White Spirit (band)
Encyclopedia
White Spirit was a hard rock band from Hartlepool
, England, best remembered for guitarist Janick Gers
who went on to play with Ian Gillan
, Bruce Dickinson
, and ultimately, Iron Maiden
. Other members of the band were Bruce Ruff (vocals), Malcolm Pearson (keyboards), Phil Brady (bass), and Graeme Crallen (drums).
although their sound was closer to that of 1970s hard rock acts such as Deep Purple
or Uriah Heep
. The band issued their debut single, "Backs to the Grind", on the fledgling heavy metal
independent label Neat Records
in 1980. It was backed with "Cheetah", which would also appear on Neat's Lead Weight compilation (and again on the retrospective New Wave Of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited
double LP/CD in 1990, compiled by noted NWOBHM enthusiast Lars Ulrich
of Metallica
and former Kerrang!
editor Geoff Barton
). White Spirit featured on various other notable NWOBHM compilations such as Volume 2 of Metal For Muthas
, the Muthas Pride EP, Brute Force, and 60 Minutes Plus.
With the upsurge of the NWOBHM, White Spirit moved to the MCA
label on which they released their first and only album in 1980. The album was simply titled White Spirit and featured cover artwork by Michael Spaldin who later worked on stage set design for Gillan
. That same year White Spirit made an appearance at the prestigious Reading Festival. The group suffered a serious blow in 1981 when guitarist Janick Gers accepted an offer from former Deep Purple
frontman Ian Gillan
to join his solo outfit Gillan
in place of Bernie Torme
. Gers would go on to record the Double Trouble
and Magic
albums before Ian Gillan decided to dissolve the band and joined Black Sabbath
for their 1983 album Born Again. Gers was part of the short lived UK supergroup Gogmagog
, also featuring former members of Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, and Whitesnake, who folded after releasing a sole EP, I Will Be There
, in 1985.
White Spirit bassist Phil Brady later played with the Teesside
metal band Therapy from 1990–1991, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Battle Of The Bands competition at Rio's in Bradford
in 1990. He left White Spirit after their first studio album and was replaced by Ian Shuttleworth. Drummer Graeme Crallan
, also known as 'Crash', joined Tank
in 1984 and played on their Honour and Blood album. He quit the following year. Crallan died at Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead on 27 July 2008 after a fall in York Way, London.
The band's eponymous album was re-issued in 2005 on the Castle label with an entire second disc's worth of bonus material, including rarities, demos, alternate versions and takes, and B-sides. Most notable amongst these additional tracks is one entitled "Watch Out", originally found on the 60 Minutes Plus compilation in 1982, recorded after vocalist Bruce Ruff had left the band. Instead, future Ted Nugent
and Bad Company
singer Brian Howe
contributed lead vocals.
The re-issue is currently in print in Japan only where Universal Music Japan issued the album as a re-mastered Limited Edition SHM (Super High Material technology) Mini-LP Sleeve CD in 2008. However this latest re-issue does not include various bonus tracks found on the original Castle edition. The aforementioned 2-CD Castle re-issue can fetch over $100 at specialty music shops and online sites.
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, England, best remembered for guitarist Janick Gers
Janick Gers
Janick Robert Gers is an English musician, best known for being one of the three current guitarists in Iron Maiden, along with Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, as well as his earlier work with Gillan and White Spirit.-Career and Personal Life:...
who went on to play with Ian Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
, Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, and ultimately, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Other members of the band were Bruce Ruff (vocals), Malcolm Pearson (keyboards), Phil Brady (bass), and Graeme Crallen (drums).
History
White Spirit, co-founded by Gers and Crallan in 1975, are considered part of the New Wave of British Heavy MetalNew 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...
although their sound was closer to that of 1970s hard rock acts such as Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
or Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
. The band issued their debut single, "Backs to the Grind", on the fledgling heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
independent label Neat Records
Neat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
in 1980. It was backed with "Cheetah", which would also appear on Neat's Lead Weight compilation (and again on the retrospective New Wave Of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited
New Wave of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited is a compilation album of various songs by various artists of the NWOBHM. The compilation was assembled by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and music journalist Geoff Barton...
double LP/CD in 1990, compiled by noted NWOBHM enthusiast Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and former Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
editor Geoff Barton
Geoff Barton
Geoff Barton is a British journalist who founded Kerrang! heavy metal magazine and was an editor of Sounds music magazine.He joined Sounds at the age of nineteen after completing a journalism course at the London College of Printing. He specialised in covering rock music and helped popularise the...
). White Spirit featured on various other notable NWOBHM compilations such as Volume 2 of Metal For Muthas
Metal for Muthas
Metal For Muthas is the name given to a series of heavy metal compilations made during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The original compilation was Metal For Muthas , released in February 1980...
, the Muthas Pride EP, Brute Force, and 60 Minutes Plus.
With the upsurge of the NWOBHM, White Spirit moved to the MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
label on which they released their first and only album in 1980. The album was simply titled White Spirit and featured cover artwork by Michael Spaldin who later worked on stage set design for Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
. That same year White Spirit made an appearance at the prestigious Reading Festival. The group suffered a serious blow in 1981 when guitarist Janick Gers accepted an offer from former Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
frontman Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
to join his solo outfit Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
in place of Bernie Torme
Bernie Tormé
Bernie Tormé is a rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner.-Early career:...
. Gers would go on to record the Double Trouble
Double Trouble (Gillan album)
Double Trouble is an album by the British rock band Gillan, released in 1981. It was released as a double album, the first disc containing studio material, and the second containing live recordings. It reached #12 in the UK charts. In 1989, Virgin re-released the album, with the same track listing,...
and Magic
Magic (Gillan album)
Magic is an album by British rock band Gillan, their final collaboration, released in 1982. It was reissued in 1989 with seven "bonus" tracks, including cover versions and B-sides. "South Africa" /"John" was a single Ian had written and recorded with guitarist Bernie Marsden.Although the album was...
albums before Ian Gillan decided to dissolve the band and joined 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...
for their 1983 album Born Again. Gers was part of the short lived UK supergroup Gogmagog
Gogmagog (band)
Gogmagog were a British supergroup put together by British record producer Jonathan King that featured former Iron Maiden members Paul Di'Anno and Clive Burr, former White Spirit and Gillan guitarist Janick Gers , original Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis, and bassist Neil Murray, who has played...
, also featuring former members of Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, and Whitesnake, who folded after releasing a sole EP, I Will Be There
I Will Be There (EP)
I Will Be There is an EP recorded by the British hard rock supergroup Gogmagog. It was their sole release. Although there were several positive reviews for the tracks, the project was abandoned when the EP failed to chart....
, in 1985.
White Spirit bassist Phil Brady later played with the Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
metal band Therapy from 1990–1991, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Battle Of The Bands competition at Rio's in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
in 1990. He left White Spirit after their first studio album and was replaced by Ian Shuttleworth. Drummer Graeme Crallan
Graeme Crallan
Graeme Crallan was a British heavy metal drummer from Hartlepool, England. Also known as Crash Crallan, he formed White Spirit along with Janick Gers in 1975. They released their debut album in 1980. The album flopped and they split up in 1981. Crallan then joined up with Tank in 1984, and played...
, also known as 'Crash', joined Tank
Tank (band)
Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
in 1984 and played on their Honour and Blood album. He quit the following year. Crallan died at Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead on 27 July 2008 after a fall in York Way, London.
The band's eponymous album was re-issued in 2005 on the Castle label with an entire second disc's worth of bonus material, including rarities, demos, alternate versions and takes, and B-sides. Most notable amongst these additional tracks is one entitled "Watch Out", originally found on the 60 Minutes Plus compilation in 1982, recorded after vocalist Bruce Ruff had left the band. Instead, future Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
and Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
singer Brian Howe
Brian Howe (singer)
Brian Anthony Howe is an English rock singer and songwriter, best known for replacing Paul Rodgers as the lead vocalist of Bad Company. Howe's career was jump-started in 1983 when Ted Nugent recruited him to handle lead vocals for his Penetrator album and front its subsequent world tour.-Early...
contributed lead vocals.
The re-issue is currently in print in Japan only where Universal Music Japan issued the album as a re-mastered Limited Edition SHM (Super High Material technology) Mini-LP Sleeve CD in 2008. However this latest re-issue does not include various bonus tracks found on the original Castle edition. The aforementioned 2-CD Castle re-issue can fetch over $100 at specialty music shops and online sites.
Compilations
- 1980: Metal for MuthasMetal for MuthasMetal For Muthas is the name given to a series of heavy metal compilations made during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The original compilation was Metal For Muthas , released in February 1980...
Volume II [EMI Records] ("High Upon High") - 1980: Muthas Pride 12" EP [EMI Records] ("Red Skies")
- 1980: Brute Force LP [MCA Records] ("Back To The Grind")
- 1981: Lead Weight LP [Neat/Base Records] ("Cheetah")
- 1982: 60 Minutes Plus cassette [Neat Records] ("Watch Out")
- 1983: All Hell Let Loose LP [Base Records] ("Watch Out")
- 1987: Metal Minded CD [Prism Entertainment] ("Watch Out")
- 1990: New Wave of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited CD [Metal Blade] ("Cheetah")
Singles & EPs
- 1980: "Backs to the Grind" b/w "Cheetah" [Neat Records] (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#3) - 1980: "Midnight Chaser" b/w "Suffragettes" [MCA Records]
- 1980: "High Upon High" b/w "No Reprieve", "Arthur Guitar" [MCA Records]