Beyond Good and Evil (album)

Untitled

Beyond Good and Evil was a 2001 album by The Cult - their first new recording in six and a half years. The title of the record is a reference to Nietzsche's book of the same title, and the record briefly had the mock working title of Bring Me the Head of Dave Grohl. In 2006, singer Ian Astbury claimed via the band's website that his preferred choice for the record's title was Demon Process.

The record debuted at #37 on the charts in the United States, #22 in Canada, #25 in Spain.

Only one single, "Rise", was officially released. The songs "Breathe" and "True Believers" were released as promotional singles but not as official singles.

Background and writing

"My Bridges Burn" was originally titled "Save Me", "Breathe" originally had the slightly longer title "Breathe (You Bastard)" along with an overdub of keyboards after the guitar solo which was later removed, and "Speed of Light" went through several different titles: originally titled "Black California", then "Who Plays the Devil" before the band decided on its present title.

There are several CD acetates of early recordings of the songs later featured on Beyond Good and Evil. A CD-R of demo versions of the songs leaked out, unofficially referred to as Unmixed, Unmastered, Unsequenced, and a bootleg CD-R of later, but still unfinished versions of the songs is also in circulation.

Track listing

All songs written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, except where noted.

1. "War (The Process)"
2. "The Saint"
3. "Rise"
4. "Take the Power"
5. "Breathe" (Astbury, Duffy, Mick Jones, Marti Frederiksen)
6. "Nico"
7. "American Gothic"
8. "Ashes and Ghosts" (Astbury, Duffy, Bob Rock)
9. "Shape the Sky"
10. "Speed of Light" (Astbury, Duffy, Rock)
11. "True Believers"
12. "My Bridges Burn"

Different bonus tracks were added in certain regions:

• "Libertine" (Bonus track - in Australia and Japan)
• "Wild Child" (Bonus track - in Russia and Eastern Europe)
• "In the Clouds" (Bonus track - in Russia and Eastern Europe)

Other versions

• In China, this record was issued in a cardboard foldout sleeve.
• In Taiwan, it was released with an obi.
• "Nico" was incorrectly listed as "Niko" on some German CD pressings.
• In Australia, a six song demo disc was given to record company executives.
• A promotional disc was released in a slimline plastic CD case in Germany, with a completely different front cover.

Personnel

• Ian Astbury - vocals
• Billy Duffy - all guitars
• Matt Sorum - drums and percussion

with:

• Martyn LeNoble: bass on tracks 5, 10, 11, 12
• Chris Wyse: bass on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12