Results for Angel Witch
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Artist:

Angel Witch

Formed:
1977

Representative Songs:

"Angel of Death," "Angel Witch," "White Witch"

Representative Albums:

Angel Witch, Resurrection, Screamin' & Bleedin'

Similar Artists:

Followers:

  • Genre: Rock
  • Active: '80s, '90s, 2000s
  • Major Members: Kevin Heybourne, Pete Gordelier, Spencer Holman, Dave Hogg

Biography

In 1979, Angel Witch was one of the most promising bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, with a hardcore following and a modestly successful single under their belts. But like many fine bands of that movement, bad luck, bad management, and misunderstanding record companies forced them into early retirement. Like most of their peers, Angel Witch combined the basic lessons of Black Sabbath with the energy and speed of Motörhead, but their leader, Kevin Heybourne, was also a master songsmith, elevating the band to headliner status over competitors like Iron Maiden early in their career. Formed in 1977 by vocalist/guitarist Heybourne, Angel Witch went through a number of personnel changes before recruiting bassist Kevin "Skids" Riddles and drummer Dave Hogg. As the punk movement gradually self-destructed, the band payed its dues and built a reputation playing clubs and pubs with other young metal bands like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon.

Their first lucky break arrived when they were invited to contribute a song, "Baphomet," to the Metal for Muthas compilation, introducing them to many new fans and leading to a recording contract with EMI. But the label gave up on Angel Witch immediately after their first single, "Sweet Danger," dropped off the charts after only one week at number 75. Picked up by Bronze Records, they recorded their self-titled debut album in 1980, and though it has since achieved legendary status as one of the seminal works of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the band started to fall apart from within. Both bassist Skids and drummer Dave Hogg quit the band, and after briefly trying to carry on with replacements, Heybourne too decided to call it quits. After a brief return in the mid-'80s which yielded a pair of uninspired albums, Heybourne once again resurrected Angel Witch in 1989 for a series of concert dates at L.A.'s Troubadour. Recruiting rhythm guitarist Grant Dennison, bassist Peter Gordelier, and drummer Spencer Holman, this short-lived lineup did record a live album before splitting up once again. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
 
 
Wikipedia: Angel Witch
Angel Witch
Origin London, UK
Genre(s) NWOBHM
Heavy metal
Thrash metal
Years active 1977-2004/2005
Label(s) EMI
Bronze Records
Killerwatt Records
Metal Blade Records
Members
Kevin Heybourne
Jon Torres
Lee Altus
Darren Minter
Former members
Dave Hogg
Kevin Riddles
Rob Downing
Dave Dufort
David Tattum
Grant Denison
Keith Herzberg
Mick Taylor
Pete Gordelier
Jerry Cunningham
Ritchie Wicks
Spencer Hollman
Ricky Bruce
Tom Hunting
Scott Higham


Angel Witch was a British heavy metal band which was assembled in 1977. They were part of the NWOBHM movement together with bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Ethel The Frog and Motörhead.

Biography

The band was founded under the name of Lucifer and initially comprised of guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, drummer Steve Jones, and bassist Barry Clements. Lucifer split and Steve Jones joined up with Bruce Dickinson to form Speed. The remnants of Lucifer became Angel Witch, with the exceptions of Barry, who was replaced by Kevin Riddles, and Steve Jones, who was replaced by Dave Hogg. The following year Rob Downing left the band.

Angel Witch's first song to achieve mainstream popularity was "Baphomet", which was included on a compilation entitled Metal for Muthas. This song drew a fair amount of attention to the band, and they eventually signed a recording deal with EMI. However, the deal was soon cancelled, due to the bad performance of their first single released under the EMI label, which was entitled Sweet Danger and lasted a single week on British top charts.

On 1980, Bronze Records picked up the band and they soon proceeded to record and release their debut album, self-titled Angel Witch. This album is considered one of the most notable from the NWOBHM, but subsequent to the album's release, the band's structure began to fall apart. Kevin Riddles and Dave Hogg left the band to join Tytan, and despite Heybourne's attempts to continue Angel Witch with other musicians, the end of the band was declared and he joined Deep Machine.

Angel Witch was brought back to activity on 1982, when Heybourne and two musicians from Deep Machine - namely vocalist Roger Marsden and drummer Ricky Bruce - left to assemble a new Angel Witch line-up together with bassist Jerry Cunningham. This line-up lasted a very short time, as Marsden's voice didn't fit the style of the band very well. He was fired from the band and Heybourne assumed the vocals once more.

By 1983 the band had ceased its activities, and Heybourne moved to Blind Fury. In 1984, Angel Witch was once more brought to life, this time with the help of bassist Peter Gordelier, singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums. This line-up recorded the album Screamin' N' Bleedin'. Dave Hogg left the band one more time, but not without many snide remarks from the band's fans. He was replaced by Spencer Hollman. With the new drummer they recorded Frontal Assault, which deviated heavily from Angel Witch's previous albums, having many melodic elements.

Dave Tattum left the band on the same year and for a few years Angel Witch played as a trio on sporadic live performances. In 1989, they recorded a new live album, entitled simply Live - not to be mistaken with the band Live.

Heybourne decided that it would be of the band's best interest to move to the USA, but the other members had no way of accomplishing that, having stable lives on their home country. Thus, an American incarnation of Angel Witch was born. It was composed of Heybourne, bassist Jon Torres (from Laaz Rockit), drummer Tom Hunting and guitarist Doug Piercy. This line-up functioned quite well, and soon the band had booked a fair amount of shows throughout the USA. However, it was found that Heybourne had some pending issues regarding immigration, and he was arrested one day before the first concert of the band. Without Heybourne, Angel Witch was soon dissolved.

After the release of the Resurrection compilation in 2000, the band intended to play together once more, but after a series of internal conflicts, Heybourne assembled yet another line-up, with new members.

Discography

Albums

  • Angel Witch LP (1980 Bronze Records)
  • Screamin' and Bleedin CD/LP (1985 Killerwatt Records)
  • Frontal Assault CD/LP (1986 Killerwatt Records)
  • Resurrection CD (2000 Crook'd Records)


Singles/EPs

  • "Sweet Danger" 12"/7" single (1980 EMI)
  • "Angel Witch" 7" single (1980 Bronze Records)
  • Loser 7" EP (1981 Bronze Records)
  • "Goodbye" 7" single (1985 Killerwatt Records)
  • "They Wouldn't Dare" single (2003 Archaic Temple Productions)

Live/Reissue

  • Doctor Phibes (1986 Raw Power Records)
  • Live live CD (1990 Metal Blade Records)
  • '82 Revisited live CD (1996 IRS Records)
  • Sinister History (1999)
  • 2000: Live At The LA2 live CD (2000 Angel Witch)
  • Angel Witch (Expanded Edition) (2005 Sanctuary Records)
  • Angel of Death CD (2006 Mausoleum Records) (reissue of 82 Revisited)

Trivia

  • Dave Dufort, brother of Girlschool drummer Denise Dufort, played drums on the Loser EP.

 
 

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Angel Witch" Read more

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