Lords Of The New Church

Lords Of The New Church were formed when frontman Stiv Bators re-acquainted himself with former Damned guitarist Brian James in 1981. Stabilizing the lineup with the addition of Nik Turner (the Barracudas) and Dave Tregunna (Sham 69) on drums and bass respectively, Lords Of The New Church quickly established themselves as a must-see live act due to the wild, death-defying (literally!) stage antics of Bators. The band enjoyed a couple of minor hits, including a version of the Grass Roots' "Live For Today," but their visceral, often bleak music was no match for their powerful live show. In 1988, while Bators was recuperating from a back injury, James advertised for a new singer, effectively breaking up the band. Bators was later struck by a car in Paris and died from the injuries he sustained, effectively killing off any hope of reconciliation.