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American singer and guitarist (1949–1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steven John Bator (October 22, 1949 – June 4, 1990), known professionally as Stiv Bator and later as Stiv Bators, was an American punk rock vocalist and guitarist from Youngstown, Ohio. He is best remembered for his bands Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church.
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Stiv Bators | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven John Bator |
| Born | October 22, 1949 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | June 4, 1990 (aged 40) Paris, France |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1974–1990 |
| Labels | Bomp!, Sire |
| Formerly of | |
Stiv Bators was born Steven John Bator on October 22, 1949, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Mr and Mrs. Steven John Bator Sr.[2] He was of Pennsylvania Dutch and Czech-Romani descent; "Stiv" is the Czech equivalent to Steven. He was in Catholic school for 12 years.[3]
In the course of his career Bators was involved with a variety of bands beyond those for which he was best known, including Hormones, with Dennis Comeau and Andre Siva, Frankenstein, The Wanderers and The Whores of Babylon (with Dee Dee Ramone and Johnny Thunders). He also recorded as a solo artist with Bomp! Records.
As the lead singer and driving force of the Cleveland, Ohio–based Dead Boys, Bators helped pioneer the punk rock sound, look and attitude. The band quickly became a popular staple at CBGB, a music club in New York City's East Village. The Dead Boys were featured in the punk rock films Punking Out (1978), Live at CBGB's (1977) and Crash 'n' Burn (1977).
Following the demise of Dead Boys in 1979, Bators began a tumultuous relationship with Bomp! Records and its president, Greg Shaw. According to Shaw: "[W]hat he craved most was to escape the fetters of his Dead Boy image and win respect as a singer of contemporary pop rock (...) in other words, he wanted to be 'the thinking punk's Eric Carmen.'"[4] To this end, and usually with first-wave punk rock veterans in tow, he recorded several singles, many of which were unreleased, and an LP, Disconnected, which was released in 1980. A retrospective album released in 1994, L.A. L.A. documented Bators' efforts as a pop-punk singer.
In 1980, Bators, located in London, formed The Wanderers with Dave Tregunna, the bass player for the punk group Sham 69, which had recently disbanded. The Wanderers came up with a concept album, called Only Lovers Left Alive (released in May 1981), along with two singles.
Bators and Tregunna formed The Lords of the New Church in 1981, with Brian James of The Damned. The Lords of the New Church became notorious for their live shows. A devotee of Iggy Pop, Bators had developed a fearless reputation in his Dead Boys days and continued such antics with The Lords of the New Church. They recorded two more successful albums.
Later, the punk vocalist gained additional exposure through more mainstream film. In 1981, Bators had a small role as "Bobo" in the satirical John Waters film Polyester. In 1988, Bators made a cameo appearance as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of the fictional band the Blender Children, in the offbeat comedy Tapeheads, starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins.
In summer 1985, Bators contributed backing vocals to "Sun City" by Artists United Against Apartheid and also appeared in its music video, shot in October.[5][6]
The Lords of the New Church broke up in 1989, when Bators injured his back and guitarist Brian James secretly began advertising for a replacement singer. Soon after, Stiv Bators moved to Paris, France and started to work on a new solo album. His last recording sessions were later released posthumously as the "Last Race" album in 1996.
Following Stiv Bators death, many musicians and bands recorded covers of his songs or dedicated works to him. His influence was highlighted in various tribute albums, including I Wanna Be a Dead Boy and Lords of the New Church: The Definitive Collection. These albums showcase how Bators' music continues to inspire new generations of musicians, keeping his legacy alive within punk rock culture.[7]
On June 4, 1990, Bators died in Paris after being hit by a car.[2][8][9] He was on his motorbike when a car hit him and knocked him off the vehicle. He did not believe he was seriously injured, and returned to his apartment, where he died in his sleep as the result of a traumatic brain injury at the age of 40.[10] He was survived by his parents.[11]
Dave Tregunna said that Bators, a fan of Jim Morrison, had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's Paris grave and his girlfriend complied.[10]
In the director's commentary of the film Polyester, in which Bators had a small role, director/producer John Waters stated that Bators' girlfriend, Caroline Warren, confessed to him that she snorted a portion of Stiv's ashes so that she could be closer to him.[12][13]
In 2013, an American-made motion picture titled CBGB was released to theaters. Dead Boys were featured as one of the seminal punk bands that got their start at the CBGB club, and were first managed by Hilly Kristal. Bators is portrayed by actor Justin Bartha.
In 2019, a biographical documentary was released titled Stiv. Directed and written by Danny Garcia, the film chronicles the life, legacy and demise of Bators.[14]
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