Angel Witch
All For One - Once And For All
1977-1982, 1984-1998, 2000-
Origin
UK
UK
Lineup
Kevin Heybourne
Will Palmer
Jimmy Martin
Fredrik Jansson
Will Palmer
Jimmy Martin
Fredrik Jansson
Guitar, vocals
Bass
Guitar
Drums
Bass
Guitar
Drums
1977-1982, 1984-1998, 2000-
2009-
2015-
2016-
2009-
2015-
2016-
Former members
Steve Coleman
Roger Marsden
Dave Tattum
Rob Downing
The German
Grant Dennison
Doug Piercy
Lee Altus
Myk Taylor
Keith Herzberg
Kevin Riddles
Jerry Cunningham
Pete Gordelier
Jon Torres
Richie Wicks
Dave Hogg
Dave Dufort
Ricky Bruce
Spencer Holman
Tom Hunting
Darren Minter
Scott Higham
Bill Steer
Andy Prestidge
Tom Draper
Alan French
Roger Marsden
Dave Tattum
Rob Downing
The German
Grant Dennison
Doug Piercy
Lee Altus
Myk Taylor
Keith Herzberg
Kevin Riddles
Jerry Cunningham
Pete Gordelier
Jon Torres
Richie Wicks
Dave Hogg
Dave Dufort
Ricky Bruce
Spencer Holman
Tom Hunting
Darren Minter
Scott Higham
Bill Steer
Andy Prestidge
Tom Draper
Alan French
Drums
Vocals
Vocals
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Bass, keyboards
Bass
Bass
Bass
Bass
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Guitar
Drums
Guitar
Drums
Vocals
Vocals
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar
Bass, keyboards
Bass
Bass
Bass
Bass
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Drums
Guitar
Drums
Guitar
Drums
1977-1978
1982
1984-1986
1978
1979
1989-1990
1990-1992
1993-1995
1996-1998
2000-2002
1978-1981
1982
1984-1987
1989-1990
2000-2002
1978-1980, 1984-1985
1980-1981
1982
1984-1986
1990-1993
1994-1998
2000-2002
2010-2014
2009-2015
2013-2015
2014-2015
1982
1984-1986
1978
1979
1989-1990
1990-1992
1993-1995
1996-1998
2000-2002
1978-1981
1982
1984-1987
1989-1990
2000-2002
1978-1980, 1984-1985
1980-1981
1982
1984-1986
1990-1993
1994-1998
2000-2002
2010-2014
2009-2015
2013-2015
2014-2015
Angel Witch are a British heavy metal band which formed in London, England in 1977 as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. Despite critical acclaim in the music press, their only UK chart action consisted of a single week at No. 75 (the lowest position in the charts) in 1980. The band was formed, originally under the name of Lucifer, and was initially composed of guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, drummer Steve Jones, and bassist Barry Clements.[2] 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 titled 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 canceled, due to manager Ken Heybourne refusing to hand Angel Witch over to professional management, and 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.
In 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 new wave of British heavy metal, but subsequent to the album's release, the band's structure began to fall apart. The sacking of Dave Hogg, and Kevin Riddles leaving 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 did not 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 (ex-Marquis De Sade), singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums. This line-up recorded the album Screamin' N' Bleedin'. Dave Hogg was sacked yet again, 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 was sacked 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.
Heybourne decided that it would be of the band's best interest to move to the United States, 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 (Lȧȧz Rockit, Ulysses Siren), drummer Tom Hunting (Exodus) and guitarist Doug Piercy (Heathen, Anvil Chorus). This line-up functioned quite well, and soon the band had booked a fair number 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. They were on the bill for the traditional Orange Goblin Christmas show at The Camden Underworld, London, on Saturday 20 December 2008. In 2009 their eponymous song "Angel Witch" was featured on the soundtrack of the action-adventure videogame, Brütal Legend. In 2011 Angel Witch entered in the studio to record their fourth full-length studio album, entitled "As Above, So Below". It was recorded with Kevin Heybourne in guitar and vocals, Will Palmer on the bass guitar, Bill Steer on the guitar, and Andrew Prestidge on the drums. They also returned to playing live, with a second stage headline slot at Bloodstock Open Air in 2011. One-time Angel Witch bassist Jon Torres died on 3 September 2013 of a reported heart failure. He was 51 years old.
Angel Witch have been claimed as an influence by many notable metal musicians, including Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) who graced the February 2010 cover of Decibel magazine wearing an Angel Witch shirt [1], Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost), and Chuck Schuldiner (Death). Bands that have covered Angel Witch songs in concert or on record include Trouble ("Confused" live), Six Feet Under ("Confused" on Graveyard Classics), Onslaught ("Confused" on In Search of Sanity), Skull Fist ("Angel Witch" live), Battle Ram ("Angel Witch" on the Smash the Gates EP), S.A.Slayer ("Dr. Phibes" & "Angel Witch" live) and Exodus ("Angel of Death" on Blood In, Blood Out as bonus track). In 2007, German label Unbroken Records issued a "Tribute To Angel Witch" compilation album featuring 15 underground metal acts covering songs from the band's early singles and first 3 full-length releases.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Angel Witch (1980)
- Screamin' 'n' Bleedin' (1985)
- Frontal Assault (1986)
- As Above, So Below (2012)
- Angel Witch Live (1990)
- 2000: Live at the LA2 (2000)
- Angel of Death: Live at East Anglia Rock Festival (2006)
- Burn the White Witch - Live in London (2009)
- Doctor Phibes (1986)
- Screamin' Assault (1988)
- Resurrection (1998)
- Sinister History (1999)
- "Sweet Danger" [single] (1980)
- Sweet Danger [EP] (1980)
- "Angel Witch" [single] (1980)
- "Loser" [single] (1981)
- "Goodbye" [single] (1985)
- They Wouldn't Dare [EP] (2004)