Battleaxe (band)

Last updated

Battleaxe
Origin Sunderland, England
Genres Heavy metal
Years active1980–1993
2007–present
MembersDave King
Brian Smith
Mick Percy
Ricky Squires
Past membersSteve Hardy
Ian Thompson
Ian McCormack
John Stormont
Jason Holt
Stewart Curtin
Colin Simpson
Paul AT Kinson

Battleaxe are an English heavy metal band from Sunderland. [1] As one of the bands of the new wave of British heavy metal scene, they started out with the name Warrior and morphed into Battleaxe in early 1981. [2] The band consisted of Dave King (vocals), Brian Smith (bass), Steve Hardy (guitar), and Ian Thompson (drums). [1] After playing around the area and honing their craft, they entered the recording studio to make a demo called "Burn This Town". In doing so, they garnered the attention of Roadrunner Records, and the result was their first album, Burn This Town. [1]

Contents

Cover art controversy

Once a release deal had been struck with Roadrunner Records, the master tapes were forwarded to the record production and the album title Burn this Town was created. The company requested some concept ideas for the cover artwork, so the band asked a friend and local artist Arthur Ball if he could come up with suggestions. He then produced the first Burn this Town cover artwork as it is known now, however only as a rough proof drawing. Arthur planned to re-draw the whole thing again to a much higher standard once it was to be approved by the record company. However, when Roadrunner received the proof artwork for approval, they went ahead and pressed 2000 units for a worldwide release without the band's consent. The graphic looked amateurish, and the band worried what this might do to their reputation. However, the album sold well. The band began developing a reputation in the region as a solid heavy metal outfit.[ citation needed ]

Changing of "Ians"

A short time after finishing the recordings of the album Burn This Town at Guardian studios County Durham, Ian Thompson was badly injured with a skull fracture when attacked by someone with an iron bar. Thompson's injuries were extensive and required a long time to heal. During this time, the band's momentum was still growing as they were signed by Roadrunner Records and contracted to complete a second album by the end of the year. Ian McCormack, Satan's ex-drummer, was asked to fill the drum position until Thomson had recovered. However, when Power from the Universe was released on both the Roadrunner and Music for Nations labels, the band suddenly found themselves garnering unexpected fame. Listeners stated that this album showed a more refined and mature sound, and the album was voted[ by whom? ] as having one of the best heavy metal openers of the time with the song "Chopper Attack". Battleaxe continued on with the same lineup to complete a BBC Radio One Session on the Tommy Vance Friday Rock show. They were included in a nationwide tour supporting Saxon, and invited to a Leeds Queens Hall Festival with Twisted Sister, Girlschool, Anvil, Spyder and Plus.

Personnel changes

On the eve of a major appearance at Hammersmith Odeon London in support of Saxon on their Crusader tour, some A&R staff from Atlantic Records were showing interest. After the show, they wanted the band to organize a showcase for them. However, Steve Hardy unexpectedly quit, and they had to pull out of what could have been a major signing. It took almost two years before a new lineup was found that was somewhere near the quality and spirit to what they had. This was a severe blow to their career and put the band on hold until they could regain their footing. They toured the UK in support of Madam X, who had to pull out of the tour due to an illness, leaving Battleaxe to headline. They finished the tour at the Dominion Theatre in London.

The new lineup included Mick Percy and John Stormont. Their lead and rhythm guitar combination gave band's performances a fuller sound live as well as in the studio. Soon after, they went into Neat Records studio to record the tracks "Radio Thunder," "Girl Crazee," and "Killer Woman." These tracks were added to their 1987 EP, Nightmare Zone. John Stormont contributed a lead break performance on the track "Killer Woman." John left the band and there was a rotating door of musicians until 1987 when they recruited Jason Holt on guitar and Stew Curtan on drums (after Ian McCormack retired). During this period of instability, the band met drummer Paul AT Kinson from Newcastle, who filled in now and then but didn't officially join the band until a later date. With this lineup, their sound had strengthened, becoming more powerful and adding versatility that was not possible with one guitarist. However, this new lineup lasted only a short time as it became hard for Battleaxe to tour. Metallica, who had recently appearing on the metal scene, wanted to tour the UK and Europe with Battleaxe but changed their minds because of politics. However, Battleaxe was added to a compilation album with Metallica, Manowar, and other major bands. From 1995-1998,[ clarification needed ] the band hired another guitarist for a short while and did a one-off show to a small audience at Klenal Hall Biker's Festival. Plans were made to record a third album, and they went into the studio to record the demos that would become the Nightmare Zone EP. The third album was originally going to be called Metal Edge, but they were not able to secure interest from a record label, and the band began to lose interest. Due to financial limitations, touring and performing live gigs simultaneously was impossible. In 2007 the four piece, Mick Percy (guitar), Paul AT Kinson (ex Jess Cox/Skyclad/Bob Dee-USA) and the two founding members, Brian Smith (bass), and Dave King (vocal) (not the Fastaway vocalist Dave King) shot a video to the track Chopper Attack. The video appeared to relaunch the band onto the reemerging new wave of British heavy metal scene.

Later developments

In 2008, some Swedish fans set up a website dedicated to Battleaxe, which caught the attention of a new generation of fans. [2] In 2010, the band returned to the metal scene, performing their first live show in Europe at Headbangers Open Air.

In 2011 and 2012 the band played Hard Rock Hell (UK), Hammerfest (UK) and Heavy Metal Night (Italy).

Dave King and Brian Smith rejected an album deal with Limb Music (Germany).

Dave King and Brian Smith signed a four-album (re-release/new album) deal with SPV Steamhammer in 2013. [2] For unknown reasons, drummer Paul AT Kinson and guitarist Mick Percy were written out of the contract.[ citation needed ]

They re-released the first two albums, Burn This Town and Power From The Universe, on the band's thirtieth anniversary along with the third release of their newest album Heavy Metal Sanctuary. In 2020, SPV Steamhammer re-released Power from the Universe. [2]

The first three albums received mixed reviews from around the world and a prominent rock journalist reviewed the re-release of Power From The Universe. [3]

2014 saw the departure of drummer Paul AT Kinson following the Keep It True Festival (Germany). Kinson had worked with the band on various demos and small shows since the early 1990s. He also helped to relaunch the band along with Dave King between 2007 and 2014, and was the producer of two official videos for the band during that period, as well as the main producer and co-writer the 2014 album Heavy Metal Sanctuary.

Ricky Squires (ex Heavy Metal Kids etc.) joined Battleaxe, replacing Kinson on drums, in May 2014, prior to their debut show at Bloodstock Open Air Festival. However, the distance between Squires (living in Ayrshire) and the band in Newcastle upon Tyne, made it difficult to continue.

Battleaxe is using stand-in session drummer Steve Rix who played regularly with the late Chris Tsangarides (the band had planned to use Tsangarides to produce their new album in 2017/2018).

Gary Young (Avenger) stood in on drums for Battleaxe at metal festival BroFest (UK).

As of 2022, the band is working on a new album at White Wolf Recording Studios in County Durham. They hope to go back on tour in the future. [2]

Members For Burn This Town

Members For Power from the Universe

Post Universe Lineup 1

Post Universe Lineup 2

Nightmare Zone Lineup

Heavy Metal Sanctuary: Line Up

Lineup

2007 – 2014

2014 – Present

Discography

Discography compilations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyclad (band)</span> British heavy/folk metal band

Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad only by the sky, as a sign of equality. The name alludes both to the band's religious leanings and to their social beliefs, as set out in the song "Skyclad" on their first album.

<i>Animalism</i> (album) 1966 studio album by the Animals

Animalism is the fifth American album by the Animals, released in November 1966. The album includes the band's usual repertoire of blues and R&B covers, while Frank Zappa contributed a song and played bass on two tracks. It was the last album recorded by the original incarnation of the Animals prior to their disbandment, after which singer Eric Burdon would assemble a mostly new lineup under the name "Eric Burdon and the Animals". This new version of the group was already touring when Animalism released.

<i>Alice in Hell</i> 1989 studio album by Annihilator

Alice in Hell is the debut studio album by Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator, released on April 17, 1989 through Roadrunner Records. This was the only Annihilator album for ten years to feature Randy Rampage on vocals, until he returned for their seventh studio album Criteria for a Black Widow (1999).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillan (band)</span> English rock band fronted by Ian Gillan

Gillan was an English rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. Gillan was one of the hard rock bands to make a significant impact and commercial success in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s, with five silver albums. They sold over 10 million LPs worldwide.

Pete Barnacle is an English rock drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune. Barnacle now lives in Japan, teaching English, and occasionally working as a drummer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctity (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Sanctity was an American thrash metal band from Asheville, North Carolina. They formed in 1998 and released Road to Bloodshed in 2007. They were in the midst of writing material for another album, with an undisclosed new vocalist, which did not have a chance to come to fruition before the band's dissolution in 2008. Founder, songwriter and lead guitarist Zeff now has a separate project named Graveyard Fields and Jeremy, Jared and Derek also have a project together.

Blackfeather are an Australian rock group that formed in April 1970. The band has had numerous line-ups, mostly fronted by founding lead singer, Neale Johns. An early heavy rock version recorded their debut album, At the Mountains of Madness, which peaked at number seven on the Go-Set Top 20 Albums chart. It provided the single, "Seasons of Change", which was co-written by Johns with lead guitarist, John Robinson. In July 1972 a piano-based line-up led by Johns issued an Australian number-one single, "Boppin' the Blues".

White Spirit were an English heavy metal band from Hartlepool, best remembered for guitarist Janick Gers who went on to play with Ian Gillan, Bruce Dickinson, and ultimately, Iron Maiden. Other original members of the band were Bruce Ruff (vocals), Malcolm Pearson (keyboards), Phil Brady (bass) and Graeme Crallan (drums), with a later lineup including Brian Howe (vocals), Mick Tucker (guitars) and Toby Sadler (bass). Pearson and Tucker revived the band between 2022 and 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karma to Burn</span> American rock band

Karma to Burn was an American rock band from Morgantown, West Virginia. The band was noted for its heavy, mostly instrumental sound.

More is a British heavy metal band that was part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene in the early 1980s. They recorded two albums and two singles, and opened the German rock festival 'Golden Summer Night' at Stuttgart and Darmstadt in August 1981, as well as the 'Monsters of Rock' festival at Donington Park one week later. Following extensive line-up changes, More is still active.

Atrophy is an American thrash metal band formed in Tucson, Arizona.

Buzzoven is an American heavy metal band from Salisbury, North Carolina, formed in 1990. The band was known for being one of the founders of the sludge genre along with NOLA's Eyehategod and Acid Bath, and also for their out-of-control and violent live shows. The band in its early days toured heavily around the United States and built up a cult following leading up to the release of their debut album, To a Frown (1993), which caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, who released the band's second album Sore (1994). The band was dropped by Roadrunner, and from then on have gone through several periods of being split-up and reformed, with the only constant member having been Kirk Fisher. In 2018, the band toured the Southern US as one of the opening acts for Eyehategod.

Malice is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981, best known for their appearance on the first Metal Massacre compilation and the release of a pair of albums on Atlantic Records. Their heavily-European-influenced style elicited comparisons to Judas Priest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankenbok</span> Australian heavy metal band

Frankenbok is an Australian heavy metal band from Melbourne. The band was founded in 1997 by guitarist Aaron Butler and vocalist Adam 'Hutch' Glynn and have since released three full-length albums and one EP. Frankenbok have toured Australia on numerous occasions, building a strong cult following in their homeland.

Détente is an American thrash metal band founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The group's original line-up included Dawn Crosby on vocals, Steve Hochheiser on bass, Dennis Butler on drums and Ross Robinson and Caleb Quinn on guitars,.

Andy Pyle is a British bassist who is best known for playing with The Kinks from 1976 to 1978. Prior to that, he was in Blodwyn Pig (1968–1972) and Savoy Brown (1972–1974). Later, he played with Wishbone Ash.

Corpus Christi was an American Christian metal band from Cincinnati, Ohio. The term "Corpus Christi" is Latin for "body of Christ," which fits the band's Christian lyrics. They were signed to Victory Records. The band has been featured on TVU's weekly countdown show, TVU's Most Wanted.

Baptized in Blood was a five-piece London, Ontario-based heavy metal band. They were managed by Dave Mustaine, the frontman of American thrash metal band Megadeth.

Savage Grace is an American power and speed metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by Chris Logue and Brian East, initially active between 1981 and 1993. They reformed in 2009, and subsequently released an EP entitled The Lost Grace. In 2010, they performed at the Up the Hammers, Bang Your Head!!! and Keep It True festivals.

Damien Thorne is American heavy metal band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1983.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 45. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 battleaxe. "WELCOME". battleaxe. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Geoff Barton (23 January 2015). "Battleaxe: Power From The Universe". Loudersound.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.