Bio Full Biography »

Hailing from the tiny town of Whitley Bay in North-East England, the Tygers of Pan Tang (whose name originated from the Michael Moorcock novel Stormbringer) formed when aspiring vocalist Jess Cox met guitarist Robb Weir at the local pub in November 1978. Weir, along with bassist Rocky Laws and drummer Brian Dick, had recently formed a band that combined the lessons of early-'70s heavy metal legends such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple with the do-it-yourself ethos of punk -- an emerging style eventually dubbed the new wave of British heavy metal. After much rehearsing and gigging in the surrounding area, the foursome recorded a number of demos at Impulse Studios, whose owners (Neat Records) released their first single "Don't Touch Me There" in September 1979. Relentless touring across Britain followed as the band supported such childhood heroes as the Scorpions and Budgie, as well as NWOBHM peers like Iron Maiden and Saxon. They also signed a deal with MCA and entered London's Morgan ...