Angel Witch
A London heavy metal band formed by Kevin Heybourne in 1976 as Lucifer, regarded as a pioneer of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal; their 1980 debut opens with the title song.
- Origin
- London, England
- Years active
- 1976-present
- Genres
- heavy metal, NWOBHM
- Labels
- Bronze, EMI, Killerwatt, Metal Blade, Rise Above
- Also known as
- Lucifer
From Lucifer to Angel Witch
Kevin Heybourne formed the band in London in 1976 as Lucifer, with the guitarist Rob Downing, the drummer Steve Jones and the bassist Barry Clements. Jones left to join Bruce Dickinson in Speed, Kevin Riddles replaced Clements, and the band became Angel Witch in 1978. The debut album line-up was Heybourne on guitars and lead vocals, Riddles on bass, keyboards and backing vocals, and Dave Hogg on drums.
On February 8, 1980 the compilation Metal for Muthas, which reached number 12 on the UK album chart, carried their "Baphomet". EMI signed and then cancelled a deal, the single "Sweet Danger" charted for one week at number 75, and Bronze released the debut in December 1980. Hogg was then fired and Riddles left to form Tytan.
The long middle
Heybourne reformed the band in 1982, and again in 1984, and Screamin' 'n' Bleedin' (1985) and Frontal Assault (1986) followed; of those two records he has said he does not really care for them. A US line-up with Jon Torres, Tom Hunting and Doug Piercy dissolved when Heybourne was arrested the day before the first concert. A new line-up played from 2008 and As Above, So Below (March 12, 2012, Metal Blade), the first studio album in 26 years, was recorded at Orgone Studios in London. Torres died on September 3, 2013, aged 51.
Angel of Light came out on Metal Blade on November 1, 2019, recorded at the Stationhouse Studio in Leeds, with a lead single, "Don't Turn Your Back", that reworks a 1984 live recording. In summer 2025 they supported King Diamond in Europe, and Riddles died on July 4, 2025, aged 68. The current line-up is Heybourne, Will Palmer on bass, Jimmy Martin on rhythm guitar and Fredrik Jansson on drums.
Members
- Kevin Heybourne guitar, vocals (1976-present)
- Kevin Riddles bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1978-1981)
- Dave Hogg drums (1978-1980, 1984-1985)
- Will Palmer bass (2008-present)
- Jimmy Martin rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2015-present)
- Fredrik Jansson drums (2016-present)
Records
- Angel Witch 1980 · Bronze
The debut, all songs by Kevin Heybourne, now a landmark of British heavy metal.
Songs
- Angel Witch Angel Witch · 1980
The title song, written when Heybourne was a teenager in the Lucifer days and the band's most-played song live.
Related artists
Where to go next
Official
- Angel Witch at Metal Blade Label page.
Reference
- Angel Witch on Wikipedia History and discography.
- List of Angel Witch members Every line-up.
Interviews
- Distorted Sound: Angel Witch Heybourne on the recent years.
- Toilet ov Hell: Kevin Heybourne A 2019 interview.
Sources
- Angel Witch, Wikipedia
- List of Angel Witch members, Wikipedia
- Angel Witch: lighting the past and future, Distorted Sound
- Angel of Light (album), Wikipedia