Have we ever *really* discussed Nigel Preston? Would The Cult have been a better band had he remained behind the kit? Should he ever have left Theatre of Hate or Sex Gang Children?
What does BCB think?
Nigel Preston
- Darkness_Fish
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: 27 Jul 2015, 09:58
Nigel Preston
Like fast-moving clouds casting shadows against a hillside, the melody-loop shuddered with a sense of the sublime, the awful unknowable majesty of the world.
-
- Posts: 2481
- Joined: 09 Feb 2004, 11:03
- Location: Hairball Alley
Re: Nigel Preston
Darkness_Fish wrote:Have we ever *really* discussed Nigel Preston? Would The Cult have been a better band had he remained behind the kit? Should he ever have left Theatre of Hate or Sex Gang Children?
What does BCB think?
Nigel was the best drummer they had. Nobody since has that free, tribal style that Nigel gave them. It built on from Southern Death Cult/Death Cult drum sound but was far less robotic/rigid than those bands. It fitted into the band sound better as well, SDC was more about the rhythm - with drums and bass leading, very post-punk with a nod to sexless funk (I always thought) - the Cult's early sound was more expansive and guitar texture driven, Billy Duffy really played the shit out of that White Falcon. Listen to the tracks that carried over into the Cults live repertoire Like Ghost Dance, Moya, Gods Zoo for comparison. Sublime.
Nigel's drumming had a sticky, elastic feel to it. It gathers and then stretches out and has a tumbling effect that's still sharp (hard to explain unless you've been in a band that tried to play those songs - but that's the best I can do). Listen to 'Dreamtime' and especially 'Live at the Lyceum' and you can hear it. Budgie has a similar style as well. Live they were stunning around the time of the first Cult album. The Bonebag jams and Christians were particularly standout moments in those sets. They were easy as good as Bauhaus last time out, Cure, NMA, Killing Joke or the Sisters (who'd turned into a bit of a crap shoot around that time) these were the other bands we were following round that time because the gigs were different on a nightly basis (people don't do that anymore do they ? I miss it - sometimes) - I did most of the UK dates for the main '84 tour (but not the Lyceum one they filmed, called back by Mum under threat of a lifetime gig ban).
Mark Brzezicki did a decent job on the Love album and tour while he was on loan from Big Country, but every drummer they've had since then seems to have had lump hammers gaffer taped to his paws. I don't frequent Cult gigs so often these days but when I do, I try and blog my ears up with bog roll, flyers and ticket stubs if they drop something like Spiritwalker or Horse Nation into the set. These things don't usually end well, those tracks require a subtlety which American Rawk drummers don't seem to possess.
I have no idea why they binned him off, but the fact that they never found a decent replacement tells me they arsed that up. And he never played well with others after that, poor sod. A troubled end and a trip off to the big drum stool. RIP Nigel.
angering the feeble
- Darkness_Fish
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: 27 Jul 2015, 09:58
Re: Nigel Preston
You've shamed me, that's a far better post than thread deserves, which was really to counter the dullness of yet another Beatles thread. He was just the best behind the sticks that sprang to mind as being kicked out of a band. He genuinely was an excellent drummer though, that tumbling effect you describe was a key component of much goth of the time. I feel almost spoiled in the drum department by my goth upbringing, I don't understand why so much music accepts someone just keeping time.
Apparently it was his drug habits which led to him being kicked out of The Cult, which I guess caught up with him in the end. How many goths got to work with Nile Rodgers though?
Apparently it was his drug habits which led to him being kicked out of The Cult, which I guess caught up with him in the end. How many goths got to work with Nile Rodgers though?
Like fast-moving clouds casting shadows against a hillside, the melody-loop shuddered with a sense of the sublime, the awful unknowable majesty of the world.
- Fonz
- Posts: 4088
- Joined: 17 Feb 2014, 14:10
- Location: Nevermore
Re: Nigel Preston
The 'Live at The Lyceum' that I got when 'dreamtime' was released, is the best live album I have heard. It's one of the only vinyls I still own.
The whole band was 'on'.
I remember me and my mate lamenting Preston's demise, and hadn't given it any thought for thirty years.
Yeah. RIP.
The whole band was 'on'.
I remember me and my mate lamenting Preston's demise, and hadn't given it any thought for thirty years.
Yeah. RIP.
Heyyyy!
"Fonz clearly has no fucks to give. I like the cut of his Cupicidal gib."
"Fonz clearly has no fucks to give. I like the cut of his Cupicidal gib."