Demon is a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band with a flair for shocking performances that went over the top. Demon’s music was more of a blend of hard rock and New Wave of British Heavy Metal than it was straight ahead rock.
However Demon’s music had some of the extra added attractions that came along with hard rock as well as having an aspect of no nonsense to their music. While some New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands have had aspects of rise, decline, and revival in their history, Demon has had a steady popularity with its fan base over the years.
Demon started in 1980 in Staffordshire, England. And didn’t have much trouble getting signed to a record label. Demon’s first label was Clay Records, then French label Carrere of Saxon fame. Their first recording was “Liar 7” and was hit.
In 1981, the band had a new lead guitarist (Les Hunt) and new bassist (Chris Ellis), and released their first album “Night of the Demon. “ “Night of the Demon” had some serious gothic influences. One side of the album was dark NWOBHM, while the other was hard rock. The album sold well, and was followed by “Unexpected Guest” in 1982. A keyboard player, Andy Wright, was added to the band as well.
As time went on, Demon fell out of favour and Carrere records dropped them after their poorly received third album entitled “The Plague.” Demon’s style was beginning to change, and their sound became more about progressive rock that New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
Just before their fourth album“British Standard Approved”, Mal Spooner, one of its founders, died. Mal died of pneumonia in December of 1984. Dave Hill tried to carry on the band in honor of Mal Spooner, but subsequent albums took on a Punk music tone, and weren’t as successful. Dave Hill closed down the band in 1990. In 1999, however, Hill hired a new backup band and cut the “Space Out Monkey” album, which was released in 2001.
And it didn’t end there. Demon are still rockin’ and shockin.’ Better The Devil You Know came out in 2005 and the band continue to gig with various festival appearances lined up for this year.
Here’s a cut of that Liar single that started it all off 30 years ago…..