By Noe Gutierrez
The Cult will be releasing their new album, Hidden City on February 5th 2016. Their first single, “Dark Energy” was released on November 6th and is classic and progressive Cult. Ian Astbury explained about The Cult’s new album this week, “Hidden City is a metaphor for our spiritual lives, our intimate interior lives. I find today’s gurus are trying to peddle some cure, product or insight as if it’s a new phenomenon. My place is to respond, not react, to observe, participate and share through words and music. There is no higher authority than the heart.” It’s this affirmation of he and his band’s place in the world that has bolstered their standing in rock history. The Cult is back and will end their short West Coast trek by performing on Saturday, November 21st at Spotlight 29 Casino. Coachella Valley Weekly was able to catch up with the one and only Cult guitarist Billy Duffy this past week.
On Hidden City
“I wrote the music. Ian’s got a very eloquent explanation of the lyrical and thematic elements on the album.
We were very intimately involved with Bob Rock the producer from the get-go. Bob came back and helped finish the last album Choice of Weapon that Chris Goss started. The songs are more crafted and more diverse.”
On Ian Astbury
“We’ve always had a pretty open relationship. That’s why the band has lasted so long. As songwriting partners we’ve always had a very open attitude.
You just have to work it out to keep going back to the well and write with the same person. You have to do whatever it takes to get the songs because without the songs you don’t have anything.”
On Coachella 2014
“The second weekend is more of the people interested in music. The first weekend is the party-poser weekend. People have a slight interest in music and a big interest in partying and selfies. The energy is very very different. We adapted the set because after the first week we felt that we were trying to put on a traditional Cult rock show, albeit it a bit shorter. When you’ve got an electronic music tent 400 yards away I think music fans and Cult fans were bombarded and you just don’t have the same ability to absorb mood as you might in a concert theater. The second week we shortened the set with no breaks between the songs and kept the intensity up and it seemed to go better. It was an interesting thing for me to adapt to the environment.”
On the Desert Connection
“I’m partial to Desert Hot Springs. I’ve gone to the hot springs for the last twenty odd years for a little bit of peace, quiet and tranquility. I remember Palm Springs when they used to have Spring Break there and it was kids on motorbikes with no clothes on. It’s funny to see how it’s changed. I still love it. I’m a big fan of the desert.”
On Selflessness
“To me, as you get older, you want to give back. When you’re younger it’s all take-take-take and where’s mine? Where’s the party? As you get older it’s less about the external and more about internal fulfillment. I have the opportunity and the ability to help people and that’s more satisfying as a guy in my 50’s.”
On being a ‘Guitar God’
“As most people, I have quite a fragile ego. I have certain strengths as a guitar player. I’m never gonna be a shredder. I have my moments. It’s more important to sound unique and to have your own style. Some spend years of their life copying other people in your bedroom. I wanted to play guitar to have some fun, experience life, meet girls and have a good time. If I wanted to join the orchestra I would have learned the violin. In the end, as a guitar player, I play from the heart and those are the guitar players that talk to me. As a fan, it’s not always about technical abilities it’s about soul and heart. That’s what Ian respects in me. It’s real. It’s honest.”
“If you look at old footage of Hendrix and the other true legends when they were playing they were gutting it out. They weren’t practicing scales. They were living life and communicating something with their music that was real, visceral and tangible. It wasn’t, ‘Hey! Look at me! I can do three backwards scales and play two guitars at once because I haven’t left the house in four years.’”
“I’ll take the props. I will say this, it’s difficult to play a big rock guitar on a Gretsch. There are very few guys who can literally play wah wahs through Marshalls.”
On the songs
“It’s the immediacy of the crowd reaction; that immediate connection with the crowd that takes things to another level. The songs that get that reaction are the ones I enjoy. “She Sells Sanctuary” is a very good song to play. We never tire of playing that one. It’s been thirty odd years. I can’t say the same for “Fire Woman.” It was just brought back out of retirement. We put it on the back shelf for a couple of years because Ian wasn’t feeling it. That song is a bit more demanding to play. It’s not technically difficult but very choppy to play for me. I have to really concentrate when I play “Fire Woman.” I don’t look forward to playing it. I know people like it. It’s also a very difficult song vocally.”
“Rain” was crafted to be a follow-up to “Sanctuary.” It was more perspiration than inspiration. Sometimes you get lucky and you get the good grace and other times you roll your sleeves up for a song that has integrity as a musical piece and not just a cynical rewrite.
“Sanctuary” is dance-rock and “Rain” is rock-dance.”
The Cult are Ian Astbury (vocals), Billy Duffy (guitars), John Tempesta (drums), Grant Fitzpatrick (bass), Damon Fox (keyboards + rhythm guitar).
THE CULT w/ PRIMAL SCREAM
Nov. 12 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Nov. 14 – Showbox Showdo – Seattle, WA
Nov. 15 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 17 – Warfield Theater – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 19 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Nov. 20 – Palladium – Hollywood, CA
THE CULT
Nov. 21 – Spotlight 29 Casino – Coachella, CA
Noe Gutierrez
(760) 485-0948 | desertmusic1@gmail.com
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