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. Tank was often compared to Motörhead as both bands, trios fronted by singing bassists, played a loose, almost punk-styled metal music with often colourful lyrics.[1][2]
Tank | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Heavy metal, speed metal |
| Years active | 1980-1989 1997–present |
| Labels | Kamaflage, Music For Nations, Spiritual Beast/Zoom Club |
| Mitglieder | Doogie White Michael John "Mick" Tucker Cliff Evans Chris Dale Mark Cross |
| Past members | Algy Ward Peter Brabbs Mark Brabbs Michael Bettell Graeme Crallan Gary Taylor Steve Hopgood Bruce Bisland Dave 'Grav' Cavill |
| Website | http://tankofficial.com/ |
Their 1982 debut album, Filth Hounds of Hades, was positively received by both punk and metal fans as well as most critics, regarded now as one of the best albums of the NWOBHM movement.[3][4] Allmusic critic, Eduardo Rivadavia; described it as "Tank's best album ever, and qualifying it as an essential item in the record collection of any serious '80s metal fan."
As was the case with many other bands of the era, Tank was never able to build on the promise shown by their first album. The band continued on for years through lineup changes and waning commercial fortunes before finally disbanding in 1989. Ward resurrected the band in 1997 playing tour dates around Europe and Japan for a couple of years. A new album, Still At War, emerged in 2002. In August 2006 Ward reported that he was putting the finishing touches on the demos for the next Tank album, Sturmpanzer.[5] The band's website has listed the release date for this album as "TBA" for years.
On December 20, 2008, a new lineup was announced. Guitarists Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans were joined by original drummer Mark Brabbs and former Bruce Dickinson bassist Chris Dale. Algy Ward was replaced by former Rainbow singer Doogie White. The first Tank album featuring this new lineup is entitled War Machine and was released in October 2010.[needs update]
Discography
Albums
- Filth Hounds of Hades (Kamaflage 1982) - UK Number 33[6]
- Power of the Hunter (Kamaflage 1982)
- This Means War (Music for Nations 1983)
- Honour & Blood (Music for Nations 1984)
- Tank (GWR 1987)
- Still At War (Zoom Club 2002)
- War Machine (Metal Mind Productions 2010)
Singles
- "Don't Walk Away" (Kamaflage 1981)
- "Stormtrooper" (Kamaflage 1982)
- "Turn Your Head Around" (Kamaflage 1982)
- "Crazy Horses" (Kamaflage 1982)
- "Echos of a Distant Battle" (Music for Nations 1983)
Compilation / live albums
- Armour Plated (Rawpower 1985)
- The Return of the Filth Hounds Live (Rising Sun 1998)
- War of Attrition (live '81) (Zoom Club 2001)
- The Filth Hounds of Hades - Dogs of War 1981-2002 (Metal-Mind 2007)
Mitglieder
| Dates | Releases | Instruments | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocalist | Bassist | Guitarist | Guitarist | Drummer | |||
| 1980–1982 | Filth Hounds of Hades | Algy Ward | Pete Brabbs | Mark Brabbs | Original line up as a 3 piece | ||
| 1983 | This Means War | Pete Brabbs | Mick Tucker | 1st line up as a 4 piece | |||
| 1984 | Honour & Blood | Cliff Evans | Graeme Crallan
Michael Bettel | ||||
| 1985 - 1988 | Tank | Gary Taylor | |||||
| 1997 - 2001 | Steve Hopgood | ||||||
| 2001 - 2008 | Still At War | Bruce Bisland | |||||
| 2009 | Doogie White | Chris Dale | Mark Brabbs (returns) | 1st line up as a 5 piece | |||
| 2010 | War Machine | Dave "Grav" Cavill | |||||
| 2011–Present | Mark Cross | ||||||
Timeline
See also
References
- ^ "NWOBHM Encyclopedia". Retrieved 20 July 2009.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (2005). The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal Volume 2: The Eighties. Toronto: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 350. ISBN 1-894959-31-0.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=2746
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r238833
- ^ "TANK Mainman Putting Finishing Touches On 'Sturmpanzer'".
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 549. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.