Warlock (band)

Warlock
Doro Pesch, the Warlock singer
Background information
Origin	Düsseldorf, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal , Hard rock
Years active	1982–1988
Labels	Mausoleum, Vertigo
Associated acts	Doro
Website	Doro Pesch Web Site
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. The band 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 that was essentially a continuation of Warlock under a different name. Doro, the band, has several classic songs from Warlock in 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, as heard on the Burning the Witches album. They soon moved to a hard rock and Power 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., as well as fellow German metal bands such as Scorpions and Accept. Other bands that had a similar sound include Keel, Judas Priest, Lizzy Borden.

History

Warlock was formed in late 1982 in Düsseldorf. The band spent most of the rest 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. They toured in Europe to promote 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 this song and appeared on MTV. In August that year, Warlock opened for the Monsters of Rock festival at the Maimarktgelände in Mannheim, West Germany, where Scorpions were headlining the all day concert. Def Leppard, Ozzy, MSG and Bon Jovi were also in the roster.

After the tour for True As Steel ended, Frank Rittel and Peter Szigeti left the band and were replaced by Tommy Bolan, (formerly of Armed Forces), and Tommy Henriksen. Rittel an Szigeti reappeared in 1987 on Animal House, the first solo album of Udo Dirkschneider. 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 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). Doro Pesch was now the only original member still in the band. At this time, the band's ex-manager sued for rights to the band name, and won. Doro continued to fight for her band name, but conceded with record label requests to rename the band Doro. Currently, Doro is active and still performs Warlock material. Around 2004 Doro reunited with some original Warlock members for a festival appearances; unfortunately, legal troubles over using the band named ensued.
In December 2008 Pure Steel Records released the first official tribute to Warlock and Doro With the special appearance of the band members.

Discography

Main article: Doro discography

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

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

• Official Doro Pesch Web Site
• Official Doro Pesch Biography (Also includes Warlock information)