ANGEL WITCH

SPRING ROCK AT NEWCASTLE TRILLIANS

/ Alikivi

Rock is still big in the North and you can’t get bigger than at Newcastle Trillians. In the coming months bands booked have the power to rip yer skin off yer skull. Here’s a few gigs to stir yer up and let yer know yer still alive in ’25.

Friday 14 Feb > Tytan/Baphomet – ex Angelwitch NWOBHM flag bearer Kev Riddles – “Great to be returning to Trillians, our North East home from home. Brilliant atmosphere and banter at the expense of yours truly! Amazing how a London accent brings out the best in people, see ya there!”

Friday 28 Feb > Godzz of Wor – ex Venom/ Ballbreakers guitarist Jim Clare – “We’ll be rocking the place with 205 years of experience – not bad for a three piece. Hardest working trio in the North East”.

Saturday 8 March > Spartan Warrior – NWOBHM/Guardian/Roadrunner Records frontman David Wilkinson– “Trillians shows are always pretty special it’s one of the best rock venues in the UK. Having hosted many fantastic and legendary bands across the decades it’s the North East equivalent of the Cart and Horses down south. We always have a great crowd in Trills, that’s appreciated and never taken for granted. We’re really looking forward to playing a headline show on home turf alongside special guests Risen Prophecy and Overdrive. It’s going to be a hell of a night…guaranteed!”

Also squeezed in are dates for White Tyger who opened for ex Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil and WASP guitarist Chris Holmes. The Midland Metallers hit the stage on Thursday 27 Feb. Stopping off in the Toon on Sunday 9 March is former vocalist with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow/Michael Schenker Group/Vandenburg/Elegant Weapons frontman Ronnie Romero on his UK tour.

Lottsa more gigs on the official website >>>

Gig Guide – Trillians Rock Bar

Alikivi   February 2025

KEEP ON TURNING with TYTAN main man Kev Riddles

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Being at the outset of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in ’79, zillions of UK & European gigs with Angel Witch, Paul Samsons Empire, Baphomet and Tytan – plus recording a few albums along the way – Kev Riddles has been a flag bearer for NWOBHM the past 40 plus years.

“In the halcyon days of Angel Witch we toured constantly, either in our own right or opening for Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Girlschool, Saxon or April Wine”.

left to right, Kev Riddles – bass/backing vocals, Andy Thompson – keyboards, Tony Coldham – vocals, Chris Borsberry – guitar, Garry Bowler – drums

Here we are in July 2023 and Tytan are sitting in the port waiting for the Calais ferry after playing at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany. Kev reflects on the weekend…

“We had a blast. A superb crowd. But the ferry’s been cancelled….there’s a four hour wait!”

“I just drove for 11 hours, played to 2,000 people in Germany, ate too much, then drove back again. Is it worth it? Hell yeah! We do this because we can and we love it!”

On Friday 13th October Tytan are lined up to play a NWOBHM night with Kev Riddles’ Baphomet – yes second show of the night for Kev – Tailgunner and Trespass at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend. (Interview with Trespass coming soon).

Then on 3rd November a pre-Bonty Night triple bill with fellow NWOBHM bands Millennium and Spartan Warrior at Trillians Rock bar, Newcastle.

Are you looking forward to playing in the North East who spawned the big four – Raven, Venom, Fist, Tygers of Pan Tang ?

“I always feel a little pressure when playing the North East precisely because of the incredible talent coming out of the place” said Kev.

“I’ve had, and continue to have, the good fortune to witness and share a stage with all the bands you mention and this year we’ll be lucky enough to play alongside Spartan Warrior at Trillians again”.

What can the crowd at Trillians expect?

“Trust me we will have some fun on the night because that is what we do”.

Is there a wind up merchant in the band?

 “All of us are wind up merchants, it goes with the territory – Fun is for life, death is forever”.

Has that ferry turned up yet?

Alikivi  August 2023

For more info contact the official website:

Trillians Rock Bar (trilliansnewcastle.co.uk)

Interview with Kev Riddles May 2017:

BACK IN THE RING – Going Another Round with NWOBHM band Tytan | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

NIGHTS of NWOBHM at TRILLIANS ROCK BAR, NEWCASTLE

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The starting gun fires on Friday 4th August on old school NWOBHM at Trillians. They won’t be nights full of half arsed tunes. Expect red hot, heavy, driving sounds topped with power vocals – just the way you like it.

First up is Kev Riddles’ Baphomet, Kev was an original member of NWOBHM band Angel Witch who released their first album in 1980.

The record, along with the track Baphomet, always feature on any ‘Best of NWOBHM’ lists. On their last visit to Newcastle, Kev Riddles’ Baphomet played original Angel Witch classics to a packed house. Expect the same on a loud start to your weekend.

Another night of old school metal is a triple bill on Friday 1st September with Avenger, Abaddon and Spartan Warrior.

Spartan vocalist David Wilkinson explained “2023 has been a milestone year for Spartan Warrior as we celebrate 40 years since the release of our debut album, ‘Steel n Chains’, on the Guardian label”.

“We’ve played some well received anniversary shows where we’ve played our debut album live in its entirety”.

“As we have two shows at the same venue quite close together we want to give people something different each time. The 1st September set will be exclusively from the ‘Steel n Chains’ album and the second album only. November’s set will draw material from all four albums”.

That November date is set for Friday 3rd, a pre-Bonfire night with Kev Riddle’s other band Tytan. What to expect from Tytan? Chunks of melodic, epic rock with screaming riffs and Tony Coldham’s soaring voice. At the time of posting the band are on the road back from Germany after playing the Headbangers Open Air Festival.

Joining the bill are Millennium, frontman Mark Duffy explained “The first time Millennium played in Newcastle was when we were asked to do a reunion show for the Brofest festival in 2016 and we’ve played Newcastle a number of times since”.

“We know Spartan Warrior as they were on the Guardian records compilation ‘Pure Overkill’ along with Millennium. Although we didn’t get to meet them till around five years ago, we’ve since played gigs on the same events. We haven’t  played any gigs with Tytan before so we’re looking forward to that”.

Spartan Warrior’s Wilkinson added “We’re very excited to be co headlining the November show with our dear friends Tytan. We’ve shared stages before and it’s going to be a great night for sure. We also have a long history with Millennium who were our Guardian label mates, so in our 40th Anniversary year that’s a bit special too”.

Millennium’s Duffy added “I think the NWOBHM scene has lasted so long because it has produced so many good bands who recorded some great records. There’s also a younger generation who are now listening and discovering these bands for the first time and appreciating their music”.

“We’re looking to do some gigs with other NWOBHM bands and hoping to play festivals in Europe having played in Athens this year. But it’s always good to play home shows at Trillians – really looking forward to it”.

If that isn’t enough for ya’ on Thursday 23rd November at Trillians is a hometown visit from the Tygers of Pan Tang. After trekking around mainland Europe during summer they have arranged extra dates to support new album Bloodlines.

Alikivi   2023