Witchfynde

Last updated

}}

Witchfynde
Origin Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England [1]
Genres Heavy metal
Years active1976 [1] –1984, 1999–2022
Labels
Members
  • Luther Beltz
  • Montalo
  • Gra Scoresby
  • Tracey Abbott
  • Ian Hamilton
Past members
  • Al Short
  • Pete Surgey
  • Steve Bridges
  • Harry Harrison
  • Andro Coulton
  • Alan Edwards ("Edd Wolfe")
  • Dave Lindley
  • Ron Reynolds
  • Dave Hewitt
  • Neil Harvey
  • Richard Blower

Witchfynde are an English heavy metal band, forerunners of the new wave of British heavy metal in the late 1970s.

Contents

History

Early days

Witchfynde were formed in Derbyshire, England, in 1974, by bass guitarist Richard Blower and vocalist Neil Harvey. Richard Blower discovered Montalo (Trevor Taylor) in a band called Atiofel. When Richard left the band in 1975, they reformed Witchfynde with lead guitarist Montalo, bassist Andro Coulton and drummer Gra Scoresby, and soon recruiting vocalist Steve Bridges. [2] The band released their first single, "Give 'Em Hell" in 1979 and released its first full-length album, also entitled Give 'Em Hell , on Rondelet Records in 1980. [2] A major attribute to success may have originated by the frequent airplay on the Friday Rock Show , hosted by Tommy Vance on BBC Radio 1. The band gained some exposure by touring the United Kingdom with Def Leppard in the summer of 1980. The band's sound incorporated a mix of influences, such as doom, progressive and hard rock, with various aspects of the heavy metal sound as well as prominent use of satanic imagery. [2]

Second album and change of musical direction

In 1980, the band released their second album Stagefright . [2] Like their debut, it was recorded at Fairview Studios in Willerby, East Riding of Yorkshire, and is considered their most experimental work to date.[ according to whom? ] During the period the album was released, bassist Andro Coulton was replaced for the more technically competent Pete Surgey. [2]

Departure from Rondelet Records

Around the time of the band's second release, the relationship with their label Rondelet Records became increasingly strained, to the point where the label withdrew the band's funding. [2] This made things very difficult for Witchfynde and eventually led to the departure of vocalist Steve Bridges. The band then recruited new singer Luther Beltz and began working on third album Cloak and Dagger; it was released on the small label Expulsion Records, but owing to bad production and the fact the label went bankrupt shortly after the album's release, it did not receive good promotion. [2]

Mausoleum Records, fourth album and split

The band signed a deal in 1984 with Mausoleum Records to release their fourth album Lords of Sin. During the recording of the album, bassist Pete Surgey left the band and was replaced by Edd Wolfe, who had played in one of Luther Beltz's former bands; however, by the time the album was released he was replaced by Al Short, who played in the band Race Against Time. Although the band considered the album their strongest to date, it received very bad reviews from critics, with the final blow delivered when Mausoleum Records went bankrupt; as the result of the album's bad promotion, the band became totally disillusioned with the music business and split up. [2]

Reunion, 1999–2020

In October 1999, Montalo, Gra and Luther began to discuss the possibility of a reunion, owing to a resurgence of interest in the band after the release of the Best of Witchfynde CD in 1996, which sold well. Pete Surgey rejoined the band on bass. However, during rehearsals Luther Beltz announced that he no longer wanted to participate in the reunion; the band replaced him with vocalist Harry Harrison, a longtime fan of the band that was introduced by Pete Surgey. The band then began to work on their fifth album The Witching Hour, which they released on Edgy Records in 2001.

Their first three albums were re-released by Cherry Red and Lemon Recordings. A new Best Of album was released in 2007 by Lemon Recordings.

The band then began work on their sixth studio album called Play It to Death, which they recorded at Bandwagon Studios and released in July 2008. Towards the end of 2008, owing to Harry Harrison's ill-health and other commitments, Luther Beltz returned to front the band for the Play It to Death UK Tour.

July 2014 saw the addition of second guitarist Tracey Abbott from Overdrive.

Witchfynde played one of its first shows at the Metalcova Festival in Spain Barcelona on 28 November 2015, and continued to tour up until 2020. Standout shows included the Alpine Steel Festival in Austria Innsbruck 2016, the HOAF Festival in Germany 2019, the Sweden Rock Festival 2019, and the very first Metal Conquest in Rome in January 2020.

2020 saw the last performance of the remaining original band members, Montalo (Trevor Taylor) and Gra Scoresby. The concert was at Newcastle's famous rock bar, Trillions, and Luther Beltz retired soon after.

Global Pandemic, 2020-Present

With the onset of the global pandemic and ill health within the group, the remaining band members decided to retire from all live performances.

After Witchfynde retired from live performances, with their final show at Newcastle's Trillians in 2020, long-time guitarist Tracey Abbott, in agreement with the band's founders, continued performing a live Witchfynde set under the name Witchfynde-X, alongside bassist Ian Hamilton. Following a successful year-long tour across Europe in 2023, the band returned to the UK but ultimately dissolved due to an ongoing dispute between the original Witchfynde members and former bassist Andro Coulton.

In 2023, Andro Coulton, a short-term early bassist for Witchfynde, trademarked the band's name without the knowledge or consent of its founding members. This led to his booking under the Witchfynde name at the 2023 Keep It True Festival, much to the disappointment of both the promoter and fans, who had anticipated the presence of original members Gra, Montalo, and Luther. Shortly after, Andro was served with a cease and desist order, compelling him to relinquish the trademark and stop using the band's name. An unfortunate stain on what may be the closing chapter of the Witchfynde story…

Line-up

Last live Witchfynde line-up

Witcfynde-X Lineup

Former

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Wytchfynde

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFO (band)</span> English rock band

UFO were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. The band's final lineup consisted of vocalist Phil Mogg, lead guitarist Vinnie Moore, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Neil Carter, bass guitarist Rob De Luca, and drummer Andy Parker. They had gone through several line-up changes, leaving Mogg as the only constant member, and had disbanded three times. The band's classic line-up comprised Mogg, Parker, bassist Pete Way, keyboardist Paul Raymond and former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker. In May 2018, Mogg announced that he would retire from UFO after one last tour as a member of the band in 2019; however, their farewell tour was set to conclude in 2022 before it was cancelled, due to Mogg's health issues. Mogg confirmed UFO's third disbandment in April 2024.

Ram Jam was a short-lived American rock band formed in New York City and active in 1977 and 1978, mainly known for their hit single "Black Betty".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Di'Anno</span> British heavy metal singer

Paul Andrews, better known by his stage name Paul Di'Anno, is an English heavy metal singer who was the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno has issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog, Di'Anno's Battlezone, Killers, Rockfellas, and more recently, Warhorse. Together with fellow Iron Maiden member Dennis Stratton, he joined Praying Mantis for the recording of their 1990 live album Live at Last.

Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward was an English punk rock and heavy metal bass guitarist and singer. He began his career in 1977, as a bassist for the Australian proto punk band the Saints. Afterwards, he joined The Damned, before founding Tank in 1980. Tank were part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Kakaha</span> American bassist

Robert Kakaha, also known as Bob Zilla, is an American musician who is the bassist for rock band Hush Money. He is best known as the former bassist of heavy metal bands Damageplan and Hellyeah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Goddess</span> British heavy metal band

Rock Goddess were an English all-female heavy metal band formed in Wandsworth, South London, in 1977 by sisters Jody Turner and Julie Turner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastway (band)</span> English hard rock band

Fastway were an English hard rock band formed in 1982 by former Motörhead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke and former UFO bassist Pete Way. The band went through various membership changes and Way left the band after receiving an opportunity to perform with Ozzy Osbourne.

Anti-Pasti was a British punk rock band, founded by vocalist Martin Roper and guitarist Dugi Bell in 1978, featuring Kev Nixon on drums and Will Hoon on bass guitar. Later they were joined by a second guitarist, Ollie Hoon. Their first album, The Last Call, spent seven weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 31. Roper left the band in 1982, and Anti-Pasti effectively ended until reformations in both 1995 and 2012.

The Threats are a punk band from Dalkeith and Edinburgh, Scotland. Originally formed in 1979 as the Reflectors, the band soon renamed themselves Threats.

<i>Rebel Meets Rebel</i> 2006 studio album by David Allan Coe with Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul and Rex Brown

Rebel Meets Rebel is a country metal album by David Allan Coe and Pantera members Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul. The music was written and recorded by the band when the musicians had time aside from their other projects, including Pantera's world tour supporting Reinventing the Steel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Panther</span> American rock band

Steel Panther is an American comedic glam metal band from Los Angeles, California. Fronted by lead singer Michael Starr, the band formed in 2000 as Metal Shop and was also known as Metal Skool before adopting the name Steel Panther in 2008. The band is known for its profane and humorous lyrics, and for parodying the stereotypical glam metal lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blitzkrieg (metal band)</span> English heavy metal band

Blitzkrieg are an English heavy metal band formed in Leicester in 1980. The current line-up consists of Brian Ross (vocals), Alan Ross (guitar), Liam Ferguson (bass), Matt Graham (drums), and Nick Jennison (guitar). Ross is the only remaining member from the band's founding, and the band are now based in Newcastle.

Valkyrie is an American doom metal band from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

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

Marseille were a British heavy metal band from Liverpool, England, formed in 1976 by Neil Buchanan, Andy Charters and Keith Knowles. Marseille were the first band to win the "UK Battle of the Bands" competition at Wembley Arena in 1977. Marseille are often incorrectly noted as the first new wave of British heavy metal band to secure a major recording contract and to tour in the United States, as well as the first NWOBHM band to release an album there, even though they were established and releasing records nearly a year before the term was coined.

English Dogs were a British hardcore punk band that began life in the early eighties. Two versions of the band exist, the punk and metal crossover band featuring original drummer Andrew "Pinch" Pinching and second-era members Graham "Gizz" Butt and Adie Bailey and a punk-based one featuring original vocalist Pete "Wakey" Wakefield.

Jameson Raid are a British heavy metal band. They are usually considered to be part of the new wave of British heavy metal, following their inclusion on EMI's album Metal For Muthas II, although they were established on the Birmingham circuit as a hard rock band several years before this.

<i>21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent</i> 2002 studio album by Girlschool

21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band, Girlschool, released on Communiqué Records in 2002. The production of the album lasted for a prolonged time and it was finally released when lead guitarist Kelly Johnson and bassist Tracey Lamb had already left the band. They were replaced by new lead guitarist Jackie Chambers and by the original bass player Enid Williams, who play in two new songs included in this album.

<i>Army of One</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Riot

Army of One is the thirteenth studio album by the American heavy metal band Riot. It was released on July 12, 2006.

<i>Give Em Hell</i> (Witchfynde album) 1980 studio album by Witchfynde

Give 'Em Hell is the debut album by the British heavy metal band Witchfynde. The album was released in 1980 during the new wave of British heavy metal heyday and re-released in 2004 by Lemon Recordings. The 2004 re-release featured three bonus tracks.

<i>Stagefright</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Witchfynde

Stagefright is the second album released by the British heavy metal band Witchfynde. The album was released in October 1980 by Rondelet Records and re-released in 2005 by Lemon Recordings.

References

  1. 1 2 "Witchfynde Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 390/1. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
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.