Theatre of Hate
Encyclopedia
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk
band formed in Britain
in 1980.
Led by singer-songwriter
and ex-member of punk
band The Pack, Kirk Brandon
, the original group also consisted of: guitarist
Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers
(The Straps
/Epileptics), saxophonist John Lennard and drummer
Luke Rendle from Crisis/The Straps.
band formed in 1978. Comprising Kirk Brandon (vocals, guitar), Simon Werner (died 26th Nov 2010) (guitar), Jonathan Werner (bass), and Rab Fae Beith (later UK Subs) (drums) later replaced by Jim Walker (drums). The band released two singles in 1979, before a change of name to Theatre of Hate.
." Theatre of Hate garnered much early attention as a live act and made their album debut in 1981 with the concert LP
He Who Dares Wins Live at the Warehouse Leeds. Shortly after the album's release however, Steve Guthrie left the band.
Another concert recording, Live at the Lyceum followed, and in August 1981 Theatre of Hate entered the studio
with producer
Mick Jones
of The Clash
to record their first non-live album debut, Westworld, which was released on February 19, 1982 and went on to reach the UK
Top 20.
Shortly after the album was recorded new guitarist Billy Duffy
(formerly of The Nosebleeds
) joined the band and a little later drummer Luke Rendle was replaced by Nigel Preston. The album reached #17 in the UK Albums Chart
, and also spawned the Top 40 single
"Do You Believe in the Westworld".
In February 1982, Theatre of Hate released another live album entitled He Who Dares Wins: Live in Berlin recorded in September 1981, and in April 1982 Billy Duffy left the band to join Death Cult
, the band continuing for a short time before splitting up later that year. Demos for the unreleased second studio album were released as Ten Years After in 1993.
Brandon went on to front Spear of Destiny
with bassist Stammers. A post break-up compilation album Revolution spent three weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at #67. Nigel Preston joined his former bandmate Billy Duffy
as drummer for The Cult
, playing on their 1984 album Dreamtime
.
In 1991 Theatre of Hate reformed for the Return to 8 tour which included some of the original band members, these included Brandon, Stammers and Lennard, with the addition of Pete Barnacle
on drums and guitarist Mark Thwaite
of Spear of Destiny
& The Mission
. A live recording of the London Astoria show featuring this line-up was later released on CD - 'Theatre of Hate Act 4' - on Plastic Head records.
In July/August 1994 Brandon, Stammers, John McNutt and Art Smith went into Mix-O. Lydian Studio, Boonton
, New Jersey
with Brad Morrision to record a new album under the Theatre of Hate banner. Retribution was not released until early 1996 in both the U.S. and UK.
To coincide with Westworld
s 25th anniversary, Theatre of Hate reformed for a week-long tour culminating at the Carling Academy Islington
on 29 April 2007. Of the original line-up, only Stammers was unavailable, due to conflicting schedules and family commitments in the U.S.
where he now lives. Replacing him was Craig Adams
, former bassist with The Cult
, The Sisters of Mercy
and The Mission
, joining Brandon, Guthrie, Lennard, and Rendle for the reunion.
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band formed in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1980.
Led by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and ex-member of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Pack, Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon is an English musician.-Musical career:Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, South London, with the formation of punk group The Pack, in which he was the singer/songwriter....
, the original group also consisted of: guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers is best known as the bass player for British post punk band Theatre of Hate, Spear Of Destiny and Plastic Eaters co. founded with Robdaly. In 1999 Stammers and Plastic Eaters gained an artist sponsorship from Adidas. Stan uses Wal basses produced by renowned bass manufacturer ...
(The Straps
The Straps
The Straps are an English streetpunk band, formed in 1978 in Battersea, South London. Jim Walker was a drummer for the band in the early 1980s. Other members included Andi Sexgang, and Simon and Jonathan Werner from The Pack, who later became Theatre of Hate....
/Epileptics), saxophonist John Lennard and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Luke Rendle from Crisis/The Straps.
The Pack
The Pack were a British punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in 1978. Comprising Kirk Brandon (vocals, guitar), Simon Werner (died 26th Nov 2010) (guitar), Jonathan Werner (bass), and Rab Fae Beith (later UK Subs) (drums) later replaced by Jim Walker (drums). The band released two singles in 1979, before a change of name to Theatre of Hate.
Albums
- The Pack LiveThe Pack LiveThe Pack Live is a live album released on cassette only by The Pack in 1982.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# A1 "Legion"# A2 "Brave New Soldiers"# A3 "Death to Life"# A4 "Thalidomide"# A5 "Somewhere"# B1 "Heathen"# B2 "St...
(live album, recorded 1979, released 1982, cassette only) - Dead RoninDead RoninDead Ronin is a compilation album by The Pack, released by Yeaah! Records in 2000.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# "a Brave New Soldiers"# "a King of Kings"# "Legion"# "Abattoir"# "Heathen"# "Vauxhall Savage"# "Number 12"...
(compilation, 2000)
Singles
| Title | Release date | Album | UK chart position | UK Indie Chart UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Brave New Soldiers"/"Heathen" | 1979 | - | - | - |
| "King of Kings"/"Number 12" | November 1979 | - | - | - |
| "Kirk Brandon & The Pack of Lies Kirk Brandon & The Pack of Lies Kirk Brandon & The Pack of Lies is the first of two EPs by The Pack, released by SS Records in 1980.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.#A1 "Brave New Soldiers"#A2 "Heathen"#B1 "King of Kings"#B2 "Number 12"-Personnel:... " EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... |
1980 | - | - | - |
| "Long Live the Past E.P. Long Live the Past E.P. Long Live the Past is the second of two EPs by The Pack. Released by Cyclõps Records in 1982, it spent five weeks on the UK Indie Chart, peaking at number 12.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.#A1 "Thalidomide"#A2 "King of Kings"#B1 "St... " |
April 1982 | - | - | #12 |
Theatre of Hate
In 1980, the Pack had evolved into Theatre of Hate, with Luke Rendle replacing Walker on drums, Stan Stammers joining on bass, Steve Guthrie on guitar and John 'Boy' Lennard on sax (the Werners joined the Straps, who Stammers had previously played for). The first Theatre of Hate release was the "Original Sin" single in November 1980, which reached #5 on the UK Indie ChartUK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
." Theatre of Hate garnered much early attention as a live act and made their album debut in 1981 with the concert LP
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
He Who Dares Wins Live at the Warehouse Leeds. Shortly after the album's release however, Steve Guthrie left the band.
Another concert recording, Live at the Lyceum followed, and in August 1981 Theatre of Hate entered the studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
to record their first non-live album debut, Westworld, which was released on February 19, 1982 and went on to reach the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Top 20.
Shortly after the album was recorded new guitarist Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
(formerly of The Nosebleeds
The Nosebleeds
The Nosebleeds was a short-lived punk band formed in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England in 1976. Though the band never recorded an album and released just one single, it is well known in modern rock history for the later successes of its individual members...
) joined the band and a little later drummer Luke Rendle was replaced by Nigel Preston. The album reached #17 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, and also spawned the Top 40 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Do You Believe in the Westworld".
In February 1982, Theatre of Hate released another live album entitled He Who Dares Wins: Live in Berlin recorded in September 1981, and in April 1982 Billy Duffy left the band to join Death Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, the band continuing for a short time before splitting up later that year. Demos for the unreleased second studio album were released as Ten Years After in 1993.
Brandon went on to front Spear of Destiny
Spear of Destiny (band)
Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1982 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.-Biography:...
with bassist Stammers. A post break-up compilation album Revolution spent three weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at #67. Nigel Preston joined his former bandmate Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
as drummer for The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, playing on their 1984 album Dreamtime
Dreamtime
In the animist framework of Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Dreaming is a sacred era in which ancestral Totemic Spirit Beings formed The Creation.-The Dreaming of the Aboriginal times:...
.
In 1991 Theatre of Hate reformed for the Return to 8 tour which included some of the original band members, these included Brandon, Stammers and Lennard, with the addition of Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle is a drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Yngwie Malmsteen , Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune.-With Gillan:...
on drums and guitarist Mark Thwaite
Mark Thwaite
Mark Gemini Thwaite has been the guitarist for a number of British rock bands and artists over the last two decades, including The Mission, Tricky, Peter Murphy, New Disease, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Mob Research , and Canadian band National Velvet plus various guest appearances...
of Spear of Destiny
Spear of Destiny (band)
Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1982 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.-Biography:...
& The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
. A live recording of the London Astoria show featuring this line-up was later released on CD - 'Theatre of Hate Act 4' - on Plastic Head records.
In July/August 1994 Brandon, Stammers, John McNutt and Art Smith went into Mix-O. Lydian Studio, Boonton
Boonton, New Jersey
Boonton is a town in Morris County, New Jersey that was chartered in 1867. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 8,347. The town was originally called "Boone-Towne" in 1761 in honor of the Colonial Governor Thomas Boone....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
with Brad Morrision to record a new album under the Theatre of Hate banner. Retribution was not released until early 1996 in both the U.S. and UK.
To coincide with Westworld
Westworld (Theatre of Hate album)
Westworld is the only studio album released by Theatre of Hate prior to the band's dissolution in 1982. Released by Burning Rome Records in 1982, Westworld has been re-issued three times since, most recently on Compact Disc by Snapper Music in 1997....
s 25th anniversary, Theatre of Hate reformed for a week-long tour culminating at the Carling Academy Islington
Carling Academy Islington
The O2 Academy Islington, formerly known as the Carling Academy Islington, is an indoor music venue situated in the N1 Shopping Centre accessible via Upper Street and Liverpool Road, in the London Borough of Islington. It is run by the Academy Music Group...
on 29 April 2007. Of the original line-up, only Stammers was unavailable, due to conflicting schedules and family commitments in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he now lives. Replacing him was Craig Adams
Craig Adams (musician)
Craig Adams is a British musician, bass guitarist and songwriter. Over his career he worked with a variation of rockbands while also being part of a touring crew....
, former bassist with The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
and The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
, joining Brandon, Guthrie, Lennard, and Rendle for the reunion.
Studio
- WestworldWestworld (Theatre of Hate album)Westworld is the only studio album released by Theatre of Hate prior to the band's dissolution in 1982. Released by Burning Rome Records in 1982, Westworld has been re-issued three times since, most recently on Compact Disc by Snapper Music in 1997....
(1982) (UK #17) - Ten Years AfterTen Years After (Theatre of Hate album)Ten Years After is the first of two studio albums by Theatre of Hate released after the band's dissolution in 1983.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# "The Hop" # "Americana" # "Eastworld" # "Grapes Of Wrath"...
(released 1993) - RetributionKirk Brandon's 10:51Kirk Brandon's 10:51 is the band formed during a visit by Kirk Brandon to Stan Stammers in Philadelphia, USA whilst Spear of Destiny was on hiatus. Stone In The Rain is the band's only album to date, released by Anagram Records in 1995 . The album was released by Dojo Records in the U.S...
(released 1996) - Aria of the DevilAria of the DevilAria of the Devil is the second of two studio albums by Theatre of Hate released posthumously after the band's dissolution in 1983.-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# "Ovature" # "Aria Of The Devil"...
(released 1998)
Live
- He Who Dares Wins (1981) (UK Indie #1)
- Live At The Lyceum (1981)
- He Who Dares Wins: Live In Berlin (1982) (UK Indie #3)
- Original Sin Live (1982, released 1985) (UK Indie #12)
- Love is a Ghost (live 14/6/1981) (2000)
Compilations
- Revolution (1984) (UK #67, UK Indie #1)
- The Complete Singles Collection (1995)
- Theatre of Hate Act 1 (1998) (combines Revolution and Live in Sweden)
- Theatre of Hate Act 2 (1998) (combines Ten years After and He Who Dares Wins)
- Theatre of Hate Act 3 (1998) (combines Retribution and Bingley Hall)
- Theatre of Hate Act 4 (1998) (combines The Sessions and Live at the Astoria)
- Theatre of Hate Act 5 (1998) (combines The Singles and He Who Dares Wins)
- The Best of Theatre of Hate (2000)
Singles
| Title | Release date | Album | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... position |
UK Indie Chart UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Original Sin"/"Legion" | November 1980 | - | - | 5 |
| "Rebel Without A Brain"/"My Own Invention" | April 1981 | - | - | 3 |
| "Nero"/"Incinerator" | July 1981 | - | - | 2 |
| "Do You Believe In The West World"/"Propaganda" | January 1982 | Westworld Westworld (Theatre of Hate album) Westworld is the only studio album released by Theatre of Hate prior to the band's dissolution in 1982. Released by Burning Rome Records in 1982, Westworld has been re-issued three times since, most recently on Compact Disc by Snapper Music in 1997.... |
40 | 1 |
| "The Hop"/"Conquistador" | May 1982 | - | 70 | - |
| "Eastworld"/"Assegai" | November 1982 | - | - | 3 |
| "Americanos" | unreleased | - | - | - |
Reference work
- Record CollectorRecord CollectorRecord Collector is the United Kingdom's longest-running monthly music magazine. It distributes both within the UK and worldwide. It started in 1979.-The early years:...
#102 (February, 1988) - Chart runs in the UK Singles Chart since 1952