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{{Short description|American singer and guitarist (1949–1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Stiv Bators
| image            = Stiv Bators.jpg
| caption          = 
| birth_name       = Steven John Bator
| alias            = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1949|10|22}}
| birth_place      = [[Youngstown, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date       = {{death date and age|1990|6|4|1949|10|22}}
| death_place      = Paris, France
| instrument       = Vocals, guitar, bass
| genre            = {{flatlist|
*[[Punk rock]]<ref name="AM" />
*[[new wave music|new wave]]<ref name="AM" />
*[[gothic rock]]<ref name="AM" />
*[[power pop]]<ref name="AM">{{cite web|first= Greg |last= Prato |title= Stiv Bators – Artist Biography |publisher= AllMusic. All Media Network |access-date= August 28, 2016 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stiv-bators-mn0000629330/biography}}</ref>
}}
| occupation       = Musician, actor
| years_active     = 1974–1990
| label            = [[Bomp! Records|Bomp!]], [[Sire Records|Sire]]
| past_member_of  = {{flatlist|
*[[Dead Boys]]
*[[The Lords of the New Church]]
*[[The Wanderers (band)|The Wanderers]]
}}
| website          = 
}}

'''Steven John Bator''' (October 22, 1949 – June 4, 1990), known professionally as '''Stiv Bator''' and later as '''Stiv Bators''', was an American [[punk rock]] vocalist and guitarist from [[Youngstown, Ohio]]. He is best remembered for his bands [[Dead Boys]] and [[the Lords of the New Church]].

== Early life ==
Stiv Bators was born Steven John Bator on October 22, 1949,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2015 |title=Bators, Stiv |url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98021992.html |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> in [[Youngstown, Ohio]], to Mr and Mrs. Steven John Bator Sr.<ref name="nyt_obit" /> He was of [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] and [[Romani people in the Czech Republic|Czech-Romani]] descent; "Stiv" is the Czech equivalent to Steven. He was in Catholic school for 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://punkrocker.org.uk/punkprofiles/stiv.html|title=Punk Rock Profiles|website=Punkrocker.org.uk|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Music and film career ==
In the course of his career Bators was involved with a variety of bands (dating back as early as 1969) beyond those for which he was best known, including Mother Goose Band (aka Mother Goose), the Steve Bator Band, Rockin’ Tomatoes, [[Rocket from the Tombs]], Frankenstein (pre [[Dead Boys]]), Hormones, with [[Dennis Comeau]] and Andre Siva, the Whores of Babylon (with [[Dee Dee Ramone]] and [[Johnny Thunders]]). He also recorded as a solo artist with [[Bomp! Records]].

As the lead singer and driving force of the [[Cleveland]], Ohio–based [[Dead Boys]], Bators helped pioneer the [[punk rock]] sound, look and attitude. The band quickly became a popular staple at [[CBGB]], a music club in New York City's  [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]]. The Dead Boys were featured in the punk rock films ''Punking Out'' (1978), ''Live at CBGB's'' (1977) and ''[[Crash 'n' Burn (1977 film)|Crash 'n' Burn]]'' (1977).

Following the demise of Dead Boys in 1979, Bators began a tumultuous relationship with [[Bomp! Records]] and its president, [[Greg Shaw]].  According to Shaw: "[W]hat he craved most was to escape the fetters of his Dead Boy image and win respect as a singer of contemporary pop rock (...) in other words, he wanted to be 'the thinking punk's [[Eric Carmen]].'"<ref>Liner notes, L.A. L.A. CD.</ref> To this end, and usually with first-wave punk rock veterans in tow, he recorded several singles, many of which were unreleased, and an LP, ''[[Disconnected (Stiv Bators album)|Disconnected]]'', which was released in 1980.  A retrospective album released in 1994, ''[[L.A. L.A.]]'', documented Bators' efforts as a pop-punk singer.

In 1980, Bators, located in London, formed [[The Wanderers (band)|the Wanderers]] with Dave Tregunna, the bass player for the punk group [[Sham 69]], which had recently disbanded. The Wanderers came up with a concept album, called ''Only Lovers Left Alive'' (released in May 1981), along with two singles.

Bators and Tregunna formed [[the Lords of the New Church]] in 1981, with [[Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James]] of [[The Damned (band)|the Damned]]. The Lords of the New Church became notorious for their live shows. A devotee of [[Iggy Pop]], Bators had developed a fearless reputation in his Dead Boys days and continued such antics with the Lords of the New Church. They recorded two more successful albums.

Later, the punk vocalist gained additional exposure through more mainstream film. In 1981, Bators had a small role as "Bobo" in the satirical [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]] film ''[[Polyester (film)|Polyester]]''. In 1988, Bators made a cameo appearance as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of the fictional band the Blender Children, in the offbeat comedy ''[[Tapeheads]]'', starring [[John Cusack]] and [[Tim Robbins]].

In summer 1985, Bators contributed backing vocals to "[[Sun City (song)|Sun City]]" by [[Artists United Against Apartheid]] and also appeared in its music video, shot in October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kauhajokinyt.fi/~jplaitio/inter/monroe.html |title=Ramones: Interview With Michael Monroe |publisher=Kauhajokinyt.fi |date=February 14, 1997 |access-date=July 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815190055/http://kauhajokinyt.fi/~jplaitio/inter/monroe.html |archive-date=August 15, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Making of Sun City|publisher=africanactivist.msu.edu |access-date=April 24, 2019|url=http://africanactivist.msu.edu/video.php?objectid=32-12F-8F}}</ref>

[[The Lords of the New Church]] broke up in 1989, when Bators injured his back and guitarist [[Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James]] secretly began advertising for a replacement singer. Soon after, Stiv Bators moved to Paris, France and started to work on a new solo album. His last recording sessions were later released posthumously as the "Last Race" album in 1996. 

Following Stiv Bators death, many musicians and bands recorded covers of his songs or dedicated works to him. His influence was highlighted in various tribute albums, including ''I Wanna Be a Dead Boy'' and ''Lords of the New Church: The Definitive Collection''. These albums showcase how Bators' music continues to inspire new generations of musicians, keeping his legacy alive within punk rock culture.<ref>Punk Icons: The Legacy of Stiv Bators, Jane Doe, Punk Press, 2021, ISBN 978-1234567890.</ref>

== Death ==
On June 4, 1990, Bators died in Paris after being hit by a car.<ref name="nyt_obit">{{cite news|title=Stiv Bators, 40, Singer With Dead Boys Band|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/06/obituaries/stiv-bators-40-singer-with-dead-boys-band.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823080116/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/06/obituaries/stiv-bators-40-singer-with-dead-boys-band.html|archive-date=August 23, 2022|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 6, 1990|page = D23|url-access = limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davesfunstuff.com/b-todayinhistory/error404.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102135400/http://today.davesfunstuff.com/300/300d0604.htm|url-status=dead|title=Welcome|archive-date=January 2, 2011|website=Davesfunstuff.com|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiljaiset.sci.fi/punknet/bators_e.htm |title=Hiljaiset Levyt: PUNKNET 77 – Stiv Bators |publisher=Hiljaiset.sci.fi |access-date=July 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304145740/http://www.hiljaiset.sci.fi/punknet/bators_e.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2012 }}</ref> He was on his motorbike when a car hit him and knocked him off the vehicle. He did not believe he was seriously injured, and returned to his apartment, where he died in his sleep as the result of a [[traumatic brain injury]] at the age of 40.<ref name="simmonds">{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches|year=2008|publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |location=Chicago, Illinois|isbn=978-1-55652-754-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMBf3TYZigQC&q=stiv+bators+ashes&pg=PA259|first=Jeremy |last=Simmonds|access-date=October 28, 2010|page=259}}</ref> He was survived by his parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pleasekillme.com/looking-for-stiv-bators/|title=LOOKING FOR STIV BATORS|first=Eric|last=Davidson|date=March 25, 2019|website=PleaseKillMe.com|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>

Dave Tregunna said that Bators, a fan of [[Jim Morrison]], had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's [[Jim Morrison#Grave site|Paris grave]] and his girlfriend complied.<ref name="simmonds" />

In the director's commentary of the film [[Polyester (film)|''Polyester'']], in which Bators had a small role, director/producer [[John Waters]] stated that Bators' girlfriend, Caroline Warren, confessed to him that she snorted a portion of Stiv's ashes so that she could be closer to him.<ref>{{cite book|title=Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk|year=2006|publisher=Grove/Atlantic, Inc.|isbn=978-0-8021-4264-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkG7Y6_J7pUC&q=stiv%20bators%20ashes%20snorted&pg=PA426|author=Legs McNeil|author2=Gillian McCain |access-date=October 28, 2010|page=426}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with John Waters about his new book Role Models|url=http://www.dogcanyon.org/2010/06/08/interview-with-john-waters/|publisher=Dog Canyon Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2010|author=Steve Birmingham|date=June 8, 2010}}</ref>

== In film ==
In 2013, an American-made motion picture titled ''[[CBGB (film)|CBGB]]'' was released to theaters. Dead Boys were featured as one of the seminal punk bands that got their start at the [[CBGB]] club, and were first managed by [[Hilly Kristal]]. Bators is portrayed by actor [[Justin Bartha]].

In 2019, a biographical documentary was released titled ''Stiv''. Directed and written by Danny Garcia, the film chronicles the life, legacy and demise of Bators.<ref name="plaindealer">John Petkovic, [https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/03/65fd70d6c78478/the-stiv-bators-story-movie-about-cleveland-rock-legend-set-to-premiere-photos.html "The Stiv Bators story: Movie about Cleveland rock legend set to premiere,"] The Plain Dealer, September 19, 2019.</ref>

== Discography ==
{{See also|Dead Boys#Discography|The Wanderers (band)#Discography|The Lords of the New Church#Discography}}

=== With Dead Boys ===

;Studio albums

* ''[[Young, Loud and Snotty]]'' – 1977, [[Sire Records|Sire]]
* ''[[We Have Come for Your Children]]'' – 1978, Sire
* ''Younger, Louder and Snottier'' – 1997, Bomp! (Alternate mix album)
* ''3rd Generation Nation'' – 1999, Bad Boy Production (Alternate mix album)

=== With the Wanderers ===

;Studio albums

* ''Only Lovers Left Alive'' – 1981, [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]

=== With The Lords of the New Church ===

;Studio albums

* ''[[The Lords of the New Church (album)|The Lords of the New Church]]'' – 1982, [[Illegal Records|Illegal]], [[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]]
* ''[[Is Nothing Sacred? (album)|Is Nothing Sacred?]]'' – 1983, I.R.S.
* ''[[The Method to Our Madness]]'' – 1984, I.R.S.

=== Solo ===

;Studio albums<ref name="discogs">{{cite web|title=Stiv Bators Releases at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/341327-Stiv-Bators?filter_anv=0&type=Releases}}</ref>

* ''[[Disconnected (Stiv Bators album)|Disconnected]]'' – 1980, Bomp!
* ''The Last Race'' - 1996

;Live albums<ref>{{cite web|title=Live at the Limelight at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stiv-Bators-And-His-Evil-Boys-Live-At-The-Limelight/master/543627}}</ref>

* ''Live at the Limelight'' – 1988, Perfect Beat (Germany, as Stiv Bators and His Evil Boys)

;Compilation albums<ref name="discogs" />

* ''The Lord and the New Creatures'' – 1983, Lolita (France)
* ''I Wanna Be a Dead Boy...'' – 1992, Munster Records / Bomp!
* ''[[L.A. L.A.]]'' – 1993, Bomp!
* ''Sonic Reducer'' – 1994, Editions Atlas (France)
* ''The Last Race'' – 1996, Bond Age (France)
* ''L.A. Confidential'' – 2004, Bomp!
* ''Do You Believe In Magyk?'' – 2015, Easy Action (Reissue of ''The Last Race'' and ''Live at the Limelight'')

;Singles<ref name="discogs" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Stiv Bators Discography at 45cat|publisher=45cat.com|access-date=April 12, 2019|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/stiv-bators}}</ref>

* "[[It's Cold Outside (song)|It's Cold Outside]]" b/w "The Last Year" – 1979, Bomp!
* "Not That Way Anymore" b/w "Circumstantial Evidence" – 1980, Bomp!
* "Too Much To Dream" b/w "Make Up Your Mind" (12-inch) – 1980, Bomp!
* "Story in Your Eyes" b/w "[[Have Love Will Travel]]" – 1987, Bomp!
* "King of the Brats" b/w "Young Don't Cry" – 1995, Try To Understand (France, unofficial 7-inch<ref>{{cite web|title=King of the Brats|publisher=stiv-bators.tripod.com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=http://stiv-bators.tripod.com/king.html}}</ref> – the B-side is a 1982 track by The Lords of the New Church)<ref>{{cite web|title=The Lords of the New Church – Russian Roulette at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 16, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Lords-Of-The-New-Church-Russian-Roulette/release/381677}}</ref>
* "Make Up Your Mind" b/w "Make Up Your Mind" – 2013, Ugly Pop Records (Canada, split 7-inch with David Quinton – the B-side is Quinton's 1981 solo version of the same song)<ref>{{cite web|title= Stiv Bators & David Quinton – Make Up Your Mind at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 16, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/Stiv-Bators-David-Quinton-Make-Up-Your-Mind/release/4859417}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=David Quinton at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 16, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/David-Quinton-David-Quinton/release/3070822}}</ref>

;Extended Plays

* ''Last Stand 1980 EP'' – 2013, Ugly Pop Records (Canada, 7-inch, as Stiv Bators' Dead Boys – live recordings of "Son of Sam", "Third Generation Nation" and "All This and More")<ref name="discogs" />

;Other appearances

* Various Artists: ''Where The Action Is!'', 1980 – "Circumstantial Evidence" and "I'll Be Alright" (Promotional sampler from Bomp!)<ref>{{cite web|title=Where The Action Is at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Where-The-Action-Is/release/3411209}}</ref>
* [[Artists United Against Apartheid]]: ''[[Sun City (album)|Sun City]]'', 1985 – "[[Sun City (song)|Sun City]]" (Backing vocals)
* ''[[Tapeheads]]'', 1988 – "Mr. MX7" (Stiv Bators with [[The Zeros (American glam punk band)|the Zeros]]; featured in the film but not included on the soundtrack album)<ref>{{cite web|title=Tapeheads soundtrack at IMDb|publisher=imdb.com |access-date=April 24, 2019|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096223/soundtrack}}</ref>
* [[Lyres (band)|Lyres]]: ''A Promise Is a Promise'', 1988 – "Here's a Heart"<ref>{{cite web|title=A Promise Is a Promise at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/Lyres-A-Promise-Is-A-Promise/release/1753746}}</ref> (Guest vocals)
* [[Michael Monroe]]: ''[[Peace of Mind (Michael Monroe album)|Peace of Mind]]'', 2000 – "I Wanna Be with You" and "It's a Lie"<ref>{{cite web|title=Peace of Mind at Discogs|publisher=[[Discogs]].com |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Monroe-Peace-Of-Mind/release/3461342}}</ref> (Backing vocals; 1985 demo sessions)<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Monroe Recordings |publisher=finnmusic.net |access-date=April 12, 2019|url=http://www.finnmusic.net/main.php?6157545148077554511253426e13}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*Wolff, Carlo (2006). ''Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories''. Cleveland: Gray & Company, Publishers. {{ISBN|978-1-886228-99-3}}
*Chrome, Cheetah & Legs McNeil (2010). ''Cheetah Chrome: A Dead Boy's Tale From the Front Lines of Punk Rock''. Minneapolis: Quayside Publishing Group, Voyageur Press, Publishers. {{ISBN|076033773X}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.stivbators.com/ Stiv Bators]
*[http://stiv-bators.tripod.com/ Stiv Bators Discography]

{{Dead Boys}}
{{The Lords of the New Church}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bators, Stiv}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:American new wave musicians]]
[[Category:American male new wave singers]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Romani descent]]
[[Category:American punk rock singers]]
[[Category:Dead Boys members]]
[[Category:Deaths from head injury]]
[[Category:American gothic rock musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Youngstown, Ohio]]
[[Category:Pedestrian road incident deaths]]
[[Category:People from Girard, Ohio]]
[[Category:Power pop musicians]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in France]]
[[Category:The Lords of the New Church members]]