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By the early 1980s, punk had been declared dead, and two of its most notorious figures went looking for what came next. Lords of the New Church brought together Stiv Bators of Cleveland’s Dead Boys and Brian James of London’s The Damned. The result was a dark, swaggering mix of punk, glam and gothic rock that still sounds unlike anything else from the era.
| Formed | 1981 |
| Classic lineup | Stiv Bators (vocals), Brian James (guitar), Dave Tregunna (bass), Nick Turner (drums) |
| Genres | Post-punk, gothic rock, punk |
| Debut album | The Lords of the New Church (1982) |
| Active | 1981–1989 |
Each member came with history. Bators had fronted the Dead Boys, one of the wildest bands of the original CBGB scene. Brian James wrote and played on The Damned’s “New Rose,” widely called the first British punk single. Bassist Dave Tregunna had played with Sham 69, and drummer Nick Turner with The Barracudas. Signed to Miles Copeland’s I.R.S. Records, the label behind R.E.M. and The Go-Go’s, the band set out to make punk darker and more theatrical.
Thunderous drums, booming bass and James’ searing guitar under Bators’ sneering vocals. “New Church,” “Open Your Eyes,” “Livin’ on Livin'” and “Russian Roulette” are the essentials. The album’s mix of punk energy and gothic atmosphere has been compared to Killing Joke and early Cult.
Glossier and more melodic, with “Dance with Me,” whose video earned MTV airplay, and “Live for Today.”
Their final studio album, featuring “Murder Style” and “Method to My Madness.”
The live album Live at the Spit (1988) captures their reputation on stage. The band broke up in 1989. Stiv Bators died in Paris in 1990 after being struck by a car.
Lords of the New Church bridged first-wave punk and the gothic and post-punk scenes of the 1980s. Their dramatic sound and image influenced gothic rock and dark alternative bands, and they remain a cult favorite among fans of Clan of Xymox, Siouxsie and the Banshees and early Cure. Our alternative rock timeline places them in that wider story.
The Damned, Dead Boys, The Cult, Killing Joke, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Clan of Xymox.
Stiv Bators, Brian James, Dave Tregunna and Nick Turner.
“Open Your Eyes” and “Dance with Me” are their most recognized songs.
No. The band split in 1989, and Stiv Bators died in 1990.
Our post-punk and gothic deep cuts are where you will hear Lords of the New Church alongside The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Catch it on The Modern Rock Radio Show, check the radio show schedule, or press play on the live stream. Want a specific song? Send a request or dedication.
About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team, the programmers and music writers behind the station’s on-air shows. Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.
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