THE CULT "On Ice", Members Pursue Outside Projects

THE CULT are strongly rumored to have been put “on ice” indefinitely in the wake of the group's apparent dissatisfaction with the promotional push they'd received from Lava/Atlantic Records for their seventh album Beyond Good & Evil and the record's eventual lackluster sales performance (the album has shifted 161,052 copies in the US to date, according to Soundscan). It is believed that both vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy will be pursuing outside projects, with Duffy dedicating at least part of his time to COLOURSOUND, the side project he'd formed with Mike Peters (guitars/vocals, THE ALARM),Craig Adams (bass, THE MISSION) and Scott Garrett (drums, ex-THE CULT),which released a self-titled debut album through 21st Century Records/Sanctuary Music back in 1999. According to a recent statement by THE CULT touring bassist Billy Morrison, “I've been told [that] THE CULT are on ice, which does not [necessarily] mean 'split up'. It means Ian and Billy are doing other things. As the new guy, I consider myself lucky to have been able to be a part of such a great band. If I get the phone call to play, I'll be there. I always said I was loyal. Until then, my intention is to make my own music, as I am sure the others are doing as well. I am finishing demos as we speak, will be looking for the rest of my band (all rumors about my guitarist are unfounded right now!!!) and will be playing shows as soon as all that is in place. In the meantime, I am in the process of getting a web site up (if I can get my head around all that stuff!!) and that will serve as my space, my forum for what I'm trying to do. I sincerely hope that THE CULT want me involved in the future, and I'm sure more will be revealed… The best is yet to come.”