Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is one of the oldest underground bands of the heavy metal history. The band was founded in 1971 and existing intermittently until today from Woodbridge, Virginia ( USA) plays influenced by Black Sabbath Doom Metal.
- 3.1 albums
- 3.2 Singles
- 3.3 compilations
- 3.4 DVD
History
Prehistory
The history of Pentagram dates back to the year 1970, when Bobby Liebling of the band Space Meat from Washington, DC joined what was then renamed Stone Bunny. Other members of the band were John Jennings ( guitar), Greg Mayne (bass) and Geof O'Keefe (drums), all of which occurred later at Pentagram. After a short time favorite rose, whose hard song did not fit the melodic material of Jennings, back off. The other three musicians named again in Space Meat to, but dissolved a short time later on.
Creation and influences
In the fall of 1971 came Bobby Liebling (vocals), who was a member of a group called Shades of Darkness at this time, and Geof O'Keefe, now on guitar, together again. Together with Vincent McAllister (bass) and Steve Martin ( drums) joined the band founded it under the name Pentagram. As influences UFO, Uriah Heep, Sir Lord Baltimore, Blue Cheer, The Frost, Groundhogs and Stray are called. The influences of Black Sabbath prevailed until later.
After about a month and John Jennings of the band joined in and gave her a second guitar part. This led to changes in the cast: Steve Martin's jazz-influenced drumming style was inappropriate, GOEF O'Keefe took over. Under this occupation one could indeed agree on a style, but John Jennings rose after a legendary sample from again. For this reason, now joined Vincent McAllister on guitar and Greg Mayne, who had also been at Stone Bunny here, now took over the bass. In this way, the actual classic Pentagram original line-up, which technically is the fourth, however, arose.
Not only the cast, but also the choice of the band name was not made with the first step. 1972, shortly before the release of their first promo single Be Forewarned / Lazy Lady on Intermedia in the summer, the four, not to be mistaken for Satanists in Macabre designated around. However, since the audience had difficulty pronouncing the name, followed by further name changes to Virgin Death and Wicked Angel before returning to the original name pentagram.
First Phase: 1971-1976
Even before their first live appearance on 8 or December 15, 1973 in Montgomery Junior College in Maryland, the two independent 7 "Human Hurricane and the then unpublished When the screams come were recorded. At this time, the influence of Black Sabbath had become unmistakable.
Mid-1974 was Randy Palmer added as a second guitarist. In the result, there were several attempts, but now to get a record deal. Pentagram was already well known in underground circles. It was with the record companies Columbia and Casablanca Records in conversation. The decisive factor for the failure of the contract talks seems to be that Pentagram both the decisive meeting with Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman, the managers of Blue Öyster Cult, verstritten on April 29, 1975, another, as well as that with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss were ill-prepared on December 1, 1975 and later. Then, in 1975 rose from Palmer and thus dried up all the commercial ambitions of the band. On 16 December 1975 Bobby Liebling and his girlfriend were arrested by the police. In response, the other band members December 30, 1975 got together with their manager and decided to leave the band. Since the rights to the name Pentagram Bobby Liebling were, they could not continue under this band name. In the summer of 1976, however, they recruited Marty Iverson as a guitarist and decided to give Bobby Liebling another chance. At the end of the experiment was abandoned and so Pentagram was disbanded in late 1976.
Second phase: 1978-1979
Just one year after the Pentagram split mid-1978 Bobby Liebling began again to deal with music, inspired by the drummer Joe Hasselvander. Together with this, Richard Kueht (guitar ), Paul Trowbridge (guitar ) and Martin Swaney ( bass) did you look under the name Pentagram together and published in 1979, the single Livin ' in a Ram's Head / When the Screams Come. Due to personal differences, the band then broke though in the same year again.
Intermediate phase: 1980-1983
Joe Hasselvander did in 1980 along with Lee Abney (bass) and Victor Giffin (guitar ) to the Doom metal band Death Row. When Bobby Liebling took part in one of the rehearsals, it was decided to use him as a singer. Lee Abney got out and was again replaced by Bass Martin Swaney. To Death Row In 1984, named to pressure from the fans but in order pentagram.
Third phase: 1984-1988
In 1985 it was finally so far: After almost 15 years Pentagram published under the title Pentagram their first album, which was later known as Relentless. Shortly before the recording Joe Hasselvander had been replaced by Stuart Rose. Even before the release Pentagram went back into the studio to record the subsequent 1987 Day of Reckoning. Due to small label support and money problems, the band dissolved in 1988 but on again.
Fourth phase: 1989-1990
For a brief interphase Bobby Liebling established a new, Pentagram line-up, consisting of Randy Palmer (guitar) Teddy Feldman (guitar) and Greg Mayne (bass ), which, however, made no recordings.
Fifth phase: 1993-1996
Due to the attention of Peaceville Records 1990 to signets the band and to publish the first two records again, some former members decided to form a new attempt. The line-up was now again: Victor Griffin (guitar ), Martin Iverson (guitar ), Martin Swaney ( bass), Joe Hasselvander (drums). In March 1993, Day of reconing / Relentless was released as a 7 " in August was followed by Day of reconing as a long player. In 1994 came the release of Be Forewarned. The band remained with this line-up in place until 1996 Joe Hassel migrant, who was joined in 1993 before with Raven and Cathedral helped out as a touring drummer, left the band. Martin Swaney also finished his commitment, but withdrew completely from the music business. They were replaced by Gary Isom on drums and Greg Turley on bass. However, the band broke up after a few more concerts due to drug problems.
1998 came out on the Canadian label Downtime Recordings Human Hurricane. The album includes old and partly unreleased tracks, however, was limited to 1000 pieces and of poor sound quality.
Sixth phase: 1999-2003
Bobby Liebling and Joe Hasselvander began some time later, to commit themselves to Pentagram - now, however, leaving it open to second. Hasselvander wrote most of the material and recorded all the instruments alone. The record was released in 1999 under the title Review your Choices at Black Widow Records. Under the same line-up also the successor Sub - Basement was founded in December 2001.
Relapse Records published in 2002 First Daze Here - The Vintage Collection today no longer available and some unreleased tracks from the 1970s. These were re-mastered by Bobby Liebling and provided with new guitars. 2006 appeared the second part of this collection First Daze Here Too. Another collection of older pieces is the Turn to Stone appeared in 2002 and the non-authorized human Hurricane of 1998.
After the release of Sub - Basement Joe Hasselvander and Bobby Liebling parted again.
Seventh Phase: 2004-2008
For this reason, the album, published in 2004 show ' em how came in again completely new cast. Bobby Liebling took place this time in support of Kelly Carmichael (guitar), Adam Heinzmann (bass) and Mike Smail (drums), all Internal Void.
Due to the behavior of Bobby Liebling was a 2005 concert in London.
Eighth phase: 2008-2010
In 2008, the band released a new line-up known also under the more concerts and a full European tour have been announced one year later: Bobby Liebling ( vocals ), Russ Strahan ( guitar), Gary Isom (drums ) and Mark Ammen (Bass ). After a failed gig at the Hellfest in France, gave her pentagram Germany and at the same time European debut on the Hell's Pleasure Metalfest on July 18, 2009. More gigs in Europe along with Trouble have also been successfully completed.
Ninth phase: 2010 -present
Russ Strahan ( guitar) and Mark Ammen ( bass) went and were replaced by long- time veteran Victor Griffin and Greg Turley on guitar or bass, since April 2013 guitarist Matt Goldboroughund. In the following gigs the DVD "When The Screams Come" was produced. Gary Isom also left the band again to be (in this lineup was the album of the fortieth anniversary of the band, " Last Rites ", recorded ) and replaced shortly afterwards by Albert Born only by Tim Tomaselli.
During the tour for this album we also established a as " Live Rites " published live recording in Finland.
In June 2012, the Pentagram concert in Cologne Building 9 was filmed for the WDR Rockpalast broadcast, transmitted as live stream and later broadcast on TV.
Others
- Victor Griffin and Lee Abney founded Place of Skulls.
- Randy Palmer died on 8 August 2002 as the result of a traffic accident.
- Vince McAllister died on 31 May 2006 from cancer.
Discography
Albums
- Pentagram ( Pentagram Records / Dutch East India Trading, 1985) re-released as Relentless ( Peaceville Records, 1993, 1995, 2005)
- Day of Reckoning ( Napalm Records / Dutch East India Trading, 1987) re-released ( Peaceville Records, 1993, 1995 )
- Be Forewarned ( Peaceville Records, 1994)
- Review Your Choices ( Black Widow, 1999)
- Sub - Basement ( Black Widow, 2001)
- A Keg Full of Dynamite (live '78 ) ( Black Widow, 2003)
- Last Rites ( Metal Blade, 2011)
- Live Rites ( Svart Records, 2011)
Singles
- Be Forewarned / Lazy Lady under the name Macabre ( Intermedia Prod, 1972)
- Hurricane / Earth Flight ( Boffo Socko Records, 1973)
- Under My Thumb / When the Screams Come (Gemini Records, 1973)
- Livin ' in a Ram's Head / When the Screams Come (High Voltage Records, 1979)
- Relentless / Day of Reckoning ( Peaceville Records, 1993)
Compilations
- Human Hurricane ( Downtime Recordings, 1998)
- First Daze Here - The Vintage Collection ( Relapse, 2001)
- Turn To Stone ( Peaceville, 2002)
- First Daze Here Too ( Relapse, 2006)
- If The Winds Would Change ( High Roller Records, 2011)
DVD
- When The Screams Come ( Metal Blade, 2011)
- Last Days Here ( documentary about the band's history and Bobby Liebling, 2011)