Cardiacs

Cardiacs are an English group from Kingston upon Thames, formed in 1977 and active until 2020. They begin as Cardiac Arrest before adopting the name Cardiacs. The band is led by Tim Smith, who fronts and shapes much of its music until his death in 2020.

Style and reputation

The group is known for complex, varied and intense compositions, along with eccentric and theatrical live performances. Their music mixes the energy of punk with the technical structures of early British progressive rock, and is often described as pronk, although Tim Smith rejects that label and presents the band instead as a pop or psychedelic act. Cardiacs also develop a reputation for strongly divided critical responses, with a loyal cult following alongside severe critical hostility.

Members and line-up

Over the years, around 23 musicians pass through the band. Among them are Tim Smith’s brother Jim Smith and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Cutts, who marries Tim Smith in 1983. Other members include Ralph Cade, Michael Pugh, Peter Tagg, Colvin Mayers, Mark Cawthra, Sarah Jones, Tim Quy, Marguerite Johnson, Graham Simmonds, William D. Drake, Dominic Luckman, Christian Hayes, Jon Poole, Bob Leith, Sharron Fortnam, Claire Lemmon, Cathy Harabaras, Dawn Staple, Melanie Woods, Kavus Torabi, Chlöe Herington, Craig Fortnam, Jane Kaye and Mike Vennart.

Releases and key recordings

Cardiacs release eight studio albums, along with live albums, compilation albums and singles, between 1980 and 2007. Their best-known single is “Is This the Life?”, which appears in 1988 as a minor hit. A 1990 performance at Salisbury Arts Centre is recorded and first released on VHS as All That Glitters Is A Mare's Nest; the audio appears on CD in 1995. The video helps widen their cult following, and pirated copies become sought after.

Later years

The band goes on hiatus after Tim Smith is hospitalised in 2008 following a heart attack and strokes that affect his speech and movement. Fundraising is later set up for him. Cardiacs’ final album, LSD, remains unfinished at the time of Smith’s death in 2020. Their recordings remain hard to find for many years, before reissues begin to appear on CD and later on vinyl.