What you can definitely love England for is the amazing musical assortment that has taken over the world. A significant number of singers, singers and musical groups of various styles and genres came to the musical Olympus from the British Isles. Raven is one of the brightest British bands.
Punks love hard rockers Raven
The Gallagher brothers chose the rock style. They managed to find a worthy outlet for energy and conquer the world with their music.
The small industrial city of Newcastle (in the north-east of England) shuddered from the powerful "drinks" of the guys. Raven's original lineup included John and Mark Gallagher and Paul Bowden.
The musicians played traditional British hard rock, which gradually changed to heavy metal. The band members tried to attract the attention of the audience and listeners with their original behavior on stage. There was aggression in their performances, which they reinforced with a sports component.
Their stage costumes included helmets or protective gear for games ranging from hockey to baseball. Often, musicians tore off their helmets and began to play drum kits with them or run protective nozzles along guitar strings.
Such a show could not pass by real rebels - punks. Therefore, it is the Raven group that is honored to act as the opening act for such popular punk bands as The Stranglers and The Motors. It's hard to imagine that any other rock band could capture the attention of punk fans. But the musicians of the Raven group succeeded, and their hits were listened to with considerable interest.
Goodbye Britain, hello world!
After the first performances of talented rockers, the Neat Records label noticed and offered cooperation. This is not surprising, because it was this label that was the only one worthy and accessible to beginners in the north of England. The Gallagher Brothers' debut album was Rock Until You Drop.
It was released only in 1981, by that time the composition of the group had changed several times. The musical style also shifted from traditional hard rock to heavy metal and vice versa. Between 1980 and 1987 The Gallaghers played guitar and bass, and were responsible for vocals. And behind the drums was Rob Hunter.
The love of Neat Records label management for hyperactive activity forced the musicians to release their second album, Wiped Out, in 1982. Luckily for the Raven band, both LPs included very good recordings. Therefore, there has always been a place in the English charts for newcomers to British rock.
Such success prompted the musicians to take a risky step - an attempt to enter the US music market. And in 1983, the American recording studio Megaforce Records released their third album All for One.
As part of the American tour, Metallica and Anthrax played as the opening act for British rockers. The latter had yet to conquer the world, which had already opened up for the Raven team. The musicians moved from the working-class city of Newcastle to the "capital of the world" - New York.
By that time, although the musicians adhered to heavy metal, they allowed themselves to experiment in styles. Only in 1987, when Rob Hunter left the group, choosing a family instead of touring life, Joe Hasselwander was invited as a drummer. Thanks to him, the Raven team sounded like a classic heavy metal band.
Raven band: on the edge of the abyss
After the group Raven received American citizenship, its conquest of the world was unsuccessful. The management of various record companies demanded from the musicians either rigidity or suggested making the style softer. In 1986, due to the album The Pack Is Back, the band was left without a part of the fans. "Fans" were disappointed with the "pop" sound of their favorite band. And in 1988, America was carried away by grunge, so there was no place for heavy metal in the hearts of rock lovers.
The fact that the music of the Raven group was loved in Europe, and also new fans appeared in Japan, saved the group from disintegration. Therefore, the musicians focused on active tours for Asians and residents of European countries. The era of the 1990s passed unnoticed. During this time, the band managed to record three more full-fledged albums and actively went on tour.
The next test of strength was an accident. In 2001, Mark Gallagher almost became buried under a wall that collapsed on him. The musician survived, but broke both legs, which led to a forced break for the Raven group. Absence from the stage lasted four years.
It was scary for the guys to start active work in 2004. But already the first tour testified that the legendary musicians were not forgotten and are still loved.
Gallagher was forced to play while sitting in a wheelchair. In gratitude for the devotion, the group pleased their fans with another album. The album Walk Through Fire was released in 2009.
Today, the musicians continue to actively tour, delighting the audience with energetic performances. They demonstrate that the years are not subject to the Raven group, although in fact this is not so. Indeed, in 2017, Joe Hasselwander left the group, almost dying of a heart attack. Mike Heller is the new drummer for Raven. His mastery can be heard on Metal City's latest album, released in September 2020.
