Spear of Destiny (band)
Encyclopedia
Spear of Destiny is a British rock
band
, established in 1982 by singer
and songwriter
Kirk Brandon
and bassist
Stan Stammers
. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.
Theatre of Hate
with its album
Westworld and single
"Do You Believe In The Westworld?", which was a UK Top 40 hit
in 1982, whilst the album made the Top 20.
As had happened with Joy Division
and New Order
, the band were criticised for using the name Spear of Destiny, with its potential Nazi
overtones. Any such links were fiercely denied, particularly since the band were politically left-leaning.
Spear of Destiny recorded one session for John Peel
(recorded 22 November 1982, transmitted on BBC Radio 1
on 29 November 1982). Between 1980 and 1982, Theatre of Hate recorded three.
"The band played a punk-influenced form of power rock, which often had an anthemic feel."
The critical consensus is that Spear of Destiny's second album, One Eyed Jacks (1984), is their best album. (It reached number 22 in the UK Albums Chart
However, arguably, Spear of Destiny’s reputation in the mid-1980s depended to a greater extent on their live performances.
In 1985, their album, World Service reached the UK Top 20. Founder member Stan Stammers
left in 1986. In the wake of the release of the fourth album, Outland (1987) and its Top 15 hit "Never Take Me Alive", the band began achieving some chart
success and staging sell-out concert
s, including a support slot to U2
at Wembley Stadium. However, ill fortune struck on the eve of the band’s appearance at the Reading Festival
, as Brandon contracted Reiter disease which obliged the band to put all their plans on hold for nearly a year. After recovery, Brandon and Spear of Destiny never regained their momentum. Indeed, the band have failed to chart with any of the albums they have released after the 1980s.
To date, Spear of Destiny have had 10 UK Singles Chart
entries. Four reached the Top 50 but only one made the Top 20 - "Never Take Me Alive" (1987).
Aside from Brandon and Stammers, past members of the band in the 1980s included former Gillan drummer Pete Barnacle
, former JoBoxers
bassist Chris Bostock
, former Adam and the Ants
guitarist Marco Pirroni
, and former Tom Robinson Band
and Stiff Little Fingers
drummer Dolphin Taylor
.
Brandon once played in an early incarnation of Culture Club
. In the mid 1990s, Brandon embarked on unsuccessful legal action against Boy George
over allegations of a homosexual relationship, revealed in George's autobiography. The judgement went against Brandon and he was ordered to pay a significant part of the legal costs. Brandon is married.
Brandon is also a member of the supergroup
, Dead Men Walking
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, established in 1982 by singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon is an English musician.-Musical career:Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, South London, with the formation of punk group The Pack, in which he was the singer/songwriter....
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers is best known as the bass player for British post punk band Theatre of Hate, Spear Of Destiny and Plastic Eaters co. founded with Robdaly. In 1999 Stammers and Plastic Eaters gained an artist sponsorship from Adidas. Stan uses Wal basses produced by renowned bass manufacturer ...
. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.
Biography
Brandon had previously been in The Pack, and from 1980 to 1982 in the post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
with its album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Westworld and single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Do You Believe In The Westworld?", which was a UK Top 40 hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in 1982, whilst the album made the Top 20.
As had happened with Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, the band were criticised for using the name Spear of Destiny, with its potential Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
overtones. Any such links were fiercely denied, particularly since the band were politically left-leaning.
Spear of Destiny recorded one session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
(recorded 22 November 1982, transmitted on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
on 29 November 1982). Between 1980 and 1982, Theatre of Hate recorded three.
"The band played a punk-influenced form of power rock, which often had an anthemic feel."
The critical consensus is that Spear of Destiny's second album, One Eyed Jacks (1984), is their best album. (It reached number 22 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
However, arguably, Spear of Destiny’s reputation in the mid-1980s depended to a greater extent on their live performances.
In 1985, their album, World Service reached the UK Top 20. Founder member Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers
Stan Stammers is best known as the bass player for British post punk band Theatre of Hate, Spear Of Destiny and Plastic Eaters co. founded with Robdaly. In 1999 Stammers and Plastic Eaters gained an artist sponsorship from Adidas. Stan uses Wal basses produced by renowned bass manufacturer ...
left in 1986. In the wake of the release of the fourth album, Outland (1987) and its Top 15 hit "Never Take Me Alive", the band began achieving some chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success and staging sell-out concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, including a support slot to U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
at Wembley Stadium. However, ill fortune struck on the eve of the band’s appearance at the Reading Festival
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
, as Brandon contracted Reiter disease which obliged the band to put all their plans on hold for nearly a year. After recovery, Brandon and Spear of Destiny never regained their momentum. Indeed, the band have failed to chart with any of the albums they have released after the 1980s.
To date, Spear of Destiny have had 10 UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
entries. Four reached the Top 50 but only one made the Top 20 - "Never Take Me Alive" (1987).
Aside from Brandon and Stammers, past members of the band in the 1980s included former Gillan drummer Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle
Pete Barnacle is a drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Yngwie Malmsteen , Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune.-With Gillan:...
, former JoBoxers
JoBoxers
JoBoxers was a predominantly British New Wave/soul group formed in 1982, when former Subway Sect members Rob Marche , Dave Collard , Chris Bostock , and Sean McLusky teamed up with American singer, Dig Wayne...
bassist Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock
Chris Bostock is an English musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known for his work with the JoBoxersbut was also a member of Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys and Subway Sect....
, former Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
guitarist Marco Pirroni
Marco Pirroni
Marco Francesco Andrea Pirroni is an English guitarist, songwriter and record producer...
, and former Tom Robinson Band
Tom Robinson Band
Tom Robinson Band were a British rock band, established in 1976 by singer, songwriter and bassist Tom Robinson...
and Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
drummer Dolphin Taylor
Dolphin Taylor
Brian "Dolphin" Taylor is a British drummer.-Tom Robinson Band:His career started when he gave a friend a lift to an audition as bass guitarist for the Tom Robinson Band in 1976. As the band had no drummer at that point, Dolphin filled in...
.
Brandon once played in an early incarnation of Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
. In the mid 1990s, Brandon embarked on unsuccessful legal action against Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
over allegations of a homosexual relationship, revealed in George's autobiography. The judgement went against Brandon and he was ordered to pay a significant part of the legal costs. Brandon is married.
Brandon is also a member of the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, Dead Men Walking
Dead Men Walking
Dead Men Walking are a UK based rock band with a multi national line-up, who have toured the UK, Ireland and the U.S.-Career:They have released four albums: Live At Guildford , Live At Leeds , Live At Darwen , and Graveyard Smashes Volume 1...
.
Studio
- Grapes of Wrath (1983) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#62 - One Eyed Jacks (1984) - UK #22
- World Service (1985) - UK #11
- Outland (1987) - UK #16
- The Price You PayThe Price You PayThe Price You Pay is the fifth studio album by Spear of Destiny, released by Virgin Records in 1988 .-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# So In Love With You - 4:22# Tinseltown - 5:15# The Price - 5:11...
(1988) - UK #37 - Sod's Law (1991)
- Religion (1997)
- VolunteersVolunteers (Spear Of Destiny Album)Voltunteers is the eighth studio album by post-punk band Spear of Destiny. The album features a re-recording of their greatest hit "Never Take Me Alive".- Track listing :#"Some Kind Of Normal" - 4:40#"Nothing Under The Sun" - 4:44...
(2000) - Morning StarMorning Star (Spear of Destiny album)Morning Star is the ninth studio album released by Spear of Destiny.- Track listing :#"Lucky Man" - 4:42#"Mayday" - 4:11#"Half Life" - 4:18#"This Wonderful Life" - 4:31#"Better Man" - 3:11#"White Rose" - 4:31#"She" - 5:40#"Belongings" - 4:41...
(2003) - LoadestoneLoadestoneLoadestone is the tenth studio album by Spear Of Destiny. The album was the first release on Brandon's own record label Eastersnow. The album features a cover of "Transmission" originally by Joy Division, one of Brandon's favourite bands....
(2005) - Imperial PrototypeImperial PrototypeImperial Prototype is the eleventh studio album by Spear Of Destiny. The album was released on Brandon's own record label Eastersnow and all the songs were written just prior to recording...
(2007) - Omega Point (2010)
Live
- Live at the Lyceum 22.12.85 (released 1993)
- Radio One Live In Concert (1987, released 1994)
- The Preacher (1983, released 2000)
- Kings of London (2000, released 2001)
- Live at the Colchester Arts Centre (2002)
Compilations
- S.O.D. - The Epic Years (1987) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#53 - The Collection (1991)
- Time Of Our Lives: The Best Of (1995)
- The Best of Spear of Destiny (1998)
- The Best of Spear of Destiny (2005)
Singles
| Title | Release date | Album | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Flying Scotsman"/"The Man Who Tunes The Drums" | February 1983 | Grapes of Wrath | 83 |
| "The Wheel" | May 1983 | Grapes of Wrath | 59 |
| "Prisoner Of Love"/"Rosie" | January 1984 | One Eyed Jacks | 59 |
| "Liberator"/"Forbidden Planet" | April 1984 | One Eyed Jacks | 67 |
| "All My Love"/"Last Card" | May 1985 | World Service | 61 |
| "Come Back"/"Cole Younger" | July 1985 | World Service | 55 |
| "Mickey"/"Up All Night" (Original version) | July 1985 | World Service | - |
| "Strangers In Our Town"/"Somewhere Out There" | January 1987 | Outland | 49 |
| "Never Take Me Alive"/"Land Of Shame" | March 1987 | Outland | 14 |
| "Was That You?"/"Was That You?" (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon) | July 1987 | Outland | 55 |
| "The Traveller"/"Late Night Psycho" | September 1987 | Outland | 44 |
| "So In Love With You"/"March Or Die" | September 1988 | The Price You Pay The Price You Pay The Price You Pay is the fifth studio album by Spear of Destiny, released by Virgin Records in 1988 .-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# So In Love With You - 4:22# Tinseltown - 5:15# The Price - 5:11... |
36 |
| "Radio Radio"/"Life Goes On" | November 1988 | The Price You Pay The Price You Pay The Price You Pay is the fifth studio album by Spear of Destiny, released by Virgin Records in 1988 .-Track listing:All songs written by Kirk Brandon.# So In Love With You - 4:22# Tinseltown - 5:15# The Price - 5:11... |
78 |
| "Black Country Girl"/"Babylon Talking" | September 1992 | Sod's Law | - |
| "Uphill Backwards"/"Never Take Me Alive" (1999 version) | 1999 | Volunteers | - |