.gif)
Blitzkrieg (band)
Encyclopedia
Blitzkrieg are a heavy metal
band
from Leicester
formed in 1980, consisting of Brian Ross (vocals), Ken Johnson (guitar), Guy Laverick (guitar), Paul Brewis (bass) and Phil Brewis (drums).
The line-ups for Blitzkrieg have frequently changed since their formation, as the line-up for their first single differed greatly to the line-up for their most recent album, Theatre of the Damned. As a result of these changes, Brian Ross is the only remaining member from their initial line-up.
. In the early stages of their career they regularly produced gigs in England
, but then later split in 1981. Brian Ross most notably went on to join Satan
, another metal band, along with stints in Avenger
, Lone Wolf and Unter den Linden. In 1984 Ross and fellow founding member Jim Sirotto, along with guitarist Mick Proctor (ex-Tygers of Pan Tang
), bass player Mick Moore (of Avenger) and drummer Sean Taylor (Satan/Blind Fury, ex-Raven
) then decided that it was time to record the Blitzkrieg album that was originally planned to be released in 1981, A Time of Changes. It was later released in 1985.
The song "Blitzkrieg" was then covered by popular American
band Metallica
on the Creeping Death
EP
. Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich
commented that Blitzkrieg was one of their main influences, along with Diamond Head
. Diamond Head is falsely thought to have also done a cover of the song Blitzkrieg, thanks to a mislabeled song spread over the internet; this is actually a version of the track performed by Blitzkrieg which featured on the Buried Alive single (released before the band's original split in 1981) . The song was rerecorded in many different styles through the band's career, but the Buried Alive b-side version of Blitzkrieg was the recording which inspired Metallica's cover of the song for their Creeping Death EP, as the first alternate version was released on the A Time of Changes album in 1985 (a year after the Creeping Death EP was released).
Blitzkrieg started recording songs in 1990 for the release of the album, 10 Years of Blitzkrieg, in 1991. In 1992 they started recording more songs for the next album, Unholy Trinity, released in 1995 . Blitzkrieg was highly appreciated by the public after the release of these albums, and they were even more appreciated when the album, Ten, was released in 1997 . Ten received a good response from the public , and was later backed up by the release of The Mists of Avalon in 1998, which also brought forward a positive response .
Vocalist Brian Ross was then involved in a car accident, which prevented Blitzkrieg from releasing any further material. Six months later, he decided to reform Blitzkrieg and create another album. They released the albums, Absolute Power (a studio album), Absolutely Live (a live album) and Sins and Greed. On August 10, 2007 Blitzkrieg released their new album Theatre of the Damned through their record label Armageddon Music.
Bass :
Drums :
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
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
formed in 1980, consisting of Brian Ross (vocals), Ken Johnson (guitar), Guy Laverick (guitar), Paul Brewis (bass) and Phil Brewis (drums).
The line-ups for Blitzkrieg have frequently changed since their formation, as the line-up for their first single differed greatly to the line-up for their most recent album, Theatre of the Damned. As a result of these changes, Brian Ross is the only remaining member from their initial line-up.
History
Blitzkrieg was formed in October 1980 after signing a record deal with Neat RecordsNeat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
. In the early stages of their career they regularly produced gigs in 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...
, but then later split in 1981. Brian Ross most notably went on to join Satan
Satan (band)
Satan are a heavy metal band originating from Newcastle, England in 1979, known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. " Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the...
, another metal band, along with stints in Avenger
Avenger (British band)
Avenger are a heavy metal band from Newcastle, England. Associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they released two albums in the 1980s before splitting up. The band reunited in 2005.-History:...
, Lone Wolf and Unter den Linden. In 1984 Ross and fellow founding member Jim Sirotto, along with guitarist Mick Proctor (ex-Tygers of Pan Tang
Tygers Of Pan Tang
Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, formed in 1978 and originating from Whitley Bay, England. They are a notable band of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
), bass player Mick Moore (of Avenger) and drummer Sean Taylor (Satan/Blind Fury, ex-Raven
Raven (band)
Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
) then decided that it was time to record the Blitzkrieg album that was originally planned to be released in 1981, A Time of Changes. It was later released in 1985.
The song "Blitzkrieg" was then covered by popular American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on the Creeping Death
Creeping Death
-Covers:* New Jersey Hardcore band Shattered Realm includes a cover of "Creeping Death" on the reissue of their 2002 album "Broken Ties Spoken Lies"* Plays Metallica by Four Cellos by Apocalyptica.* During Ozzfest 2002 by Drowning Pool....
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...
. Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
commented that Blitzkrieg was one of their main influences, along with Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
. Diamond Head is falsely thought to have also done a cover of the song Blitzkrieg, thanks to a mislabeled song spread over the internet; this is actually a version of the track performed by Blitzkrieg which featured on the Buried Alive single (released before the band's original split in 1981) . The song was rerecorded in many different styles through the band's career, but the Buried Alive b-side version of Blitzkrieg was the recording which inspired Metallica's cover of the song for their Creeping Death EP, as the first alternate version was released on the A Time of Changes album in 1985 (a year after the Creeping Death EP was released).
Blitzkrieg started recording songs in 1990 for the release of the album, 10 Years of Blitzkrieg, in 1991. In 1992 they started recording more songs for the next album, Unholy Trinity, released in 1995 . Blitzkrieg was highly appreciated by the public after the release of these albums, and they were even more appreciated when the album, Ten, was released in 1997 . Ten received a good response from the public , and was later backed up by the release of The Mists of Avalon in 1998, which also brought forward a positive response .
Vocalist Brian Ross was then involved in a car accident, which prevented Blitzkrieg from releasing any further material. Six months later, he decided to reform Blitzkrieg and create another album. They released the albums, Absolute Power (a studio album), Absolutely Live (a live album) and Sins and Greed. On August 10, 2007 Blitzkrieg released their new album Theatre of the Damned through their record label Armageddon Music.
Members
- Brian Ross - vocals (1980–1981, 1984–91, 1992–94, 1996–99, 2001–present)
- Ken Johnson - guitars (2002–present)
- Guy Laverick - guitars (2006–present)
- Paul Brewis - bass (2004–present)
- Phil Brewis - drums (1999, 2001–present)
Former members
Guitars :- Ian Jones (1980–81)
- Jim Sirotto (1980–81, 1984–86) [born Jim Sieroto]
- John Antcliffe (1981)
- Mick Proctor (1984–86)
- J D Binnie (1986–87)
- Chris Beard (1986–87)
- Steve Robertson (1988–89)
- Glenn S. Howes (1988–90, 1996–99)
- Tony J. Liddle (1989–96, 2001–02)
- Phil Millar (1996)
- Martin Richardson (1996–98)
- Paul Nesbitt (1992, 1998–2006)
Bass :
- Steve English (1980–81)
- Mick Moore (1981, 1984–86, 1991)
- Darren Parnaby (1986–87)
- Robbie Robertson (1988–89)
- Glenn Carey (1989–90)
- Dave Anderson (1992–94)
- Steve Ireland (1996)
- Gavin Gray (1996–99)
- Andy Galloway (2001–04)
Drums :
- Steve Abbey (1980–81)
- Sean Taylor (1984–86, 1991–94)
- Sean Wilkinson (1986–87)
- Kyle Gibson (1988–89)
- Gary Young (1989–90)
- Paul Ward (1996)
- Paul White (1996)
- Neil Nattrass (1996)
- Mark Hancock (1996–98)
- Mark Wyndebank (1998–99)
Discography
| Title | Released |
|---|---|
| "Buried Alive Buried Alive (7-inch single) Buried Alive is a single by British Heavy Metal act Blitzkrieg released in 1981. These versions of the songs differ from the versions included on Blitzkrieg's debut album in 1985.... " |
1981 |
| A Time of Changes A Time of Changes (album) A Time of Changes is a heavy metal album by British heavy metal act Blitzkrieg.- History :This album came out when Brian Ross decided to reform Blitzkrieg and record the album they wanted to record before they split up in 1981. After the original split of Blitzkrieg Brian sang with Avenger, Satan... |
1985 |
| Ten Years of Blitzkrieg | 1991 |
| Unholy Trinity | 1995 |
| Ten | 1997 |
| The Mists of Avalon | 1998 |
| Absolute Power | 2002 |
| Absolutely Live | 2004 |
| Sins and Greed | 2005 |
| Theatre of the Damned | 2007 |
External links
- http://www.blitzed-alive.com - Official Blitzkrieg website (c) Blitzkrieg 2006
- New Wave of British Heavy Metal - Encyclopedia - Blitzkrieg page
- http://www.ragnarokradio.co.uk/2008/07/episode-23-blitzkrieg.html - Ragnarok Radio interviews Brian Ross from Blitzkrieg 2008