Artist profiles

Spear Of Destiny

Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1983 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon (born on 3 August 1956, in Westminster, London) and bassist Stan Stammers (born on 19 May 1961). It had an ever-changing line-up through the years.

Brandon had previously been in The Pack, and from 1980 to 1982 in the post-punk Theatre of Hate with its album Westworld and single \'Do You Believe In The Westworld ?\', which was a UK Top 40 single in 1982, whilst the album made the Top 20.

As had happened with Joy Division and New Order, the band were criticised for using the name Spear of Destiny, with its potential Nazi overtones. Any such links were fiercely denied, particularly since the band were politically left-leaning.

Spear of Destiny recorded one session for John Peel (recorded 22/11/1982, transmitted on BBC Radio 1 on 29/11/1982). Between 1980 and 1982, Theatre of Hate recorded three

“The band played a punk-influenced form of power rock, which often had an anthemic feel”.

The critical consensus is that Spear of Destiny’s second album, ‘One Eyed Jacks’ (1984), is their best album. (It reached number 22 in the UK). However, arguably, Spear of Destiny’s reputation in the mid-1980s depended to a greater extent on their live performances.

In 1985, their album, \'World Service\' reached the UK Top 20. Founder member Stan Stammers left in 1986. In the wake of the release of the fourth album, ‘Outland’ (1987) and its hit "Never Take Me Alive", the band began achieving some overdue single chart success and staging sell-out shows, including a support slot to U2 at Wembley stadium. Unfortunately, ill fortune struck on the eve of the band’s appearance at the Reading Festival, as Brandon contracted Reiter disease which obliged the band to put all their plans on hold for nearly a year. After recovery, Brandon and Spear of Destiny never regained their momentum. Indeed, the band have failed to chart with any of the albums they have released after the 1980s.

To date, Spear of Destiny have had 10 UK Top 75 singles. Four reached the Top 50 but only one made the Top 20 - Never Take Me Alive in 1987.

Aside from Brandon and Stammers, past members of the band in the 1980s included former Gillan drummer Pete Barnacle, former JoBoxers bassist Chris Bostock, former Adam & the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni, and former Tom Robinson Band and Stiff Little Fingers drummer Dolphin Taylor.

Brandon once played in an early incarnation of Culture Club. In the mid 1990s, Brandon embarked on unsuccessful legal action against Boy George over allegations of a homosexual relationship, revealed in George’s autobiography. The Judgement went against Brandon and he was ordered to pay a significant part of the not inconsiderable legal costs. Brandon is married.

Kirk is also a member of the \'super-group\' Dead Men Walking.