Blitzkrieg is a heavy metal band from Leicester formed in 1980, consisting of Brian Ross (vocals), Ken Johnson (guitar), Guy Laverick (guitar), Paul Brewis (bass) and Phil Brewis (drums). Blitzkrieg has been in the music industry for more than two decades and they are still remembered for their first single featuring Blitzkrieg and Buried Alive; "Blitzkrieg" is arguably their best known song due to Metallica's cover version.

The line-ups for Blitzkrieg have frequently changed since their formation, as the line-up for their first single differed greatly to the line-up for their most recent album, Sins And Greed. As a result from these line-up changes, Brian Ross is the only remaining member from their initial line-up. In spite of this, they are credited as being one of the last true British heavy metal bands.

History

Blitzkrieg was formed in October 1980 after signing a record deal with Neat Records. In the early stages of their career they regularly produced gigs in England, but then later split in 1981. Brian Ross most notably went on to join Satan, another metal band, along with stints in Avenger, Lone Wolf and Unter den Linden. In 1984 Ross and fellow founding member Jim Sirotto, along with guitarist Mick Proctor (ex-Tygers of Pan Tang), bass player Mick Moore (of Avenger) and drummer Sean Taylor (Satan/Blind Fury, ex-Raven) then decided that it was time to record the Blitzkrieg album that was originally planned to be released in 1981, A Time of Changes. It was later released in 1985.

The song Blitzkrieg was then covered by popular American band, Metallica on the Creeping Death EP. Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich commented that Blitzkrieg was one of their main influences. Diamond Head is falsely thought to have also done a cover of the song Blitzkrieg, thanks to a song spread over the internet; this is actually a version of the track performed by Blitzkrieg which featured on the Buried Alive single.

Blitzkrieg started recording songs in 1990 for the release of the album, 10 Years of Blitzkreig, in 1991. In 1992 it was decided that they should start recording more songs for the next album, Unholy Trinity, which was released in 1995. Blitzkrieg was highly appreciated by the public after the release of these albums, and they were even more appreciated when the album, Ten, was released in 1997. Ten received a good response from the public, and was later backed up by the release of The Mists of Avalon in 1998, which also brought forward a positive response.

Vocalist, Brian Ross, was then involved in a car accident, which prevented Blitzkrieg from releasing any further material. Six months later, he decided to reform Blitzkrieg and create another album. They released the albums, Absolute Power (a studio album), Absolutely Live (a live album) and Sins and Greed. On August 10th Blitzkrieg released their new album "Theatre of the Damned" was released through their new record label; Armageddon Music.

Members

• Brian Ross - vocals (1980-Present)
• Ken Johnson - guitars (2002-)
• Guy Laverick - guitars (2006-)
• Paul Brewis - bass (2004-)
• Phil Brewis - drums (1999-)

Former Members

GUITARS :

• Ian Jones (1980-81)
• Jim Sirotto (1980-81, 1984-86)
• John Antcliffe (1981)
• Mick Proctor (1984-86)
• J D Binnie (1986-87)
• Chris Beard (1986-87)
• Steve Robertson (1988-89)
• Glenn S. Howes (1988-90, 1996-99)
• Tony J. Liddle (1989-96, 2001-02)
• Phil Millar (1996)
• Martin Richardson (1996-98)
• Paul Nesbitt (1992, 1998-2006)

BASS :

• Steve English (1980-81)
• Mick Moore (1981, 1984-86, 1991)
• Darren Parnaby (1986-87)
• Robbie Robertson (1988-89)
• Glenn Carey (1989-90)
• Dave Anderson (1992-94)
• Steve Ireland (1996)
• Gavin Gray (1996-99)
• Andy Galloway (2001-04)

DRUMS :

• Steve Abbey (1980-81)
• Sean Taylor (1984-86, 1991-94)
• Sean Wilkinson (1986-87)
• Kyle Gibson (1988-89)
• Gary Young (1989-90)
• Paul Ward (1996)
• Paul White (1996)
• Neil Nattrass (1996)
• Mark Hancock (1996-98)
• Mark Wyndebank (1998-99)

Discography

Cover	Title	Released
	A Time of Changes	1985
	Ten Years of Blitzkrieg	1991
	Unholy Trinity	1995
	Ten	1997
	The Mists of Avalon	1998
	Absolute Power	2002
	Absolutely Live	2004
	Sins and Greed	2005

External links

• http://www.blitzed-alive.com - Official Blitzkrieg website (c) Blitzkrieg 2006

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