in a transitionary period between gothic post punk and rock, ian astbury disbanded the southern death cult, and formed the death cult with guitar hero billy duffy (theatre of hate).

friday the 13th, january 1984, they announce their new name, "the cult" on their television debut. "we're more about life than death" says astbury. they tour america and hit the major labels.

the rest is rock history, not deathrock history.