Ghostwriter Presents
Theatre of Hate at
Thekla Bristol
Sunday 5th October 2025
19:00
14+
In 1980, Kirk Brandon formed Theatre Of Hate from the remnants of the acclaimed punk band, The Pack. Alongside Kirk on vocals were punk icons Stan Stammers and Luke Rendall, with old friend Steve Guthrie and Canadian-born John “Boy” Lennard, whose haunting sax lines transformed the band’s sound. Theatre Of Hate’s debut double-A-side single, “Legion”/”Original Sin,” topped the independent chart in 1980. Their debut album, “Westworld,” produced by Mick Jones from The Clash and released in 1982, held the number one spot for 21 weeks. The single from the album, “Do You Believe In The West-world?” has become an anthem, still widely played in clubs and on international radio, and featured on numerous compilation albums. Theatre Of Hate disbanded in 1982, with Kirk and Stan going on to form Spear Of Destiny, but the band has periodically reunited for special shows.
In December 2014, at John Curd's invitation, Theatre Of Hate joined The Damned for a major show at London’s iconic Roundhouse, followed by a brief run of dates that received rave reviews. In 2015, they played two UK tours in April and December, both drawing large crowds. During this time, they recorded Kinshi, their first new studio album in over 30 years, funded by a fan pledge campaign. Released in November 2016, the 12-track album, merging past and present, garnered strong praise and led to more live shows across the UK, Europe, and the USA.
With a solid lineup of Kirk Brandon, Stan Stammers, Adrian Portas, Chris Bell, and Clive Osborne (currently filling in for John Lennard), the band released two EPs, I.Sensou (War) & II.Heiwa (Peace) in 2019, sustaining their momentum and paving the way for their latest studio album, A Thing Of Beauty. Funded by their dedicated fanbase, this album was released in April 2021 on CD, Vinyl, and Digital formats. Featuring Theatre Of Hate’s signature sound, the album’s 23 tracks quickly became fan favorites. Theatre Of Hate will be back on tour in 2025, celebrating 45 years of their legacy.
You may also like the following events from Thekla Bristol:
Also check out other
Arts events in Bristol,
Theatre events in Bristol,
Music events in Bristol.
