Raven (band)

For the American blues band, see Raven (American band).

Raven
Raven performing live in 2008. L–R: John Gallagher, Mark Gallagher, Joe Hasselvander (behind).
Background information
Origin	Newcastle, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Heavy metal, speed metal
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Neat, Megaforce, Atlantic, Combat
Website	ravenlunatics.com
Members
John Gallagher Mark Gallagher Joe Hasselvander
Past members
Paul Bowden Paul Sherrif Mick (Mike) Kenworthy Sean Taylor Pete Shore Rob "Wacko" Hunter

Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".

History

Formation

Raven was formed in 1974 in Newcastle, England, by brothers John Gallagher and Mark Gallagher, and Paul Bowden.

Raven began creating a sound which was rooted in British hard rock, with progressive rock tendencies, and a willingness to take musical chances. The band's highly-energized live show and interaction between band members developed an image and style of play-the-band, described as "athletic". They began wearing guards, helmets, and plates from various sports (hockey, baseball, etc...), and incorporating them into the playing of their instruments (for instance, elbow pads and hockey masks were used to strike cymbals).

They also opened for punk bands the Stranglers and the Motors.

Early years

Eventually, the band signed with Neat Records, the legendary, low-budget metal label of the North. They released Rock Until You Drop in 1981, and Wiped Out in 1982, making an impressive showing on the UK charts at the time.

Sufficient noise was made for the American market to take notice and New Jersey's Megaforce Records signed them, issuing their next recording in the States as All for One in 1983. The band came stateside in 1983, and toured extensively with Megaforce bands Metallica and Anthrax, both of whom would gain a place of prominence in the growing thrash metal movement.

Commercial success

Manager/Megaforce founder Johnny Zazula believed that Raven was major-label material, and kept them touring constantly until the big labels noticed. The infamous Live at the Inferno recording, released in 1984, was a product of one of those tours. Atlantic Records signed Raven to a worldwide contract after a minor bidding war (major label contracts would follow for Metallica and Anthrax in the following year). The band moved its permanent base from Newcastle to New York.

Stay Hard was released in 1985, and proved a minor hit on the strength of single/video "On and On". The Atlantic years proved to be less than stellar for the band. A drastic shift in a more commercial direction came at the label's behest, with many die-hard fans being alienated by the slick, lightweight production of The Pack Is Back. However, the band recorded two more studio albums and the Mad EP before being let go by Atlantic.

After the tour for Life's a Bitch, Rob "Wacko" Hunter left the band in late 1987 to spend more time with his new wife and family. He would later pursue a career in audio production and engineering, eventually working with jazz musicians Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr..

Later years

Virginian Joe Hasselvander (ex-Pentagram) joined as drummer in late 1987, and the band dropped the outlandish image for a more conventional denim-and-leather look for their 1988 release Nothing Exceeds Like Excess. After, the advent of grunge and the dissolution of their record label Combat Records led the band to concentrate on continental Europe and Japan, where they retained more of a following.

Recent events

The band recorded and toured until 2001, when a wall collapsed on guitarist Mark Gallagher, crushing his legs. Raven went on hiatus for nearly 5 years, from 2001–2006, while the guitarist rehabilitated, though Raven never officially disbanded. As of 2006, Raven was touring, with a new release in the works.

Raven recently completed a UK tour in 2008 with support from British rock band Lost In Vegas.

Band members

Current members

• John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals (1974–present)
• Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals (1974–present)
• Joe Hasselvander – drums (1987–present)

Former members

• Paul Bowden – guitar, backing vocals (1974–1979)
• Paul Sherrif – drums (1975–1976)
• Mick (Mike) Kenworthy – drums (1976–1977)
• Sean Taylor – drums (1977–1979)
• Pete Shore – guitar, backing vocals (1979–1980)
• Rob "Wacko" Hunter – drums (1979–1987)

Lineups

(1974)	John Gallagher – guitar Mark Gallagher – guitar Paul Bowden – guitar
(1974–1975)	John Gallagher – bass Mark Gallagher – guitar Paul Bowden – guitar
(1975–1976)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Paul Bowden – guitar, backing vocals Paul Sherrif – drums
(1976–1977)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Paul Bowden – guitar, backing vocals Mick (Mike) Kenworthy – drums
(1977–1979)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Paul Bowden – guitar, backing vocals Sean Taylor – drums
(1979)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Pete Shore – guitar, backing vocals Sean Taylor – drums
(1979–1980)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Pete Shore – guitar, backing vocals Rob "Wacko" Hunter – drums
(1980–1987)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Rob "Wacko" Hunter – drums
(1987–present)	John Gallagher – bass, lead vocals, synthesizer Mark Gallagher – guitar, backing vocals Joe Hasselvander – drums

Discography

Studio albums

• Rock Until You Drop (1981) - UK #63
• Wiped Out (1982)
• All for One (1983)
• Stay Hard (1985) US #81
• The Pack Is Back (1986) US #121
• Life's a Bitch (1987)
• Nothing Exceeds Like Excess (1988)
• Architect of Fear (1991)
• Glow (1994)
• Everything Louder (1997)
• One for All (2000)
• Walk Through Fire (2009)

Extended plays

• Crash Bang Wallop (1982)
• Mad (1986)
• Heads Up! (1991)

Live albums

• Live at the Inferno (1984)
• Destroy All Monsters/Live in Japan (1996)

Compilation albums

• The Devils Carrion (1985)
• Unreleased Tracks (1990)
• Mind Over Metal (1993)
• Raw Tracks (1999)
• All Systems Go!: The Neat Anthology (2002)

External links

• Official website
• Magazine clippings of Raven
• Raven at Allmusic