Warlock (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Warlock


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Origin = Düsseldorf, Germany
Years_active = 1982-1988
Label = Mausoleum, Vertigo
Associated_acts = Doro
URL = [http://www.doropesch.com Doro Pesch Web Site]
Current_members =
Past_members = Doro Pesch
Peter Szigeti
Rudy Graf
Frank Rittel
Michael Eurich
Niko Arvanitis
Tommy Bolan
Tommy Henriksen

Warlock was a German heavy metal band, assembled in 1982. They also could be described as hard rock or even glam metal, and gained some commercial success in the mid 1980s. By the end of the decade, singer Doro Pesch was the sole original member who remained in the band, and thus proceeded to form Doro, a band which was essentially a continuation of Warlock under a different name. Doro has several classic songs from Warlock on its repertoire.

Musical style

Warlock's music is always primarily described as heavy metal. Their style was more traditional in the beginning of the 1980s, shown on the "Burning the Witches" album, but soon going more to a hard rock and glam metal style starting with "Hellbound". The band's influences are 1970s hard rock and heavy metal acts such as Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, N.W.O.B.H.M., and fellow German metal bands such as Scorpions and Accept. Other bands that had a similar sound include Ratt, Dokken, Medusa, and Zed Yago.

History

Warlock was formed in late 1982 in Düsseldorf. The band spent most of that year and 1983 performing in different German clubs, building a steady fan base. After recording a demo, "Mausoleum Demo", and sending it to several record labels, the band obtained a contract with independent Belgian label Mausoleum.

The first line-up, which consisted of Doro Pesch on vocals, Peter Szigeti and Rudy Graf on guitars, Frank Rittel on bass, and Michael Eurich on drums, recorded the band's first two albums, "Burning the Witches" in 1984 and "Hellbound" in 1985, touring in Europe to market the releases. In early 1985, the band signed a contract with label Phonogram.

Later that year, in the middle of the tour for "Hellbound", Rudy Graf left the band and was replaced by Niko Arvanitis, formerly of Stormwind.

Warlock's third album, "True As Steel", released in 1986, got a fair amount of North American radio airplay due to the hit single "Fight For Rock". The band's first music video was made for the song, airing on MTV. In August that year, the band opened for the Monsters of Rock festival at the Maimarktgelände in Mannheim, West Germany when Scorpions were headlining the all day concert. Def Leppard, Ozzy, MSG and Bon Jovi were also there.

After the tour for "True As Steel" ended, Frank Rittel and Peter Szigeti left the band, and were replaced by Tommy Henriksen and Tommy Bolan (formerly of Armed Forces) respectively. With the new line-up, Warlock released their fourth and last album, "Triumph And Agony", in 1987. The video for the single "All We Are" enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV's "Headbangers' Ball".

The band proceeded to make its first and sole extensive US tour, opening for Megadeth concerts alongside Sanctuary, and playing several shows on their own with different opening acts, such as Fates Warning, Sword and Lillian Axe.

Michael Eurich and Niko Arvanitis left Warlock in December 1987, and were replaced by Bobby Rondinelli (formerly of Rainbow) and Jon Levin (mislabeled as "Jon Devin" in Doro's "Force Majeure" liner notes) respectively. As Doro Pesch was the only original member still on the band, she opted not to continue using the name Warlock, playing under the name of Doro from that point on. Currently, Doro is active and still performs Warlock material.

Discography

tudio albums

*"Burning the Witches" (1984)
*"Hellbound" (1985)
*"True As Steel" (1986)
*"Triumph And Agony" (1987)

Compilations

*"Rare Diamonds" (1991)
*"Earth Shaker Rock" (1998)

EPs

*"You Hurt My Soul (On And On)" (1985)
*"Fight For Rock" (1986)

ingles

*"Without You" (1984)
*"All Night" (1985)
*"Fight for Rock" (1986)
*"All We Are" (1987)
*"East Meets West" (1987)
*"Für Immer" (1987)

Demos

*"Mausoleum Demo" (1983)

Bootlegs

* "Metalbound" (1985, LP, live recording with the first line-up, from September 14, 1985)
* "More Doro Power" (1986, LP, live recording with the second line-up, from December 11, 1985)
* "Ready For Promotion" (1986, LP, live recording with the second line-up, from August 16, 1986)
* "The Last Witch" (1987, LP, live recording with the first line-up)
* "True As Steel + Triumph and Agony" (2001, CD, Russian release, double album)
* "Music Box" (2003, CD, Top Rec., Russian release, compilation)

VHS

*"Metal Racer" (1985)

DVD

*"" (2002)

Line-ups

1983-1985

* Doro Pesch - Vocals
* Peter Szigeti - Guitar
* Rudy Graf - Guitar
* Frank Rittel - Bass
* Michael Eurich - Drums

1985-1987

* Rudy Graf is replaced by Niko Arvanitis

1987-1988

* Doro Pesch - Vocals
* Niko Arvanitis - Guitar
* Tommy Bolan - Guitar
* Tommy Henriksen - Bass
* Michael Eurich - Drums

External links

* [http://www.doropesch.com Official Doro Pesch Web Site]
* [http://www.doroclan.de/DoroPesch/Neu/seite03usp.htm Official Doro Pesch Biography] (Also includes Warlock information)
* [http://www.myspace.com/medusauk Medusa's Myspace page]