Cardiacs are an English rock band hailing from Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. [1] The band was formed by frontman Tim Smith with his brother bassist Jim Smith, vocalist Michael Pugh and drummer Peter Tagg in 1977. [2] [3] Since its inception, more than a dozen members have cycled through the group, contributing keyboards, percussion, vocals and woodwind. [2] The Smith brothers were the only constant members in Cardiacs' regularly changing line-up. [4]
After playing his first gig as Gazunder, Tim Smith formed Cardiacs under the name Cardiac Arrest, [5] [a] and released their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979. [8] It was recorded by the band's first full lineup, including keyboardist Colvin "Max" Mayers and saxophonist Ralph Cade. [9] [7] The same year, Tagg was replaced by Mark Cawthra and went on to form the Trudy with Cade. [10] Cardiac Arrest's reputation was kickstarted with two cassette-only albums — The Obvious Identity (1980) and Toy World (1981) — and they adopted the name Cardiacs on the second. [11] [5] During this time, Mayers left and later joined the Sound. [12] Cade was replaced by Sarah Cutts in 1981 on keyboards and saxophone, [13] who married Tim Smith three years later. [8] By 1983, the band had reached a semi-stable lineup with percussionist and keyboardist Tim Quy, keyboardist William D. Drake and drummer Dominic Luckman. [11] For a short time, Cardiacs were an eight-piece with the employment of guitarist Graham Simmonds and saxophonist Marguerite Johnston, [7] who featured on the cassette album The Seaside (1984) released by their own label the Alphabet Business Concern. [14]
The six-piece lineup toured extensively alongside Alphabet label representatives the Consultant and Miss Swift. [15] Shortly after releasing On Land and in the Sea (1989), Cardiacs were joined by guitarist Christian "Bic" Hayes the same year. [16] Hayes appeared on the video and subsequent live album All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992; 1995), which was also their last performance with Quy. [7] Drake and Sarah Smith also left the group, continuing to guest on future albums, and Hayes was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Jon Poole in 1991. [17] [18] By 1992, the band had slimmed to a four-piece for Heaven Born and Ever Bright , displaying a new metal-leaning sound. [19] Mayers died due to complications with AIDS in 1993. [20] Luckman was replaced by drummer Bob "Babba" Leith the same year, giving Cardiacs their second "classic" lineup on Sing to God (1996). [21] [22] The lineup continued on Guns (1999) with assistance from session musicians. [23]
Poole subsequently left Cardiacs to join the Wildhearts as a bassist after playing in Silver Ginger 5. [24] He was replaced by guitar tech, Kavus Torabi in 2003 who played on the two volume live album The Special Garage Concerts (2005). [15] [25] Between 2004 and 2008, Cardiacs expanded their lineup to include vocalists Claire Lemmon and Melanie Woods of Sidi Bou Said and Sharron Fortnam of the North Sea Radio Orchestra, as well as percussionists Cathy Harabaras and Dawn Staple. [26] [27] The collective released the single "Ditzy Scene" in 2007, [4] teasing an upcoming double album called LSD which was due to be released in October 2008. [17] [28] Cardiacs stopped touring the same year, [29] and the band's lineup comprised Tim Smith, Jim Smith, Bob Leith, Kavus Torabi, Melanie Woods and Cathy Harabaras until the 2008 hospitalisation of Tim Smith resulted in an indefinite hiatus. [30] [31] On 22 July 2020, it was confirmed by Torabi that Smith had died of a heart attack the previous night. [5] [3] Former percussionist Tim Quy died on 2 February 2023 after a lengthy battle with several health problems. [32]
Cardiacs announced their return to the stage in 2023 in Tim Smith's honour, playing the Garage on 4 May 2024 (subsequently adding dates 3 May at the Garage and 5 May at Brudenell Social Club). [33] On 3 May, the band consisted of Jim Smith, Hayes, Leith and Poole, with Craig Fortnam (percussion, keys), Chloe Herington (saxophone), and Adrien Rodes (keyboards). Sharron Fortnam, Joanne Spratley, Tiny Wood from Ultrasound and Sleepy People, Torabi and Cawthra were guests. [34]
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Smith ("Patty Pilf") |
|
| all releases | |
Christian "Bic" Hayes |
|
|
| |
Jon Poole |
|
|
| |
Bob "Babba" Leith |
|
| all releases from Sing to God (1996) | |
Craig Fortnam | 2024–present |
| none to date | |
Chloe Herington |
| |||
Adrien Rodes | keyboards | |||
Quoted names in brackets denote aliases used on early recordings as Cardiac Arrest. [7] |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tim Smith ("Philip Pilf") | 1977–2008 (died 2020) |
| all releases to date | |
Michael Pugh ("Peter Boker") | 1977–1980 | lead vocals |
| |
Peter Tagg ("Richard Targett") | 1977–1979 | drums | "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) | |
Colvin "Max" Mayers ("Duncan Doilet", "Max Cat", "Button Poppet") | 1978–1981 (died 1993) |
| all releases from "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) to Toy World (1981) | |
Ralph Cade [b] ("Raphel Cadd") | 1978–1979 | saxophone | "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) | |
Mark Cawthra ("Little Bobby Shattocks") | 1979–1983 (guest 2024) |
|
| |
Sarah Smith ( née Cutts, now Jones) [36] | 1980–1989 (touring and studio guest 1989–2007) |
|
| |
Tim Quy | 1981–1990 (substitute bass 1980–1981) (died 2023) |
|
| |
Dominic Luckman | 1982–1993 |
|
| |
William D. Drake | 1983–1990 [c] |
|
| |
Graham Simmonds | 1983–1984 | guitar |
| |
Marguerite Johnston [d] | saxophone |
| ||
Kavus Torabi | 2003–2008 (guest 2024) |
|
| |
Cathy Harabaras | 2004–2008 | percussion |
| |
Melanie Woods | vocals | |||
Sharron Fortnam ( née Saddington) | 2004–2007 (guest 2024) |
| ||
Claire Lemmon | 2004–2007 |
| ||
Dawn Staple | percussion |
| ||
Quoted names in brackets denote aliases used on early recordings as Cardiac Arrest. [7] |
Some members of the Cardiacs crew are listed on the album liner notes of Greatest Hits (2002) alongside the other band members. [35]
Image | Name | Role | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Hiles (Bill Hiles) | Ordinary Shop Girl [30] |
| |
The Consultant (James Stevens) [38] |
| ||
Miss Swift (Wendy Swift) | label representative |
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tim Hills | 1984 | trombone |
| |
Mike Peters | trumpet | |||
Nick Pell | ||||
Lanze Lorrens |
| |||
Wendy Collins | vocals on "A Little Man and a House" | |||
Ashley Slater | 1988 | trombones | A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) | |
Phil Cesar |
| |||
Elain Herman | violins | |||
Mr Walmesley (Mark Walmsley) [39] | vocals |
| ||
Natalie Box | 1996 | violins | Sing to God (1996) | |
Jane Kyprianidis | scissors | |||
Mark Barratt | trumpets | |||
Chris Brierly |
| string quartet |
| |
Catherine Morgan | ||||
Mark Pharaoh | ||||
Robert Woollard | ||||
David Murder | 1996 | orchestral arrangements on "Fiery Gun Hand" and "Wireless" |
| |
Joanne Spratley | 1999 | vocals on "Sleep All Eyes Open" and "Come Back Clammy Lammy" | Guns (1999) | |
Rob Deschamps |
| |||
Suzanne Kirby | 2007 | vocals |
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jon Bastable | 1983 | bass | Bastable filled in for Jim Smith when neither he nor Tim Quy could make it to a gig. [7] A noted gig was at the Kingston Grove Tavern on 13 July 1983. [21] | |
Stephen Gilchrist | 2004 | drums | Gilchrist filled in for Bob Leith, who had conflicts with Blurt, at shows supporting the Wildhearts in 2004. [30] [21] | |
Jesse Cutts | 2024 | bass | Cutts from Tim Smith's Spratleys filled in for Jim Smith on several tracks in the middle of a Cardiacs Family show at Brighton Concord in October 2024 after Smith had a health scare the night before. [40] |
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
Late 1977 – 1978 |
| none |
1978 (The Filth) |
|
|
1978 – 1979 (Cardiac Arrest) | ||
July 1979 – June 1980 (Cardiac Arrest) |
|
|
c. June 1980 – March 1981 |
|
|
c. March 1981 – 30 August 1983 |
| none |
31 August 1983 – 10 July 1984 |
|
|
11 July 1984 – 13 August 1984 |
| none |
14 August 1984 – 11 February 1989 |
|
|
1989 – 30 June 1990 |
| |
31 June 1990 – 16 May 1991 |
| none |
c. 17 May 1991 – 20 October 1991 |
|
|
21 October 1991 – 20 July 1993 |
|
|
2 December 1993 – 16 October 2003 |
|
|
17 October 2003 – 2004 |
|
|
2004 – 2007 |
|
|
2007 – 2008 |
| |
3 May 2024 – present (Cardiacs Family) |
|
Cardiacs are an English rock band formed in Kingston upon Thames by Tim Smith and his brother Jim in 1977 under the name Cardiac Arrest. One of Britain's leading cult rock bands, Cardiacs' sound folded in genres including art rock, progressive rock, art punk, post-punk, jazz, psychedelia and heavy metal, all of which was topped by Smith's anarchic vocals and hard-to-decipher lyrics. The band's theatrical performance style often incorporated off-putting costumes and make-up, complete with on-stage confrontations. Their bizarre sound and image made them unpopular with the press, but they amassed a devoted following.
Timothy Charles Smith was an English musician, record producer and music video director. A singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Smith rose to prominence as the frontman of the rock band Cardiacs, which he co-founded with his brother Jim. In addition to Cardiacs, Smith led, co-led or contributed to The Sea Nymphs, Panixphere, Tim Smith's Extra Special OceanLandWorld and Spratleys Japs. Recognised for the particular complexity, skill and idiosyncrasies of his songs and music, Smith was honoured with the Doctor of Music degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2018, two years before his death in 2020.
On Land and in the Sea is the second studio album proper by the English rock band Cardiacs. Produced by band leader Tim Smith, it was recorded and mixed in 1988 at The Slaughterhouse studios in Yorkshire and released in May 1989 by the band's label Alphabet Business Concern. The record features a complex sound, with songs moving through rapid shifts in tempo and key, as well as more experimentation with song structures than the group's previous album. Critics have described the record as art rock and pop in style. It was their final album with their "classic" six-piece line-up.
The Seaside is the third demo album from English rock group Cardiacs. The album originally featured the second recording of what would become the band's only hit single, "Is This the Life?". It is the last of the band's releases to feature keyboard player/drummer/singer Mark Cawthra and the first to feature keyboard player William D. Drake.
Archive Cardiacs is a compilation album by English rock band Cardiacs. The album is composed of early tracks by the band recorded from 1977 to 1979. The tracks were compiled from Cardiacs' demo albums The Obvious Identity (1980) and Toy World (1981), as well as four pieces recorded by Tim Smith and Dominic Luckman for a side project that never saw fruition.
All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest is a live album and concert film by the English rock band Cardiacs. It is their third live album, and was originally recorded in the afternoon in the Salisbury Arts Centre on 30 June 1990 with Napalm Death. It is the only Cardiacs album to feature guitarist Christian Hayes throughout. The album was released on VHS in 1992 and as a live album on 1 June 1995.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the English rock band Cardiacs, released on 22 February 2002.
Kavus Torabi is a British-Iranian musician, composer, record label owner and radio broadcaster. A multi-instrumentalist, he is known for his work in the psychedelic, avant-garde rock field. Torabi was one of the founding members of the Monsoon Bassoon, was a member of the cult rock band Cardiacs, and fronts and plays guitar for the current lineup of legendary psychedelic band Gong.
"Ditzy Scene" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs. It was planned as the opening track and lead single from the band's unfinished sixth album, LSD. It was released on Org Records, and was the band's last single to be released in frontman Tim Smith's lifetime, as well as their most recent to be composed of entirely new material.
The English rock band Cardiacs have released five studio albums and two extended plays along with a number of singles, compilations, live albums and demos. The group was formed by brothers Tim and Jim Smith in 1977 under the name Cardiac Arrest, releasing their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979 and the demo album The Obvious Identity the following year. After being renamed to Cardiacs, the band released two more cassettes, Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984).
"Day Is Gone" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their third studio album, Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992). It was released as a twelve-inch single preceding the album on 28 October 1991 alongside a free 7-inch titled "Appealing to Venus" by side project the Sea Nymphs from their eponymous debut studio album (1992). Both tracks were written by Tim Smith who solely produced the former, while the Sea Nymphs produced the latter. Musically, "Day Is Gone" has been described as a power pop song with a 5
4 time signature and prominent guitars.
LSD is the unfinished sixth and final studio album by the English rock band Cardiacs. Recording began following lineup changes, with the lead single "Ditzy Scene" released by Org Records in 2007 to tease the upcoming double album. It was due to be released in October 2008, promoted by singles in August and November, a fall tour, a radio session with Marc Riley and a reissue of the concert film All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992). Production was indefinitely postponed after frontman Tim Smith had a cardiac arrest and stroke on 25 June 2008 leaving him unable to play or provide vocals.
"Stoneage Dinosaurs" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their EP Big Ship (1987). The song was written by frontman Tim Smith and produced by Smith alongside Graham Simmonds. Musically, the song is a melancholy track with violins, saxophones and funeral paced drums. Its lyrics reference family, contemporary celebrities and the First World War. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who noted its stark difference to the other tracks on the EP.
James A. Smith is an English musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the rock band Cardiacs which he formed with his brother Tim Smith. Along with performing backing vocals for the group, he co-wrote the hymn "The Alphabet Business Concern ", sang lead vocals on "Food on the Wall" live.
"Vermin Mangle" is a song by English rock band Cardiacs from their unfinished album LSD, intended as the album's final track. The song was written by Tim Smith, who played it live during solo performances in 2000 and 2006. Following Smith's death, it was released as a free download on 1 September 2020 through the band's Bandcamp page as the second single from the album, to mark his funeral that same day. Intended as a thank you to the group's fans, the song features the circus, progressive rock and psychedelic instrumentation that drove much of the band's work.
The Sea Nymphs is the self-titled debut studio album by the English psychedelic folk band the Sea Nymphs, an offshoot of the rock band Cardiacs featuring Tim Smith, Sarah Smith and William D. Drake. It was originally released as a limited edition promotional cassette by All My Eye and Betty Martin Music in 1992 and was reissued on CD via Cardiacs' label the Alphabet Business Concern in 1995.
Robert G. Leith is an English musician, the drummer for the rock band Cardiacs from 1993 and Blurt from 2005 to 2008. Leith played in secondary school bands in Milton Keynes inspired by the punk ethos and co-formed the anarcho-punk band Part 1, which he played with from 1980 to 1983 in the early death rock scene.
Melanie Woods is an English musician and carpenter. She was the drummer and a vocalist for the rock band Sidi Bou Said in the 1990s. After their dissolution, she performed vocals on the first two albums of the North Sea Radio Orchestra and joined the cult rock band Cardiacs in 2004, performing on the single "Ditzy Scene" and playing on the subsequent 2007 tour before the band went on an indefinite hiatus.
Timothy Graham Quy was a British musician, best known as the percussionist for the rock band Cardiacs from 1981 to 1990. Initially the band's sound engineer, Quy first gigged as reserve bass player in 1980 and joined full-time on percussion in 1981. He became a key part of the band's classic six-piece lineup, performing on all their releases from The Seaside (1983) to On Land and in the Sea (1989), and was a popular face in the UK underground. Quy's last performance with Cardiacs was documented in the live video All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992), where his marimba figures particularly high in the mix.
Believers Roast is a record label formed in 2009 by musician Kavus Torabi, initially to only release recordings by Torabi and his band Knifeworld. The label expanded with the fundraising album Leader of the Starry Skies: A Tribute to Tim Smith in 2010 and has since released the collaborative album The Exquisite Corpse Game (2013) and albums by artists including Thumpermonkey, The Gasman, Karda Estra, Arch Garrison, and respective band members.
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