Battleaxe (band)
Encyclopedia
Battleaxe is a heavy metal
band from Sunderland, England
. As one of the notable bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
scene, they started out with the name Warrior
and morphed into Battleaxe sometime in early 1980. The band consisted of Dave King (vocals), Brian Smith
(bass), Steve Hardy (guitar), and Ian Thompson (drums). After playing around the area and honing their chops, they entered the 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.
. The graphic looked amateurish and the band worried what it might do to their reputation. However, the music did the talking and the album sold well. The band began developing a reputation in the region as a solid heavy metal outfit.
label. This album showed a more refined and mature Battleaxe and contains the opening track "Chopper Attack."
were showing interest. After the show, they wanted the band to organise a showcase for them. It was then, for still unknown reasons to the band and fans, that Steve Hardy 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 ground. That happened when 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 added Mick Percy and John Stormont. That lead and rhythm guitar combination put a new level and fuller sound to the band's performances 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 current EP release Nightmare Zone. John Stormont, one of the best lead guitarists around at the time, contributed a phenomenal lead break performance on the track Killer Woman. Sadly, John left the band for domestic reasons, and afterward, there was a rotating door of musicians until 1987 when they recruited Jason Holt on guitar and Stew Curtan on drums (after Ian McCormack hung up his sticks). During this period of instability, the band were lucky enough to have met drummer Paul Atkinson from Newcastle, filling in now and then, but not quite joining the band until a very later date (He is now a full-fledged member, recently recording the YouTube
video to the band's fast and furious track Chopper Attack [from the PFTU album] see below). With this lineup, their sound had fattened, being made more powerful and adding much versatility that was not possible with one guitarist. The power and energy from this new lineup was sensational. Unfortunately again, as the way bands tend to do, this promising new lineup lasted only a short time before the lack of demand in the UK for good quality British rock died and a new wave of death metal and grunge appeared. This made it hard for Battleaxe to tour. Metallica, when first appearing on the metal scene, wanted to tour the UK and Europe with Battleaxe but because of strange politics within the band, changed their minds. However Battleaxe were added to a compilation album with Metallica, Manowar, and other big-named bands. This album is detailed on the band's web site. In 1995/6/7/8, Battleaxe were in limbo until they met a brilliant young guitarist named Colin Simpson, from Washington Tyne and Wear. He brought fresh blood to the band and helped write some great new material for the band's long-awaited third album. They gigged around England and did a spectacular gig at Klenal Hall Biker’s Festival in Northumberland
. Plans were made to record a third album and they went into the studio to record the demos that were to become the recently released 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 back then and the band began to lose interest. Colin then decided to call it a day when touring and live gigs at the time were impossible due to the sheer lack of funding. The YouTube video recording was then done with just a four piece line up of Mick Percy Guitar, Paul Atkinson [Paul AT Kinson] from Skyclad on drums, and the two founding members, Brian Smith Bass, and Dave King Vocals (not the Fastaway vocalist Dave King which many people get mixed up with).
Battleaxe are now in the latter stages of recording their new album 'The Legions Unite'...a brand new album that represents the above line up in 2011.
The Legions Project has been a digital collaboration, being recorded in several locations including Sound Inc and FTRM Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne, and is due for release later in 2011.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Sunderland, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As one of the notable bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
scene, they started out with the name Warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
and morphed into Battleaxe sometime in early 1980. The band consisted of Dave King (vocals), Brian Smith
Brian Smith (musician)
Brian Smith is a jazz saxophonist and flautist from New Zealand.Smith studied piano in his youth but was primarily an autodidact on reeds. He played locally in pop and jazz groups before moving to England in 1964, where he played with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated...
(bass), Steve Hardy (guitar), and Ian Thompson (drums). After playing around the area and honing their chops, they entered the studio to make a demo called "Burn This Town". In doing so, they garnered the attention of Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and the result was their first album, Burn This Town.
Cover art
When the album was first released, the cover art was not what the band wanted and in fact, they were quite embarrassed with the cheesy painting of a guy on a motorcycle wielding a battle axeBattle axe
A battle axe is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes...
. The graphic looked amateurish and the band worried what it might do to their reputation. However, the music did the talking and the album sold well. The band began developing a reputation in the region as a solid heavy metal outfit.
Changing of "Ians"
Sometime after the recording of Burn This Town, maybe on tour, Ian Thompson either quit or was fired and another Ian, Ian McCormick, was brought in as their new drummer. This new dynamic added a different spark to the band and they continued building their reputation. Their efforts paid off when they entered the recording studio in Inverness, Scotland and did their second album, Power From The Universe for the Music For NationsMusic For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
label. This album showed a more refined and mature Battleaxe and contains the opening track "Chopper Attack."
Personal changes
Success seemed to be on their doorstep as they tore up venues throughout England. On the eve of a major appearance at Hammersmith Odeon London in support of Saxon on their Crusader tour, some A&R guys from Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
were showing interest. After the show, they wanted the band to organise a showcase for them. It was then, for still unknown reasons to the band and fans, that Steve Hardy 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 ground. That happened when 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 added Mick Percy and John Stormont. That lead and rhythm guitar combination put a new level and fuller sound to the band's performances 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 current EP release Nightmare Zone. John Stormont, one of the best lead guitarists around at the time, contributed a phenomenal lead break performance on the track Killer Woman. Sadly, John left the band for domestic reasons, and afterward, there was a rotating door of musicians until 1987 when they recruited Jason Holt on guitar and Stew Curtan on drums (after Ian McCormack hung up his sticks). During this period of instability, the band were lucky enough to have met drummer Paul Atkinson from Newcastle, filling in now and then, but not quite joining the band until a very later date (He is now a full-fledged member, recently recording the YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video to the band's fast and furious track Chopper Attack [from the PFTU album] see below). With this lineup, their sound had fattened, being made more powerful and adding much versatility that was not possible with one guitarist. The power and energy from this new lineup was sensational. Unfortunately again, as the way bands tend to do, this promising new lineup lasted only a short time before the lack of demand in the UK for good quality British rock died and a new wave of death metal and grunge appeared. This made it hard for Battleaxe to tour. Metallica, when first appearing on the metal scene, wanted to tour the UK and Europe with Battleaxe but because of strange politics within the band, changed their minds. However Battleaxe were added to a compilation album with Metallica, Manowar, and other big-named bands. This album is detailed on the band's web site. In 1995/6/7/8, Battleaxe were in limbo until they met a brilliant young guitarist named Colin Simpson, from Washington Tyne and Wear. He brought fresh blood to the band and helped write some great new material for the band's long-awaited third album. They gigged around England and did a spectacular gig at Klenal Hall Biker’s Festival in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. Plans were made to record a third album and they went into the studio to record the demos that were to become the recently released Nightmare Zone EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. The third album was originally going to be called Metal Edge, but they were not able to secure interest from a record label back then and the band began to lose interest. Colin then decided to call it a day when touring and live gigs at the time were impossible due to the sheer lack of funding. The YouTube video recording was then done with just a four piece line up of Mick Percy Guitar, Paul Atkinson [Paul AT Kinson] from Skyclad on drums, and the two founding members, Brian Smith Bass, and Dave King Vocals (not the Fastaway vocalist Dave King which many people get mixed up with).
Latest Developments
The current Battleaxe line up (of over 20 years) is Dave King, Paul AT Kinson, Mick Percy and Brian Smith.Battleaxe are now in the latter stages of recording their new album 'The Legions Unite'...a brand new album that represents the above line up in 2011.
The Legions Project has been a digital collaboration, being recorded in several locations including Sound Inc and FTRM Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne, and is due for release later in 2011.
Members For Burn This Town
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Steve Hardy - Guitar
- Ian Thompson - Drums
Members For Power From The Universe
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Steve Hardy - Guitar
- Ian McCormick - Drums
Post Universe Lineup 1
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Ian McCormick - Drums
- John Stormont - Guitar
- Mick Percy - Guitar
Post Universe Lineup 2
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Mick Percy - Guitar
- Jason Holt - Guitar
- Stewart Curtin - Drums
Nightmare Zone Lineup
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Mick Percy - Guitar
- John Stormont - Guitar
- Paul Atkinson - Drums http://www.pillarboxmedia.co.uk/kinson
Current Lineup
- Dave King - Vocals
- Brian Smith - Bass
- Mick Percy - Guitar
- Paul Atkinson - Drums http://www.pillarboxmedia.co.uk/kinson
Discography
- "Burn This Town" - Single - Burn This Town/Battleaxe (1981)
- Burn This Town - Album (Original Sleeve)(1983)
- Burn This Town - Album (Redesigned Sleeve) (1984)
- Power From The Universe - Album (1984)
- Burn This Town - CD Reissue (2005)
- Power From The Universe - CD Reissue (2005)
- Nightmare Zone - EP CD (Recorded 1987) (2005)
Discography compilations
- Roxcalibur - Burn This Town & Battleaxe (1982)
- Hell On Earth - Ready To Deliver (1983)
- Metal Battle - Ready To Deliver (1983)
- Welcome To The Metal Zone - Chopper Attack (1985)