Ian Astbury is a English rock singer and guitarist. Astbury's career began with the Southern Death Cult, a 1980s Gothic rock band. Personnel and stylistic changes transmutated the band into The Death Cult, and then The Cult, one of the finest hard rock bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their second album, "Love" evoked memories of 1960s psychedelia such as The Doors and the Pretty Things. With their second album, "Electric", the Cult changed to a harder sound reminiscent of AC/DC and Aerosmith. They quickly became one of the most popular and influential hard rock bands in the world during that period, along with Guns n' Roses.

The Cult went on to greater heights with their mainstream hit single "Fire Woman," from the "Sonic Temple" album. Unfortunately, their follow-up release ("Ceremony," 1991) failed to live up to the band's previous successes.

In 1995, The Cult released their self-titled album. The record married a modern sound with Astbury's growing interest in electronica. While on tour for the album in Brazil, the band imploded and The Cult ended.

More recently, Ian Astbury and co-frontman Billy Duffy regrouped to release the "Beyond Good And Evil" album, which featured a harder, darker sound.

Always influenced by Jim Morrison, Astbury in 2001 filled his hero's footsteps by becoming lead singer in a new version of The Doors with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek. In 2003, Astbury performed with surviving members of the MC5 at the 100 Club in London.