Southern Death Cult formed in 1981, releasing their sole, self-titled album posthumously in 1983. That same year, Death Cult formed, with Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy joining forces for the first time, releasing two 12-inches which were subsequently combined and released as a CD in 2008. Now, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Cult, the duo have compiled tracks from the Death Cult era for a special release, "Paradise Now". Death Cult is a vital transmission from the generation of Shamanic post-punk gothic futurists. In late 2023, Astbury and Duffy reformed the project for a series of live performances including a sole U.S. date at The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, and a limited run of U.K. shows. Death Cult became The Cult in 1984, releasing "Dreamtime" that same year. The seminal post-punk band has gone on to sell more than four million albums, with numerous Canadian and U.S. gold and platinum certifications. Ian Astbury (vocals) and Billy Duffy (guitar) have released 11 studio albums over The Cult's 40-year career.