LUDUS

Ludus biography
Semi-legendary UK act LUDUS was formed in 1978 by Linder Sterling (vocals) and Arthur Kadmon (guitars), soon after joined by Philip Tomanov (drums) and Willie Trotter (bass) to complete the line-up. As an unsigned band with a distinct live presence, they soon started gaining positive attention among music hacks, who saw them as a coming act in this initial phase.

Ludus managed to record their first few demos before line-up alterations hit the band, with Trotter and Kadmon opting out in 1979. Ian Devine (guitars, bass, saxophone) became the new permanent man in. Linder and Devine would be the main creative forces in the band for the following few years, until Ludus called it a day in 1984.

Recorded at the tail end of 1979, the cassette EP The Visit was issued in 1980 on smnall indie label New Hormones. This official debut would also be the only album drummer Tomanov participated on, as he decided to quit towards the end of 1980. He was subsequently replaced by Graham Dowdall, who would stick around long enough to feature on the bands 1981 productions. Later on Michael Pincombe and Paul Mahoney would handle the sticks for future recording sessions.

1981 saw Ludus issuing the EP Pickpocket and their full length album debut The Seduction, and in early autumn 1982 their second and last full length production Danger Came Smiling appeared. Towards the end of they year Ludus expanded their line-up. At first with Dave Formula (keyboards), and later Paul Cavanagh (bass) and Roy O'Shea (drums) would hook up as well. Lee Buick (sax) and Graham Revell (sax) would join the ranks as well, following their involvement on Ludus' 1982 album.

Creatively and chemistry wise Ludus started to unravel from this point though, without doubt helped along by financial constraints and problems in releasing their material. Following a hard to find single release in 1983 and a failed attempt at crafting new material in early 1984, Ludus decided to call it a day.

While Ludus in the few years of their existence became well known for being pioneers in what has since been dubbed post punk, their frequent musical flirts with jazz and avantgarde also saw them compared to bands active in the progressive rock scene, with Soft Machine and Henry Cow as two of the outfits they were compared with. It's alos worth noting that a certain Peter Hammill was among the people in the music scene that took an active interest in this band.

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