Is This a Cardiacs Song? Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Originally known as Cardiac Arrest, the Cardiacs were founded by Tim Smith and his older brother Jim, the longest running members of the band; several members have come and gone over the years. The line-up who toured for the Sing to Tim reunion tour in 2024 consisted of Jon Poole (originally a guitarist with the band) taking over on vocal duties, Jim Smith on bass, Christian 'Bic' Hayes on guitar, Bob Leith on drums, and three new members: keyboardist Adrien Rodes, saxophonist Chloe Hetherington, and percussionist Craig Fortnam. The 'classic' line-up, along with the Smith brothers, also included keyboardist William D. Drake, percussionist and keyboardist Tim Quy (who died in 2023), drummer Dominic Luckman, and Tim Smith's wife Sarah on saxophone.

As Cardiac Arrest, the Cardiacs released their first single. After the name change, two demo albums followed: 'Toy World' and 'The Seaside'. Their first album proper, 'A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window' was released in 1988 and featured the Cardiacs' most successful single, 'Is This the Life?' Four more albums followed: 'On Land and in the Sea', 'Heaven Born and Ever Bright', 'Sing to G-d', and 'Guns'. A sixth studio album, 'LSD', was due for release in 2008 but had to be put on hold due to Tim Smith's illness. Although their demos were initially hard to obtain, several of their albums and EPs have been streamed on Spotify.

The Cardiacs were something of a cult outfit, with a style that was impossible to describe; it mixed rock, jazz, prog rock, sea shanties, psychedelia and even metal (they have been cited as an influence on Mr Bungle, one of the side projects of Faith No More's Mike Patton). Some songs, such as 'Day is Gone', were in unconventional time signatures. Onstage, they would wear clown make-up and have fights. Tim Smith also directed the band's videos. They were something of an influence on Blur, with whom they toured when Blur were starting out. Several members, including Tim Smith himself, formed side projects such as Spratley's Japs (later renamed to Spratley's Rats), the Sea Nymphs, and The Trudy, who featured former drummer Peter Tagg and former saxophonist Ralph Cade.

After Tim Smith suffered a stroke in 2008, the Cardiacs went on hiatus and several bands, including the Magic Numbers, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, Katherine Blake of Mediæval Bæbes and Julianne Regan, recorded a Cardiacs tribute album, 'Leader of the Starry Skies', in 2010 to help raise funds for his treatment. Sadly, Smith's health worsened, and he died of a heart attack in 2020. The Cardiacs reformed in 2024 and invited various guest performers to sing with them, including former drummer Mark Cawthra, guitar technician and former guitarist Kavus Torabi, Ultrasound frontman Tiny Wood (Ultrasound had covered 'Big Ship'), and Oceansize frontman Mike Vennart, a huge Cardiacs fan who appeared at their Manchester gig at Band on the Wall in the autumn of 2024. (I was there.)

For the wrong answers, 'All I Want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit' and 'Joy Division Oven Gloves' are by Half Man Half Biscuit. 'Pressure on Julian' is by Blur. 'Welcome to the Cheap Seats' is by The Wonder Stuff. Finally, 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' is a Smiths song.