Blitzkrieg (heavy metal band)

Blitzkrieg are a heavy metal band initially from Leicester formed in 1980. The current line-up is Brian Ross (vocals), Ken Johnson (guitar), Alan Ross (guitar), Bill Baxter (bass) and Matt Graham (drums). Brian Ross is the only remaining member from the band's founding.

History

Blitzkrieg was formed in October 1980 after signing a record deal with Neat Records, a label that was signing many of the bands involved with the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement. In the early stages of Blitzkrieg's 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.

Blitzkrieg released 10 Years of Blitzkrieg in 1991. The released Unholy Trinity in 1995. The album Ten was released in 1997. The Mists of Avalon was released in 1998.

Ross was then involved in a car accident, which temporarily kept Blitzkrieg from playing. After he recovered, the band released the albums, Absolute Power (a studio album), Absolutely Live (a live album) and Sins and Greed. On 10 August 2007, Blitzkrieg released their album Theatre of the Damned through their record label Armageddon Music.

Blitzkrieg is the seventh track from Metallica's 1998 album Garage, Inc. second disc. It was written by Ian Jones, Jim Sirotto and Brian Ross, with a length of 3:36.

Originally released by Blitzkrieg in 1981 as a B-side to the "Buried Alive" single, Metallica had already released their version on 1984's "Creeping Death" single (aka Garage Days Revisited).

Metallica have played this song live 82 times. The first time was March 14, 1982, in Anaheim, CA.

Members

Brian Ross

• Brian Ross - vocals (1980–1981, 1984–91, 1992–94, 1996–99, 2001–present)
• Ken Johnson - guitars (2002–present)
• Alan Ross - guitars (2012–present)
• Bill Baxter - bass (2012–present)
• Matt Graham - drums (2015–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)
• Guy Laverick (2006-2011)
• Ken Johnson (2002–present )
• Alan Ross (2012–present)

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)
• Bill Baxter (2012–present )

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 Windebank (1998–99)
• Mick Kerrigan (2012–2015)
• Matt Graham (2015-present)

Discography

See also

• List of new wave of British heavy metal bands

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blitzkrieg.

• Official Blitzkrieg website