Tytan are a British rock band that lasted about two years during the early 1980s, founded by former

Angel Witch Angel Witch are a British heavy metal band which formed in London in 1976, recognised as one of the pioneering groups of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM). Originally established as Lucifer by guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybour ...

bassist Kev Riddles. The album ''Rough Justice'' was released after their split. They formed during the

New Wave of British Heavy Metal The new wave of British heavy metal (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that began in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Editor Alan Lewis (music journalist), Alan Lew ...

movement and are best known for their strong melodies. The band reformed in 2012 to play at the Keep It True festival in Germany and have been touring ever since. In 2016 the band recorded a second album, ''Justice Served'', with

Chris Tsangarides Christopher Andrew Tsangarides (17 August 1956 – 6 January 2018) was a British record producer, sound engineer, and mixer of Greek Cypriot origin. He was best known for his work with many heavy metal artists, including Gary Moore, Thin L ...

for High Roller Records; it was released in May 2017.

History

Tytan was formed at the height of the

new wave of British heavy metal The new wave of British heavy metal (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that began in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Editor Alan Lewis (music journalist), Alan Lew ...

in the autumn of 1981 by the former

rhythm section, bassist Kevin Riddles and drummer

Dave Dufort Dave du’Fort (also known as Hermien JD) is a British rock drummer who has played with Ian Hunter, Kevin Ayers, Mike Oldfield and Screaming Lord Sutch, and was a member of the new wave of British heavy metal bands E. F. Band, Angel Witch a ...

(ex- E. F. Band), Scottish vocalist Norman 'Kal' Swan, and guitarists Steve Gibbs and Glasgow-born Stewartie Adams. The latter unfortunately had to leave the band and Gary Owens (ex- A II Z, Aurora) had a brief stay before Steve Mann (ex-Liar, Lionheart) joined. Signed to Kamaflage Records, a subsidiary of DJM, Tytan recorded their first album at Ramport Studios in Battersea with Will Reid-Dick manning the boards. Former

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest have also been referred to as one of the p ...

and Lionheart drummer Les Binks joined the band just in time for the recording, in place of Dave Dufort. Jody Turner of

Rock Goddess Rock Goddess were an English all-female heavy metal band formed in Wandsworth, South London, in 1977 by sisters Jody Turner and Julie Turner. The band were initially active during the new wave of British heavy metal musical movement, releasin ...

made a guest vocal appearance on the song ''Women On The Frontline''. Binks would be replaced by Tony Boden on the band's October 1982 UK tour with the

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. He left shortly thereafter, to be replaced by Simon Wright (ex-Tora Tora, A II Z, Aurora). Kamaflage folded before the album was released but managed to release the single 'Blind Men and Fools' in both 7" and 12" formats in September 1982. The band split up the following summer. Wright would later join

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and subsequently worked with Dio, Rhino Bucket, and UFO. Vocalist Kal Swan moved to Los Angeles, where he formed the band

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with former Lone Star guitarist Tony Smith, whose replacement was future Dio and

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guitarist

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. Swan and Aldrich went on to record a further three albums in the 1990s under the name

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. Steve Mann returned to Lionheart and recorded the 1984 album ''Hot Tonight'' with the band before joining the McAuley Schenker Group,

Sweet Sweetness is a basic taste most commonly perceived when eating foods rich in sugars. Sweet tastes are generally regarded as pleasurable. In addition to sugars like sucrose, many other chemical compounds are sweet, including aldehydes, ketones, ...

, and German prog rock act Eloy. In 1985, London-based label Metal Masters released the shelved Tytan tapes as the ''Rough Justice'' LP. A Japanese CD bootleg followed in the early 1990s, before Majestic Rock Records gave the album an official CD re-issue in 2004 and again in 2006, with four BBC 'Friday Rock Show' live session tracks ('Cold Bitch', 'The Watcher', 'Far Side of Destiny' and 'Blind Men and Fools') and a live DVD added as bonuses with the second edition. In 2012, an invitation to perform at Keep It True XV Festival in Germany saw Tytan reform with a revised line-up. Joining original band members Kevin Riddles, Steve Gibbs and Steve Mann were vocalist Tom Barna (from the band Diamond Faith), Andrew Thompson on keyboards, and Angel Witch drummer Andrew Prestidge. Steve Gibbs left the band in early 2014. Drummers Chris Benton and then Mikey Ciancio joined during 2012 and 2013 respectively, and between 2015 and 2017 James Wise took over the role, followed by current drummer Seth Markes. Meanwhile, Dave Strange joined the band in November 2014, when Steve Mann departed. Dave Strange was replaced in 2021 by guitarist Peter Welsh. Welsh left Tytan in 2022 and went on to join More. Tom Barna's replacement, Tony Coldham, performed his last show with the band on 13 October 2018, as he had decided to concentrate on his other outfit, The Deep. In December 2018, the band recruited vocalist Grant Foster. In 2021, Tony Coldham returned to complete the current Tytan lineup; he also joined Kev Riddles' Baphomet on vocals in 2022. In 2017, Tytan released a follow-up album to ''Rough Justice'', ''Justice Served'', through German label High Roller Records. At the same time, the company also re-issued the group's out-of-print debut album, ''Rough Justice''.

Discography

*''Blind Men and Fools'' 7"& 12" (Kamaflage, 1982) *''Rough Justice'' (Metal Masters, 1985 / Majestic Rock, 2004 & 2006/ High Roller Records 2017) *''Justice Served'' (High Roller, 2017)

References

External links

Tytan Facebook pageTytan on SpotifyTytan on Apple Music
{{Authority control English heavy metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1981 Heavy metal musical groups from London New Wave of British Heavy Metal musical groups

History

Discography

See also

References

External links