Necromandus
Encyclopedia
Necromandus were a rock band from Cumberland
, United Kingdom
. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi
of Black Sabbath
in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999. In 2007 they were mentioned in an article in Classic Rock
magazine. Author, Ian Christe
, has cited the band as one of the earliest doom metal
groups.
n bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on 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 eye of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.
In early 1973 Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album Orexis of Death
at London's Morgan Studio. Iommi also added some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with Vertigo
and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as Tony Kaye
's Badger
. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo. Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with Ozzy Osbourne
initially wanting them for his Blizzard of Ozz
project.
Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the ELO
offshoot Violinski
in 1976. Hall and Dunnery also played together in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was very brief.
The only surviving member of Necromandus is Frank Hall, as Dennis McCarten died in 2004 and Barry Dunnery (the elder brother of Francis Dunnery
) died in 2008. The date of Bill Branch's death is currently unknown, though it is known he died in the late 1980s.
called Necromandus "a sort of Black Sabbath play Yes
' greatest hits".
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999. In 2007 they were mentioned in an article in Classic Rock
Classic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
magazine. Author, Ian Christe
Ian Christe
Ian Christe is an author, disc jockey and publisher. He attended The Clarkson School's Bridging Year and Indiana University....
, has cited the band as one of the earliest doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
groups.
History
In 1968 two West CumbriaCumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
n bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on 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 eye of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.
In early 1973 Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album Orexis of Death
Orexis of Death
Orexis of Death is an album by doom rock band Necromandus. It was recorded in 1973 under the supervision of Tony Iommi but was shelved due to Barry Dunnery's departure from the band and wasn't released until 1999....
at London's Morgan Studio. Iommi also added some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye (musician)
Tony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
's Badger
Badger (band)
-One Live Badger:The band was co-founded by keyboardist Tony Kaye after he left Yes, with David Foster. Foster had been in The Warriors with Jon Anderson before Anderson co-founded Yes. Foster later worked with the band on Time and a Word...
. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo. Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
initially wanting them for his Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S.. It is the comeback album of Osbourne following his firing from Black Sabbath the previous year...
project.
Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the ELO
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
offshoot Violinski
Violinski
Violinski is a rock band formed in 1977 by Electric Light Orchestra member Mik Kaminski on violins, and former member Mike de Albuquerque on guitar and vocals; plus Barry Dunnery , John Hodgson , Paul Mann, John Marcangelo and Iain Whitmore...
in 1976. Hall and Dunnery also played together in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was very brief.
The only surviving member of Necromandus is Frank Hall, as Dennis McCarten died in 2004 and Barry Dunnery (the elder brother of Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as a solo performer , and for fronting the original lineup of the band It Bites between 1982 and 1990 .Dunnery served as a sideman and...
) died in 2008. The date of Bill Branch's death is currently unknown, though it is known he died in the late 1980s.
Style
Hailed as "the second Sabbath" but with a prog edge, Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
called Necromandus "a sort of Black Sabbath play Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
' greatest hits".
Discography
- Quicksand Dream (1991, alternative version of Orexis of Death)
- Orexis of DeathOrexis of DeathOrexis of Death is an album by doom rock band Necromandus. It was recorded in 1973 under the supervision of Tony Iommi but was shelved due to Barry Dunnery's departure from the band and wasn't released until 1999....
(1999, recorded 1973) - Necrothology (best of, 2001)
- Live (2005)
- Orexis of Death Plus... (reissue, 2005)
- Orexis of Death / Live (reissue, 2010)
External links
- Necromandus tribute page
- [ Allmusic]