List of Tygers of Pan Tang members
Tygers of Pan Tang (TOPT) are an English heavy metal band from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside. Formed in 1978, the group originally featured lead vocalist Mark Butcher who was replaced by Jess Cox, guitarist and backing vocalist Robb Weir, bassist and backing vocalist Richard "Rocky" Laws, and drummer Brian "Big" Dick. The group's current lineup includes Weir, drummer Craig Ellis (since 2000), vocalist Jacopo "Jack" Meille (since 2004), bassist Gavin Gray (since 2011). Jess Cox formed "Jess Cox's Tygers of Pan Tang" in 2015 and has featured members of Blitzkrieg.
History[edit]
1978–1987[edit]
TOPT were formed in 1978 by Robb Weir, Rocky Laws and Brian Dick, who added Mark Butcher after Weir briefly considered performing lead vocals.[1] He was replaced before the end of the month by Jess Cox.[2] During the recording of their debut album Wild Cat, the band decided to add a second guitarist, and after several auditions brought in John Sykes.[2] After the album's promotional tour ended in October 1980, Cox suddenly left.[3] He was replaced the following month by Jon Deverill.[4] The new lineup released Spellbound and Crazy Nights in 1981, before Sykes left to join Thin Lizzy and was replaced by former Penetration guitarist Fred Purser.[5] Shortly after issuing The Cage in 1982, TOPT were dropped by MCA Records, and before the end of the year the group had disbanded.[6]
In 1985, Deverill and Dick reformed TOPT with new members Steve Lamb, Neil Sheperd (both guitars) and Colin Irwin (bass), the latter of whom was soon replaced by Dave Donaldson in time for the recording of comeback album The Wreck-Age.[7] Lamb had recently been a member of Robb Weir's band Sergeant, while both Sheperd and Donaldson had worked with former TOPT frontman Jess Cox in recent years.[8] For the 1987 follow-up Burning in the Shade, Deverill, Lamb and Dick worked with songwriter Steve Thompson as a guest contributor, before breaking up for a second time.[6]
1999 onwards[edit]
Jess Cox and Robb Weir reunited at Wacken Open Air festival in August 1999 to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of TOPT's first single "Don't Touch Me There", adding Blitzkrieg members Glenn S. Howes on guitar, Gavin Gray on bass and Chris Percy on drums.[9][10] This led to a full reformation of the band the following year, with sole original member Weir joined by new vocalist Tony Liddell, guitarist Dean Robertson, bassist Brian West and drummer Craig Ellis.[11] Shortly after the release of Mystical, the band's first studio album since 1987, Liddell was replaced by Angel Witch bassist Richie Wicks.[12] The new vocalist remained until October 2004, recording Noises from the Cathouse before leaving due to "ongoing work commitments".[13] Italian singer Jacopo Meille took over in December.[14]
After releasing Animal Instinct in 2008, followed by a series of re-recordings of earlier material, West officially departed in November 2011 to focus on his duties as bass technician for Uriah Heep, with Gavin Gray returning to take his place.[15] Ambush followed in 2012, before Robertson left at the beginning of 2013 to focus on other projects.[16] He was replaced by Micky Crystal.[17] In 2015 Jess Cox formed “Jess Cox’s Tygers of Pan Tang” and made festival appearances across Europe as well as a tour of South America.
Members[edit]
Current[edit]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robb Weir |
|
|
all Tygers of Pan Tang (TOPT) releases, except The Wreck-Age (1985) and Burning in the Shade (1987) | |
| Gavin Gray |
|
|
| |
| Craig Ellis | 2000–present |
|
all TOPT releases from Mystical (2001) onwards except A New Heartbeat (2022) | |
| Jacopo "Jack" Meille | 2004–present | lead vocals | all TOPT releases from Animal Instinct (2008) onwards | |
| Huw Howlding | 2021-present | Bass | none |
Former[edit]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian "Big" Dick |
|
|
| |
| Richard "Rocky" Laws | 1978–1982 |
|
| |
| Mark Butcher | 1978 | lead vocals | none – live performances only | |
| Jess Cox |
|
| ||
| John Sykes | 1980–1982 |
|
| |
| Jon Deverill |
|
lead vocals |
| |
| Fred Purser | 1982 |
|
The Cage (1982) | |
| Steve Lamb | 1985–1987 |
|
| |
| Neil Sheperd | guitar | The Wreck-Age (1985) | ||
| Colin Irwin | 1985 | bass | none – rehearsals only | |
| Dave Donaldson | 1985–1987 |
|
The Wreck-Age (1985) | |
| Glenn S. Howes | 1999 (one-off) | guitar | Live at Wacken (2001) | |
| Chris Percy | drums | |||
| Tony Liddell | 2000–2001 | lead vocals | Mystical (2001) | |
| Dean Robertson | 2000–2013 | guitar | all TOPT releases from Mystical (2001) to Ambush (2012) | |
| Brian West | 2000–2011 | bass | all TOPT releases from Mystical (2001) to The Spellbound Sessions (2011) | |
| Richie Wicks | 2001–2004 | lead vocals |
| |
| Michael "Micky" Crystal | 2013–2020 | guitar |
|
Timeline[edit]
Lineups[edit]
| Period | Members | Releases | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early – August 1978 |
|
none – live performances only | |||
| August 1978 – July 1980 |
|
| |||
| July – October 1980 |
|
none – live performances only | |||
| November 1980 – April 1982 |
|
| |||
| April – November 1982 |
|
| |||
| Band inactive November 1982 – early 1985 | |||||
| Early 1985 |
|
none – rehearsals only | |||
| 1985–1987 |
|
| |||
| 1987 |
|
| |||
| Band inactive 1987–1999 | |||||
| August 1999 (Wacken Open Air) |
|
| |||
| 2000 – November 2001 |
|
| |||
| November 2001 – October 2004 |
|
| |||
| December 2004 – November 2011 |
|
| |||
| November 2011 – January 2013 |
|
| |||
| February 2013 – March 2020 |
|
| |||
| March 2020 – 2021 |
|
*Bloodlines (coming up in Spring 2023) | |||
| 2021-
Present |
Jacopo Meille-lead vocals
Robb Weir - guitar Craig Ellis-drums,percussion |
||||
References[edit]
- ^ Miasnikov, Alon (18 April 2008). "Tygers Of Pan Tang - Past And Beyond". Metalist Magazine. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ a b Weir, Robb (21 October 2015). ""One Again Into The Breach My Friends."". Tygers of Pan Tang. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Rock 'n' Roll Shuffle: Selecter, Bodysnatchers, Tygers add and subtract" (PDF). Record Mirror. London, England: Morgan-Grampian Group. 25 October 1980. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "News" (PDF). Record Mirror. London, England: Morgan-Grampian Group. 22 November 1980. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Former Tygers Of Pan Tang Members Form New Band Purser Deverill". Blabbermouth.net. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Tygers of Pan Tang: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Tygers roar again". Blackpool Gazette. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Tygers of Pan Tang History". Metal Nation Records. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Meat Records & TOPT Management". Tygers of Pan Tang. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Alikivi, Gary (10 June 2019). "Tyger Beat with former Tygers of Pan Tang drummer Chris Damage Percy". Gary Alikivi. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Trunk, Russell A. (2015). "'80s - Tygers of Pan Tang (2015): The Story So Far: Hear the Tygers Roar!". Six Degrees Entertainment. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Archive News Nov 28, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. 28 November 2001. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Tygers Of Pan Tang Part Ways With Singer, Seek Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Tygers Of Pan Tang Welcome New Singer". Blabbermouth.net. 14 December 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Brian Leaves/Gav now permanent". Tygers of Pan Tang. 25 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Deano Leaves Tygers". Tygers of Pan Tang. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "New Guitarist Announced". Tygers of Pan Tang. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2019.