With punk-oriented roots and psychedelic influences, British hard rock band The Cult has sure been around the block a time or two.   After many breakups and reunions, their dedicated following in the UK and abroad ever since the mid-80s has brought the band to, well, cult status. Songs like “She Sells Sanctuary” kicked off their career before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as “Love Removal Machine” and “Fire Woman”.
     In 2002 lead singer Ian Astbury was drafted to front the Doors of the 21st Century, a much anticipated role for the Doors fan.  Ian is quoted to say that the band was “really influential,” with the song “The End” from Apocalypse Now being especially impactful on his musical formation (Fresh 102.7).  He was even offered the role as Jim Morrison in the movie The Doors, but turned down the opportunity.
     Fans have closely followed last year’s highly anticipated release of Choice of Weapon. Front man Ian Astbury was reported to say of the album that “These songs have an integrity and rawness of their own. In many ways it’s a different album to the one we released and reveals the foundations of ‘Choice Of Weapon’. We were able to close the doors and begin to explore spaces we had not been in for a while” (Blabbermouth.net). Now the band is announcing up-coming concert dates and the fans are abuzz with excitement.
     “Astbury has been a believer in rock & roll as a messianic calling, and his warnings and proclamations on society and nature continue to fuel the band’s music and attitude,” writes Rolling Stone, naming the Cult as One of the Best Things at Coachella 2014.  “It’s the thread that connected the music of their second Coachella set, from “She Sells Sanctuary” to songs from 2012’s Choice of Weapon. Guitarist and longtime musical partner Billy Duffy provided the grinding, swirling riffs, as they shared a stage blanketed in smoke and flashing lights.”
Catch the band at a handful of festival and select solo dates throughout the summer, when they venture out from recording the follow up to their acclaimed 2012 album Choice Of Weapon.

7/10 – Vancouver, CAN  Commodore – SOLD OUT
7/11 – Victoria, CAN  Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre
7/24 – Santa Ynez, CA  Chumash Casino
7/25 – Del Mar, CA  Del Mar Fairgrounds
7/26 – Riverside, CA  Municipal Auditorium
8/2 – Sturgis, SD  Sturgis Buffalo Chip
8/3 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District
8/5 – Minneapolis, MN – Mill City Nights
8/6 – St. Louis, MI – The Pageant
8/7 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
8/8 – Traverse City, MI – Ground Zero
8/9 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
8/12 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
8/13 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre
8/14 – Bethlehem, PA – The Sands Bethlehem Event Center
8/17 – Kettering, UK  Alt-Fest
Additional show information can be found here.