Theatre of Hate are a British post-punk, New Wave band formed in Britain in 1980.
Led by singer-songwriter Kirk Brandon (formerly of the Pack), the original group also consisted of guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers (formerly of the Straps and the Epileptics), saxophonist John "Boy" Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle (formerly of Crisis and the Straps).
In 1980, the Pack ended and Theatre of Hate were formed, with Luke Rendle on drums, Stan Stammers joining on bass, Steve Guthrie on guitar and John "Boy" Lennard on sax (the Werner brothers joined the Straps, who Stammers had previously played for).
Inspired by Antonin Artaud's book Theatre and its Double. The band took its name from the concept of the Theatre of Cruelty: "Artaud called for the emotional involvement of the audience.
Singer Brandon borrowed the thespian term because he was trying to do the same." The first Theatre of Hate release was the "Original Sin" single in November 1980, which reached No. 5 on the UK Indie Chart. " It was followed by "Rebel Without a Brain" in April 1981, and "Nero" in July. They garnered much early attention as a live act and made their full-length debut in 1981 with the live album He Who Dares Wins (Live at the Warehouse Leeds), released on vinyl on their own Burning Rome label.
Guthrie left the band shortly after the album's release. Another live recording followed, Live at the Lyceum, issued on cassette, also in 1981.
In August 1981, Theatre of Hate entered the studio with producer Mick Jones of the Clash to record their first non-live album, Westworld, released on 19 February 1982 by Burning Rome.
Shortly after the album was recorded, new guitarist Billy Duffy (formerly of the Nosebleeds) joined the band, and soon after that, drummer Rendle was replaced by Nigel Preston. The album reached No. 17 in the UK Albums Chart, and also spawned the Top 40 single "Do You Believe in the West World".
Also in February 1982, in an effort to combat bootlegging of their concerts, Theatre of Hate released another live album, He Who Dares Wins, recorded in September 1981 in Berlin.
Theatre of Hate released a new single, "The Hop", in May 1982, followed by the "Eastworld" single on 28 August. The band split in 1983. Revolution, a posthumous 1983 compilation album, spent three weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 67.
TRAXS
01. Original Sin 3:31
02. Legion 3:28
03. Rebel Without A Brain 3:51
04. My Own Invention 3:18
05. Nero 7:22
06. Nero 2:07
07. Incinerator 4:20
08. Do You Believe In The Westworld (7") 3:45
09. Propaganda 3:06
10. Original Sin (Re-recorded) 3:34
11. The Hop 2:46
12. Conquistador 3:04
13. Eastworld 3:35
14. Assegai 3:23
15. Poppies 3:45
16. Americans 3:45
Bonus Track
17. Anniversary 5:08
DO YOU BELEIVE IN THE WEST WORLD LYRICS
The yellow sun was setting in tombstone
The citizens were gone but not to their homes
By a freak a coin in the piano made it play
But only the wind and the dust heard it say
Do you believe in the Westworld?
Do you believe in the Westworld?
By a freak a coin in the piano made it play
But only the wind and the dust heard it say
Do you believe in the Westworld?
Do you believe in the Westworld?
From the south on a wind in walked a cowboy
The saloon was dry but his guns were well oiled
Somehow he remembered when he kissed his wife
And when he said goodbye
But that was before the circus with the bear arrived
Oh the bear it roared as the gun was fired
Then the cowboy turned the gun on himself as he sang
"No-ones alive"
Do you believe in the Westworld?
Do you believe in the Westworld?