Tygers of Pan Tang

Tygers of Pan Tang
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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 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.

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.

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. The following month, the band announced Micky Crystal as their new guitarist.

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

• Robb Weir – Guitar (1978–1983, 1999, 2000–present)
• Craig Ellis – Drums (2000–present)
• Jacopo Meille – Vocals (2004–present)
• Gavin Gray – Bass (1999, 2011–present)
• Micky Crystal – Guitar (2013–present)

Past members

Vocals

• Richie Wicks (2002 - 2004)
• Tony Liddell (2000–2002)
• John Deverill (1981–1987)
• Jess Cox (1978–1981, 1999)

Guitar

• Glenn S. Howes (1999)
• John Sykes (1980–1982)
• Fred Purser (1982–1983)
• Aynsley Merritt (1985–1985)
• Steve Lamb (1984, 1985–1987)
• Neil Shepherd (1984, 1985–1987)
• Dean Robertson (2000–2013)

Bass

• Brian West (2000–2011)
• Dave Donaldson (1985–1987)
• Clin Irwin (1983–1985)
• Richard "Rocky" Laws (1978–1983)

Drums

• Steven Plant(1999–2001)
• Chris Percy (1999)
• Brian Dick (1978–1983, 1985–1987)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Wild Cat – 1980 – No. 18 UK
• Spellbound – 1981 – No. 33 UK
• Crazy Nights – 1981 – No. 51 UK
• The Cage – 1982 – No. 13 UK
• The Wreck-Age – 1985
• Burning in the Shade – 1987
• Mystical – 2001
• Noises From the Cathouse – 2004
• Animal Instinct – 2008
• Animal Instinct x2 – 2009
• Ambush – 2012

Compilation albums

• Tygers of Pan Tang – 1982
• The Best of Tygers of Pan Tang – 1984
• First Kill – 1986
• Hellbound – 1989
• Singles – 1992
• On the Prowl: The Best of – 1999
• Detonated – 2005
• Big Game Hunting (The Rarities) – 2005
• Bad Bad Kitty – 2005

Live albums

• BBC in Concert – 1981
• Live at Wacken – 2001
• Live at Nottingham Rock City – 2001
• Live in the Roar – 2003
• Leg of the Boot: Live in Holland – 2005

EPs

• Back And Beyond (limited edition of 3,000) – 2007
• The Wildcat Sessions – 2010
• The Spellbound Sessions (limited edition of 1,000) – 2011

Singles

• "Don't Touch Me There" / "Burning Up" / "Bad Times" – 1979
• "Rock 'N' Roll Man" / "All Right on the Night" / "Wild Cats" – 1980
• "Suzie Smiled" / "Tush" – 1980
• "Euthanasia" / "Straight as a Die" – 1980
• "Don't Stop By" / "Slave to Freedom" (live) / "Raised on Rock" (live) – 1981
• "Hellbound" / "Don't Give a Damn" / "Don't Take Nothing" / "Bad Times" – 1981 – No. 48 UK
• "The Story So Far" / "Silver and Gold" / "All or Nothing" – 1981
• "Love Don't Stay" / "Paradise Drive" – 1981
• "Do It Good" / "Slip Away" – 1982
• "Making Tracks" / "What You Sayin'" – 1982
• "Paris By Air" / "Love's a Lie" – 1982 – No. 63 UK
• "Rendezvous" / "Life of Crime" – 1982 – No. 49 UK
• "Love Potion No. 9" / "The Stormlands" – 1982 – No. 45 UK
• "Lonely at the Top" / "You Always See What You Want" – 1983

See also

• List of new wave of British heavy metal bands

External links

• Absolutely full discography and Band Photos
• Allmusic
• Biography at MusicMight
• Audio Interview with the Tygers Of Pan Tang from Hard Rock Hell Festival 2011
• Audio Interview with Robb Weir and Jack from Hard Rock Hell Festival 2008