List of Cardiacs band members

Cardiacs are an English rock band hailing from Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.^[1] The band was formed by frontman Tim Smith with his brother bassist Jim Smith, vocalist Michael Pugh and drummer Peter Tagg in 1977.^[2][3] Since its inception, more than a dozen members have cycled through the group, contributing keyboards, percussion, vocals and woodwind.^[2] The Smith brothers were the only constant members in Cardiacs' regularly changing line-up.^[4]

Cardiacs performing in 1987, 1998, 2005, and 2024

History

After playing his first gig as Gazunder, Tim Smith formed Cardiacs under the name Cardiac Arrest,^[5][a] and released their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979.^[8] It was recorded by the band's first full lineup, including keyboardist Colvin "Max" Mayers and saxophonist Ralph Cade.^[9][7] The same year, Tagg was replaced by Mark Cawthra and went on to form the Trudy with Cade.^[10] Cardiac Arrest's reputation was kickstarted with two cassette-only albums — The Obvious Identity (1980) and Toy World (1981) — and they adopted the name Cardiacs on the second.^[11][5] During this time, Mayers left and later joined the Sound.^[12] Cade was replaced by Sarah Cutts in 1981 on keyboards and saxophone/clarinet,^[13][14] who married Tim Smith three years later.^[8] By 1983, the band had reached a semi-stable lineup with percussionist and keyboardist Tim Quy, keyboardist William D. Drake and drummer Dominic Luckman.^[11] For a short time, Cardiacs were an eight-piece with the employment of guitarist Graham Simmonds and saxophonist Marguerite Johnston,^[7] who featured on the cassette album The Seaside (1984) released by their own label the Alphabet Business Concern.^[15]

The six-piece lineup toured extensively alongside Alphabet label representatives the Consultant and Miss Swift.^[16] Shortly after releasing On Land and in the Sea (1989), Cardiacs were joined by guitarist Christian "Bic" Hayes the same year.^[17] Hayes appeared on the video and subsequent live album All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992; 1995), which was also their last performance with Quy.^[7] Drake and Sarah Smith also left the group, continuing to guest on future albums, and Hayes was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Jon Poole in 1991.^[18][19] By 1992, the band had slimmed to a four-piece for Heaven Born and Ever Bright, displaying a new metal-leaning sound.^[20] Mayers died due to complications with AIDS in 1993.^[21] Luckman was replaced by drummer Bob "Babba" Leith the same year, giving Cardiacs their second "classic" lineup on Sing to God (1996).^[22][23] The lineup continued on Guns (1999) with assistance from session musicians.^[24]

Poole subsequently left Cardiacs to join the Wildhearts as a bassist after playing in Silver Ginger 5.^[25] He was replaced by guitar tech, Kavus Torabi in 2003 who played on the two volume live album The Special Garage Concerts (2005).^[16][26] Between 2004 and 2008, Cardiacs expanded their lineup to include vocalists Claire Lemmon and Melanie Woods of Sidi Bou Said and Sharron Fortnam of the North Sea Radio Orchestra, as well as percussionists Cathy Harabaras and Dawn Staple.^[27][28] The collective released the single "Ditzy Scene" in 2007,^[4] teasing an upcoming double album called LSD which was due to be released in October 2008.^[18][29] Cardiacs stopped touring the same year,^[30] and the band's lineup comprised Tim Smith, Jim Smith, Bob Leith, Kavus Torabi, Melanie Woods and Cathy Harabaras until the 2008 hospitalisation of Tim Smith resulted in an indefinite hiatus.^[31][32] On 22 July 2020, it was confirmed by Torabi that Smith had died of a heart attack the previous night.^[5][3] Former percussionist Tim Quy died on 2 February 2023 after a lengthy battle with several health problems.^[33]

Cardiacs announced their return to the stage in 2023 in Tim Smith's honour, playing the Garage on 4 May 2024 (subsequently adding dates 3 May at the Garage and 5 May at Brudenell Social Club).^[34] On 3 May, the band consisted of Jim Smith, Hayes, Leith and Poole, with Craig Fortnam (percussion, keys), Chloe Herington (saxophone), and Adrien Rodes (keyboards). Sharron Fortnam, Joanne Spratley, Tiny Wood from Ultrasound and Sleepy People, Torabi and Cawthra were guests.^[35]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Jim Smith ("Patty Pilf")	1977–2008 2024–present	bass vocals	all releases
	Christian "Bic" Hayes	1989–1991 2024–present	guitar vocals	Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992) All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)
	Jon Poole	1991–2003 2024–present	guitar keyboards vocals	Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992) Sampler (1995) – previously unreleased track "Angleworm the Angel" Sing to God (1996) Guns (1999) Greatest Hits (2002) – previously unreleased track "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain"
	Bob "Babba" Leith	1993–2008 2024–present	drums occasional vocals	all releases from Sing to God (1996)
	Craig Fortnam	2024–present	percussion keyboards	none to date
	Chloe Herington		saxophone
	Adrien Rodes		keyboards
Quoted names in brackets denote aliases used on early recordings as Cardiac Arrest.[7]

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Tim Smith ("Philip Pilf")	1977–2008 (died 2020)	vocals (backing 1977–1980, lead 1980–2008) guitar keyboards[19]	all releases to date
	Michael Pugh ("Peter Boker")	1977–1980	lead vocals	"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) The Obvious Identity (1980) Cardiacs E.P. (2025) – "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse"
	Peter Tagg ("Richard Targett")	1977–1979	drums	"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) Cardiacs E.P. (2025) – "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse"
	Colvin "Max" Mayers ("Duncan Doilet", "Max Cat", "Button Poppet")	1978–1981 (died 1993)	keyboards vocals	all releases from "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) to Toy World (1981) Cardiacs E.P. (2025) – "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse"
	Ralph Cade[b] ("Raphel Cadd")	1978–1979	saxophone	"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979)
	Mark Cawthra ("Little Bobby Shattocks")	1979–1983 (guest 2024)	drums (1979–1981) keyboards (1981–1983) vocals	all releases from The Obvious Identity (1980) to Seaside Treats (1985) Big Ship (1987) engineering
	Sarah Smith (née Cutts, now Jones)[37]	1980–1989 (touring and studio guest 1989–2007)	saxophone clarinet vocals occasional keyboards	all releases from Toy World (1981) to On Land and in the Sea (1989) Songs for Ships and Irons (1991) – previously unreleased track "Everything is Easy" Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992) – guest appearance on six tracks All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995) Sing to God (1996) – guest appearance Guns (1999) – guest appearance on two tracks
	Tim Quy	1981–1990 (substitute bass 1980–1981) (died 2023)	percussion keyboards bass (substitute)	Toy World (1981) – live sound credits only all releases from The Seaside (1984) to On Land and in the Sea (1989) Archive Cardiacs (1989) Songs for Ships and Irons (1991) – previously unreleased track "Everything is Easy" All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)
	Dominic Luckman	1982–1993	drums occasional vocals	Toy World (1981) – lighting credits only all releases from The Seaside (1984) to All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)
	William D. Drake	1983–1990[c]	keyboards vocals	all releases from The Seaside (1984) to On Land and in the Sea (1989) Songs for Ships and Irons (1991) – previously unreleased track "Everything is Easy" Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992) – appears on one track All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)
	Graham Simmonds	1983–1984	guitar	The Seaside (1984) all releases from Seaside Treats (1985) to On Land and in the Sea (1989) – production credits only
	Marguerite Johnston[d]		saxophone	The Seaside (1984) Seaside Treats (1985)
	Kavus Torabi	2003–2008 (guest 2024)	guitar vocals	The Special Garage Concerts (2005) "Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
	Cathy Harabaras	2004–2008	percussion	"Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
	Melanie Woods		vocals	"Odd Even" (1996) – guest appearance on B-side "Hurricane" "Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
	Sharron Fortnam (née Saddington)	2004–2007 (guest 2024)		Guns (1999) – guest appearance on four tracks Greatest Hits (2002) – previously unreleased track "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain"
	Claire Lemmon	2004–2007		Sing to God (1996) – appears on one track "Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
	Dawn Staple		percussion	Sing to God (1996) – "Peril on the Sea" story "Ditzy Scene" (2007) "Vermin Mangle" (2020)
Quoted names in brackets denote aliases used on early recordings as Cardiac Arrest.[7]

Honorary

Some members of the Cardiacs crew are listed on the album liner notes of Greatest Hits (2002) alongside the other band members.^[36]

Image	Name	Role	Release contributions
	Mr Hiles (Bill Hiles)	Ordinary Shop Girl[31]	Big Ship (1987) – technical credits only "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987) – technical credits only Cardiacs Live (1988) – technical credits only On Land and in the Sea (1989) – technical credits only All That Glitters Is a Maresnest (1992) – technical credits only
	The Consultant (James Stevens)[39]	manager[29][39] label representative	Seaside Treats (1984) – video appearance Big Ship (1987) – artwork and management credits only "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987) – management credits only A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) – guest appearance Cardiacs Live (1988) – artwork credits only Archive Cardiacs (1989) – production credits only
	Miss Swift (Wendy Swift)	label representative	Seaside Treats (1984) – video appearance A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) – guest appearance Archive Cardiacs (1989) – production credits only

Session

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Tim Hills	1984	trombone	The Seaside (1984) Seaside Treats (1985)
	Mike Peters		trumpet
	Nick Pell
	Lanze Lorrens		trumpet vocals
	Wendy Collins		vocals on "A Little Man and a House"
	Ashley Slater	1988	trombones	A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988)
	Phil Cesar		trumpets flugelhorn
	Elain Herman		violins
	Mr Walmesley (Mark Walmsley)[14]		vocals	A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) Big Ship (1987) – management credits only "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987) – management credits only Cardiacs Live (1988) – management credits only On Land and in the Sea (1989) – management credits only All That Glitters Is a Maresnest (1992) – management credits only
	Natalie Box	1996	violins	Sing to God (1996)
	Jane Kyprianidis		scissors
	Mark Barratt		trumpets
	Chris Brierly	1996 1999	string quartet	Sing to God (1996) Guns (1999)
	Catherine Morgan
	Mark Pharaoh
	Robert Woollard
	David Murder	1996	orchestral arrangements on "Fiery Gun Hand" and "Wireless"	Sing to God (1996) All That Glitters Is a Maresnest (1992) – technical credits only Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992) – technical credits only On Land and in the Sea (1995 reissue) – technical credits only
	Joanne Spratley	1999	vocals on "Sleep All Eyes Open" and "Come Back Clammy Lammy"	Guns (1999)
	Rob Deschamps		trombone French horn
	Suzanne Kirby	2007	vocals	"Ditzy Scene" (2007) Some Fairytales from the Rotten Shed (2017) – management credits and video appearance "Vermin Mangle" (2020)

Live substitute members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Notes
	Jon Bastable	1983	bass	Bastable filled in for Jim Smith when neither he nor Tim Quy could make it to a gig.[7] A noted gig was at the Kingston Grove Tavern on 13 July 1983.[22]
	Stephen Gilchrist	2004	drums	Gilchrist filled in for Bob Leith, who had conflicts with Blurt, at shows supporting the Wildhearts in 2004.[31][22]
	Jesse Cutts	2024	bass	Cutts from Tim Smith's Spratleys filled in for Jim Smith on several tracks in the middle of a Cardiacs Family show at Brighton Concord in October 2024 after Smith had a health scare the night before.[40]

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
Late 1977 – 1978	Tim Smith – guitar Jim Smith – bass Michael Pugh – vocals Peter Tagg – drums	none
1978 (The Filth)	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass Michael Pugh – vocals Peter Tagg – drums Colvin Mayers – keyboards Ralph Cade – saxophone	"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979) Cardiacs E.P. (2025) – "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse"[e]
1978 – 1979 (Cardiac Arrest)
July 1979 – June 1980 (Cardiac Arrest)	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass Michael Pugh – vocals Colvin Mayers – keyboards Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals	The Obvious Identity (1980)
c. June 1980 – March 1981	Tim Smith – guitar, keyboards, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Colvin Mayers – keyboards Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals Sarah Cutts – keyboards, saxophone, vocals	Toy World (1981)
c. March 1981 – 30 August 1983	Tim Smith – guitar, keyboards, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals Sarah Cutts – keyboards, saxophone, vocals	none
31 August 1983 – 10 July 1984	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Sarah Smith – saxophone Tim Quy – percussion Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards Graham Simmonds – guitar Marguerite Johnston – saxophone	The Seaside (1984)[f] Seaside Treats (1985)
11 July 1984 – 13 August 1984	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Sarah Smith – saxophone Tim Quy – percussion Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards Marguerite Johnston – saxophone	none
14 August 1984 – 11 February 1989	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Sarah Smith – saxophone, vocals Tim Quy – percussion, keyboards Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards, vocals	Rude Bootleg (1986) Big Ship (1987) "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987) A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) "Susannah's Still Alive" (1988) Radio 1 Sessions / The Evening Show (1988) Cardiacs Live (1988) On Land and in the Sea (1989) "Everything Is Easy" (1991)
1989 – 30 June 1990	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Tim Quy – percussion, keyboards Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards, vocals Christian Hayes – guitar, vocals	All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)[g]
31 June 1990 – 16 May 1991	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards, vocals Christian Hayes – guitar, vocals	none
c. 17 May 1991 – 20 October 1991	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums Christian Hayes – guitar, vocals	"Day Is Gone" (1991)
21 October 1991 – 20 July 1993	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums Jon Poole – guitar, keyboards, vocals	Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992)[h]
2 December 1993 – 16 October 2003	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Jon Poole – guitar, keyboards, vocals Bob Leith – drums	Sing to God (1996) Guns (1999) "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain" (2002)
17 October 2003 – 2004	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Bob Leith – drums Kavus Torabi – guitar, vocals	The Special Garage Concerts (2005) Some Fairytales from the Rotten Shed (2017)
2004 – 2007	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Bob Leith – drums Kavus Torabi – guitar, vocals Sharron Fortnam – vocals Cathy Harabaras – percussion Claire Lemmon – vocals Dawn Staple – percussion Melanie Woods – vocals	"Ditzy Scene" (2007)[i]
2007 – 2008	Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Bob Leith – drums Kavus Torabi – guitar, vocals Cathy Harabaras – percussion, vocals Melanie Woods – vocals, percussion
3 May 2024 – present (Cardiacs Family)	Jim Smith – bass, vocals Christian Hayes – guitar, lead vocals Jon Poole – guitar, lead vocals Bob Leith – drums Craig Fortnam – percussion Chloe Herington – saxophone Adrien Rodes – keyboard

Notes

1. The band was initially called "The Filth" and went by various other names before deciding on Cardiacs, including "The Obvious Identity" and "The Alphabet".^[6][7]
2. Written "Ralf Cade" on the liner notes of Greatest Hits.^[36]
3. Drake was not replaced; live keyboard parts after his absence were pre-recorded on tape.^[38]
4. Written "Margurite Jonston" on the liner notes of Greatest Hits.^[36]
5. Cade did not feature on "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse".
6. Mark Cawthra also featured on tracks recorded prior to his absence.^[41]
7. Sarah Smith appeared as a guest musician.^[42]
8. Christian Hayes also featured on tracks recorded prior to his absence.^[43]
9. Sharron Fortnam did not feature on "Ditzy Scene".^[44]