Black Axe

F

eaturing Chris English (vocals), Bill Keir (guitar), Stewart Richardson (bass), Simon Sparkes (guitar) and Mike Thorburn (drums), NWOBHM act Black Axe would survive only long enough to release the Highway Rider with Red Lights (1980) single before disbanding.

The story of Black Axe goes a little deeper, however. Black Axe formed in 1977 under the original name, Leviathan. It would be three years later, and the adoption of the name Black Axe handle before they gained any kind of recognition. The aforementioned one-off single not only enjoyed strong sales and an interest from Sounds Magazine, but it led to a major recording contract with 'Chrysalis Records'. However, in retrospect the 'Chrysalis' deal was not the best decision for the band. The label insisted the band change their name. Under the Wolf moniker, the band would release a single and suffer a cancelled debut album before being unceremoniously dumped, never to be heard from again.