Once a Cardiac…

There’s never been anyone quite like Cardiacs. Adored and detested in equal measures, they defied classification and their expansive line-up included musicians that continue to play a role in the modern world of progressive music. Bandmembers past and present, including Tim Smith’s brother Jim, keyboardist William D Drake and guitarist Kavus Torabi, look back over the group’s history and give an update on their long-awaited final studio album, LSD.

Rob Hughes

A packed Hammersmith Odeon, December 13, 1984. Awaiting their heroes, Marillion fans are growing increasingly impatient with support act Cardiacs, a bunch of outliers led by the charismatic Tim Smith. Wearing terrible makeup and customised bandsmen uniforms, neither they nor their deliriously unclassifiable music is going down well with the Marillion hardcore, who’ve begun to hurl insults and objects. Cardiacs are used to hostility, having been on the road with Marillion since early November, but tonight is particularly vicious. So much so, in fact, that Fish, appalled at what he’s seeing, feels compelled to intervene. He marches onto the stage to reprimand his own followers: “If you don’t like it, fuck off to the bar and let them get on with their set!” “Fish was a big fan. He used to…

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Prog Italia (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 158

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