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{{Short description|English rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}}
{{Infobox musical artist
'''Necromandus''' were a rock band from [[Cumberland]], [[United Kingdom]]. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by [[Tony Iommi]] of [[Black Sabbath]] in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999. In 2007 they were mentioned in an article in [[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] magazine.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal |last=Sleazegrinder |magazine=Classic Rock |date=March 2007}}</ref> Author, [[Ian Christe]], has cited the band as one of the earliest [[doom metal]] groups.<ref>Christe (2003), pg. 345, "''Beginning with the overlooked Lucifer's Friend and Necromandus in the early 1970s, doom crawled through the 1980s with Trouble, Witchfinder General, the Obsessed, Candlemass, Pentagram, and Saint Vitus, then into the 1990s with Cathedral, Sleep, and Buring Witch.''"</ref>
| name = Necromandus
| background = group_and_band
| genre = {{Flatlist|
* [[Hard rock]]<ref name=Fricke>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/necromandus-heavy-seventies-rock-lost-and-found-53373/ |title=Necromandus: Heavy Seventies Rock, Lost and Found |last=Fricke |first=David |date=October 14, 2010 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Rivadavia2/>
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name=Everley/><ref name=ClassicRock/>
}}
| years_active = 1970–1973; 2016–present
| label = [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]
| origin = [[Egremont, Cumbria]], England
| associated_acts = [[Black Sabbath]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]]
| current_members = John Marcangelo<br/>[[Frank Hall (drummer)|Frank Hall]]<br/>Banjo Cunanan<br/>Dean Newton<br/>John Branch
| past_members = Barry Dunnery<br/>Dennis McCarten<br/>Bill Branch
}}


'''Necromandus''' are an English [[rock music|rock]] band from Egremont, [[Cucumberland]], England. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by [[Tony Iommi]] of [[Black Sabbath]] in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999.
⚫
== History ==
⚫
In 1968 two West [[Cumbria]]n bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on Necromandus after a radio show asked their audience for name suggestions. In 1972, after extensive gigging and a failure to release a record, they caught the eye of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.<ref>http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm</ref>


⚫
==History==
⚫
In early 1973 Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album ''[[Orexis of Death]]'' at London's Morgan Studio. Iommi also added some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]] and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as [[Tony Kaye (musician)|Tony Kaye]]'s [[Badger (band)|Badger]]. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo.<ref>Alastair Duncan, John Fisher [http://www.fenderstrat.co.uk/ "Cumbrian Bands of the 60s and 70s"]</ref> Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with [[Ozzy Osbourne]] initially wanting them for his ''[[Blizzard of Ozz]]'' project.{{fact|date=July 2009}}
⚫
In 1968, two West [[Cumbria]]n bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), [[Frank Hall (drummer)|Frank Hall]] (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on Necromandus after a radio show asked their audience for name suggestions.


In 1972, after extensive gigging and a failure to release a record, they caught the ear of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120630225054/http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm|url-status=dead|title=Necromandus|website=Archive.today|archivedate=2012-06-30}}</ref>
⚫
Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the [[Electric Light Orchestra|ELO]] offshoot [[Violinski]] in 1976.<ref>http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Nerves.htm</ref> Hall and Dunnery also played together in the [[New Wave Of British Heavy Metal]] band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was very brief.


⚫
In early 1973, Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album ''[[Orexis of Death]]'' at London's Morgan Studio. Iommi also added some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]] and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as [[Tony Kaye (musician)|Tony Kaye]]'s [[Badger (band)|Badger]]. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fenderstrat.co.uk/ |title=Cumbrian Bands & Groups of The 60's |publisher=Fenderstrat.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with [[Ozzy Osbourne]] initially wanting Necromandus's guitarist, bassist and drummer for his ''[[Blizzard of Ozz]]'' project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/article/We-should-have-been-as-big-as-Ozzy-7a830023-8c03-45f5-8045-c8f52a520272-ds|title=We should have been as big as Ozzy}}</ref> Dennis McCarten, Barry Dunnery, and Frank Hall were in fact the Original [[Blizzard Of Ozz]] with Osbourne in 1977.
The only surviving member of Necromandus is Frank Hall, as Dennis McCarten died in 2004 and Barry Dunnery (the elder brother of [[Francis Dunnery]]) died in 2008. The date of Bill Branch's death is currently unknown, though it is known he died sometime between the years 1980 and 2001.


⚫
Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the [[Electric Light Orchestra|ELO]] offshoot [[Violinski]] in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Nerves.htm|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120630225054/http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Nerves.htm|url-status=dead|title=Nerves|website=Archive.today|archivedate=2012-06-30}}</ref> Dunnery and Hall also played together in the [[new wave of British heavy metal]] band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was brief.
⚫
== Style ==
Hailed as "the second Sabbath" but with a prog edge, ''[[Melody Maker]]'' called Necromandus "a sort of Black Sabbath play [[Yes (band)|Yes]]' greatest hits".{{fact|date=July 2009}}


The only surviving member of the original lineup of Necromandus is Frank Hall: Dennis McCarten died of a kidney illness in December 2004 at the age of 54,<ref>{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2004b.html |title=2004 July to December |publisher=The Dead Rock Stars Club |date= |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> and Barry Dunnery (the elder brother of [[Francis Dunnery]]) died of cancer on 29 May 2008 at the age of 56.<ref>{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2008.html |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2008 January to June |publisher=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> Bill Branch died in June 1995 at the age of 45. <ref> Entry at FamilySearch for William J Branch: born 21 Mar 1950, died Jun 1995.</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/features/people/we-should-have-been-as-big-as-ozzy-1.687964?referrerPath=features |title=News & Star &#124; Features &#124; People &#124; We should have been as big as Ozzy |publisher=Newsandstar.co.uk |date=2010-03-25 |accessdate=2014-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730035510/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/features/people/we-should-have-been-as-big-as-ozzy-1.687964?referrerPath=features |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
⚫
== Discography ==

* ''Quicksand Dream'' (1991)
In 2016 the band was reformed with a new line-up to record a new album, based on recordings the band made in 1975. It was released in 2017. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/NecromandusMusic/posts/771498786333922|title=Necromandus Music|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=2020-05-29}}</ref>
⚫
* ''[[Orexis of Death]]'' (1999)

* ''Necrothology'' (best of, 2001)<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:w9fwxq85ldae</ref>
⚫
==Style==
Hailing the band as "the second Sabbath" but with a [[progressive rock|prog]] edge, ''[[Melody Maker]]'' called Necromandus "a sort of Black Sabbath play [[Yes (band)|Yes]]' greatest hits".<ref name=Everley/> The band's music has been classified as [[hard rock]],<ref name=Fricke>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/necromandus-heavy-seventies-rock-lost-and-found-53373/ |title=Necromandus: Heavy Seventies Rock, Lost and Found |last=Fricke |first=David |date=October 14, 2010 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Rivadavia2>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/orexis-of-death-live-mw0001966742 |title=Orexis of Death/Live Review |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref> [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]],<ref name=Everley>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-did-everything-go-so-wrong-for-necromandus |title=How did everything go so wrong for Necromandus? |last=Everley |first=Dave |date=July 18, 2017 |publisher=Louder |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=ClassicRock>{{Cite news |title=The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal |last=Sleazegrinder |magazine=Classic Rock |date=March 2007}}</ref> [[Heavy_metal_music#History|proto-metal]],<ref name=Rivadavia>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/necromandus-mn0001775496/biography |title=Necromandus Biography |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref> [[Blues rock|progressive blues]],<ref name=Rivadavia/> [[doom metal]]<ref name=Christe>Christe (2003), pg. 345, "''Beginning with the overlooked Lucifer's Friend and Necromandus in the early 1970s, Doom crawled through the 1980s with Trouble, Witchfinder General, The Obsessed, Candlemass, Pentagram, and Saint Vitus, then into the 1990s with Cathedral, Sleep, and Burning Witch.''"</ref> [[art rock]],<ref name=Rivadavia2/> [[folk jazz]]<ref name=Rivadavia2/> and [[progressive rock]].<ref name=Rivadavia2/>

==Line-up==

===Current members===
* John Branch – vocals <small>(2016–present)</small>
* Dean Newton – guitar <small>(2016–present)</small>
* Paul Spedding – bass <small>(2017–present)</small>
* John Marcangelo – keyboards <small>(2016–present)</small>
* [[Frank Hall (drummer)|Frank Hall]] – drums <small>(1970–1973, 2016–present)</small>

===Former members===
* Bill Branch – vocals <small>(1970–1973; died 1995)</small>
* Barry Dunnery – guitar <small>(1970–1973; died 2008)</small>
* Dennis McCarten – bass <small>(1970–1973; died 2004)</small>

⚫
==Discography==
* ''Quicksand Dream'' (1991, alternative version of ''Orexis of Death'')
⚫
* ''[[Orexis of Death]]'' (1999, recorded 1973)
* ''Necrothology'' (best of, 2005)<ref>{{cite web|author=Eduardo Rivadavia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/necromandus-mn0001775496 |title=Necromandus &#124; Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref>
* ''Live'' (2005)
* ''Live'' (2005)
* ''Orexis of Death Plus...'' (reissue, 2005)
* ''Orexis of Death Plus...'' (reissue, 2005)
* ''Orexis of Death / Live'' (reissue, 2010)
* ''Orexis of Death / Live'' (reissue, 2010)
* ''Necromandus'' (2017)

==Notes==
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
⚫
*[[Ian Christe|Christe, Ian]] (2003). ''Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal''. HarperCollins. ISBN 0380811278

==Bibliography==
⚫
*[[Ian Christe|Christe, Ian]] (2003). ''Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal''. HarperCollins. {{ISBN|0-380-81127-8}}

⚫
==External links==
* {{Official website|www.necromandusmusic.com/}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm|title=Necromandus tribute page|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120630225054/http://www.btinternet.com/%7Efenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm|archivedate=2012-06-30}}


{{Authority control}}
⚫
== External links ==
* [http://www.btinternet.com/~fenderstrat2/Necromandus.htm Necromandus tribute page]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:w9fwxq85ldae Allmusic]


[[Category:1970s music groups]]
[[Category:English hard rock musical groups]]
[[Category:English heavy metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1969]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1973]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2016]]

Latest revision as of 22:05, 15 November 2024

Necromandus
OriginEgremont, Cumbria, England
Genres
Years active1970–1973; 2016–present
LabelsVertigo
MembersJohn Marcangelo
Frank Hall
Banjo Cunanan
Dean Newton
John Branch
Past membersBarry Dunnery
Dennis McCarten
Bill Branch

Necromandus are an English rock band from Egremont, Cucumberland, England. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999.

History

[edit]

In 1968, two West Cumbrian bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on Necromandus after a radio show asked their audience for name suggestions.

In 1972, after extensive gigging and a failure to release a record, they caught the ear of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.[5]

In early 1973, Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album Orexis of Death at London's Morgan Studio. Iommi also added some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with Vertigo and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as Tony Kaye's Badger. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo.[6] Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with Ozzy Osbourne initially wanting Necromandus's guitarist, bassist and drummer for his Blizzard of Ozz project.[7] Dennis McCarten, Barry Dunnery, and Frank Hall were in fact the Original Blizzard Of Ozz with Osbourne in 1977.

Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the ELO offshoot Violinski in 1976.[8] Dunnery and Hall also played together in the new wave of British heavy metal band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was brief.

The only surviving member of the original lineup of Necromandus is Frank Hall: Dennis McCarten died of a kidney illness in December 2004 at the age of 54,[9] and Barry Dunnery (the elder brother of Francis Dunnery) died of cancer on 29 May 2008 at the age of 56.[10] Bill Branch died in June 1995 at the age of 45. [11] [12]

In 2016 the band was reformed with a new line-up to record a new album, based on recordings the band made in 1975. It was released in 2017. [13]

Style

[edit]

Hailing the band as "the second Sabbath" but with a prog edge, Melody Maker called Necromandus "a sort of Black Sabbath play Yes' greatest hits".[3] The band's music has been classified as hard rock,[1][2] heavy metal,[3][4] proto-metal,[14] progressive blues,[14] doom metal[15] art rock,[2] folk jazz[2] and progressive rock.[2]

Line-up

[edit]

Current members

[edit]
  • John Branch – vocals (2016–present)
  • Dean Newton – guitar (2016–present)
  • Paul Spedding – bass (2017–present)
  • John Marcangelo – keyboards (2016–present)
  • Frank Hall – drums (1970–1973, 2016–present)

Former members

[edit]
  • Bill Branch – vocals (1970–1973; died 1995)
  • Barry Dunnery – guitar (1970–1973; died 2008)
  • Dennis McCarten – bass (1970–1973; died 2004)

Discography

[edit]
  • Quicksand Dream (1991, alternative version of Orexis of Death)
  • Orexis of Death (1999, recorded 1973)
  • Necrothology (best of, 2005)[16]
  • Live (2005)
  • Orexis of Death Plus... (reissue, 2005)
  • Orexis of Death / Live (reissue, 2010)
  • Necromandus (2017)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fricke, David (14 October 2010). "Necromandus: Heavy Seventies Rock, Lost and Found". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Orexis of Death/Live Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Everley, Dave (18 July 2017). "How did everything go so wrong for Necromandus?". Louder. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock.
  5. ^ "Necromandus". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Cumbrian Bands & Groups of The 60's". Fenderstrat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  7. ^ "We should have been as big as Ozzy".
  8. ^ "Nerves". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012.
  9. ^ Doc Rock. "2004 July to December". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  10. ^ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2008 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. ^ Entry at FamilySearch for William J Branch: born 21 Mar 1950, died Jun 1995.
  12. ^ "News & Star | Features | People | We should have been as big as Ozzy". Newsandstar.co.uk. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Necromandus Music". Facebook.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  14. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Necromandus Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  15. ^ Christe (2003), pg. 345, "Beginning with the overlooked Lucifer's Friend and Necromandus in the early 1970s, Doom crawled through the 1980s with Trouble, Witchfinder General, The Obsessed, Candlemass, Pentagram, and Saint Vitus, then into the 1990s with Cathedral, Sleep, and Burning Witch."
  16. ^ Eduardo Rivadavia. "Necromandus | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
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