HellsBelles

Hells Belles were a Heavy Metal band from Great Britain active from 1983 to 1987. They were considered part of the latter stages of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal or NWOBHM. They were unusual for their time in being a distinct mix of two different genres, those genres being Punk Rock and more traditional Heavy Metal. The punk element came from the guitarist, Pooch (born Peter Purtill) , and the bass guitarist Gareth Holder, otherwise known as Brian Helicopter. Pooch was previously the guitarist for the seminal hardcore punk outfit Discharge, whilst Holder had been a formative influence through the first wave punk band The Shapes. The more traditional heavy metal influence was provided by the vocalist Paul Quigley, formerly of heavy act Bronze, and the drummer Spiv (born Anthony Smith), previously of Brute Force. (The Discharge connection was more pronounced intially as Spiv replaced Discharge drummer Gary Maloney soon after their inception.) In a depature at a time when few bands attracted a crossover audience, a Hells Belles concert could see equal numbers of heavy metal fans and mohawk wearing punks in attendance. This put the band in the rarified compnay of a few other acts such as Motorhead or The Damned who also straddled the divide between punk and heavy metal in the early 1980's. Hells Belles released one full length album Hells Belles, and one 12 inch single Barricades during their short span on the Raw Power label, and are notable not so much for their recorded output, but as being one of the first bands to meld heavy metal and punk rock styles in a way that has become ubiqitous in the genre since.

In later years, the name has been used by an all female AC/DC tribute band which has no connection to the original outfit.

Original Members

• Paul Quigley - Vocals
• Pooch - Guitar
• Gareth Holder (Brian Helicopter) - Bass
• Spiv - Drums

Other Members

• Gary Maloney - Drums
• Jon Archer - Bass

Web Pages

• A Hells Belles page with songs