The Night Of The Demon:

Dave Hill - Mal Spooner - John Wright - Clive Cook - Paul Riley

DEMON were formed in 1980 by vocalist Dave Hill and guitarist Mal Spooner. They released their debut single "Liar"/"Wild Woman" (CLAY4) through Mike Stone's, Stoke-On-Trent based, CLAY Records. This 7" single came on glorious blood-red vinyl! In January 1981 DEMON went into the studio to record their classic debut album "Night Of The Demon". Clay Records signed a licensing deal with Carrere Records for the release of this LP. The next single "Ride The Wind" (CAR185) was taken from the album, however the B-Side contained the previously unreleased track 'On The Road'.

Also in 1981 the band recorded a session for the Friday Rock Show, at the BBC studios in Maida Vale. The session was produced bu Tony Wilson and the tracks recorded were: Full Moon/Night Of The Demon, One Helluva Night, Father Of Time and Decisions. The session was introduced by Tommy Vance on his Radio One Rock Show. "One Helluva Night"/"Into The Nightmare" (CAR226) was the second single to be taken from the album, Carrere issued a limited number of this single as a 7" picture disc. It was during this period that guitarist Clive Cook and bass player Paul Riley left the band; they were replaced by Les Hunt and Chris Ellis respectively.

Expect The Unexpected:

Dave Hill - Mal Spooner - John Wright - Chris Ellis - Les Hunt

Early in 1982 the new-look band recorded their second LP "The Unexpected Guest" at Bray Studios (the studio responible for producing several of the classic Hammer Horror films, including Dracula). The castle style building proved the perfect atmosphere for the group. Like the first album, this LP is regarded as one of the finest (and most powerful) albums to emerge from the NWOBHM period. Strong production from Pete Hinton (known for his work with Saxon) and the addition of Andy Richards' keyboards another dimension to the band's already powerful sound. In July 1982 a single, "Have We Been Here Before?"/"Victim Of Fortune" (CAR249), was released - both tracks being lifted from the LP. The band hit the road with a series of gigs to promote the new album and single.

Beware Of The Plague:

Dave Hill - Mal Spooner - John Wright - Chris Ellis Les Hunt - Andy Richards

These early gigs were an elaborate affair involving the use of intricate "DEMON" make-up, masks, costumes and even a grave complete with blowing leaves! In a very theatrical show Dave transformed into the characters from the first two albums - horned Demon, madman and even Father Of Time! These shows were a truly amazing spectacle - and had Carrere put some money into the band, to allow them to take their show out to a larger audience with a proper tour, then surely the band would have secured themselves a huge following. As it was, Carrere in their wisdom would not put any money behind the band and instead insisted that the band produce "marketable singles". DEMON would not be compromised and so split with Carrere Records. However, these early shows established the band as fine musicians able to produce the goods both in the recording studio and on stage. Not surprisingly the band had developed something of a cult following!

The band stayed with CLAY Records, the label set-up by their manager Mike Stone, but secured a US deal with Atlantic for the release of the next LP "The Plague". Released in 1983, this album marked a change of direction for the band; ditching their demonic stance in favour of keen social observation. DAVE HILL: "I think we did the devil stuff proud, but this band always had more to offer than that." The album sold well reaching number two in the Heavy Metal charts, and entering the UK Top 50. It was the last album to feature Andy Richards. The title track together with 'The Only Sane Man' was released as a double A-sided single (CLAY 25). Following this, DEMON went through a period of change; contractual problems with 'Atlantic' meant the band were unable to tour for almost two years, and the departure of Les Hunt and Chris Ellis came. Chris going on to present the Rock Show on BBC Radio Stoke, and Les joining the "Climax Blues Band".

Behind It All There's So Much More:

Dave Hill - Mal Spooner - John Wright - Steve Watts John Waterhouse - Gavin Sutherland

It was not until December 1984 that the band emerged with a new single, "Wonderland", backed with a remix of 'Blackheath' on the 7" whilst the 12" also had the remixed version of "Nowhere To Run" (CLAY41). This release marked the debut of Steve Watts (taking over on keyboards), John Waterhouse (guitar) and Gavin Sutherland (guesting on bass). The fourth LP "British Standard Approved", released in April '85, featured the same line-up. Seven days after the LP was completed disaster struck when Mal Spooner, founder member and co-writer with Dave Hill, tragically died of pneumonia. Mal was asthmatic with only one lung.

The Ship Sails On:

Dave Hill - John Wright - Steve Watts John Waterhouse - Gavin Sutherland

July '85 saw the release of a remixed version of 'Wonderland', again backed with the remixed versions of 'Blackheath' and 'Nowhere To Run' on the 12".

Released in December '85 was "Heart Of Our Time", the band's fifth LP. This album was recorded to see if the band could continue without Mal, and saw Dave forming a new songwriting partnership with Steve Watts. This was followed by a couple of live dates. A 12" sampler EP containing tracks from the last three albums was issued in April '86.

Expressing The Heart:

Dave Hill - John Wright - Steve Watts John Waterhouse - Andy Dale

To promote this the band played a few live dates with Andy Dale replacing Gavin on bass. Further gigs followed throughout 1986. In January '87, "The Unexpected Guest" LP was re-released by CLAY and, in June, a new studio album "Breakout" appeared.

Expressing The Heart:

Dave Hill - Steve Watts - John Waterhouse - Andy Dale Scott Crawford - Steve Brookes

John Wright leaves the band after this album to be replaced by Scott Crawford. Steve Brookes (previously in Discharge) is also brought in as an additional guitarist for live work. This additional departure leaves Dave Hill as the only surviving member of the original line-up!

The band undertake a successful tour of Germany during November of '87, and with the "Breakout" album selling well, U.K. gigs become more regular. Clay Records secure the rights for the first album, "Night Of The Demon", which is re-released in April '88. Also in April, Clay released a gatefold sleeved double-pack 7" single, featuring a new track 'Tonight (The Hero Is Back)' together with 'Hurricane' and remixed versions of the old favourite 'Night Of The Demon' and 'Don't Break The Circle' (CLAY48D). Bass player Andy Dale leaves the band and is replaced by another ex-Discharge member, Nick Bushell.

This Time We're Taking The World By Storm:

Dave Hill - Steve Watts - John Waterhouse - Scott Crawford Steve Brookes - Nick Bushell

In March 1989, DEMON FEEDBACK is set up to provide an information service for DEMON fans worldwide. The first newsletter was produced in April '89.

This line-up records seven new tracks for an album released in June'89, "Taking The World By Storm". Mike Stone moves from Stoke to Wolverhampton, selling Clay Records in the process, and sets up a brand new label, 'Sonic Records'. DEMON tour the UK during September and October playing ten gigs to promote the new album.

After this tour, Central Television filmed the band performing 'Blue Skies In Red Square' in a studio in Stoke-On-Trent, the song was particularly topical at the time with the fall of the Berlin Wall. A brief interview with Dave plus an excerpt of 'Blue Skies...' were featured on Central News, Wednesday 22nd November 1989. The band then headed over to Europe, for a 12 date tour of Germany, supported by "Domain". The Ludwigsburg "Rockfabrik" gig (December 10th 1989) was captured by the Dierks-Mobile for possible future release.

Early in 1990, 'Which CD?' magazine printed its yearly awards; "Taking The World By Storm" won DEMON the "Best Heavy Metal CD of 89" award - beating off strong competition! August 1990 saw Sonic Records release the 15 track double live album (recorded during the German tour); "One Helluva Night - Live In Germany". It captured the full spirit of DEMON live!

September 1990 saw DEMON booked to headline an all British Rock Festival in Wiltshire. Unfortunately, the "Wyatts Lake Rock '90 Festival" was washed out - just before DEMON were due onstage, the heavens opened and there was a torrential downpour. The PA company pulled out even though the band were willing to play, leaving both the band and the fans extremely disappointed.

DAVE HILL: "It's not us (the band) I feel sorry for, but all the fans who have travelled to be here..." The band were in no way to blame, I guess you could put it down as 'the presence of the unexpected guest'!

Towards the end 1990, DEMON are invited by Tommy Vance & Tony Wilson (BBC Radio One) to record a brand new session for the Friday Rock Show. The set of: The Lion's Share/Don't Break The Circle/No More Hell On Earth/Commercial Dynamite; broadcast in January '91 (and repeated in May) showed the band to be as powerful as ever, almost 10 years after the first Rock Show session