Glorious Din
Origins
The multifaceted nature of the ‘80s scene – encompassing everything from three-chord thrash punk to garage-band pop, experimental art rock and atonal noise, all created by bands with overlapping memberships – can seem baffling to outsiders. Of the many acts clamoring for attention, Glorious Din was perhaps the best, their mesmerizing sound instantly getting under the skin via their non-standard drum patterns, eastern-sounding guitar melodies, a melodic bass in pole position, and a dissociative foreign singer who intoned prophetic poems in a trance. The enigmatic group acted as a catalyst too, helping total unknowns to gain recognition and being the uncommon glue linking Faith No More, the Dead Kennedys and Michael Franti, as well as REM and the Cocteau Twins, such is the reach of their influence.
Live & Legacy
Emerging from San Francisco’s restless post-punk underground, Glorious Din quickly became a fixture in the city’s DIY circuit. Known for their haunting sound and politically charged energy, they shared stages with some of the era’s most distinctive acts — including early Faith No More, The Flaming Lips, Caroliner, and Trial — alongside a host of experimental and noise bands such as Thinking Fellers Union Local 282. Their intense performances and uncompromising ethos earned them a loyal following across the Bay Area’s alternative scene.
Discography
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1. Leading Stolen Horses (1985)
Label: Insight / BFE Records
Style: Post-punk, Gothic Rock, Darkwave
2. Closely Watched Trains (1987)
Label: Insight / Onderstroom Records
Style: Post-punk, Art Rock, Experimental
3. Was It Mouth Poison, Suicide or Murder (2016 – Compilation)
Label: Dark Entries Records
Style: Post-punk / Archival Compilation
Discography
Add Your Heading Text Here
1. Leading Stolen Horses (1985)
Label: Insight / BFE Records
Style: Post-punk, Gothic Rock, Darkwave
2. Closely Watched Trains (1987)
Label: Insight / Onderstroom Records
Style: Post-punk, Art Rock, Experimental
3. Was It Mouth Poison, Suicide or Murder (2016 – Compilation)
Label: Dark Entries Records
Style: Post-punk / Archival Compilation
Critical Acclaim:
What the World is Saying
Hailed by some as America’s best reply to the great influences of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, Glorious Din stands as a crucial, yet under-appreciated, factor in the original post-punk movement. Emerging from the vibrant San Francisco ’80s music scene, the band carved out a distinctive, dark, and powerful sound that placed them at the crossroads of Post-Punk, Death Rock, and the emerging Goth subculture.
- The Sound: Glorious Din’s music instantly gets under your skin with its mesmerizing quality. It is defined by its unusual elements:
- Non-standard drum patterns.
- Eerie guitar melodies.
- A captivating, driving bass line.
The Legacy: The group’s sound served as one of the “mon glue” links connecting diverse Bay Area acts like No More, the Dead Kennedys, and Michael E. Tish.
The history of Goth is often incorrectly thought of as a subculture rooted in whiteness. However, Glorious Din’s origins tell a different story, illustrating that people of color were a part of the scene from the very beginning.
- Frontman Eric Cope’s Background: The enigmatic lead singer and primary creative force of Glorious Din, Eric Cope, is an immigrant from Sri Lanka.
- Early Career: Before forming Glorious Din in San Francisco, Cope first took up a microphone as the co-lead of a punk band in Iowa, ironically (and intentionally) called The White Front.
- Diverse Representation: Cope and the band’s drummer are noted as examples of how marginalized voices were present in the scene, using the dark aesthetics of Goth—wearing all black, reveling in melancholy, and celebrating the macabre—to live their truth and look beyond mainstream conventions.
After a brief but impactful career, Glorious Din faded from view, becoming a largely forgotten band for years. Despite this, their catalog consists of intense artistry that is far more complex than simple imitation.
- The Reissue: Their two official full-length albums, Closely Watched Trains (1987) and Stolen Horse, have recently been made available to a new generation.
- Onderstroom Records has taken on the task of re-issuing both LPs on vinyl, ensuring that the definitive work of this intense artist and his incredible band can finally receive the recognition they deserve.