THE CULT Frontman Talks To DC101 About Performing Entire 'Electric' Album

On Monday, June 17, Mike Jones of the Washington D.C. radio station DC101 conducted an interview with THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury. You can now listen to the first part of the chat below.

THE CULT will perform its 1987 album "Electric", raw and unfiltered, on tour in 2013, an event branded as "Electric 13". Until now, THE CULT have never performed the album in its entirety. The live show will also include a second set pulling from the band's eight other studio albums.

Commented Ian Astbury: "THE CULT's lifeblood has always been playing live. We are between albums and decided to continue the momentum created by 'Choice Of Weapon', stay in people's hearts and minds. As 'Love Live' was such an incredible experience, we have decided that performing the 'Electric' album, an event that has been demanded by our fans and followers as the perfect live set to play in 2013."

Born out of the ashes of the U.K. post-punk scene, THE CULT evolved to become one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of the late 20th century, selling millions of albums, headlining venues worldwide, infusing innovative possibilities into the worlds of music, art and fashion and quickly ascending through the ranks of the indie music world to achieve global status.

In 1987, THE CULT released "Electric", an album of stylistic change that aimed the band straight at the heart of the rock market. Recorded in New York City at the legendary Electric Ladyland studios and filled with the energy of the dirty NYC streets, together with a young producer named Rick Rubin, who resonated more with the hip hop world of THE BEASTIE BOYS, RUN DMC, and PUBLIC ENEMY; the band delivered an recording that has gone on to become one of THE CULT's most successful and influential albums, and as a follow-up to "Love", kicked the door wide open to a passionate new audience.

"Electric" went on to become the band's first platinum album. They quickly captured media attention featuring heavily in music and fashion magazines as well as becoming an MTV staple after dark and where spun heavily on radio coast to coast.

"Electric" was supported by an incident-filled world tour with GUNS N' ROSES as the opener in North America. Beginning in January of that year, THE CULT headlined in the U.K., Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Australia, opened select dates for IGGY POP and DAVID BOWIE, returning at the end of the year to sell out Wembley Arena and Brixton Academy in London.