Theatre of Hate

There is a piece of rock trivia attached to this specific recording session.

In a 2023 podcast interview, guitarist Billy Duffy, who was playing in Theatre of Hate at the time, revealed that he actually lent his iconic Gretsch White Falcon guitar to David Buzz Burrows so Buzz could record this very single.

The sonic results were spectacular.

The guitar work on Fat Man spits pure spleen with an undistorted quasi-psychedelic edge.

Lyrically, Fat Man is a searing, aggressive, anti-capitalist tirade.

Asprey attacks corporate greed and the exploitation of the working class, singing, the fat man takes away what isn't his, he weakens you and me, lust of your life, money life, your money is his life.

He famously interpolates a direct, echoing nod to the Who's rock opera Tommy during the bridge, chanting, Tommy, can you hear me? Despite topping the indie charts and touring with major post-punk luminaries like Bauhaus and Theatre of Hate, the volatile chemistry of the band couldn't hold.

Ian Asprey abruptly dismantled the Southern Death cult in February 1983 after a final show in London.

Yeah

... and, and then in, in the early '80s when I was old enough then to travel out to Stoke, I then started watching Killing Joke and Bow Wow Wow and Theatre of Hate and that lot.

Mm.

And never lost the appetite.