Blitzkrieg are an English heavy metal band originally from Leicester. Formed in October 1980, the group originally consisted of vocalist Brian Ross, lead guitarist Jim Sirotto, rhythm guitarist Ian Jones, bassist Steve English and drummer Steve Abbey. The band have broken up and reformed multiple times since their formation and changed personnel on numerous occasions. The band's current incarnation includes constant member Ross alongside guitarist Alan Ross (the vocalist's son, a member since 2012), drummer Matt Graham (since 2015), bassist Liam Ferguson (since 2019) and guitarist Nick Jennison (since 2020).
Brian Ross has fronted every lineup of Blitzkrieg since their formation in October 1980.
1980–1985
Blitzkrieg were formed in October 1980 by vocalist Brian Ross, lead guitarist Jim Sirotto, rhythm guitarist Ian Jones, bassist Steve English and drummer Steve Abbey.[1] After an initial three-track demo,[2] the band recorded their debut single "Buried Alive"/"Blitzkrieg" in February 1981.[3] By the time of its release in May, English had been replaced by Mick Moore.[4] This lineup released the live EP Blitzed Alive,[2] before Jones was replaced by John Antcliffe in June 1981.[5] The band continued touring throughout the year, before disbanding after a final show on 17 December 1981.[2] According to Ross, the band decided to break up because Sirotto "decided he couldn't handle it",[1] although another source has simply stated that "Antcliffe and Sirotto suddenly became disillusioned with the band".[2] Prior to their breakup, Blitzkrieg recorded tracks for their intended full-length debut, which went unreleased until they were featured on the 2003 compilation A Time of Changes, Phase 1.[6] Other previously unreleased recordings were issued in 2014 and 2015.[7][8]
After spells in Avenger and Satan, Ross reformed Blitzkrieg in November 1984, bringing back guitarist Jim Sirotto and bassist Mick Moore (the latter of whom had also worked with him in Avenger), and adding guitarist Mick Procter (formerly of Tygers of Pan Tang) and drummer Sean Taylor (also of Satan).[9] This lineup recorded the band's debut album A Time of Changes, before Sirotto and Taylor left again — the former as he still did not want to tour, the latter to return to Satan.[10] For their first show since returning, on 3 May 1985, Ross, Procter and Moore were joined by second guitarist Chris Green and drummer Gav Taylor.[11] This was the only show this lineup played, as Moore returned to Avenger, and Green and Procter both moved to London.[12] Ross later claimed that the band were unable to tour after the album as he had "a problem with [his] voice".[13]
1986–1999
Around a year later, Brian Ross and Blitzkrieg returned with a lineup including guitarists John "J. D." Biddle and Chris Beard, bassist Darren Parnaby, and drummer Sean Wilkinson.[14] After a four-track demo, this incarnation also disbanded, with Ross joined by guitarists Glenn S. Howes and Steve Robertson, bassist Robbie Robertson, and drummer Kyle Gibson in 1988.[14] This lineup also recorded a two-track demo, before Ross and Howes replaced the rest of the lineup with new guitarist Tony J. Liddle, bassist Glenn Carey and drummer Gary Young in 1989.[14] With the new members, the band released Live at the Kazbah in 1990 and the EP 10 Years of Blitzkrieg in 1991, before Young was injured and the group consequently disbanded again.[14]
In 1992, Ross and Liddle returned with new bassist Dave Anderson and returning drummer Sean Taylor, who recorded Unholy Trinity that year.[14] The album was not released immediately, however, with the reactivated Neat Records issuing it in 1995.[15] In 1996, Ross and Liddle recorded five new tracks released on the album Ten with guitarist Phil Miller, bassist Steve Ireland and drummer Paul White.[16] Shortly after a tour with new drummer Neil Nattrass, the whole lineup was rebuilt with the return of guitarist Glenn S. Howes and the addition of new members Martin Richardson (guitar), Gav Gray (bass) and Mark Hancock (drums).[17] Gray left the band before the recording of 1998's The Mists of Avalon, with Howes, Richardson and Hancock all contributing bass to the album's tracks.[18] The band played a few shows in promotion of the album, before disbanding again around the summer of 1999 according to Howes.[18] The shows featured guitarist Paul Nesbitt, bassist Gav Gray and drummer Mark Wyndebank.[17]
Guitarist Ken Johnson joined Blitzkrieg in 2002 and played with the band until 2019.
Since 2001
Blitzkrieg reformed again in August 2001.[19] Alongside Brian Ross and returning guitarists Tony J. Liddle and Paul Nesbitt, the band's new lineup was completed by bassist Andy Galloway and drummer Phil Brewis, who together released Absolute Power in 2002.[20] Shortly after the album's release, Liddle was replaced by Ken Johnson.[19] The new lineup toured throughout 2003, recording Absolutely Live during the shows, before Galloway was replaced by Paul Brewis in January 2004.[19]Sins and Greed followed in 2005.[21] In January 2006, Nesbitt left the band after becoming a father, with Guy Laverick taking his place.[22] This lineup released Theatre of the Damned in 2007.[23]
In July 2012, the Brewis brothers and Laverick were replaced by new guitarist Alan Ross (Brian Ross's son), bassist Bill Baxter and drummer Mick Kerrigan.[24] According to Brian Ross, Paul Brewis left due to "problems in his personal life", while Laverick and Phil Brewis chose to focus on their other group Chaos Asylum.[25] The new lineup released Back from Hell in 2013.[26] Kerrigan left in March 2015,[27] replaced by Matt Graham the next month.[28] Later that year, the band released a 30th anniversary re-recording of their debut album A Time of Changes.[29] In February 2017, Baxter was replaced by Huw Holding.[30]Judge Not! was released in April 2018.[31]
Blitzkrieg underwent two personnel changes in 2019: in March, Holding was replaced by Liam Ferguson,[32] and in December, Ken Johnson left the band.[33] Before Johnson's departure, the band released the EP Loud and Proud.[34] The guitarist was replaced in February 2020 by Nick Jennison.[35] In 2024, the band released a self-titled album.[36]
↑ The Elitist Metalhead (1 October 2024). "Blitzkrieg — Blitzkrieg". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
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