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“Spear of Destiny are criminally underrated and are one of Britain’s best, Boys Own, punch the air, grandiose Rock ‘n’ Roll bands.” – Louder Than War

“Kirk Brandon is one of the Uk’s best kept secrets.” – MOJO

“@kirkbrandon is one of our greatest musical geniuses.” – Jeremy Vine
“Thirty years together makes for flawless musicianship, a unique sound, and some remarkable riffs and harmonies.” – Aberdeen Voice

Marking 40 years since their formation this year – SPEAR OF DESTINY – have announced a run of UK headline shows for 2023, alongside a set of dates supporting Big Country.

Kicking off in York on 5 April, the extensive live run will see Spear of Destiny play 38 shows across the UK in April, May and June, some as special guests to long-term friends Big Country and others as headline shows in their own right.

Having made a stir with their punk-influenced power-rock since 1983, Spear of Destiny emerged from the wreckage of iconic post-punk band Theatre of Hate. Formed by original duo Kirk Brandon and Stan Stammers, the band named themselves after the weapon used by Roman centurion Longinus as he pierced the body of Jesus as he hung on the cross.
Gaining traction in the UK, and with Melody Maker enthusing that “by this time next year, [Spear] should be huge”, their debut album ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ was released in 1983 on Epic Records. After releasing ‘One Eyed Jacks’ in 1984, and almost cracking the UK Top 10 with 1985’s ‘World Service’, Brandon disbanded the existing lineup and Spear of Destiny vanished for much of the next two years.
After bouncing back with a completely new lineup, Spear finally achieved the success that had evaded them for so long, with 1987’s ‘Outland’ spawning some of the band’s biggest hits to date including “Stranger In Our Town”, “Never Take Me Alive” and “Was That You”. They also toured with U2, eventually playing Wembley Stadium with the band that summer.

But, on the eve of a slot at Reading Festival and with their first American tour on the horizon, tragedy struck when Brandon was diagnosed with Reiter’s Syndrome. Over the following years Spear of Destiny struggled amidst Brandon’s diagnosis and legal problems that meant they were prohibited from using their own band’s name.
After finally reclaiming the Spear name in the late 1990s, Brandon and the band have worked consistently ever since: their ninth studio album ‘Morning Star’ was released in 2003, followed by ‘Loadestone’ and ‘Imperial Prototype’ in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
Now in 2022, the current Spear of Destiny lineup is the longest serving to date, featuring Adrian Portas (New Model Army/Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy/The Cult/The Mission) and Phil Martini (Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind), as well as Clive Osborne on saxophone and Steve Allen-Jones on keys.

Over recent years Brandon has supervised a major reissue campaign of the band’s back catalogue, and Spear have played sell-out shows at the likes of London’s iconic 100 Club, Manchester’s Ritz and Oran Mor in Glasgow, as well as festival slots at Sign of the Times, Rebellion and Kubix.

Still continuing to look toward the future, Brandon has penned fourteen new tracks for the latest Spear of Destiny album ‘Ghost Population’. Set for full commercial release in May 2023, the record will be available on Brandon’s own Eastersnow recording Company via Code 7 Distribution.

SPEAR OF DESTINY UK LIVE DATES 2023

MAY
Wed 17 BLACKPOOL Waterloo
Thu 18 GUILDFORD Holroyd Arms
Fri 19 SOUTHAMPTON The 1865*
Sat 20 FROME Cheese & Grain*
Tue 23 EXETER Phoenix
Wed 24 LEICESTER Musician
Thu 25 BRISTOL Rough Trade*

**Fri 26 CARDIFF Y Plas University
Sat 27 NORTHAMPTON Roadmender*
Wed 31 NEWCASTLE Wylam Brewery*
JUNE 2023
Thu 1 EDINBURGH Queens Hall*
Fri 2 ABERDEEN Music Hall*
Sat 3 GLASGOW QMU*

*as special guests to Big Country

Tickets available now here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
w/ www.kirkbrandon.com f/ www.facebook/com/kirkbrandonofficial