Ian Astbury of The Cult | Photo by Mick Peek
“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, explores the darker side of classic ’80s alternative, including vintage goth, post-punk and industrial. The shows airs at 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33).
Tonight’s show was co-hosted by The Cult’s Ian Astbury ahead of his performance with Death Cult at the Cruel World festival in Pasadena, California, on May 17.
The most recent two episodes are also available to subscribers to stream via the Sirius XM app.
Got a request? Requests will be considered for future episodes as long as they fit the show’s format and fall generally within the 1st Wave era — and provided the host doesn’t harbor an intense dislike of the song. If there’s something you’d like to hear, drop it in the comments below.
HOUR 1
The Cult, “Rain” (Love)
The Sisters of Mercy, “First and Last and Always” (First and Last and Always)
The March Violets, “Children on Stun” (The Botanic Verses)
Gary Numan, “Remember I Was Vapour” (Telekon)
Killing Joke, “Eighties” (Live) (BBC In Concert)
Death Cult, “C.O.T.A.” (Death Cult-8323) *
Shriekback, “The Big Hush” (Oil & Gold)
Mazzy Star, “Ghost Highway” (She Hangs Brightly)
Fields of the Nephilim, “Slow Kill” (Dawnrazor)
Deafheaven, “Heathen” (Lonely People with Power) *
Scratch Acid, “Mary Had a Little Drug Problem” (The Greatest Gift)
Your Funeral, “I Want To Be You” (I Want To Be You)
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Lands End” (Peel Session) (The John Peel Sessions)
HOUR 2
Salem, “Starfall” (Fires in Heaven) *
Cybotron, “Enter” (Enter)
Tones on Tail, “Performance” (Everything!)
Black Asteroid featuring Ian Astbury, “Dirge Out” (Infinite Darkness) *
Abecedarians, “Misery of Cities” (Eureka)
Front 242, “Soul Manager” (Tyranny For You)
A Split-Second, “Crimewave” (Kiss of Fury)
The Cult, “Brother Wolf, Sister Moon” (Love) *
UK Decay, “Stage Struck” (For Madmen Only)
Punishment of Luxury, “Puppet Life” (Laughing Academy)
Dead Can Dance, “The Arcane” (Dead Can Dance)
HOUR 3
Psychic TV, “Just Drifting” (Force The Hand Of Chance) *
Joy Division, “She’s Lost Control” (Unknown Pleasures)
The Mission, “Wake (RSV)” (The First Chapter)
Bauhaus, “Stigmata Martyr” (Live) (Mask: Omnibus Edition)
Death Cult, “Gods Zoo” (Ghost Dance) *
The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Nine Million Rainy Days” (Darklands)
New Order, “Confusion” (Substance)
The Cure, “Sinking” (The Head on the Door)
Eartheater, “Crushing” (Powders) *
Disco Inferno, “Fallen Down the Wire” (In Debt)
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, “Shock of Point 6” (My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult)
Big Black, “Pavement Saw” (Pig Pile)
* Songs selected by Ian Astbury
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (4/20/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (4/13/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (4/6/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (3/30/25)
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Hi Matt, it was great to have Ian as a guest tonight!
Here’s my request:
Skinny Puppy – Rodent
I never expected to hear Deafheaven or Salem on this show. Nice Mr. Astbury was able to throw us some curveballs. Great show. Glad he shared his musings on his history and some new music. Is this your second celeb co-host for Darkwave?
Would like to request some Burning Image on an upcoming episode. “Say Goodbye” if something more recent is alright. “The Image” or “Time is Running Out” if you want to stick to the 80s.
Thanks for the great music. Have a good week.
Ian gave a lot of insights on his past work, and great choices on contemporary music. I too loved those Deafheaven, and Salem tracks. That was the first interview I’ve heard him, and his spoken English reflects the time he lived in Canada as a teenager.
Since next Sunday will mark 32 years since the release of The Cure’s Pornography album, how about “The Hanging Garden”?
Also, next week is Cinco de Mayo. Would it be possible to hear something by Caifanes? Perhaps “Viento” from Caifanes (1988)? Gracias!
Can you play
The March Violets – Turn to the Sky
Such a great song and it never gets played on any radio stations
Wow,gr8 show my friend!I dug the music Ian was dolling out,especially his collaboration with Black Asteroid,damn good stuff!How about these dittys to play next time eh!
Nik Turner-Walking In The Sky
Thrill Kill Kult-Dementia 66
Machines Of Loving Grace-Golgatha Tenament Blues
Thanx as always,
M.
Great playlist and interview! Thanks, Matt.
Hey Matt, missed a couple of weeks but getting caught up via replays. Awesome sets! Only on your show can I expect to hear Black Flag and RevCo. Speaking of, I just grabbed my tickets for the new Ministry tour you mentioned. How about playing some classic 1000 Homo DJs in the hopes that Uncle Al’s setlist includes some side project songs? Thanks!
Lords of the New Church – Portobello
Oil and Gold, what a masterpiece. Thank you!
Shriekback are so overlooked in even a lot of post-punk/ 80’s college rock fans.
Atmosphere by Paul Haig! Pretty please
Really enjoyed Ian and his insight/stories leading up to Cruel World!
I’d like to request The Cult – Hollow Man for a future show. Thanks!
Great program this week – super interesting to hear Ian’s take on the musical topics discussed. I’ve really been in a female artist kick lately…I’d love to hear:
PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
Concrete Blonde – Roses Grow
45 Grave – Procession
I don’t think PJ gets the credit she deserves…. absolutely adore her. Have a great week Matt and ….. thanks again as always!!!! ｡◕‿◕｡
I’ll second PJ Harvey!
Great show Matt! I loved the tracks picked by Ian.
Hi Matt – other than Halloween, have you ever done themed shows? Like all cover versions, for example?
Hey Matt, very cool having a guest on the show. I enjoyed Ian’s talk of what he’s into now, and his selections, especially Deafheaven and Eartheater. It was also really cool hearing him discuss his connections with Genesis P Orridge. My favorite songs of the night were the tracks by Mazzy Star, as well as UK Decay and Disco Inferno (new to my ears, both), and always a pleasure to hear some less often played Big Black. Have a great week!
Hey Matt, I love love love Dark Wave on Sunday Nights. I get into the zone listening to it. But I did not like it when you cut into the music with the interviews because it took me out of the zone. Interviews with artists are great, but please just don’t do it during the three hours on Sunday nights. I would love to listen to Ian talk at another time or during a dedicated interview show. Keep spinning!
I know it doesn’t exactly fit the music style of the show, but in remembrance of Mike Peters, could you please play something from The Alarm? Perhaps “Strength,” for Mike’s “love hope strength” foundation. Thanks.
Matt, I really enjoyed this episode. It was a treat to hear Ian’s musical picks and thoughtful responses to your questions. Glad you had this opportunity to interview him.
Thanks for playing my New Order request. A few other highlights include JAMC, Big Black, Mazzy Star, Joy Division…
A request for an upcoming show:
The Smiths “Stop me if you think you’ve this one before”
It always makes me smile to sing along to “And the pain was enough to make a shy, bald, Buddhist reflect…”
Thank you! Wishing everyone a wonderful week.
Gotta second that great Smiths cut, especially after having just seen Moz this past Saturday. Good call Nicole!
Nathan, I’m so glad you caught Morrissey on a good night! And what a treat to hear him do some Smiths cuts.
Matt, I have a bit of a challenging request. But if anyone can do it, I know it would be you.
Can you play Fools Dance (Simon Gallup’s band)? Any song will do.
Best wishes!
What a fun and insightful episode. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Ian’s discuss the band, especially revisiting Death Cult. That Eartheater track is killer, had never heard that before. Thanks for this one Matt, super cool.
And thanks for playing my Abecedarians request. I think it’s time to skip a request for a week, you’ve been so gracious playing so many.
Quick sidenote: I saw Morrissey on the first night of his North American tour in Reno and he did not disappoint. Voice was impeccable, band was on point, he was in a chatty mood, a good mood, and he played some Smiths cuts that were truly unexpected and truly moving. The man himself almost looked to be in tears at one point. I won’t spoil if you’re seeing him later on the tour and don’t check setlist.com.
Have a great week Matt, cheers!
Really cool episode- loved the interview and took away new insights and appreciation from it. Thanks for playing some Cybotron and Pavement Saw might just be my fave Big Black song – awesome ending note!
Cheers!
I think you’ve said it before Evan: we can never have too much Big Black.
10000%!
Hi Matt, long time no see! I have a couple of requests for some of your future shows. Just got back from Ministry tonight so I’ll like to request Fad Gadget ‘Ricky’s Hand’ and KMFDM ‘Free Your Hate.’ Uncle Al closed his show with that and that KMFDM song is sentimental to me when their ‘Hau Ruck’ album first dropped 20 years ago.
Loved this show with Ian.
We saw Ministry on their “Squirrely Years” opener on Tuesday. It was amazing! I drove the family out to Phoenix because it was all ages and I knew my 13 year old would love to see his Uncle Al play the older tracks. They performed “‘Cause We’re in Love Again”, apparently for the first time ever live. I had never heard that one before, but it was my favorite song of the set (which is saying a lot). That guitar riff is pure evil. Could you play that on a future show? I can’t wait to see them again on their final US date here in Las Vegas. If you are reading this, do not miss seeing them.
Hi Matt, If you could please play MBV’s cover of “We Have All The Time In The World” for my birthday this Sunday it would be awesome. I really liked the last show especially hearing “Ghost Highway” by Mazzy
That made me pull out that album. I also loved the selection of songs over all especially the latter have of hour three. Thank you.
Great call on that MBV cover!
Really enjoyed getting Ian’s insights on the band and his musical interests. In celebration of that, could you play The Cult – The Phoenix, preferably a live version if you have one. Thanks!