Wolf (UK band)
Wolf (formerly known as Black Axe and Leviathan) was a heavy metal band who found the peak of their popularity during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement.
History and Formation
The band formed in Carlisle, England in 1977 under the name Leviathan. At the time, the members of Leviathan were Chris English on vocals, Simeon Sparkes on lead guitar, Bill Keir on rhythm guitar, Stewart Richardson on bass guitar, and Mike Thorburn on drums. After three years the group adopted the name Black Axe. In 1980, they finally were recognized by a label named Phoenix and released their most famous track, Highway Rider, as a single the same year. They realized that they were going nowhere with their current label and trudged on in 1981. They struggled for attention with other competing bands in the NWOBHM movement and could not find a label that would sign them until 1982 when they signed with Chrysalis Records and changed their name once again, this time to what they are known, Wolf, when they released the Head Contact single. Chrysalis found the single underwhelming and proceeded to drop Wolf almost immediately after the single flat-lined.
Decline and Split
Not everyone was unimpressed, though. In 1984, after Wolf continued to play slightly larger venues every year, Mausoleum Records signed them to a one shot full album deal. It was "do or die" for Wolf. Even though their 1984 album, titled Edge of the World, was a huge success in Britain, the album sold nowhere else and the band was cut from the label. The band thought that it was not worth another go and split up almost immediately after the band was cut from Mausoleum.
Lineup
- Chris English (vocals)
- Simeon Sparkes (lead guitar)
- Bill Keir (rhythm guitar)
- Stewart Richardson (bass guitar)
- Mike Thorburn (drums)
Discography
Albums
- Edge of the World
- 01 - Edge of the world (3:47)
- 02 - Highway rider (2:42)
- 03 - Heaven will rock 'n' roll (3:27)
- 04 - Shock treatment (4:08)
- 05 - A soul for the devil (5:49)
- 06 - Head contact (3:18)
- 07 - Rest in peace (4:04)
- 08 - Too close for comfort (3:05)
- 09 - Red lights (2:59)
- 10 - Medicine man (4:36)
Singles
- Highway Rider
- Head Contact