Inkubus Sukkubus

Inkubus Sukkubus is a gothic rock group from Cheltenham, England, formed in 1989 by Tony McKormack, Candia Ridley and Adam Henderson. The band develops around shared interests in paganism, witchcraft and vampirism, and from the start it positions itself as a vehicle for expressing pagan experience. Its name is initially spelled Incubus Succubus before changing to Inkubus Sukkubus in the mid-1990s for numerological reasons.

Formation and early releases

The three founders meet while studying graphic design at college. After about a year the group releases its first single, Beltaine, which receives Radio 1 and regional airplay. When some members leave, Candia Ridley and Tony McKormack continue as Children of the Moon, a studio project with a similar style and subject matter. In December 1991 the original drummer Bob returns and the band is re-formed as Inkubus Succubus.

The group releases the Children of the Moon material as a cassette album also called Beltaine. In 1992 it records Belladonna & Aconite, which is issued the following year, and then a CD edition appears in 1993. A further release, Wytches, comes out on Pagan Records in 1994. During this period the band tours with Nosferatu, becomes a regular at London’s Marquee and Nottingham’s Rock City, and appears in music magazines in Europe, America and the Far East. It also records the EP Corn King, tours the UK twice, plays Paris, supports The Damned, Zodiac Mindwarp, Clawfinger, Patricia Morrison and The Marionettes, and films the video for “Wytches” at Barrow Wake Woods.

1990s growth and festival activity

In 1995 the band signs to Resurrection Records and releases Heartbeat of the Earth. At around the same time the live setup changes: the band uses a drum machine, programmed orchestral backing and sequencers, while Bob moves to bass guitar and the bodhrán remains part of the sound. Adam Henderson returns on bass in 1996. That year the band appears on The Big Breakfast and The Girlie Show, tours Germany and Belgium, and plays at the Pagan Federation’s 25th Anniversary Annual Conference.

More compilation appearances follow in 1997, including What Sweet Music... R.I.P., The Hex Files, The Goth Box and a Siouxsie and the Banshees tribute release featuring a version of “Spellbound”. Later that year the group headlines the Vampyria convention in London, with horror authors and Hammer film performers present, and releases Vampyre Erotica. The album is promoted through UK dates and a headline appearance at Whitby Gothic Weekend on Hallowe’en.

In 1998 and 1999 the band tours widely in the UK, Europe and the United States, including shows in Manhattan and New Orleans, and headlines festivals such as Sacrosanct in London, Symphony of Shadows at Whitby and a major festival in a medieval castle in the Polish mountains. It also appears at Vampyria II, the Annual Pagan Federation Conference, and releases Away with the Faeries and Wild. In 2000 it headlines Whitby Gothic Festival and records Supernature, followed by further television appearances and festival slots in 2001, including Gotham Festival, Reading Goth Festival and M’era Luna, where it supports Marilyn Manson on the main stage.

2000s and later work

During the early 2000s Inkubus Sukkubus becomes a heavily downloaded band online and continues touring across Europe and the UK. It reissues Wytches, releases The Beast with Two Backs in 2003, headlines Gotham Festival in London in 2004, and issues Witchqueen in 2005. In 2006 it plays across the UK and Europe and makes videos for “Church of Madness” and “Wytches”, while Tony McKormack also works on his side project Vampire Division.

The band continues with more releases, including Science and Nature in 2007, Viva la Muerte in 2008, Dark Goddess in 2010, The Goat in 2011, Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell in 2013, Love Poltergeist in 2014, Mother Moon in 2015, Barrow Wake in 2016 and Wikka Woman later in 2016. Barrow Wake brings together previously released tracks, re-recordings and new material, and is described by the band as horror folk. In 2017 it releases Belas Knapp, presented as a companion to Barrow Wake, while additional acoustic players join the extended live format.

Style and line-up

Inkubus Sukkubus is associated with gothic rock and pagan rock, and its work centres on pagan, witchcraft and vampire imagery. The core members are Tony McKormack, Candia Ridley and Adam Henderson. Over time the live line-up also includes Bob Gardener on bass, Dave Saunders as a later bass player, and in the extended acoustic format Marcus Gilvier, Nick Gibbs and Abi Blackman.

The band remains active and is based in Cheltenham.