Jag Panzer
Encyclopedia
Jag Panzer were an American
power metal
band from Colorado Springs, Colorado
.
. The original line-up consisted of Harry Conklin on vocals (later nicknamed the "Tyrant"), Mark Briody (who was the sole guitarist of the group in its first incarnation), John Tetley who played the bass, and Rick Hilyard as the drummer. The band was known as Tyrant in its first incarnation. They soon had to change their name, because another such named band existed in California
.
They saw a poster featuring a German World War II
tank, named Jagdpanzer
(literally "hunting tank" in German, but actually referring to what in English would be called a tank destroyer
) which they decided to name their band after. They were however, unable to pronounce the name correctly and as a result, dropped the letter "D" from the name and simply called it Jag Panzer. The band, who were all in their late teens at the time, played at local venues in the Denver club circuit, and recorded an EP
in 1983, later known as "Tyrants". In early 1984, the band recruited Joey Tafolla, a native of California, and promptly recorded their first album
, Ample Destruction
. The album was released in August of that year by the independent record label
, Azra Records. The album was an underground hit in the United States
, and in Europe and Japan it was available on import only.
After the release of the album, the band relocated to Southern California. Tafolla quit the band in 1986, releasing a solo album, Out of the Sun, in 1987, while Conklin played with Riot
for a brief period in the late 1980s, before forming his own band, Titan Force. Without the two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.
The Swedish born drummer, Rikard Stjernquist, was added to the line-up and the band proceeded to record the follow-up to their debut LP. The album was recorded in late 1987, but never got an official release.
By 1994, the band had reunited, this time with vocalist Daniel J. Conca, with Tetley and Briody on bass and guitar. Guitarist Chris Hostka and drummer Rikard Stjernquist were employed on their first official album in almost 10 years, Dissident Alliance
. It was released by the German indie label, Rising Sun.
The next album was on Century Media, The Fourth Judgement
, which came out in late 1997, followed by Age of Mastery
(1998). Jag Panzer sought to tackle more ambitious territory for their next album, with Thane to the Throne
a concept album
about William Shakespeare
's, Macbeth
.
Mechanized Warfare
was released in 2001, then the band released a double album
in 2003 that featured previously unreleased tracks as well as songs from their first LP. Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat
came out in 2003, and featured re-recorded and /or remix
ed old material. In 2004 the band released Casting the Stones
. The previously unreleased Chain of Command
album was remixed and was issued in 2004 as a limited edition.
In 2008, Chris Broderick left the band to join Megadeth
, and was replaced by Christian Lasegue, who handled lead guitar duties on 'Chain Of Command'.
On December 23, 2008, Briody made a post on the band's official forum stating that the title of their next album will be 'The Scourge of the Light'. On the official site, the band announced that SPV/Sony planned to release the album in February 2011. The album was released March 8, 2011.
Two weeks after its release, 'Scourge of the Light' placed at #117 on the Billboard New Artist Chart, making the album Jag Panzer's most successful to date.
On July 25 2011, the band announced that they are to disband.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Biography
Jag Panzer came together in late 1981, being inspired by the onslaught of the New Wave of British Heavy MetalNew 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...
. The original line-up consisted of Harry Conklin on vocals (later nicknamed the "Tyrant"), Mark Briody (who was the sole guitarist of the group in its first incarnation), John Tetley who played the bass, and Rick Hilyard as the drummer. The band was known as Tyrant in its first incarnation. They soon had to change their name, because another such named band existed in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
They saw a poster featuring a German World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
tank, named Jagdpanzer
Jagdpanzer
Jagdpanzer , German for "hunting tank", is a name given to German self-propelled anti-tank guns.It typically refers to anti-tank variants of existing tank chassis with a well-armoured casemate fixed superstructure, mounting an anti-tank gun with limited traverse in the front, and usually classed by...
(literally "hunting tank" in German, but actually referring to what in English would be called a tank destroyer
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
) which they decided to name their band after. They were however, unable to pronounce the name correctly and as a result, dropped the letter "D" from the name and simply called it Jag Panzer. The band, who were all in their late teens at the time, played at local venues in the Denver club circuit, and recorded an 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...
in 1983, later known as "Tyrants". In early 1984, the band recruited Joey Tafolla, a native of California, and promptly recorded their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Ample Destruction
Ample Destruction
Ample Destruction is the first studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 1984. Originally released on Azra Records, a small independent label, it received poor marketing from the label, and thus became only an underground hit amongst the metal community, and was...
. The album was released in August of that year by the independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Azra Records. The album was an underground hit in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in Europe and Japan it was available on import only.
After the release of the album, the band relocated to Southern California. Tafolla quit the band in 1986, releasing a solo album, Out of the Sun, in 1987, while Conklin played with Riot
Riot (band)
Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
for a brief period in the late 1980s, before forming his own band, Titan Force. Without the two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.
The Swedish born drummer, Rikard Stjernquist, was added to the line-up and the band proceeded to record the follow-up to their debut LP. The album was recorded in late 1987, but never got an official release.
By 1994, the band had reunited, this time with vocalist Daniel J. Conca, with Tetley and Briody on bass and guitar. Guitarist Chris Hostka and drummer Rikard Stjernquist were employed on their first official album in almost 10 years, Dissident Alliance
Dissident Alliance
Dissident Alliance is the second studio album from the American power metal band Jag Panzer. It is the only album with vocalist Daniel J. Conca.-Tracklist:All tracks by Jag Panzer- Personnel :*Daniel J. Conca - vocals*Mark Briody - guitar...
. It was released by the German indie label, Rising Sun.
The next album was on Century Media, The Fourth Judgement
The Fourth Judgement
- Album line-up :* Harry Conklin - Vocals* Mark Briody - Rhythm Guitar* Joey Tafolla - Lead Guitar* John Tetley - Bass guitar* Rikard Stjernquist - Drums...
, which came out in late 1997, followed by Age of Mastery
Age of Mastery
The Age of Mastery is the fourth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 1998. Lead guitarist Joey Tafolla was replaced by Chris Broderick...
(1998). Jag Panzer sought to tackle more ambitious territory for their next album, with Thane to the Throne
Thane to the Throne
Thane to the Throne is the fifth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2000. It is a concept album based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth.-Track listing:-Album line-up:* Harry Conklin - Vocals...
a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
about William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's, Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
.
Mechanized Warfare
Mechanized Warfare
Mechanized Warfare is the sixth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2001. This album is more progressive than the band's previous work...
was released in 2001, then the band released a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
in 2003 that featured previously unreleased tracks as well as songs from their first LP. Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat
Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat
Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat is a 2-CD compilation album by power metal band Jag Panzer.-Track listing:All tracks by Jag Panzer-Personnel:*Keith Austin – Artwork*Mark Briody – Guitar, Vocals , Engineer...
came out in 2003, and featured re-recorded and /or remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed old material. In 2004 the band released Casting the Stones
Casting the Stones
Casting the Stones is the eighth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2004. It shares musical similarities with the band's last album, Mechanized Warfare...
. The previously unreleased Chain of Command
Chain of Command (album)
Chain of Command is the seventh studio album by the American power metal band, Jag Panzer. The album was recorded in 1987 and went unreleased at the time, yet bootlegged since 1988....
album was remixed and was issued in 2004 as a limited edition.
In 2008, Chris Broderick left the band to join Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, and was replaced by Christian Lasegue, who handled lead guitar duties on 'Chain Of Command'.
On December 23, 2008, Briody made a post on the band's official forum stating that the title of their next album will be 'The Scourge of the Light'. On the official site, the band announced that SPV/Sony planned to release the album in February 2011. The album was released March 8, 2011.
Two weeks after its release, 'Scourge of the Light' placed at #117 on the Billboard New Artist Chart, making the album Jag Panzer's most successful to date.
On July 25 2011, the band announced that they are to disband.
Additional
- Briody posts regularly at the Metal-Rules(http://www.metal-rules.com) forum and the Dean Guitars(http://www.deanguitars.com) forum under the name "Jag Panzer".
Last lineup
- Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin – lead vocals (1981–1985, 1994–2011)
- Mark Briody – rhythm guitar, keyboards (1981–2011)
- John Tetley – bass guitar, backing vocals (1981–2011)
- Rikard Stjernquist – drums (1986–2011)
Former members
- Chris BroderickChris BroderickChristopher Broderick is the virtuoso guitarist of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He currently resides in Sherman Oaks, California...
– lead guitar, keyboards (1997–2008) - Joey TafollaJoey TafollaJoey Tafolla is an American guitarist. Initially a member of the heavy metal band Jag Panzer from 1984 to 1985, he joined Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label soon after; releasing his debut album Out of the Sun in 1987, alongside the releases of other shred players such as Marty Friedman, Jason...
– lead guitar (1984–1986, 1994–1997) - Rick Hilyard – drums (1981–1985)
- Bob Parduba – lead vocals (1985–1988)
- Reynold 'Butch' Carlson – drums (1985–1986)
- Daniel J. Conca – lead vocals (1994) (deceased)
- Chris Kostka (Hostka) – lead guitar (1994)
- Christian Lasegue – lead guitar (1985–1988, 2008–2011)
Studio albums
- Ample DestructionAmple DestructionAmple Destruction is the first studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 1984. Originally released on Azra Records, a small independent label, it received poor marketing from the label, and thus became only an underground hit amongst the metal community, and was...
(1984) - Dissident AllianceDissident AllianceDissident Alliance is the second studio album from the American power metal band Jag Panzer. It is the only album with vocalist Daniel J. Conca.-Tracklist:All tracks by Jag Panzer- Personnel :*Daniel J. Conca - vocals*Mark Briody - guitar...
(1994) - The Fourth JudgementThe Fourth Judgement- Album line-up :* Harry Conklin - Vocals* Mark Briody - Rhythm Guitar* Joey Tafolla - Lead Guitar* John Tetley - Bass guitar* Rikard Stjernquist - Drums...
(1997) - The Age of MasteryAge of MasteryThe Age of Mastery is the fourth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 1998. Lead guitarist Joey Tafolla was replaced by Chris Broderick...
(1998) - Thane to the ThroneThane to the ThroneThane to the Throne is the fifth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2000. It is a concept album based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth.-Track listing:-Album line-up:* Harry Conklin - Vocals...
(2000) - Mechanized WarfareMechanized WarfareMechanized Warfare is the sixth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2001. This album is more progressive than the band's previous work...
(2001) - Chain of CommandChain of Command (album)Chain of Command is the seventh studio album by the American power metal band, Jag Panzer. The album was recorded in 1987 and went unreleased at the time, yet bootlegged since 1988....
(2004) [recorded in 1987] - Casting the StonesCasting the StonesCasting the Stones is the eighth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2004. It shares musical similarities with the band's last album, Mechanized Warfare...
(2004) - The Scourge of the Light (2011)
Other releases
- Tyrants [EP] (1983)
- Death Row [Single] (1983)
- Demo 85 (1985)
- Demo 86 (1986)
- Shadow Thief [Demo] (1986)
- Jeffrey Behind The Gate [Single] (1994)
- The Return [Demo] (1996)
- The Era of Kings and Conflict [DVD] (2002)
- Decade of the Nail Spiked BatDecade of the Nail Spiked BatDecade of the Nail Spiked Bat is a 2-CD compilation album by power metal band Jag Panzer.-Track listing:All tracks by Jag Panzer-Personnel:*Keith Austin – Artwork*Mark Briody – Guitar, Vocals , Engineer...
[Best of/Compilation] (2003) - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald [Single] (2005)
External links
- Jag Panzer's official website
- Chris Broderick's official website
- http://www.chrislasegue.com/ Chris Lasegue's official website.