Tygers of Pan Tang

Tygers of Pan Tang
Background information
Origin Whitley Bay, England
Genres Heavy metal
Years active 1978–1987, 1999–present
Labels Neat, MCA, Music for Nations, Zebra, Spectrum, Spitfire, Z, Angel Air, Communiqué, Hallmark, Castle, Livewire
Associated acts Persian Risk, Lionheart, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Shadowkeep
Website Official website
Members Robb Weir
Gav Gray
Craig Ellis
Jacopo Meille
Micky Crystal
Past members Past members

Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perform. The name is derived from Pan Tang, a fictional archipelago in Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné fantasy series whose wizards keep tigers as pets.

Biography

Early days, 1978–1983

The Tygers of Pan Tang was originally formed by Robb Weir (guitar), Richard "Rocky" Laws (bass), Jess Cox (vocals) and Brian Dick (drums). They played in working men's clubs[1] and were first signed by local independent label Neat Records before MCA gave them a major record deal. After several singles, they released their first album, Wild Cat, in 1980. The album reached No. 18 in the UK Album Chart in the first week of its release.

Subsequently John Sykes (formerly of Streetfighter, later in Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder) was added as second guitarist. Jess Cox had a falling out with the others and quit, to be replaced by Persian Risk vocalist Jon Deverill. This lineup released Spellbound in 1981.

Sykes quit after the release of the third album, Crazy Nights, to audition for Ozzy Osbourne's band. He was replaced by ex-Penetration guitarist Fred Purser who had to learn the set in two days before touring.

Tygers of Pan Tang's fourth album, The Cage, was released in 1982. The band then had a disagreement with MCA, who were not prepared to promote them unless they agreed to play more cover recordings (following the band's hit with "Love Potion No. 9"). They subsequently tried to break free from their contract, but MCA's demands exceeded the willingness of any other record company to pay to free the band, and the band broke up in frustration.

John Sykes later achieved success with Thin Lizzy and then Whitesnake, and as a guitarist in Japan.

Reformation, 1985–1987

In 1985, Jon Deverill and Brian Dick reformed the band with Steve Lamb (formerly of Sergeant) on guitar, Neil Sheppard on guitar, and ex-Warrior, ex-Satan member Clin Irwin on bass. Dave Donaldson later replaced Clin Irwin. Meanwhile, Robb Weir and Jess Cox formed the spin-off band Tyger-Tyger.

The reformed Tygers of Pan Tang released The Wreck-Age in summer 1985 through Music for Nations, and Burning in the Shade in 1987, through Zebra Records. Burning in the Shade received poor reviews and they disbanded again.

Various compilations and live albums were produced by the band's two first labels, Neat Records and MCA.

Latter days, 1999–present

During the 1998 Wacken Open Air festival, Jess Cox joined on stage with Blitzkrieg, playing three old Tygers songs. The audience's response was very positive, and a year later, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tygers of Pan Tang and the 10th Wacken Open Air, the band was invited to play on the main stage. Brian Dick and Rocky were unable to join the band, but the Tygers (now Jess Cox and Robb Weir, backed up by Blitzkrieg guitarist Glenn S Howes, bassist Gavin Gray, and drummer Chris Percy) did perform. Recordings of their performance resulted in the Live at Wacken album.

In 2000, Robb Weir reformed the band as the only original member. The other musicians were Tony Liddell (vocals), Dean Robertson (lead guitar), Brian West (bass), and Craig Ellis (drums). They released Mystical through Z-Records. They toured in several festivals, but eventually were dropped by Z-Records in 2002, due to poor record sales.

The band went on to produce the split album The Second Wave: 25 Years of NWOBHM with Girlschool and Oliver/Dawson Saxon on Communique Records, and in 2004 released Noises in the Cathouse with new singer Richie Wicks who although a singer by trade was at the time still playing bass in Angel Witch.

Later that year, Richie Wicks left and was replaced by Italian vocalist Jacopo Meille. Wicks later joined Shadowkeep, appearing on their 2008 album The Hourglass Effect, before leaving in 2009. As of 2010, he was the vocalist in Heavenly Hell, a Dio-era Black Sabbath tribute band, and in 2013 he commenced fronting the band Black, White & Purple with fellow ex-Angel Witch guitarist Keith Herzberg and current Praying Mantis drummer Gary MacKenzie, along with Shadowkeep's ex-bassist Mark Fielden.[2]

Jon Deverill went on to work as an actor under the name of Jon De Ville, and as of October 2007 was performing in 'The Sound of Music' at the London Palladium with television star Connie Fisher.[3]

In October 2007, the band issued a limited edition five track EP titled Back and Beyond, which featured reworkings of three Tygers songs from the early 1980s, along with two new tracks taken from their forthcoming album. Animal Instinct was released on 19 May 2008, the first with vocalist Jacopo Meille. On 2011 bassist Gavin Gray retur in the band to replace Brian West. On 15 July 2011 it was announced that Tygers Of Pan Tang have signed an agreement with Rocksector Records for the worldwide release of their next studio album, with a current working title of "Ambush", provisionally planned for February/March 2012. The album came out on 24 September.

In January 2013 the band announced via their official website that guitarist Dean Robertson had left the band and that they had begun the search for a replacement.[4] The following month, the band announced Micky Crystal as their new guitarist.[5]

Members

Tygers of Pan Tang's line-ups
Original
(1978–1980)
  • Jess Cox – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Rocky – bass
  • Brian Dick – drums
1980–1981
  • Jess Cox – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • John Sykes – guitar
  • Rocky – bass
  • Brian Dick – drums
1981–1982
  • Jon Deverill – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • John Sykes – guitar
  • Rocky – bass
  • Brian Dick – drums
1982–1983
  • Jon Deverill – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Fred Purser – guitar
  • Rocky – bass
  • Brian Dick – drums
1984
  • Jon Deverill – vocals
  • Steve Lamb – guitar
  • Neil Shepherd – guitar
  • Clin Irwin – bass
1984–1985

Tygers of Pan Tang disbanded

1985–1987
  • Jon Deverill – vocals
  • Steve Lamb – guitar
  • Neil Shepherd – guitar
  • Dave Donaldson – bass
  • Brian Dick – drums
1987–1999

Tygers of Pan Tang disbanded

1999
  • Jess Cox – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Glenn Howes – guitar
  • Gavin Gray – bass
  • Chris Percy – drums
2000–2004
  • Tony Liddell – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Dean Robertson – guitar
  • Brian West – bass
  • Craig Ellis – drums
2002–2004
  • Richie Wicks – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Dean Robertson – guitar
  • Brian West – bass
  • Craig Ellis – drums
2004–2013
  • Jacopo Meille – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Dean Robertson – guitar
  • Brian West – bass
  • Craig Ellis – drums
Current
(2013–present)
  • Jacopo Meille – vocals
  • Robb Weir – guitar
  • Micky Crystal – guitar
  • Gavin Gray – bass
  • Craig Ellis – drums

Current members

Past members

Vocals

Guitar

Bass

Drums

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

EPs

The Crazy Nights Sessions (30th Anniversary Special Edition) 2014

Singles

[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Christe, Ian (2004). Sound of the beast: the complete headbanging history of heavy metal. HarperCollins. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-380-81127-4.
  2. ↑ Richie Wicks at Myspace
  3. ↑ "Jon De Ville – Franz". The Official Sound of Music London Web Site. The Really Useful Group Ltd.
  4. ↑ "Dean_Robertson_Leaves". Encyclopedia_Metallium. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "New Guitarist 2013". Tygers Of Pan Tang Official. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 572. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. 1 2 "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives – Tygers of Pan Tang". The Metal Archives. 2002-07-23. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
  8. ↑ Tygers Of Pan Tang Reveals New EP Details
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