THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH BIOGRAPHY

Formed in 1981, The Lords of the New Church already carried international Punk Rock prestige. Singer Stiv Bator and guitarist Brian James were founding members of Cleveland's Dead Boys and London's The Damned. Both were successful, influential punk pioneers. (Note: Much like Keith Richard(s), Stiv spelled his surname both with and without a "s." However, while with the Lords, he was billed as "Bator.") Bassist Dave Tregunna and drummer Nicky Turner were also Punk veterans hailing from Sham 69 and The Barracudas. While The Lords' retained a punk rebellion, their music was darker, more melodic and better-produced. Their talents alienated the die-hard punk audience, while bringing The Lords a wider, more diverse following.
The Lords conception began in 1980 when Bator and James, renewed an acquaintance that began when the Dead Boys opened for the Damned on CBGB dates and an English tour. After splitting with their previous bands, Bator and James briefly enlisted ex-Generation X bassist Tony James and ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes. Later in 1980, Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and Tregunna replaced Tony and Terry for a single gig billed as the "Dead Damned Sham Band." By the time The Lords' recorded it's self-titled IRS release in 1982, Turner had replaced Scabies and it was this lineup which remained throughout the band's most productive years.

Though the debut was well-received, The Lords became more notorious for their live shows. A devotee of Iggy Pop, Bator had developed a fearless reputation in his Dead Boys days and continued such antics with The Lords. The most famous being the time he reportedly hung himself during a Lords show. Bator's stunt had went awry. He was pronounced clinically dead for several minutes. Nonetheless, Bator survived to record two more successful albums for IRS with The Lords, 1983's IS NOTHING SACRED? and 1984's THE METHOD TO OUR MADNESS.

In 1985, the Lords had begun to slowly disintegrate. They recorded a mockingly rich single of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" for IRS' "best-of KILLER LORDS." Around this point, Tregunna left, replaced by Grant Flemming, but later returned. A second guitarist, Alistair Simmons, was also added but later canned. Eventually Turner quit and was replaced by Danny Fury on the drums. Bator then injured his back in 1988, forcing James to advertise for a replacement singer. When Bator found out, he played the encore of his last show donning a T-shirt with James' newspaper ad printed across the front. He then proceeded to fire the remaining members on-stage. Bator died in 1990 of injuries when he was struck by a car in Paris, quashing all possibilities of his return.

In 2002, surviving LORDS Brian James and Dave Treganna chose to resurrect the NEW CHURCH .
As interest gathered, the English label NMC released 2 double disc retrospectives of Live and Rare collections, “LORDS PRAYERS I & II.”

For 2003, founding members, BRIAN JAMES (Damned) and Dave Treganna (Sham69) inducted Adam Wm. Becvare into the Vox/Guitar position for the reformed LORDS. Becvare hails from the Chicago bred LUSTKILLERS showing great promise and respect to the legacy and continued doctrine.

An 8 song CD "HANG ON" is currently slated for release.

The first 3 LORDS albums have been Re-released by TRACK RECORDS on CD including lyrics, liner notes and bonus tracks.

THE LORDS with Becvare completed a 6 week European Tour in Spring of 2003.

IRS DISCOGRAPHY

This discography will cover only THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH recordings for IRS Records/A&M. Recordings for other labels, other recordings, solo recordings and guest appearances, may be mentioned in the biography or discography, some details can be found by visiting some of the cool links for THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH , below...

Albums & EPs

LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH IRS SP70029 Released 9-09-82 Reissued SP75029 (Import - IRS, ILP 25008, HOL-82) Vinyl, CD, Cassette Produced by The Lords Recorded at Farmyard Studios Mastered by Frank DeLuna & Marv Bornstein Layout: Grasso

Musicians:
Stiv Bator: Vocals
Brian James: Guitars, backing Vocals
Dave Tregunna: Bass, backing Vocals
Nick Turner: Drums, backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Matt Irving: Synthesizerskys
Simon & Rudi: Horns

Track Listing:

Although The Lords members had spawned punk rock, their debut album announced to the world that the Lords of the New Church were more than a punk band. They'd now proclaim to be the last beacon of truth in a world nearing its end. Guitarist Brian James and the Tregunna/Turner rhythm section provide a pulsating, bleak canvas for the face, mouth, and heart of The Lords, Stiv Bator. Here Bator casts himself in the role of rock & roll poet/preacher/prophet. On THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH, his lyrical maturity overthrows his former useless Dead Boys ramblings. Consider The Lords ethos from their debut opening track, "New Church."-"Truth can't be found on the television/Throw away youth ya gotta take a stand/Music is your only weapon/Spanners in the works go start your gang...." LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH stands as a thorn twisting in it's Reagan era side. Bator's message of personal freedom, and the fervor and integrity with which The Lords delivered it, shall forever remain timeless. Be a Lord of the New Church.

LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH Is Nothing Sacred? IRS SP70039 Released 9-20-83 (Reissued 1987) (Import - IRS, ILP 25673, Holland-83) Vinyl, CD, Cassette Produced by The Lords except * Recorded at Farmyard Studios except* Mastered at A&M Studios LA except* Photography by Paul Glasson & Chris Garnham * produced by Todd Rundgren/Engineered with Chris Anderson/Recorded at Utopia Sound Studios

Musicians:
Stiv Bator: Vocals
Brian James: Guitars, backing Vocals
Dave Tregunna: Bass, backing Vocals
Nick Turner: Drums, backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Matt Black: Synths & Kybds
Rudi Thompson: Tnr Sax & Trmpt
Simon Lloyd: Alto Sax & Trmpt
Todd Rundgren: Synths on *

Track Listing:

The Lords of the New Church continue to embrace rock's classic dangerous, vaguely satanic side and it's this shadow which looms largely over their second album. Stiv Bator's lip sneering, delivery pouts against Brian James' tele slashing, leaving Dave Tregunna's bass to lead the way. Forget Charlie Watts, Nick Turner provides his always dependable backbeat. IS NOTHING SACRED? even offers such Stones-y song titles as "Black Girl/White Girl," "Goin' Downtown," and "Partners in Crime." Was this a conscious homage? If IS NOTHING SACRED? were a STONES album, it'd be a damn good one, well played and entertaining throughout. The less rocking "Dance with Me" is a funky, slinky, and goth-tinged voodoo ritual and ironically, one of their biggest hits. A somber, doubt-filled version of the Grass Roots classic "Live for Today," with the slick production and keyboards of Todd Rundgren, closes the album on an uplifting though incongruous note. There's a tremendous feeling The Lords made this album for themselves. Take a listen to the reggae-influenced "Johnny Too Bad" and it's confirmed. As a follow-up to The Lords' thundering debut, IS NOTHING SACRED? is an enlightening look inside The Lords, and another walk in the rock n roll shadows.

Lords Of The New Church Method To Our Madness IRS SP70049 Released 4-01-85 (Reissued 1987) (Import - IRS, 26134, HOL-84) Vinyl, CD, Cassette Produced by Cris Tsangarides and Assisted by Andy Warwick Recorded at Studio Miravel (France), Powerplant, Battery & Musicworks Studios(England) Mixed at Farmland Maison Rouge & Battery Studios Photography by Sheila Rock Design by Graphyx

Musicians:
Stiv Bator: Vocals
Brian James: Guitars, backing Vocals
Dave Tregunna: Bass, backing Vocals
Nick Turner: Drums, backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Matt Irving, Chris Tsangarides, Mike Hugg: Synths & Kybds
Piano: Jacques Loussier
Female Vocals: Vicki & Samantha Brown, Helen Chappelle, Tricia Ronane, Paola Pieroni, and Tanya Landau
Miles Copeland: Verbal Abuse on *
Hein Hoven: String Arrangement

Track Listing:

As The Lords' third release, rockwise THE METHOD TO OUR MADNESS sounds closer to their debut. The band is much rawer than their previous IS NOTHING SACRED? thanx to the energies and production of Chris Tsangarides. The opening salvo is "Method to My Madness," a straight-up rocker with vocal contribution by IRS Records impresario Miles Copeland, who admonishes, "... don't go tellin' secrets/This record's gotta sell!" After that, The Lords aggression level rests only for the "Russian Roulette-like" ballad, "I Never Believed" and "When Blood Runs Cold" (which includes Strings with Stiv!) THE METHOD TO OUR MADNESS contains some of The Lords' best non-hits: the sinister, sexy, bass-driven single "Murder Style" and "The Seducer," the tale of a figure who might be a messiah, might be an antichrist, probably not too far off from how Bator saw himself. The closer, "My Kingdom Come," brings it all to an end and it was; The Lords would never again record at full power before their split in 1988.

Lords Of The New Church EP Live for Today / Opening Nightmares / Dreams and Desires IRS SP70409 Released 6-21-83

Lords of the New Church Killer Lords - IRS Vintage Years CD IRS 0777 7 13178 28 (Import - IRS, ILP 26759, Holland-85)

Track Listing:

Singles

Lords Of The New Church
Open Your Eyes / Question Of Temperature
IRS IR9908
Released 8-18-82

Lords Of The New Church
Live For Today
IRS IR9921
Released 8-16-83

Lords Of The New Church
Open Your Eyes / Holy War
IRS SP70962
Released 1982

Lords Of The New Church
Method To Our Madness
IRS SP70984
Released 1985

IRS SINGLES (w/Illegal Records, Imports, misc.)

LIVE FOR TODAY 7" - single (IRS, PFP1015, UK-83)
LIVE FOR TODAY 12" - Maxi-Single (IRS, PFSX1015, UK-83, with poster)
DANCE WITH ME 12" - Maxi-Single (IRS, PFSX 1022, UK-83)
M-STYLE 7" - Single (IRS, ILS A-4793, SPA-84, 1-sided promo)
M-STYLE 7" - Single (IRS, IRS 113, UK-84, promo)
M-STYLE 7" - Single (IRS, ILS A -4793, Spain-84)
M-STYLE 12" - Maxi-Single (IRS, A 12.4793, Holland-84)
METHOD TO MY MADNESS 12" - Maxi-Single (IRS, SP 70985, US-84)
WHEN THE BLOOD RUNS COLD 7" - Single (IRS, ILSA-6032, Holland-85)
WHEN THE BLOOD RUNS COLD 12"- Maxi- Single (IRS, ILSA-12.6032, Holland-85)
LIKE A VIRGIN 7" - Single (IRS, ILSA-6224, Holland-85)
LIKE A VIRGIN Picture Disc 7" - Single (IRS, LORDS P1, 1985)
LIKE A VIRGIN 12" - Maxi-Single (IRS, ILSA 12-6224, Holland-85)

Compilations & Soundtracks

KROQ PRESENTS THE NORMAL NOISE OF IRS
IRS #? (Released October, 1984)
Track 3. "Dance with Me"

THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS
IRS 82010 (Released 1989)
CD & Cassette
Track 11. "Like A Virgin"

THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH LINKS

www.LordsoftheNewChurch.com
www.StivBators.com
Complete Lords Discography
2003 EuroTour links
TrackRecords.co.uk
NMC Music
NDNrecords.com
LordsHx
LORDS History and Links
LIVE for TODAY
LORDS Shrine by Steven Pegram
STIV BATORS REST IN PEACE AND LOVE
photo by Devorah Ostrov

Return To The IRS CORNER HOME PAGE
Return To The IRS CORNER ARTIST ROSTER
Return To The IRS A&M ERA DISCOGRAPHY
Discuss The Lords of the New Church in The DISCUSSION FORUM

This Page Created By Adam Wm. Becvare 3/4/2002 for IRS Corner.

©1999-2002 Mr Bill's IRS Corner. All rights reserved.
Copying or reproduction prohibited without prior written consent.
Trademarked and copyrighted materials above are the property of their respective owners.