release date: Feb. 1982
format: vinyl (15520) / digital (1993 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Mick Jones
label: Stiff Records - nationality: England, UK
Studio album debut by London-based post-punk and gothic rock band Theatre of Hate consisting of Kirk Brandon on lead vocals & guitar, Stan Stammers on bass guitar, John 'Boy' Lennard on saxophone & clarinet, Luke Rendle on drums. The first album by the band was the live album He Who Dares Wins (1981) recorded live at the Warehouse, Leeds.
Westworld was mostly met by negative response from the British music press - most likely because of the band's initial reputation of being a true force of energy on stage, and for its unconventional concerts - some of which critics found missing on the album.
Shortly after the recordings for Westworld the band was joined by guitarist Billy Duffy, and shortly after Rendle was replaced by new drummer Nigel Preston.
Theatre of Hate disbanded in '83, and Brandon and Stammers founded the band Spear of Destiny (who were later joined by drummer Dolphin Taylor, ex-Tom Robinson Band) and Duffy teamed up with Ian Astbury and formed the band The Cult - also Nigel Preston joined this band later in '83.
