Necromandus

I

t all started in 1968 when two West Cumbrian bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums) and Bill Branch (vocals), then formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before changing to Necromandus after a radio show asked their audience for name suggestions.

In 1972, after extensive gigging and a failure to release a record, they caught the ear of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.

In early 1973, Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded Orexis of Death at London's Morgan Studio; Iommi contributed by adding his guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with 'Vertigo' and the band began opening for Black Sabbath and Tony Kaye's Badger. However, when Dunnery left the band in 1973, that album was shelved by the label. Despite this, Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, culminating with Ozzy Osbourne taking McCarten, Dunnery and Hall as the original Blizzard Of Ozz line-up in 1977.

Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the ELO offshoot violinski in 1976. Dunnery and Hall also played together in the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) band Hammerhead; Dunnery's tenure was brief, however.

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