Biography for
Ian Astbury More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 May 1962, Heswall, Cheshire, England, UK

Birth Name

Ian Robert Astbury

Height

5' 10½" (1.79 m)

Spouse

Heatherlyn Campbell

(1991 - 1997) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

Lead singer of rock band The Cult

Stepped into Jim Morrison's shoes in doing vocals for the new incarnation of the Doors, touring as the 21st century Doors throughout 2002-2003. As of summer of 2004 he is still touring with the "21st Century Doors", a move which is angering many of The Cult's fans that are waiting for The Cult to tour again.

He and guitarist Billy Duffy have been in the band "The Cult" since 1983. They are the only two permanent band members, with an almost constantly changing drummer, bass player and rhythm guitarist.

In 1996, he started up a side band called "The Holy Barbarians", named after a book of beatnik philosophy and poetry by Lawrence Lipton. The band did one record, "Cream", named after a popular London nightclub in April 1996, and then split up some time around 1997.

Was being considered in 1991 to play Jim Morrison in the film "The Doors", but turned down the role because neither he nor the other surviving members of The Doors like the way that Jim Morrison was going to be portrayed in that film.

Spent 29 days in the army in 1979.

During a four year hiatus from The Cult from 1995 to 1999, traveled extensively to Japan, China, Nepal, Tibet, Vietnam, Cuba, New York, London and Los Angeles.

Is an avid collector of WWII memorabilia.

Worked as a member of U2's road crew in 1980.

For reasons known only to the band, he is sometimes referred to as "Ezekial".

Born in Heswall, in Cheshire England. He was named after his father Robert Astbury, who was a merchant seaman, and kept the family moving while Ian was young. Grew up in Merseyside England, then Liverpool, then Glasgow, Scotland. He immigrated to Canada in 1973. He moved to Belfast in Northern Ireland in 1979, then Brixton, England, and then eventually ended up in Bradford England, in autumn of 1981.

His mother died of cancer on his 17th birthday - his father also died of cancer when Ian was 29 years old

In 1996 when he toured with his side band "The Holy Barbarians", he read poetry by Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac aloud to the audience during concerts.

Born on the same day as Poison guitarist C.C. Deville.

Two sons: Dustyn Astbury and Che Astbury (named after Che Guevara)

On The Cult's 1994 Black Sheep record, two songs: 'Naturally High' and 'Sacred Life' were written as a tribute to Nigel Preston, Ian's friend and former drummer for The Cult, who died in 1992.

In February 1993, The Cult's best of collection titled 'Pure Cult: Music for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners' debuted at #1 on the charts in Britain and went double platinum in that country. It later went to number one on the charts in Portugal.

Usually plays tambourine (for percussion) in addition to singing, and throws his tambourines out into the audience throughout The Cult's concerts.

Oliver Stone's first choice to portray Jim Morrison in "The Doors" (1991).

He's traveled to Bombay several times and says he loves India and its people. He's also been to Mt Everest.

Lives in Los Angeles.

Personal Quotes

Talking about The Cult's 1999 reunion tour: "Our tour will be a gathering place for desperate souls. People who have been recently disappointed by watered-down, commercialized, mediocre rock music. A lot of rock bands are like little kids playing with big-boy toys - we're playing by big-boy rules. This tour is for people who need meat in their sandwich."

We never had fans - we have addicts. You either need it or you don't. You either get it or you won't. There is nothing casual about The Cult. We attract pure votaries.

Where Are They Now

(October 2005) Currently in India, taking a one month holiday from touring with the revamped version of The Doors.

(2006) Currently touring with The Cult on their 'Return to Wild Tour' across North and South America and Europe.

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