November 24, 2021

Cruel Light In Goth-City

Ghost Dance Formation & Early Releases

The band were formed in 1985 after Gary Marx (Sisters of Mercy) and Anne Marie Hurst (Skeletal Family) had both departed from their respective bands. They started out on the Karbon Record Label and eventually moved to the Chrysalis Label. They were reasonably short-lived I guess, but packed quite a bit in during their time together. They eventually split in 1989.

Their debut in 1986 with the E.P. 'River Of No Return' contained a cover of a Roxy Music track called 'Burning At Both Ends', they also released 7" singles 'The Grip Of Love' and 'Heart Full Of Soul' in the same year.

In total they released 6 singles/E.P.'s and one album 'Stop The World!' on Chrysalis in 1989. This particular track below, 'Cruel Light' is taken from their 1987 12" called 'A Word To The Wise'.

The Line-up

The band were:

- Gary Marx (guitars 1985-1989)
- Anne Marie Hurst (vocals 1985-1989)
- Steve Smith (guitars 1985-1986)
- Richard Steel (guitars 1986-1989)
- Paul Etchells a.k.a. Etch (bass 1985-1989)
- Pandora (the drum machine 1986)
- John Grant (drums 1986-1989)

Steve Smith helped out the band in the early days, he was originally in another Goth Rock band from Leeds called Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and eventually 'Pandora' the drum machine would be replaced by human drummer John Grant.

Anne Marie Hurst's hair colouring and style changing from spiked, to flat, to red, to blonde and black over the years, have to say looking at more recent photos of her she still looks absolutely stunning bless her.

Reading And Other Covers

They played the Reading Festival on Friday August 26th 1988 alongside...

The might of Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Meat Loaf and Squeeze

More information about the festival and the line-ups at: ukrockfestivals.com

They also did a number of good cover versions, 'Radar Love' originally by Dutch Rock band Golden Earring at the youtube link 'Can The Can' originally by Suzi Quatro and my personal favourite, 'Heart Full Of Soul' originally by the Yardbirds, have a listen at the youtube link.

We Got A Fuzz Box - And We Ain't Afraid To Use It!

'Heart Full Of Soul' was originally released in 1965 and was the first single from the band after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton. Beck used his guitar to imitate Indian Sitar sounds I guess to give it a slightly more psychedelic feel and developing the 'raga rock' sound at the same time. He also made use of the 'fuzz box' as well, another leap forward in sounds for rock music.

The song itself reaching the dizzy heights of #2 in the UK Charts of the day before I was even a twinkle in me Mam's eye! Catch the original, with dark glasses, sharp suits coolness 'n' all....

A West Yorkshire Connection

Both Marx and Hurst had some good musical backgrounds in their respective bands, Skeletal Family were formed in Keighly in 1982 from the remains of an earlier band called Element and nicking their name from a David Bowie track from the 'Diamond Dogs' L.P. The Sisters Of Mercy were formed in Leeds in 1980 after Andrew Eldritch and Gary Marx set out with an ambition to 'hear themselves on the radio', they too nicked their name but this time from a Leonard Cohen song called 'Sisters of Mercy'. The name they chose for the band Ghost Dance also has musical links as well, in that it is the fourth track from the 1978 album from Patti Smith called 'Easter'.

Gothic City Powerhouse

It seems that Leeds, Bradford and surrounding areas were quite a powerhouse for goth bands at the time, the likes of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, The March Violets, The Mission, The Southern Death Cult, The Danse Society and the afore-mentioned Skeletal Family and Ghost Dance, the list seems quite endless. All were from around that neck of the woods, all making it fairly big and adding to some stiff competition between the bands of the time. When it started out venues such as The Faversham Arms and clubs like Le Phonographique and in more recent days gone by The Wendy House at Leeds Uni and the Carpe Noctum club night and Gothic city festival helped bands get on the map.

Catch Skeletal Family with 'Promised Land' released in 1985 on Indie Label Red Rhino records. Have to say the guitar work sounds very early 'The Edge' from U2.

And obviously Gary Marx in The Sisters Of Mercy in early form with 'The Damage Done' released on their own independent Merciful Release label back in 1980.

Pictures and Discography

For the Ghost Dance full discography go to: discogs.com

For some wonderful pictures taken of the band live go to: indieyears.com the site also has other pictures of Anne Marie Hurst as well as a host of other bands from back in the day such as The Woodentops, Fatal Charm and The Toy Dolls.