Favorite "Of" Bands #8 - Theatre of Hate

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I do realize that this countdown of my favorite bands with the word "of" in their name is one long trip to No Surpriseville, but we can still have a little fun before we get there! We are at #8: Theatre of Hate. It's a return to the series for vocalist/guitarist Kirk Brandon, who we featured yesterday with his band Spear of Destiny. Today, it's that group's predecessor, Theatre of Hate, which Brandon formed in London in 1980, and, despite three hiatuses, is still going strong. Theatre of Hate is a post punk outfit best known for their spaghetti western themed 1982 British hit, "Do You Believe In the West World." The band was originally short-lived, managing just one album, Westworld, before breaking up in 1982. As I mentioned yesterday, Brandon has a distinct vocal style that can be an acquired taste (In an inspired piece of writing, Trouser Press once said that he "sings every song like he's trying to rally the troops for one last charge up the hill,") but it fits the group's aggressive sound quite well. Much like Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate has experienced more than it's share of roster turnover through the years. Notable musicians that have called the band home at one time or another include Cult guitarist Billy Duffy, Mission bassist Craig Adams, former Mission guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite, and former Cult drummer Nigel Preston. I've linked to a performance of "Do You Believe In the West World" from the British show Top of the Pops. The band is introduced by legendary BBC Radio personality John Peel. (Kirk must love the word "of" info verified by Wikipedia)