Lil’ Devil

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as The Zoo Crew spins "Lil' Devil" by The Cult from their iconic album Electric. This track, released in 1987, is a high-octane anthem with a gritty edge, and it’s packed with stories that make it a perfect fit for our wild radio vibes. One juicy piece of trivia comes from the song’s production: The Cult initially recorded a different version of the album, tentatively titled Peace, but producer Rick Rubin wasn’t having it. He called their guitar effects “way too overblown” and challenged them to strip it down, aiming for a raw, AC/DC-inspired sound. The band re-recorded the entire album in New York, renaming it Electric, and "Lil' Devil" became a standout single, peaking at #34 in the UK charts. Fans on Reddit still rave about its infectious opening riff, with one user, steveforthedeaf, describing how it “ties itself around your leg” and pulls you into a rebellious underworld, proving its timeless ability to make you want to “misbehave.”

Another tidbit ties "Lil' Devil" to pop culture and gaming. In 2019, Big Time Gaming launched a slot game called Lil Devil, featuring the song as its soundtrack against a backdrop of a burning desert shack. The game’s creators chose it to amplify the apocalyptic, heart-pounding vibe, showing how the track’s energy transcends music. The song’s lyrics, like “Livin’ in a shack in a one-horse town,” paint a vivid picture of restless longing, which Ian Astbury once hinted in an interview was inspired by the band’s time soaking up the raw energy of Los Angeles after moving there. On X, fans and posts like one from @RockTheseTweets in 2022 celebrate Electric as a platinum-certified gem, with "Lil' Devil" as a cornerstone that captures the band’s shift from gothic rock to hard rock swagger.

The Cult got their start in Bradford, England, in 1983, evolving from the ashes of frontman Ian Astbury’s earlier band, Southern Death Cult. Astbury, inspired by punk and the socio-economic divides in England, formed Southern Death Cult with guitarist Buzz Burrows, bassist Barry Jepson, and drummer Aki Nawaz Qureshi. Their name reflected a critique of the centralized power in Southern England, and they quickly gained a cult following in the post-punk and gothic rock scene, touring with bands like Bauhaus. By 1983, after just 16 months, Southern Death Cult disbanded, but Astbury wasn’t done. He teamed up with guitarist Billy Duffy, whose riff-heavy style became the backbone of The Cult. They briefly performed as Death Cult before settling on The Cult in 1984. Their debut album, Dreamtime, dropped that year, blending mystical vibes with raw energy, but it was their 1985 album Love, with hits like “She Sells Sanctuary,” that put them on the map, charting at #4 in the UK.

Since then, The Cult have kept their fire burning, with Astbury and Duffy as the constant creative core through various lineup changes. Their move to Los Angeles in the late ’80s fueled their hard rock evolution, leading to albums like Electric and Sonic Temple. You can dive deeper into their world on their official website, where they share tour dates and merch, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and fan interactions. Zoo Freaks looking to connect with fellow fans can check out communities like The Cult Fans on Facebook or explore fan sites like The Cult Collection, which catalogs their discography and memorabilia. So, keep it locked to THE ZOO as we let "Lil' Devil" unleash its magic!