Spear of Destiny (band)

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Spear of Destiny
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Post-punk, Alternative rock, Indie rock
Years active 1982– present
Label(s) S.S., Burning Rome, Epic Records, Virgin Records, Eastworld, Do-Little
Associated acts Theatre of Hate, Dead Men Walking, Bush
Website Brandon’s Website
Spear of Destiny on Myspace
Members
Craig Adams
Kirk Brandon
Robin Goodridge
Adrian Portas
Former members
Pete Barnacle
Steve Barnacle
Chris Bell
Stevie Blanchard
Chris Bostock
Mark Celvallos
Mickey Donnelly
Graham Wilkinson
Volker Janssen
Lascelles James
John Boy Lennard
John McNutt
Marco Pirroni
Neil Pyzer
Art Smith
Alan St. Claire
Stan Stammers
Dolphin Taylor
Mark Thwaite
Mick Proctor

Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1983 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon (born on 3 August 1956, in Westminster, London) and bassist Stan Stammers (born on 19 May 1961). It had an ever-changing line-up through the years.

Contents

[edit] Brief Biography

Brandon had previously been in The Pack, and from 1980 to 1982 in the post-punk Theatre of Hate with its album Westworld and single 'Do You Believe In The Westworld ?', which was a UK Top 40 single 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 22/11/1982, transmitted on BBC Radio 1 on 29/11/1982). Between 1980 and 1982, Theatre of Hate recorded three.[1]

“The band played a punk-influenced form of power rock, which often had an anthemic feel”. [2]

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). 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 hit "Never Take Me Alive", the band began achieving some overdue single chart success and staging sell-out shows, including a support slot to U2 at Wembley stadium. Unfortunately, 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.[3] 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 Top 75 singles. Four reached the Top 50 but only one made the Top 20 - Never Take Me Alive in 1987.[4]

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 & the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni, and former Tom Robinson Band and Stiff Little Fingers drummer Dolphin Taylor.[5]

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 not inconsiderable legal costs.[6] Brandon is married.

Kirk is also a member of the 'super-group' Dead Men Walking.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Studio

[edit] 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)

[edit] Compilations

  • The Epic Years (1987)
  • The Collection (1991)
  • Time Of Our Lives: The Best Of (1995)
  • The Best of Spear of Destiny (1998)
  • The Best of Spear of Destiny (2004)

[edit] Singles

Title Release date Album UK chart position
"Flying Scotsman"/"The Man Who Tunes The Drums" May, 1983 Grapes of Wrath 85
"The Wheel"/"The Hop" 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 36
"Radio Radio"/"Life Goes On" November, 1988 The Price You Pay 78
"Black Country Girl"/"Babylon Talking" September, 1992 Sod's Law -
"Uphill Backwards"/"Never Take Me Alive" (1999 version) 1999 Volunteers -

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ John Peel Sessions on BBC Radio 1;
  2. ^ Joynson, V. (2001) Up Yours! A Guide to UK Punk, New Wave & Early Post Punk, Borderline Productions, Wolverhampton, p. 358;
  3. ^ Thompson, D. (2000) Alternative Rock, Miller Freeman Books, San Francisco, p. 650;
  4. ^ Chart runs in the UK Singles Chart since 1952;
  5. ^ Strong, M.C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, Edinburgh, p. 519 - 520;
  6. ^ Larkin, C. (2003) The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music, Virgin Books, London, p. 439;

[edit] External links