Witchfynde -

Witchfynde was an English hard-rock/metal band, active six years on the midlands circuit before their 1980 albums Give ‘Em Hell and Stagefright, both on Rondelet Music. They reappeared with the 1983 Expulsion album Cloak & Dagger, followed by the 1984 Mausoleum release Lords of Sin.

Members: Trevor Taylor [aka Montalo] (guitar), Gra Scoresby (drums), Neil Harvey (lead vocals, 1973-75), Richard Blower (bass, 1973-75), Steve Bridges (lead vocals, 1975-80), Andro Coulton (bass, 1975-80), Luther Beltz [aka Chalky White] (lead vocals, 1981-84, 1999, 2008-present), Pete Surgey (bass, 1981-83, 1999-present), Edd Wolfe (bass, 1984), Al Short (bass, 1984)

Background

Witchfynde formed in 1974 in Derby when guitarist Montalo (Trevor Taylor) joined Mangalia, a local band with singer Neil Harvey, bassist Richard “Butch” Blower, and drummer Gra Scoresby. The Mangalia musicians recruited Montalo at a gig with Atiofel, a band he played in with schoolmates. Witchfynde initially performed songs by Black Sabbath, UFO, Budgie, and Montrose. The group supported Thin Lizzy on November 22, 1974, at the Great Hall of Derby College.

Bassist Andro Coulton grew up in Derby and played folk material around 1973 with Scoresby and singer Steve Bridges in the Holmes Street Jug Band. He joined Witchfynde in 1974 as a roadie and lighting engineer, then replaced Blower in early 1975 when the bassist suffered a car crash. Bridges, a friend and colleague of Coulton, replaced Harvey in early summer 1975 as lead singer.

Witchfynde recorded five original songs in December 1975 at Drumbeat Studios in Leicester. Coulton took cassette copies in early 1976 to Virgin, A&M, and Chrysalis in London, but each label declined a contract. The quartet abandoned those songs and developed a new repertoire of extended pieces with several sections, including “Unto the Ages of the Ages” and “Tetelestai.”

Witchfynde toured England and Wales from 1976, with appearances at the Bluebell Inn in Bolsover and the Brimington Tavern in Chesterfield. The musicians planned a second demo in 1977 with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at a Coventry studio. Iommi withdrew when Black Sabbath sessions overran, so Witchfynde produced “Valkyrian Ride” and “Tetelestai.” Fans received monthly newsletters and could buy exclusive cassettes through the Coven fan club.

Witchfynde added shorter songs in early 1979 to the live set. The musicians used income from gigs to finance sessions that year at Fairview Studios in Willerby, near Hull. Montalo took the Fairview tapes with Scoresby to Mike Comerford and Alan Campion, owners of the Roundabout record shop in Mansfield. The shop owners attended a Witchfynde gig and signed the band to their new label, Round Records. Round issued “Give ’Em Hell” in December 1979 (b/w “Gettin’ Heavy”); the owners renamed the label Rondelet ahead of the debut album, Give ’Em Hell.

Discography:

Give ‘Em Hell (1980)
Stagefright (1980)
Cloak & Dagger (1983)
Lords of Sin (1984)

Sources

Montalo — Snakepit interview (2000). First-person account of the 1974 recruitment, school band, Bridges connection, self-financed recordings, and Roundabout owners. (True Metal Fan)
Andro Coulton — “Classic ’79 Debut To Be Re-activated…” Confirms the founding lineup, roadie role, Blower car crash, and early-summer recruitment of Bridges. (Sentinel Daily)
Andro Coulton — Witchfynde interview (2023). Identifies Mangalia and Atiofel; dates the rejected demo submissions, touring, Coven cassettes, and shorter 1979 songs. (It’s Psychedelic Baby)
Andro Coulton — “Lost Tapes on Wax” interview (2014). Describes Drumbeat, the London label submissions, and the cancelled Iommi production arrangement. (Zero Tolerance)
Witchfynde — The Lost Tapes archive. Label account of the Holmes Street Jug Band, early venues, and December 1975 and 1977 recording dates. (Bad Omen Records)
Thin Lizzy / Witchfynde — Derby College concert poster. Original advertisement for the November 22, 1974 support appearance. (Thin Lizzy Guide)
“Give ’Em Hell” / “Gettin’ Heavy” — Round 1. December 1979 single entry with sleeve and label scans; distinguishes the Round pressing from the Rondelet reissue. (45cat)