Blitzkrieg

Biography

Blitzkrieg are an English heavy metal band formed in Leicester in 1980. The current line-up consists of Brian Ross (vocals), Alan Ross (guitar), Ben Adcock (bass), Matt Graham (drums), and Nick Jennison (guitar). Ross is the only remaining member from the band's founding, and the band are now based in Newcastle.

History

In 1980, Brian Ross joined Leicester band Split Image (comprising guitarists Jim Sirotto and Ian Jones, bassist Steve English, and drummer Steve Abbey), and after a change of name to Blitzkrieg, their demo led to a record deal in October 1980 with Neat Records, a label that was signing many of the bands involved with the new wave of British heavy metal movement. After a single released in 1981, Jones and English were replaced by John Antcliffe and Mick Moore. In the early stages of Blitzkrieg's career they regularly produced gigs in England, but then later split in 1981 before the band's debut album was completed. Brian Ross most notably went on to join Satan, another metal band, along with stints in Avenger, Lone Wolf and Unter den Linden.
In 1984, Ross reformed the band, with Sirotto, and Moore, the line-up bolstered by guitarist Mick Proctor (of Tygers of Pan Tang) and drummer Sean Taylor (Satan/Blind Fury, ex-Raven) to record the Blitzkrieg album that was originally planned to be released in 1981, A Time of Changes×A Time of Changes1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Ragnarok / Inferno6:15A2Blitzkrieg3:23A3Pull the Trigger5:22A4Armegeddon6:20B1Hell to Pay4:48B2Vikings4:03B3A Time of Changes6:29B4Saviour3:42. It was released in 1985.
"Blitzkrieg", the B-side of the band's debut single, was covered by Metallica for the B-side of the 1984 single "Creeping Death". Metallica were fans of Blitzkrieg and before they were signed had sent Ross a demo to try to get signed to Neat Records, for whom Ross was then doing A&R work.
In 1991, Roadracer Records released the 10 Years of Blitzkrieg, and the band recorded new material which was combined with older tracks on the Unholy Trinity album, the release of which was delayed until 1995 due to contractual issues. The band continued with Ross, who was the only constant member, releasing the albums Ten (1997), The Mists of Avalon×The Mists of Avalon1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Legend20:382Tranquil State3:343I Am the Doctor (Who Are You?)3:434Deceiver3:215Princess for the World5:436The Mighty 'A'1:567Smell of Roses4:248Love's Too Late4:069Anasazi3:2610Yesterdays (Hope for the Future)4:2811Another Interview?3:2212Vicious Rumors6:1013I Was Having a Great Time and Stayed Longer Than I Should, So When I Got to the Railway Station, the Last Train Had Gone!0:07 (1998), Absolute Power×Absolute Power2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Legion4:292Soul Stealer3:353The Face of Death3:224Enchanted Tower5:595We'll Rock Forever3:176Terror Zone3:447Hamunaptra1:038Dark City5:009Who Takes the Fall?4:2910DV8R6:0611Metalizer3:5612Feel the Pain6:08 (2002), Absolutely Live×Absolutely Live26 April 2004 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Ragnarok1:472Inferno4:003The Wraith3:034I'm Not Insane4:485Soul Stealer3:386Unholy Trinity4:197Legion4:208We'll Rock Forever3:289Armageddon6:1510Hamunaptra / Dark City6:1111Yesterdays4:3412Nocturnal Vision6:0013Metalizer5:0014Blades of Steel4:5015Feel the Pain5:3016Blitzkrieg4:30 (2004), Sins and Greed (2005), and Theatre of the Damned (2007).
After a six-year gap, the band returned in 2013 with the album Back from Hell×Back From Hell5 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Jacks Back1:312Back From Hell4:353Buried Alive3:194Complicated Issue4:585V6:446Return to the Village4:117Sahara5:2584U2:599One Last Time5:1010Call for the Priest5:2111Sleepy Hollow5:4612S & D6:4813We Have Assumed Control4:06. A re-recorded and expanded version of A Time of Changes was released in 2015 to celebrate 30 years since the original release. The band's next album, Judge Not!×Judge Not!25 April 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Heretic1:042Who Is Blind5:133Forever Is a Long Time4:494Reign of Fire4:445All Hell Is Breaking Loose4:176Angels or Demons4:437Loud and Proud5:438Without You5:239Judge Not, Lest You Yourself Be Judged5:4810Wide Legged and Headless4:3511Falling into Darkness7:3012School's Out (Alice Cooper cover)3:5113After Dark5:1814Together We Are Strong5:11, was released in 2018, with an EP, Loud and Proud×Loud and Proud6 December 2019 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Loud and Proud5:442Without You (alternate version)5:163Falling Into Darkness (Orchestrated version)7:064Together (We Are Strong)5:095After Dark5:146Schools Out3:52, following in 2019.
In 2022, Blitzkrieg released a new single, "I Am His Voice", along with a live version of "Pull the Trigger". This was followed in 2024 by an eponymous album.

Band members

Current members

Brian Ross — lead vocals, keyboards (1980–1981, 1984–1991, 1992–1994, 1996–1999, 2001–present)
Alan Ross — guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
Matt Graham — drums (2015–present)
Ben Adcock — bass (2025–present)
Nick Jennison — guitar, backing vocals (2020–present)
Former members

Jim Sirotto — lead guitar (1980–1981, 1984–1985; died 2025)
Steve Abbey — drums (1980–1981)
Ian Jones — rhythm guitar (1980–1981; died 2009)
Steve English — bass (1980–1981)
Mick Moore — bass (1981, 1984–1985; died 2024)
John Antcliffe — rhythm guitar (1981)
Mick Procter — guitar (1984–1985)
Sean Taylor — drums (1984–1985, 1992–1994)
Chris Green — guitar (1985)
Gav Taylor — drums (1985)
John "J. D." Binnie — guitar (1986–1987)
Chris Beard — guitar (1986–1987)
Darren Parnaby — bass (1986–1987)
Sean Wilkinson — drums (1986–1987)
Glenn S. Howes — guitar, backing vocals (1988–1991, 1997–1999)
Steve Robertson — guitar (1988–1989)
Robbie Robertson — bass (1988–1989)
Kyle Gibson — drums (1988–1989)
Tony J. Liddle — guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991, 1992–1994, 1996–1997, 2001–2002; died 2025)
Gary Young — drums (1989–1991)
Glenn Carey — bass (1989–1991)
Dave Anderson — bass (1992–1994)
Phil Miller — guitar (1996–1997)
Steve Ireland — bass (1996–1997)
Paul White — drums (1996)
Neil Nattrass — drums (1996–1997)
Martin Richardson — guitar (1997–1998), bass (1998)
Mark Hancock — drums (1997–1998), bass (1998)
Gav Gray — drums (1997–1998, 1998–1999)
Paul Nesbitt — guitar (1998–1999, 2001–2006)
Mark Wyndebank — drums (1998–1999)
Phil Brewis — drums (2001–2012)
Andy Galloway — bass (2001–2004)
Ken Johnson — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2002–2019)
Paul Brewis — bass (2004–2012)
Guy Laverick — guitar (2006–2012)
Bill Baxter — bass, backing vocals (2012–2017)
Mick Kerrigan — drums (2012–2015)
Huw Holding — bass (2017–2019)
Liam Ferguson — bass (2019-2025)