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

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

The six-piece lineup toured extensively alongside Alphabet label representatives the Consultant and Miss Swift. Shortly after releasing On Land and in the Sea (1989), Cardiacs were joined by guitarist Christian "Bic" Hayes the same year. 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. 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. By 1992, the band had slimmed to a four-piece for Heaven Born and Ever Bright, displaying a new metal-leaning sound. Luckman was replaced by drummer Bob "Babba" Leith in 1993, giving Cardiacs their second "classic" lineup on Sing to God (1996). The lineup continued on Guns (1999) with assistance from session musicians. Mayers died on 26 December 1993 of AIDS.

Poole subsequently left Cardiacs to join the Wildhearts as a bassist after playing in Silver Ginger 5. He was replaced by guitar tech, Kavus Torabi in 2003 who played on the two volume live album The Special Garage Concerts (2005). 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. The collective released the single "Ditzy Scene" in 2007, teasing an upcoming double album called LSD which was due to be released in October 2008. Cardiacs stopped touring the same year, 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. On 22 July 2020, it was confirmed by Torabi that Smith had died of a heart attack the previous night. Former percussionist Tim Quy died on 2 February 2023 after a lengthy battle with several health problems.

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). 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.

In 2025, the band released their final album, LSD, with a line-up of Chloe Herington (woodwind), Mike Vennart (vocals), Jane Kaye (vocals), Sharron Fortnam (vocals), Jim Smith (bass, vocals), Craig Fortnam (vocals, glockenspiel), Kavus Torabi (guitar, vocals) and Bob Leith (drums, vocals). The album also featured Rose-Ellen Kemp (vocals), James Larcombe (piano, keyboards), Stephen Gilchrist (drums), Jo Spratley (vocals), Suzanne Kirby (vocals), Melanie Woods (vocals), Claire Lemmon (vocals) and Rob Crow ("drumfuckery").

Members

Current ImageNameAliasYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJim SmithPatty Pilfall releasesBob "Babba" Leithall releases from Sing to God (1996)Kavus TorabiSharron FortnamvocalsCraig FortnamLSD (2025)Chloe HeringtonnoneMike Vennart2025–present LSD (2025)Rhodri Marsden2025–presentnone

Former ImageNameAlias(es)Years activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsTim SmithPhilip Pilf1977–2008all releases to dateMichael PughPeter Boker1977–1980lead vocalsPeter TaggRichard Targett1977–1979drumsColvin "Max" MayersDuncan DoiletMax CatButton Poppet1978–1981Ralph CadeRaphel Cadd1978–1979saxophone"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (1979)Mark CawthraLittle Bobby Shattocks1979–1983 Sarah Smith1980–1989 Tim Quy1981–1990 Dominic Luckman1982–1993William D. Drake1983–1990Graham Simmonds1983–1984guitarMarguerite JohnstonsaxophoneChristian "Bic" HayesJon PooleCathy Harabaras2004–2008percussionMelanie WoodsvocalsClaire Lemmon2004–2007Dawn StaplepercussionAdrien Rodes2024 keyboardsnoneJane Kaye2025–2026vocalsLSD (2025)

Honorary Some members of the Cardiacs crew are listed on the album liner notes of Greatest Hits (2002) alongside the other band members. ImageNameRoleRelease contributionsMr HilesOrdinary Shop GirlThe ConsultantMiss Swiftlabel representative

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsTim Hills1984tromboneMike PeterstrumpetNick PellLanze LorrensWendy Collinsvocals on "A Little Man and a House"Ashley Slater1988trombonesA Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988)Phil CesarElain HermanviolinsMr WalmesleyvocalsNatalie Box1996violinsSing to God (1996)Jane KyprianidisscissorsMark BarratttrumpetsChris Brierlystring quartetCatherine MorganMark PharaohRobert WoollardDavid Murder1996orchestral arrangements on "Fiery Gun Hand" and "Wireless"Joanne Spratleyvocals on "Sleep All Eyes Open" and "Come Back Clammy Lammy" (Guns) vocals on "Skating" (LSD)Rob Deschamps1999Guns (1999)Suzanne Kirby2007vocalsRose-Ellen Kemp2021–2024LSD (2025)James LarcombeRob Crow"drumfuckery"Nick HowiantzSteve Morricone guest voiceYael Claire ShahmoonEmily Freya JonesNick HowiantzShane EmburyDuncan 'The Honest Man' CooperJon 'The Choirboy' Daniel

Live substitute members ImageNameYears activeInstruments NotesJon Bastable1983bassBastable filled in for Jim Smith when neither he nor Tim Quy could make it to a gig. A noted gig was at the Kingston Grove Tavern on 13 July 1983.Stephen Gilchrist2004drumsGilchrist filled in for Bob Leith, who had conflicts with Blurt, at shows supporting the Wildhearts in 2004. He also played extra drums on LSD (2025).Jesse Cutts2024bassCutts 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.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesNotesLate 1977 – 1978 Tim Smith – guitar Jim Smith – bass Michael Pugh – vocals Peter Tagg – drumsnone1978 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) Cade did not feature on "Aukamakic / Dead Mouse".1978 – 1979July 1979 – June 1980 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass Michael Pugh – vocals Colvin Mayers – keyboards Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals The Obvious Identity (1980)Pugh only features on two tracks from The Obvious IdentityJuly 1979 – June 1980 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass Colvin Mayers – keyboards Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals1980 – 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)Mayers only features on four tracks from Toy World1981 Tim Smith – guitar, keyboards, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals Sarah Cutts – keyboards, saxophone, vocals1981–1982 Tim Smith – guitar, keyboards, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Mark Cawthra – drums, vocals Sarah Cutts – keyboards, saxophone, vocals Tim Quy – percussionnone1982–1983 Tim Smith – guitar, keyboards, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Mark Cawthra – keyboards, vocals Sarah Cutts – saxophone, vocals Tim Quy – percussion Dominic Luckman – drums The Seaside (1984) Seaside Treats (1985)Cawthra featured on tracks recorded prior to his absence.1983 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Sarah Smith – saxophone Tim Quy – percussion Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Sarah Smith – saxophone Tim Quy – percussion Dominic Luckman – drums William D. Drake – keyboards Graham Simmonds – guitar31 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 – saxophone11 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 – saxophonenone14 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)Sarah Smith appeared as a guest musician.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, vocalsnone 17 May 1991 – 1991 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums Christian Hayes – guitar, vocals "Day Is Gone" (1991) Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1992)Hayes features on the recordings throughout, whereas Poole joined during the mixing stage and is featured on the packaging, the "Day Is Gone" music video, and the tour dates1991 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums21 October 1991 – 20 July 1993 Tim Smith – guitar, vocals Jim Smith – bass, vocals Dominic Luckman – drums Jon Poole – guitar, keyboards, vocals2 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