The Cult: Whatever Happened To The Band Behind 'She Sells Sanctuary'? 

One of most underrated rock bands of all time, still going strong will see them live in November 🤟

Ian Astbury has the perfect rock-n-roll singing voice. What a gift !

Been a fan of The Cult since the Love album and will be a fan forever. Seen them live many times, always put on a great live show... Billy Duffy is one hell of a guitarist!

I always thought that they were going to be much bigger than they ended up being. Great band

They were awesome in concert. One of those bands you cant believe have been around as long as they have. Rock music, touring, sales, etc sure have changed. Billy Duffy is a phenomenal guitarist. Album like Love and Electric and Sonic Temple were fantastic. Glad to see theyre still at it.

Ian Astbury has a very powerful voice with a strong vibrato at the end of each verse he delivers. He has a very broad forehead and face that reminds me of Charles Bronson. And yet he can look like a pretty girl when he wears makeup. And his footwork is incredible. He's also one of the most articulate and insightful artists I've ever heard. They're still playing She Sell Sanctuary on the FM radio stations after it was released 43 years ago so while they may be underrated, they'll never be outdated.

My brother partied all night with these guys, at the bar, in van couver in the late 80's. Said they were real down to earth and aside from the fact that I dig their music, being cool to others is where its at. God Bless em...

They are a great band. I just saw them in Vegas two weeks ago. Still rocking still sound great love it. As long as it’s Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, then you will always have The Cult

A great band that does not get enough recognition or respect. Hard rocking. great musicians and a one of a kind sounding lead vocalist.

Billy duffy was the first “famous” person i met when i moved to LA as a 21 year old in 1991. billy and i played soccer together for 20 years (his is a wicked left foot) and he was always a gracious and kind person to me and to my friends. i can’t speak more highly of him, and he never had any airs or pretensions. just a solid working-class musician (well, he made more money that that but you know what i mean.). Props to him and his great band The Cult, long may they live.

just saw them play in Phoenix a few weeks ago. Underrated, timeless, beyond great. I named my dog Billy Duffy! These guys are real and they ROCK! Their new album is incredible....

Still going strong. Their new album is fantastic!!

Electric brings me back to freshman highschool 86/87. It’s my favorite Cult album. Just good rock that never dies💯

Brother I love that you cover The Cult. One of my most favorite bands of all time and there’s almost no content on them. Thank you! Love this place. ❤

Since day one Sanctuary has been and still is my favorite song ever. Ever. Finally got to see them at the L.A. Colosseum in '89 or '90. Awesome concert. Love is still my favorite album and I thought it was funny when everybody went crazy at how great The Cult was when Electric came out. I was like "where have you been" these guys were awesome a long time ago.

The Cult Electric is one of the best albums of all time, hands down. From start to finish , the record is like taking off on a rocket ship. One great song after another.

The Cult is a band who I continue to find gem after gem musically.

I got to see them at The Grove of Anaheim a few years ago. Small club setting. They were amazing. Really tight. One of the best shows I have ever been to. Everybody there was blown away.

I have been into The Cult since I was a teenager circa mid-late 80's up till today. I seen them live at Milwaukee Summerfest on July 9, 2022 and they can still rock out. I even got my husband into The Cult! Ian's voice is a little gruff but he's been singing a long time and he had just gotten out of a mental health facility just 2 weeks prior. Billy is still in top form, plays his guitars flawlessly. I wish they would clarify that Ian is NOT Native American, he is British and Scottish. He does believe in native spirituality very much and there is nothing wrong with that because that spirituality keeps one grounded and centered which probably saved his life. I love their older songs so much but I do have their new album Under The Midnight Sun. Its very different but still beautiful in its own way. They are much older and wiser now so the music reflects a different time in their lives just as all of us are getting older and at different times in our lives. They are evolving just as many older bands are.

I saw The Cult last Sunday on the last show of their tour in Phoenix. I was so happy to watch and hear Billy Duffy and Ian play live. I loved watching Billy play his Gretsch Whie Falcon! 😁

They just released a new record. Its awesome. Just saw em live. They killed it. Not gone

3:08 That new drummer was Mark Brzezicki of Big Country and he is the reason the Love album is a fantastic piece of work.

I saw them when they were touring Sonic Temple. It was in a relatively small venue in St. Louis, MO with Dangerous Toys and Bonham. I have been going to concerts for 35 years and have seen more really big bands than I can remember. Most of them were bands that I love. I didn't even know The Cult was touring at the time. A friend gave me two tickets the day of the show because he couldn't go. Without a doubt, The Cult was THE BEST BAND I'VE EVER SEEN LIVE! I've seen some amazing bands, but none of them were even close.

I saw the Southern Death Cult at the Brixton Ace when I was 15....Fantastic live. The Death Cult/Cult's Dreamtime and Love Tours were just immense. Their peak for me.

The Cult released their 11th album last month “Under The Midnight Sun”. It’s one of the best albums released this year. Top 5 Cult album imo.

Just saw them on 11/19 in Santa Barbara. Great show! Ian sounded amazing and Billy was his usual badass self. I really think the drummer, John Tempesta, drives their energy. Amazing drummer!!

Still one of the best back to back releases of any band, Love/Electric. Dang, I miss the 80's.

Saw them in Houston Texas at The House of Blues in 2012!!!! They were great. I hate that I didn’t see them in the 80’s. Their music wasn’t played on air very much. Definitely an underrated band!!

They're still around. They released some great stuff recently.

Sonic Temple was the album that got me hooked. ‘Fire Woman’ was and STILL is my GO TO SONG..’Edie’ is another favorite song of mine along with ‘Sweet Soul Sister’ was also an awesome song..I have yet to catch them live. I think they would be an AWESOME SHOW TO SEE LIVE❤

"Under The Midnight Sun" came out recently and it's very good. Ian still sounds great.

The Cult is one of my favorite bands. Ian Astbury's vocals sometimes remind me of Glenn Danzig. 'Electric' is their best album in my opinion, and none [of their albums] are worth skipping. My top picks for someone unfamiliar with them, is to check out their cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild"; or their tribute to fallen stars, as in "Sacred Life" as well as "Universal You" from their self-titled album. The Best of Rare Cult features the gems, "Lay Down Your Gun (Version 2)" and "Bleeding Heart Graffiti", in case you're interested.

I have seen this band through the good times and the bad, so if you love them or hate them really doesn't matter, they payed their dues to be in rock history as one of the greatest bands of all time and they are every true rock band out there's favorite band, just ask any rock band what they think of the cult and they all say this is my jam!!! Sammy Hagar needs to do an interview with them, it would be awesome!!!

I saw The Cult in 1988 in San Diego, the opening act was Guns N' Roses.... Great show !!

Absolutely flipped when love removal machine came out. Bought the album, then their other albums and saw them live once here in Aus at Selena's in sydney. Loudest concert I've ever been to, couldn't hear for 3 days. Ah to be young again...

One of my favourite bands. The holy trinity of Love, Electric (and the Manor/Peace Version) and Sonic Temple are masterworks. One of my first bands were called The Dirty Bastards and our inspiration was The Cult, Danzig, Alice in Chains and Motley Crue. We weren't dumb kids haha

dude, did you just born yesterday? the cult are still performing, still releasing new music and they sound better than ever . A huge band

One the best concerts I ever went to. Love and Electric were F'n incredible albums. These two albums could easily be inserted into todays music. They were such a breath of fresh air in the midst of alot bad 80s music.

What happened to the cult? They’re still kicking ass! I just saw them in Monterey Ca. a week and a half ago. They sounded great and put on a awesome performance and were loud as shit. I had a great time. I hope they’re around another twenty years.

Just seen them in Leamington this past summer. They were awesome. One of my Favorites 🇨🇦 🍁

I can’t believe you didn’t mention Jamie Stewart leaving the band, that was a major thing before Ceremony happened.

I partied with them at a friend's house in South Africa 25 years ago, was fortunate to get the best personal advise of my life from Matt. Blessed!

Saw them in October at the LA Greek theatre. Great show! Also, Black Rebel Moto Club opened for them and they crushed it.

The band ever... Saw them a lot in Europe and love their Concerts. Will allways be a fan of this band 👍🏻👌🏻🇳🇱.

Just saw The Cult at The Sylvee in Madison, Wisconsin. Great live show, still class acts. Ian smiled at me a couple of times, and Billy Duffy gave me a couple picks after the show, great musicians and guys!

I always liked The Cult. 1984-1986 best era for me. Love is a great record.

I discovered The Cult in the 80's & have loved them ever since.

Underrated for sure. They just released a new album "Under The Midnight Sun". As I said elsewhere, their 3 album run of Love/Electric/Sonic Temple was awesome.

I saw The Cult co-headline with Alice Cooper in May at the Hydro In Glasgow in May. Both acts were excellent.

You have got it pretty well covered without going over old ground, going back to the early days in the UK..you need to pay some attention to the latest album. It is the best thing to be written by them, possibly...dare I say EVER, no fillers no overrated producers pulling strings. Every song is rooted firmly in the past and present, and is worthy of headphones and quality time. I haven't felt that need for a couple of decades. It is The Cult on form!

Saw em back in September of this year and they still got it, Definitely a band worth checking out.

I wished they talked more about their later albums like born into this, hidden city, choice of weapon, and the new album under the midnight sun. I already know their history. I want to know more about their recent past and present.

They were never the same after Jaime Stewart left , but I'll always love the CULT.

What happened to The Cult? Still rocking it!!! Saw the Cult in Oct 22 Austin Tx THEY WERE and STILL are AMAZING

I first saw the Cult as a teenager when they were Southern Death Cult while at the same time following Theatre of Hate. I still enjoy the music of both bands, even though I am in my 50s, and have introduced a number of 'youngsters' to their music. Both were great bands to watch perform live.

True story, I was Drag Racing at Houston Raceway Park in the late 90’s. I was very successful and as I won and went back to the Staging Lanes, this Song She Sells Sanctuary would play in my head! Going Round after Round with This Song! Brings me such Sanctuary to Drag Racing! Always! Still listen to them, especially Sanctuary even now.

Thank you so much Rock n Roll True Stories for uploading this great video, I appreciate it!

I literally did not know they were around this long. I'm kind of knew to The Cult and love there music. Thanks for mentioning other songs and albums. Gonna check it out

I saw The Cult in 1987 opening for Billy Idol. Billy Idol was on his way down in popularity, and The Cult where on their way up at the time.

Having met Ian many years ago and being an instrumentalist I still identified with what he and the band have done. A very powerful group without using a bunch of Distortion to do it. Not easily done . And the law Suite was bullshit.

They are still going strong to this day, their latest album (2022) is just amazing

My all time favorite rock band. Bought there new album and wow sounds so good!!!!! Awesome album! Ian and Duff are an amazing pair.👍👍👍

Good video. I always loved The Cult, even though they could really never maintain their early success. But they were so original and different and road and recorded some really great songs. By the way, in 2007 they had a great comeback single with "Dirty Little Rockstar." That song has always been so underrated. I love "She Sells Sanctuary," "Love Removal Machine," "Wild Flower," "Fire Woman," "Sun King," and "Sweet Soul Sister," But in my opinion the greatest song they ever did was the deep, dramatic, powerful, hauntingly beautiful "Edie (Ciao Baby)." That song is an absolute masterpiece, honestly one of the greatest songs of all-time, and I 100% agree with Ian Asbury on that it should have easily been a Top 10 hit.

Ran into billy Duffy in LA the other day ..really cool dude

I saw them like 2 or 3 years ago in Boston. It was the sonic temple anniversary tour. They did the album in order. It sounded amazing.

They did a free show in Las Vegas and it was the first time I heard them. They were so good!

Sweet soul sister is one my all time favorites

What a great vid, man! Love this band. Always wanted to know the inside story. Thank you! Long live The Cult!

Favorite non album track (although it did appear on the Cool World soundtrack and best of compilations): The Witch.

The album Love is one of my all time favourite albums. Sanctuary never fails to get bums off seats, Rain and Revolution are great car tunes. This band was the first band I ever danced too

Electric is still in my top 10 albums ever, it’s a perfect rock record.

One of the best bands to come out of the 80’s

'Whatever happened...?' Uh, they never left; they continue to be on tour, regularly; they release albums with novel experiments in psychedelic post-punk/post-gothic rock. Nothing 'happened' to the **band** ; it's just that some old fans have been distracted and aren't following their career any longer! Others, however, remain faithful; and the most fanatic fans believe that the best album is always the _next_ one - because you cannot predict what The Cult will come up with next!

Saw the cult multiple times, young and old. The last time around, Ian phoned it in. Lack luster performance. I was bummed. Still love them, one of the best ever!

How could they not be happy with the Electric album!?!? It was my first cult album and my favourite still! It’s great from front to back!

They opened for Billy Idol in 1986 or 87, I was there. The singer was SO drunk. It was crazy fun. He kept telling us that every song had "balls", even if it was a ballad.

I saw them around 2001 at a small club in Vienna. It was deafening! Astbury's voice and Duffy's hooks definitely make for an interesting combo.

Saw them in the eighties a few times just took my grandson to see them summer of 2023 sounded great always dug there music

Saw them open up for guns n' roses a few years back in Los angeles. Great show.

Saw the Cult at La Zona Rosa in Austin back in 2006 or 07 and that had to be one of the loudest shows I have ever attended. It was freakin awesome.

I was in my twenties listening to The Cult pushed my way through heavy industrial work surrounded by frozen Cow Hides, blooded Salt Brine, and when I was not building Salt Packed Hides I was operating Forklifts and Bobcat loaders. The Cult’s Ian Astbury voice and Duffy’s powering riffs and bends risen my adrenaline and pushing me through another eight hour day. The Cult was there in the eighties for people like me! Too bad they were having troubles, musically. Ian Astbury voice was powerful.

Another great one! Love your channel, babe! You make it just like home for all Rock lovers!

Excellent stuff !! I discovered the Cult working in a Chart House San Francisco restaurant in 1988, having arrived from Europe. The sound is great, at the time, I couldn't appreciate the Punk techno wave. A good friend of mine now listens to every album riding his Harley Davidson going around Switzerland. Thanks for the detail, ie that one of their album was recorded in the Electric Ladyland studio ... and the producers who gave the impulse for things to happen.

Such s Great kickass band! I always loved their sound and style. The straight ahead approach to Rock was refreshing! Great texture!

Just seen them play as The Death Cult,brilliant gig. Ian was very humble and Billy was amazing.

I loved the 94 self titled album. It's my favorite from them.

Seeing The Cult live in Newport, South Wales on the Electric tour as an 18 year old fan was one of the best nights ever!

I seen them two months ago. They were outstanding. Put on a great show

Bought Belfast tickets last night I can’t wait - saw them years ago and loved them forever

All I heard up and down the Panama City Beach strip during Spring Break 1989 was GNR, The Cult and Tone Loc. lol

Been listening to them since Southern Death Cult. They have amazing catalog of material and the unreleased B sided are gold.

I loved the Cult! I was rocking out to them when a lot of my friends wasnt! I didn't get it! They're fucking awesome and his voice was like between Morrison and Danzig or something!

Impeccable discography. They did gothic & a MONUMENTAL album like "Love" as a result and soon after furious hard rock gems like "Electric", "Sonic Temple" and the MINDBLOWING and terribly ignored "Ceremony" which I saw them on that Tour and they were phenomenal as always. The rest it´s history: until now they never stopped doing great stuff. Even the "alternative" "The Cult" is impressive.

One of my favorite bands! I've never seen them but I want to badly! Been following them since "Electric".

Although I never met Ian there, it turns out he attended my high school briefly in the early eighties, (Glendale - Hamilton Ontario,) as his family were in between moves out of England just before his band took off.

I saw them on that tour with Metallica in 1989... they sounded fantastic that night! Really excellent show... both bands were at their peak.

Seen them many times live, always a great show. I also saw them open for GNR, definitely the best I have ever seen them live. When you open for GNR in front of 60K people you've got to bring your A game and they did just that!

The Cult just released an album and have been touring all yeat. I saw them again for thr 7th time this yeat..alive and kicking

Ian Astbury is one of the most underrated & misunderstood characters in rock music. He & Billy Duffy contributions have made a gargantuan impact on my life & my level of appreciation for them, deep. It's interesting to see how upon their initial exploration into the music of the 1960's, they were literally attacked for it. Not that I condone violence - but it goes to show just how utterly passionate people were about art 25-45 years ago. I'm sure that Astbury was displeased but also understood where it was coming from. Forever thankful for their pioneer merging of genres that are beloved to me & the long legacy of great work in their wake. The Cult forever 🖤🖤🖤

Under The Midnight Sun, happened to them. Great Concept Album sounds like a goodbye album.