in no ways Jim. Lastly speaking of that, Ian f'king hates nostalgia, and yet he really seemd to be impersonating Morrison to the best of his ability while he was in that group.that was an insult to some.When he walked away and trashed Ray and Robbie, and even Jim, that was a far greater insult in my eyes.Maybe thats why I didnt care for the reunited Cult album that came just after even though I have always loved the cult.
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