Fire Woman

Album: Sonic Temple (1989)
Charted: 15 46
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a fiery femme fatale. When Songfacts asked The Cult front man Ian Astbury just who the "Fire Woman" was, he replied: "That's more of a universal symbol. More of an archetype. It's about elemental primary symbols. That's definitely a universal symbol."
  • "Fire Woman" is one of the most popular songs by The Cult, a British band that specializes in hard rock mysticism. They made some noise in the UK with their 1985 hit "She Sells Sanctuary," but didn't chart in the US until "Fire Woman" went to #46. Their songs didn't get much airplay but their albums sold pretty well; "Fire Woman" is from their fourth album, Sonic Temple, which went Platinum in the US and other territories and roused interest in their back catalog, including songs like "Love Removal Machine" and "Rain." The band split in 1995 but returned to action in 1999.
  • The song was a #1 hit in New Zealand and also quite popular in Australia, where it played during the closing credits for Formula One broadcasts.
  • Like most of The Cult's songs, "Fire Woman" was written by lead singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, the mainstays in the group.
  • "Fire Woman" was a huge hit for The Cult, but Astbury felt that this commercial success overshadowed other aspects of the band's work.

    "I thought 'Fire Woman' was our albatross," he told Mojo magazine. "I didn't think it was a fair representation of the band. It was like we were evolving into this A&R person's wet dream of what The Cult should be."

Comments: 2

  • Seleniuxmiux Rucobo from Fresno, CaJust love it!!!
  • Chris from Germany Actually THE CULT had 3 RIAA Certified Albums in the USA
    their debut was GOLD then they had two other albums which were PLATINUM certified

    that is remarkable for a band without any Top 40 Hits. FIRE WOMAN was#46 in the US Hot 100. Their song CIAO EDIE reached barely the Hot 100.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?