Theatre of Hate are a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.
Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers (The Straps/Epileptics), saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The Straps.
The Pack were a British punk rock band formed in 1978. Comprising Kirk Brandon (vocals, guitar), Simon Werner (died 26 Nov 2010) (guitar), Jonathan Werner (bass), and Rab Fae Beith (later of UK Subs) (drums). Beith was eventually replaced by Jim Walker (drums). The band released two singles in 1979, before a change of name to Theatre of Hate.
In 1980, The Pack evolved into Theatre of Hate, with Luke Rendle replacing Walker on drums, Stan Stammers joining on bass, Steve Guthrie on guitar and John "Boy" Lennard on sax (the Werners joined The Straps, who Stan Stammers had previously played for).<ref name="Strong" Inspired by Antonin Artaud's book Theatre and its DoubleThe band took its name from the concept of the Theatre of Cruelty: "Artaud called for the emotional involvement of the audience. Singer Brandon borrowed the thespian term because he was trying to do the same." The first Theatre of Hate release was the "Original Sin" single in November 1980, which reached No. 5 on the UK Indie Chart." Theatre of Hate garnered much early attention as a live act and made their album debut in 1981 with the concert LP He Who Dares Wins (Live at the Warehouse Leeds). Steve Guthrie left the band shortly after the album's release. Another concert recording followed, Live at the Lyceum.