Angel Witch was first formed in England in 1978 by Kevin Heybourne after the break-up of his band Lucifer.
Angel Witch is one of the original NWOBHM bands and became a major influence on metal throughout the 1980's as well as the 1990's, maybe even today.
The original Angel Witch line up was Kevin Heybourne on vocals and guitar, Kevin Riddles on bass and Dave Hogg on drums.
Angel Witch appeared on the Friday Rock Show in 1978. Angel Witch song "Bapphomet", ended up on the EMI compilation "Metal For Muthas".
Angel Witch often shared the bill with Iron Maiden during the early days of the NWoBHM, and EMI signed both bands.
Angel Witch performed at the Heavy Metal Mayhem Barn Dance with Saxon, Motorhead, Girlschool, Vardis, and Mythra.
Angel Witch released the "Sweet Danger" single on 7" and 12" in 1980.
The band then shared the Bronze Record label with Motorhead and released a once in a decade classic "Angel Witch" in 1980.
In 1981.
Dave Hogg left the band and was replaced by Dave Dufort. This line-up only recorded one EP, called "Loser".
In 1982, Angel Witch was Kevin Heybourne, Roger Marsden (vocals), and Ricky Bruce (drums, Jerry Cunningham (bass).
Angel Witch decided to go back to a trio of Kevin Heybourne (guitar and vocals), Jerry Cunningham (bass), and Ricky Bruce (drums). This line-up recorded a live album called "'82 Revisited - Live At The East Anglia Rock Festival Mildenhall" with Kevin Heybourne on vocals throughout.
In 1984, Angel Witch,was bassist Peter Gordelier, Dave Hogg back into the line-up. Dave Tattum joined the band as a singer, and together, they recorded the album "Screamin' N' Bleedin'".
Dave Hogg left the band, and was replaced by Spencer Hollman. This line-up recorded, "Frontal Assault".
Dave Tattum left the band soon afterwards and the band went back to being a trio.
Angel Witch appeared at the 1987 Dynamo Festival. 1989, Angel Witch went on tour through California, adding Grant Dennison on rhythm guitar. Angel Witch recorded a live record on tour called "Live" on Metal Blade records.
Kevin Heybourne moved to San Francisco, the new Angel Witch would be Jon Torres on bass, Tom Hunting on drums. Guitarist Doug Piercy joined for a short time when Kevin was deported.
Jon Torres and Kevin Heybourne still kept in contact and sent tapes back and forth continuing to write music.
In 1997 Jon Torres went to England after many efforts to get Kevin back to the States to record. Kevin and Jon went into a small studio in England and started on a 3 song demo.
This demo/EP was released by the band to it's fans by the name "Resurrection" in 1998.
Because of the strong response from the fans when AngelWitch put up their own web site, the band decided to release a few other tapes never released. A 1987 4 song EP called "Psychopathic". and another tape "Twist Of The Knife", the three song demo recorded in 1990.
Later the band decided to release all three demos on one CD as "Resurrection", on their own later to be licensed to Crook'd Records and then again in 2003 by Mausoleum Records.
In 1999 Castle Communications re-released all of Angel Witch's classics.
In the year 2000 Jon Torres returned to the USA and Kevin Heybourne put together another line-up with Keith Herzberg, Richie Wicks, and Scott Higham and recorded ?000 ?Live At The LA2? and played the Wacken Festival 2000.
In December of 2002, Kevin Heybourne and Jon Torres reunited in London and decided to reform Angel Witch with what Kevin say's is the most powerful line-up to date, recruiting drummer Tom Hunting (Exodus), and guitarist Lee Altus former(Heathen, Die Krupps),even after Tom Hunting had to pass due to his schedule with Exodus and recruited Darren Minter of Heathen.
Kevin Heybourne (Angel Witch), Jon Torres (Angel Witch, Warning SF, Ulysses Siren) Darren Minter(Heathen), and Lee Altus (Heathen, Die Krupps). The new line-up is in the process of writing a new album together. The album is due out in early 2004.
Angel Witch will be on tour the summer of 2003, performing a set pf old Angel Witch material.