After being in existence for about a year the band released their first single, Beltaine, which received Radio 1 and regional airplay. However, shortly after this some members of the band drifted away leaving just Candia & Tony. The couple, however, continued in the form of Children of the Moon, a studio-based project in much the same vein as Incubus Succubus. Their material was very well received by the growing Pagan underground scene.
In December 1991 Bob, the original for Incubus Succubus. drummer, rejoined Candia & Tony, and Incubus Succubus was consequently reborn. The band played around Gloucestershire, Bristol and Oxford, and released all of the Children of the Moon material on one cassette album called Beltaine.
In 1992 the band recorded the album Belladonna & Aconite which was released in October. By this time Incubus Succubus were being hailed as `Britain's Premier Pagan Rock band'. 1993 brought offers from independent record companies, which resulted in the release of Belladonna & Aconite on CD in October, and the Wytches CD in April 1994 on Pagan Records.
During 1993 the band toured twice with Nosferatu, and became regulars at the Marquee in London and Nottingham's Rock City. The band's following grew and so did their fame. They appeared on the BBC World Service and in several European, American and Far Eastern magazines. In 1994 they recorded the EP Corn King, did two headline UK tours, played Paris and also supported the likes of The Damned, Zodiac Mindwarp, Clawfinger, Patricia Morrison and The Marionettes. At the very end of December, shot their video "Wytches" at the notorious Barrow Wake Woods.
In 1994 Incubus Succubus continued touring, and relesed the album "WYTCHES".
In 1995 Incubus Succubus played alongside The Mission, Genitorturers and Danzig at two prestigious German festivals. By this time they had also appeared on many compilation Gothic CDs including What Sweet Music... I & II released by Thee Vampire Guild, Dreams in the Witch House released by Grave News, Touched by the Hand of Goth from Euromedia and Jungle's Gothic Rock 2. In 1995 they signed to Resurrection Records and released the much-awaited album Heartbeat of the Earth at the end of October. The album was promoted with a successful tour where the new material was welcomed with enthusiasm.
In the spring of `95 it was decided that the spelling of the band's name would change to Inkubus Sukkubus for numerological reasons, and with this came other notable changes. The live band went through a stunning metamorphosis and they now play with a drum machine and full programmed orchestral backing from sequencers giving the richness and diversity of sound and emotion previously found only in the recorded band. Bob returned to his first instrument and began to play bass guitar for Inkubus Sukkubus, and the distinctive celtic bodhran was maintained as an integral part of the live as well as recorded I.S. In March 1996 Inkubus Sukkubus appeared on the popular British nationwide television programme, The Big Breakfast and were filmed playing live by The Girlie Show, another nationwide quirky youth show!
In May/June 1996 I.S. did a very successful tour of Germany - including a return trip to Paris - so winning over a new army of followers. They returned to Germany as well as playing for the first time in Belgium in the Autumn of 1996. Also in 1996, by popular demand, the band's first album, Beltaine, was released on CD for the first time through Resurrection Records. On 23rd November 1996 Inkubus Sukkubus were invited to perform at the Pagan Federation's 25th Anniversary Annual Conference. The day was a great success, and the band rounded it off by playing to an enthusiastic spiral dancing crowd. During 1996 Adam Henderson rejoined the band as bass guitarist.
1997 brought more appearances on compilation CDs including the 3rd and final Vampire Guild release, What Sweet Music... R.I.P. with their track Vampyre Erotica; the CD to accompany Mick Mercer's new book, The Hex Files with the track Heart of Lilith; a 4 CD compilation (Cleopatra Records) called The Goth Box; and a cover version of Spellbound on a Siouxsie & the Banshees tribute CD also on Cleopatra. On 24th August 1997, six weeks after the birth of Tony and Candia's baby boy Leon, the band headlined a major convention at the Hippodrome in London - Vampyria - featuring many well-known horror authors as well as stars from the world of Hammer to over 1000 enthusiastic fans. The band released their fifth album, Vampyre Erotica, exploring wilder as well as more sombre and haunting moods. It was released 22nd September 1997 and was promoted by a series of UK dates including headlining the now-famous Whitby Gothic Weekend on Hallowe'en.
1998 proved to be a very exciting year for Inkubus Sukkubus. In February they headlined The Bank in Manhattan, New York promoted by Sabretooth Inc. to a capacity audience. They returned to Belgium in the spring, and during the summer they headlined a major festival held in a medieval castle in the Polish mountains. They also headlined the annual Sacrosanct festival in London. September 1998 found the band performing at Vampyria II which was held at the Camden Palace in London to a capacity crowd of around 1600 people, shortly followed by Symphony of Shadows Festival at Whitby, N. Yorkshire (home of Bram Stoker's Dracula). Inkubus were also invited back to play the Annual Pagan Federation Conference on 21st November where around 1700 pagans attended from all over the world. They also returned to the U.S. at the end of October to tour, culminating in a show in New Orleans on Hallowe'en. The CD entitled Away with the Faeries, was previewed at Vampyria II, and was available on general release in November. The recording was a limited edition album featuring 6 new studio tracks along with 9 live tracks recorded recently in the band's home town of Cheltenham.
In 1999 Inkubus Sukkubus toured Germany, France Belgium, America, as well as the UK. They also released the album entitled ' Wild'. They continued to consolidate their position as the world's biggest and most popular Pagan Rock band and launched their domain site, www.inkubussukkubus.com.
During 2000 Inkubus Sukkubus toured the UK and Germany and Inkubus Sukkubus headlined the Whitby Gothic Festival (at the time the biggest Gothic Festival in the World). The band wrote and recorded their 8th album, 'Supernature', and also played Greece and France. The year was seen out headlining a celebratory Yule festival in Chicago, USA.
2001 saw Inkubus Sukkubus go from strength to strength. They appeared three times on Channel 4 television this year, and also released their eighth album 'Supernature' on vinyl and CD (with CD-ROM section). The band toured the UK and headlined the Gotham Festival in London. They also headlined the Reading Goth Festival, and supported Marilyn Manson on the mainstage at the M'era Luna Festival to an audience of over 24,000. The year also saw Inkubus Sukkubus make major intrusions into cyberspace; in the first six months or so, their MP3 site www.mp3.com/inkubussukkubus had over 400,000 downloads. The Band finished of the year by playing the 10th Anniversary of the Return of the Dead festival in Hamburg, and a couple of gigs in an unexpectedly snowy, yet still welcoming, Italy.
2002 saw the band increase their profile on the Internet becoming the most downloaded Goth band in the world. They also re-released the WYTCHES album and continued to play Europe and the UK.
During 2003 The band have released their 9th album "The Beast with Two Backs" on October 31st . The Band also played Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, UK and Germany, Including the Wave Gotik Treffen in Liepzig. They played The Black Elben Festival - Dortmund, and Headlined the Whitby Goth Festival with Wayne Hussey and All About Eve, aswell as Playing The Witchfest Festival in London with the Medieval Baebes. The Band have also went on to be the most downloaded UK band on MP3.COM with 1,500,000+ downloads.
During 2004 Inkubus Sukkubus Headlined the Gotham Festival in London and played a charity gig at the Gloucester Guildhall. The band also wrote most of the tracks for the next album that will be released in 2005. The Band were also active on Soundclick maintaining the number one position in the Goth Rock chart for almost the entire year.
In 2005 Inkubus Sukkubus played a series of dates in the UK , Sweden, Norway and Denmark, Russia and Australia, they also released their tenth album, called "Witchqueen".
In 2006 Inkubus Sukkubus continued playing across Europe with gigs in the UK, Portugal, Turkey and Germany, they also made two videos for Church of Madness and Wytches, as well as an unreleased one for Vampire Erotica, Tony McKormack also made five videos with his side project Vampire Division.
In 2007 the band played more live dates in the UK and Europe and released the Album Science and Nature.
2008, and Inkubus Sukkubus began playing the UK with their new animated video backdrop, produced by band guitarist Tony McKormack .The band also released the album Viva la Muerte .
In 2009 Inkubus Sukkubus celebrated their 20th Anniversary . With 13 albums relesed to date, hundereds of gigs played and millions of internet downloads they have so far had a long and productive career.During 2009 they played several dates including Finland, Lithuaniaina, Germanyand Mexico. The actually performed tracks from the their newly released Mexican themed Album, "Viva la Muerte" on The Mexican Day of the Dead in Mexico City. The also played several gigs performing acoustic versions of their popular tracks. They are currently writting new material for a future release.
In 2010 Inkubus Sukkubus released, Viva la Muerte internationally. Inkubus Sukkubus also had the track Death Comes available to download and play in the video game Rock Band, here . And four more tracks were released in this format throughout the year. 2010 also saw Bob Gardener return to the band as bass guitaris, and the re-release of the WYTCHES album as a special edition digi pack using artwork based on the original concept dating back to 1993. Inkubus Sukkubus also released the Dark Goddess Album, which is considered by some to be their greatest work. The album was initially only available for sale from their website.
2011 The Dark Goddess album has been repressed, and was released internationally in February, The band's first CD album Belladonna & Aconite was also digitally re-mastered and relesed in April) They contiued playing live and recorded another album entitled "The Goat" , which was initially available from their website and was on international release in February 2012. The Vampire Division (Tony McKormack's solo project) , Album, The Dead Unleashed was also released on October 31st.
2012 saw INKUBUS SUKKUBUS continue to play live in the UK and Europe. The Goat album was re-pressed earlier in the year and the band are currently recorded a new album which it is hoped to be released before the end of the year. During this year the band have also been working on the acoustic set that they sometimes play, with the incorperation of different songs. There are also plans to gradually release digitally remastered versions of all of the out of print albums.
2013 There are already several interesting developments this year for Inkubus Sukkubus. The forthcoming release of a double anthology album in the USA on Cleopatra Records, and the Release of Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell their 16th Album. Inkubus Sukkubus have also played Belgium and Germany, and headlined the Bram Stocker film festival in Whitby.
During 2013 the band will also played several Fairey Festivals and began remixing some of the all time favorite tracks, into new and interesting versions.
The band had their 25 year aniversary in 2014. In March Inkubus Sukkubus releaed their 18th Album entitled "Love Poltergeist", which has so far proven highly popular and has to date out sold all of their recent albums, those released since the advent of filesharing. The band are played several times throughout the year, in the UK, Europe. In May 2014 Inkubus Sukkubus was joined by Bassist Dave Saunders, who replaced Bob Gardener, who had to leave due to family comitments.
In 2015 Inkubus Sukkubus continued to perform in the UK, Scandinavia and Europe, They are also released another Album, entitled MOTHER MOON around the end of October.
2016 saw the release of the 20th Inkubus Sukkubus Album; "Barrow Wake", which is a compilation of tracks by the band that fall into the "Horror Folk" genre. The album consists of previously released material, re-recordings of older tracks and completely new material. Inkubus Sukkubus also released in the last monts of 2016, Wikka Woman their 21st Studio Album. Another voyage into the Supernatural Realm. This album clearly demonstrates the skill and determination of this unique band who are actually increasing in momentum with the passing of time.
2017 saw Inkubus Sukkubus releasing their 22nd Studio album "Belas Knapp" "Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder Part 2" which is intended as a companion album to "Barrow Wake" in the Summer. The band are also due to continue their gigging schedule in the UK , Europe and the Americas, in both their electric and extended acoustic formats, The band are had been joined by Roland Link on bass guitar, and for the extended acoustic version of the band have been joined by Marcus Gilvier, Nick Gibbs and Abi Blackman. Inkubus Sukkubus are also writing and recording a further vampire themed album, due for release in the Winter, and the third and final part of their "Horror Folk" trilogy. these releases are the band's 23rd and 24th albums, and are testament to their longevity and creative fire.
In 2003 Tony McKormack formed Vampire Division as a side project to Inkubus Sukkubus.
Official website: http://www.inkubussukkubus.com
The Rape of Maude Bowen
Inkubus Sukkubus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold and dead, raped and broken
Sweet Maude Bowen victim of a man
Now at her side does lie her rapist
Her mother's brother, cold as she is
An avenging angel's arrow in his heart
And the squire he does blame her
With his lies he does shame her
Sweet Maude Bowen shamed a suicide
Now here is a tale, a story to be told
Of a young girl, but fifteen years old
Impaled as a vampire, her mother burned as a witch
Now these were the crimes, the crimes of the rich
At the cross-roads they impale her
With the elm they claim to save her
Save her soul from Satan's evil lair
Now her mother weeps in madness
At the tree, at the crossroads
The tree that grows from sweet Maude Bowen's heart
The squire's men do taunt and tease her
Drag her off the grave and jeer her
Then one more dies with an arrow in his heart
Now here is a tale, a story to be told
Of a young girl, but fifteen years old
Impaled as a vampire, her mother burned as a witch
Now these were the crimes, the crimes of the rich
Up before the judge at Gloucester
Accused a witch now they will burn her
At the tree at the cross-roads will she die
Tied to the elm the faggots smoking
Maude's sweet mother crying, choking
Mother, daughter, victims of a man
And the squire stands there laughing
With his men they're laughing, joking
Then he is dead with an arrow in his heart
Now here is a tale, a story to be told
Of a young girl, but fifteen years old
Impaled as a vampire, her mother burned as a witch
Now these were the crimes, these were the crimes of the rich
"The Rape of Maude Bowen" by Inkubus Sukkubus is a bleak and haunting song that tells the tragic story of a young girl who is raped, blamed for her assault, and then shamed into suicide. The song introduces Maude Bowen as a victim of a man, lying naked and dead in a brook after being brutally assaulted. The rapist turns out to be her mother's brother, who lies dead next to her with an arrow in his heart, likely from an avenging angel. The squire blames Maude for the rape, shaming her with lies until she takes her own life. Maude's story is one of injustice, victim-blaming, and the cruelty of the rich and powerful.
The song takes a darker turn with the introduction of a vampire and witchcraft narrative. Maude's mother is burned at the stake for being a witch while Maude is impaled as a vampire. The lyrics describe her being impaled with an elm tree, and her mother weeping madly at the spot where the tree grows from her daughter's heart. The squire's men taunt and tease her mother, but their laughter is cut short when they too are killed by the avenging angel's arrows.
The song is a chilling reminder of the systemic oppression of women that has been present for centuries. The victim-blaming, shaming, and blaming of women for men's actions are still prevalent in today's society. The mention of witchcraft and vampirism only further showcases how women were oppressed and killed for simply being misunderstood.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying in the brook she's naked
Maude Bowen's corpse is found unclothed in a stream
Cold and dead, raped and broken
Maude Bowen was killed by a man who also sexually assaulted her
Sweet Maude Bowen victim of a man
Maude Bowen was a victim of a man's violence
Now at her side does lie her rapist
The perpetrator of the rape and murder is lying next to her corpse
Her mother's brother, cold as she is
The perpetrator is Maude's own uncle, and he feels no remorse for what he's done
An avenging angel's arrow in his heart
The uncle/rapist is killed by someone seeking revenge for Maude's death
And the squire he does blame her
The local nobleman blames Maude for her own rape and murder
With his lies he does shame her
The squire spreads rumors and lies that further blame Maude and bring shame to her name
Sweet Maude Bowen shamed a suicide
The squire's lies and shaming of Maude cause her to take her own life
Now here is a tale, a story to be told
This song tells the tragic story of Maude Bowen's rape, murder, and the subsequent injustices that follow
Of a young girl, but fifteen years old
Maude was only fifteen when she was killed
Impaled as a vampire, her mother burned as a witch
Maude and her mother are falsely accused and punished for crimes they didn't commit
Now these were the crimes, the crimes of the rich
The wealthy in power used their positions to harm and oppress the poor and vulnerable
At the cross-roads they impale her
Maude is gruesomely killed by being impaled at a crossroads
With the elm they claim to save her
The people who killed Maude claim that it was to save her soul from Satan
Save her soul from Satan's evil lair
The killers believed that Maude was possessed by Satan and that her soul needed saving
Now her mother weeps in madness
Maude's mother is overwhelmed with grief and loses her sanity
At the tree, at the crossroads
Maude's mother mourns at the site of her daughter's death
The tree that grows from sweet Maude Bowen's heart
The tree at the crossroads is said to have grown from Maude's heart, representing the pain and tragedy of her death
The squire's men do taunt and tease her
The squire's followers harass and mock Maude's mother
Drag her off the grave and jeer her
They disrespectfully pull Maude's mother away from her daughter's grave and mock her further
Then one more dies with an arrow in his heart
One of the squire's men is killed by someone seeking revenge for Maude's death
Up before the judge at Gloucester
Maude's mother is brought to trial in Gloucester
Accused a witch now they will burn her
Maude's mother is falsely accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death by burning
Tied to the elm the faggots smoking
Maude's mother is tied to the same elm tree where her daughter was killed, and set on fire
Mother, daughter, victims of a man
Both Maude and her mother were victims of patriarchal violence and oppression
And the squire stands there laughing
The squire takes pleasure in the suffering of others
With his men they're laughing, joking
The squire's followers find entertainment in the pain and tragedy that surrounds them
Then he is dead with an arrow in his heart
The squire is killed by someone seeking justice for the many wrongs he's committed
Now these were the crimes, these were the crimes of the rich
The song once again highlights the injustices committed by the wealthy and powerful against the poor and vulnerable
Contributed by Aaron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.