An Interview With THE CULT’S Guitarist and Founding Member, BILLY DUFFY, On Their Legacy and Their Upcoming Revolution 3 Tour!

Formed in 1983, The Cult are a British rock band. They currents members include Ian Astbury (vocals, guitar, percussion), Billy Duffy (lead guitar), Damon Fox (keyboards, vocals), Grant Fitzpatrick (bass guitar, vocals) and John Tempesta (drums, percussion). They first broke into the mainstream with their debut album “”Dreamtime” which contained the singles “Love Removal Machine” and “Fire Woman.” From there, they went on to release “Love” (1985), “Electric” (1987), “Sonic Temple” (1989), “Ceremony (1991), “The Cult” (1994), “Beyond Good and Evil” (2001), “Born Into This” (2007), “Choice of Weapon” (2012) and “Hidden City” (2016). 

This summer, The Cult will be joining Stone Temple Pilots and Bush on the Revoltion 3 Tour. This tour begins next week on July 18th in Nashville and will wrap on September 2nd in Phoenix.

The Cult’s Ian Astbury said in a statement earlier this year, “We look forward to celebrating glorious summer nights of responsible (and irresponsible) hedonism with all of you.”

Check out our sneak preview of the tour here: https://music.allaccess.com/a-preview-of-this-summers-forthcoming-revolution-3-tour-starring-tri-headliners-bush-stone-temple-pilots-and-the-cult/

Purchase Tickets Here: Ticketmaster

Full Tour Dates:

Learn more about The Cult in the following All Access interview with The Cult member Billy Duffy:

Thanks for your time! So how has 2018 been treating you and the band so far? What is one musical goal that you have had for this year? How close are you to accomplishing it?

So far things have gone pretty much to plan, which is to play fewer but larger shows in 2018.

Can you recall the exact moment when you thought you could be in this band together? Does it ever surprise you that after these years as a group, you are still together performing music?  

When Ian came down to Brixton in the spring of 1983 and stayed in my flat, we talked, dreamed and wrote some songs and I felt we had a genuine and true bond that would endure.

How do you think being a musician and in this band gives you all the most joy in life today?

Since my first ever professional band I felt blessed to make a living doing something I enjoy, and that enables me to bring joy to others through the music we have created. It’s still the same today.

How do you think being from the UK has influenced your sound and how you all carry yourselves in this group? Do you think that if you have formed anywhere else that your music would sound different than it does today?

Punk rock from the mid 70’s and what came prior in the UK has been a big influence on The Cult.  It’s still in our DNA to this day, even though we attempt to push forward musically and respect the past, but not dwell in it.

American music as experienced from a UK perspective had an influence on The Cult, as it did on all the English bands prior to us.  It’s all very natural to my mind.

Billy, as one of the two founding members still in this band, how do you think what motivates The Cult to continue making music has grown and developed over the years? Has what gives you joy in this group transformed?

The challenge of making new music helps to constantly reinvigorate the band, Ian and myself from time to time so we don’t just play legacy music, as much as that’s ok in moderation.

Where did the idea to go on the Revolution 3 Tour with Stone Temple Pilots and Bush first originate? Did you all immediately agree to it? How excited are you guys to get it started in July? Have you been wanting to go on a big tour like this?

Initially it was The Cult and STP looking to do a tour together, and luckily for us Bush came along at the right moment to complete the package. I’m sure it took a lot of effort behind the scenes from managers, agents and promotors to actually make it a reality.

Will you be performing at any venues that you have never played at before? Where are you most looking forward to playing at? What can you tease about this tri-headlining show to fans that have bought their tickets?

I think it’s mostly venues we have not played before which was the point of joining forces with the other bands. I’m excited and the kicker is that each band plays a different slot at each show which is fairly unusual.  We are all headliners, special guests and openers!

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

I’d say on stage is where I feel most at home, although these days the travel is zero fun for the most part.  I do enjoy the studio process once in a while but it’s kind of slow, laborious and frustrating if you don’t get to make new songs sound as good as you imagined they would. But as I said earlier, it’s important to rise to the challenge of creating new forward thinking rock n’ roll music.

Can Cult fans expect new music from you guys anytime soon? Are you currently working on any new music or just getting ready for the big summer tour?

I’d say new music is always probable when Ian and I work together for any length of time. However, how much and in what form is yet to be decided. It’s all about quality not quantity these days with us.

After all this time that you have been releasing music, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs? What do you hope they take away from one of your shows? 

Being uplifted and invigorated by the music and possibly motivated to be kinder and more thoughtful by the lyrics.  On some levels I want people to leave a Cult show entertained and exhausted, and on other levels inspired to live the right way, which is to say let love rule.

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