Tygers Of Pan Tang

Robb Weir is never a man to take what he has for granted. Having led TYGERS OF PAN TANG since their first album through a number of line-up changes, he recognises that the current Tygers are probably the strongest since they were at the forefront of the NWOBHM. The original band, who made four albums for MCA Records, survived the unexpected departure of Jess Cox to run Neat Records and later John Sykes, who was bound for Thin Lizzy and a multi-million seller with Whitesnake. What they didn’t survive was their greatest commercial success with the album “The Cage”. Now the band are all set for the release of their new album, “Bloodlines”.

Tygers of Pan Tang are an English heavy metal band who are part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perform. The name is derived from Pan Tang, a fictional archipelago in Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné fantasy series whose wizards keep tigers as pets…

Wild Cat is the debut album by the British heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang. It was released in 1980 on MCA Records. The album was re-issued in 1989 in a double-LP package with Spellbound, and on CD in 1997 with bonus tracks.One of the most promising acts of the first NWOBHM, Tygers Of Pan Tang were also one of the earliest pioneers of that brand new sound of the 80’s. Their single Don’t Touch Me There remains as a legendary release, truly essential for the consolidation of the movement back then, featuring already a kinda characteristic methodology, preceding their imminent debut. Along with Angel Witch, Samson, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Fist, these guys set the rules of the new decade heavy metal, clearly alternative from the tiring classic rock dinosaurs, becoming highly influential outside the British frontiers, from the rest of the old continent to America. 34 years after it was originally released, Wild Cat still rocks hard and sounds as fresh and entertaining as before.

New Wave Of British Heavy Metal veterans TYGERS OF PAN TANG release their new, self-titled album on October 21

Spellbound represented an amazing evolution for the Tygers of Pan Tang, especially considering that it was released a mere six months after their very rough and unpolished debut. Simply put, the addition of versatile new vocalist Jon Deverill and brilliant guitarist John Sykes (yes – that John Sykes) helped improve the Tygers' musicianship and songwriting abilities to no end, allowing producer Chris Tsangarides to exact an infinitely superior (if not as innocently charming) performance of the band from a technical perspective. With a muscular brand of metal lying somewhere between Def Leppard and Saxon, the revitalized group had all of their bases covered and only MCA (frequently referred to as the "Musical Cemetery of America" in those days) could possibly squander the potential of memorable numbers like "Gangland," "Take It," and the especially hook-laden "The Story So Far." Other highlights include "Mirror," one of the band's best power ballads, and "Don't Stop By," where Sykes takes the first great solo of his career, showcasing both the stunning technical mastery and fluid musicality which would become his trademarks.

The Tygers of Pan Tang were on a roll in 1981. After solidifying their lineup with a couple of key additions (most notably, explosive guitarist John Sykes) and receiving a warm reception to their second album Spellbound, the Tygers found themselves touring relentlessly and challenging the new wave of British heavy metal's top bands – Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Def Leppard - for U.K. supremacy. Unfortunately, their impetus ground to a sudden halt when they were rudely pulled off the road and forced to record another album in only three weeks time - and without producer Chris Tsangarides, who had guided their first two efforts but was otherwise occupied with Thin Lizzy's Renegade album.