London, UK · post-punk · goth rock

Theatre of Hate

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Tribal drums and howling vocals — post-punk at its most operatic and least apologetic, 'Westworld' still towering.

Before Theatre of Hate, Kirk Brandon led The Pack, a punk band he formed in 1978 with Simon Werner, Jonathan Werner and drummer Rab Fae Beith, who later joined UK Subs and was replaced by Jim Walker. The Pack released two singles, 'Heathen' and 'King of Kings,' in 1979 and an EP the following year before splitting, clearing the way for Brandon's next project.

Theatre of Hate formed in London in 1980 around Brandon, bassist Stan Stammers, previously of The Straps and The Epileptics, saxophonist John 'Boy' Lennard, guitarist Steve Guthrie and drummer Luke Rendle, who had played in Crisis and The Straps. That mix of players set the tone for a band built as much on rhythm and horn as on guitar.

The group built its sound on pounding, tribal drum patterns, prominent saxophone and Brandon's declamatory, wide-vibrato vocals, placing them alongside the more theatrical end of post-punk rather than its austere wing. Their album Westworld, produced by Mick Jones of The Clash, remains the record they are best known for, along with the single 'Do You Believe in the Westworld.'

Brandon went on to form Spear of Destiny, and has revived Theatre of Hate periodically over the years, with guitarist Billy Duffy among the musicians who passed through the early line-up.

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post-punkgoth rock