“There were certain guidelines, and that was to stay away from long hair and guitar solos”: How Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Hendrix inspired a rule-breaking post-punk band to write one of rock’s greatest anthems
The Cult’s 1985 single She Sells Sanctuary is presented as the turning point in the band’s career, transforming them from post-punk outsiders into unexpected chart stars. Its psychedelic, gothic dance-rock sound helped it transcend its original scene and establish itself as an early alternative-rock anthem. The song also mattered because it openly embraced classic-rock influences that many post-punk musicians considered unfashionable.
Guitarist Billy Duffy and singer Ian Astbury formed Death Cult in 1982 after leaving Theatre Of Hate and Southern Death Cult, later shortening the name to The Cult before releasing Dreamtime in 1984. While their peers often avoided long hair, guitar solos and 1970s rock, Astbury and Duffy drew inspiration from Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. She Sells Sanctuary developed quickly from a bassline adapted from Spiritwalker, Duffy’s melody and a deliberately psychedelic guitar sound influenced by 1960s music.
- She Sells Sanctuary made The Cult unlikely alternative-rock stars.
- The song rejected post-punk’s disdain for classic-rock influences.
- Its sound combined psychedelic guitar, goth and dance-rock.