Jarvis Leatherby
Musician, Promoter and NWOBHM Enthusiast
Muthas, I was lucky enough to be able to interview the main man in Night Demon - Jarvis Leatherby - about the New Wave Of British Metal. It's a very cool interview and Jarvis has some really insightful (and lengthy!) answers to my questions. So let's see what Jarvis has to say about NWOBHM. Enjoy!
MBOM: Jarvis, thanks so much for doing this interview! How's the
touring going for the new Night Demon album?
Jarvis: So far so good. We are about 1/3 of the way through the
touring cycle for Darkness Remains.
We've done a ton of European headline touring and festivals, along with
some big U.S. Festivals. Heading back to
Europe at the beginning of the year to support Accept for about six weeks, then
returning stateside to do some more damage out here. Although it's a grueling lifestyle, I can
proudly say that we are really enjoying it now more than ever.
MBOM: In addition to being in
Night Demon you are also the
singer for NWOBHM legends
Jaguar. How did that come to pass? Any plans for a
new
Jaguar album with you at the mic?
Jarvis: A few years back,
Jaguar's then time manager had contacted me regarding the band looking for a
new vocalist. They had heard Night
Demon's cover of "Axe Crazy" (on the expanded version of our debut EP) and
thought I would be a good fit.
Unfortunately at the time, I was right in the middle of a Night Demon
tour and had another one to follow right after.
It also didn't help that the rest of the band was spread over the U.K.
And Sweden.
About a year and a half went by with little to no
communication when I came across a poster for a big NWOBHM festival in the U.K
and saw their name on it. I immediately
contacted Garry Pepperd (founding guitarist of Jaguar) to find out who they got
to fill the role of lead singer. He
explained that they still had nobody, and had hoped to get somebody in on time
to do the show, but to no avail. At that
point I knew I would be available for this particular date, so I picked up our
conversation where we left off and I agreed to do the gig and see how it
goes.
Night Demon had just come off a tour in Mexico with Skull
Fist, and I immediately got off the plane in Los Angeles, can hopped on another
plane to London. I got to spend a couple
days with Simon and Garry prior to the gig (not rehearsing mind you) drinking
and getting to know each other. We hit
it off so well, it felt like we had been best mates forever. I met Nate the drummer onstage at the gig,
and we busted out an amazing set in Sheffield, and the rest is history.
Power Games is such a huge vocal influence to me, it's a
surreal feeling to be up there with those guys on stage and live out a real
rock and roll dream. I'm a great fit for
the band, and at the moment we are just taking things as they come and keeping
it a fun and low pressure situation. The
great thing is the band has never rehearsed since I've been in it, and we just
have this mutual trust on stage that seems to work really well while also
feeling very spontaneous.
MBOM: What song/comp/album started you on your journey of
listening to and collecting NWOBHM?
Jarvis: NWOBHM 79' Revisited. That was the one that did it all for me. I haven't been the same since. It changed my view of metal in the most
positive way. In the pre-internet years
there were so many NWOBHM bands that I had heard of, seen photos, artwork, new
song titles, etc. that I had never actually heard with my own ears. One day I was at Best Buy in the suburban
town I grew up in, and I came across the double CD version of this in the racks. I couldn't believe my fucking eyes! I had no knowledge of this compilation ever
existing, so to me I was in heaven and completely blown away with excitement of
what I was holding in my hands, and what I was inevitably going to buy and rush
home to throw into my stereo.
I remember specifically the excitement of popping in the
first disc so I could finally here “It's Electric” by Diamond Head. Here is a song that I had heard about for a
long time, but never had the opportunity to actually ever listen to. That was just the tip of the iceberg in all
actuality. The songs and the bands
themselves just kept my attention track by track from beginning to end. I thought I had an idea of what NWOBHM was
all about, but this thing really took me to my first major schooling on the
genre.
This compilation was something much more focused than
Metal for Muthas. You also had twice three times as much music here. I suppose in hindsight guys like Lars Ulrich
and Brian Slagel could really be able to put together something more
comprehensive like this because the scene had already been and gone. Where as
Metal for Muthas was released in the
thick of it all.
I discovered so many bands from this compilation. One thing I will say about it know a days is
that the bands that were on this very damn lucky to be included. Now that my knowledge of NWOBHM bands has
more than doubled from that point in time, there are so many unsung heroes of
the scene that were really great. If
only they were on this comp, maybe their careers would have been different in
the later reunion years of some of these bands.
MBOM: What's your favorite NWOBHM single?
This is a strange one because the sing is very commercial and
poppy sounding. Almost like it could've
easily been a Rick Springfield song or something like that, but something about
taking the risk to release a song like that as a single, really excites
me. It's a great song with some really good
hooks, and although the production is big sounding, the tones are very raw and
rock and roll. The song also kind of
reminds me of something Rainbow would do in the Graham Bonnet era. Funny thing is that the band didn't even
write this song, so I assume this was the record label's attempt to get a hit
song out of AIIZ.
The cover art is fantastic!
A killer live shot of the band on stage with red lights and fog! That's exactly how Night Demon was in the
early days. We brought our own red
lights and fog machines to every gig. It
was our signature. Maybe subliminally
that came from this image. Who knows?
Now the b-side “Ringside Seat” is really what's gonna save my
ass here. LOL!
This has got to be one of my favorite songs of all
time!!!!!!!!!! From the intro down to
the last note. If you ever want to
explain to someone what rock and roll sounds like, this is the first song they
should ever hear. I don't need to go
into explaining why, or breaking down the song.
Just simply go listen to it and feel that feeling.
MBOM: What's your favorite NWOBHM LP?
Jarvis: Angel Witch – Angel
Witch
This is a question I would normally struggle with, but in
truth it's not that tough a decision when I really answer the full
question. To me it's my favorite because
it's such a complete album. There are
enough songs, the sequence is perfect, the dynamics are definitely there, there
is an interesting yet unmistakable sound to the album, and the artwork is
iconic.
We have been fortunate enough to get to know Kevin and the
band and play quite a few shows with them.
I absolutely love the band and they are definitely in my top five
favorite NWOBHM bands of all time.
MBOM: What's your favorite NWOBHM compilation released back in
the 80s?
Jarvis: I would have to say
Roksnax. It's a pretty rare comp that
our former guitar player
Brent Woodward turned me onto.
Hollow Ground was one of the bands on there,
and really blew me away.
Saracen, as
well. This comp has a lot of more rare
NWOBHM bands, but the quality of the bands is really high in my opinion, and
I'm really glad he turned me onto it when he did.
MBOM: Which band had the better debut album -
Iron Maiden or
Angel Witch?
Jarvis: This is a loaded
question. Difficult to say, but if I had
to make a choice, I would say Maiden.
Angel Witch in my mind had a better album, but Maiden's debut is just a
total and complete game changer. You
could argue that the Soundhouse Tapes was the true debut, but really with the
artwork, and the songs, the first Maiden album really did so much to advance
the genre. Angel Witch is still my
favorite of the two, but with Angel Witch, you kind of feel that it's more
sophisticated than a debut. I have
nothing ever bad to say about Maiden, and I'm not here, but even as amazing as
the self titled is, I still prefer Killers to the debut. Better production, and more direction in the
song writing and themes.
MBOM: Which Brian Ross band do you like the most -
Satan,
Blitzkrieg,
Avenger or
Lone Wolf?
Jarvis: Satan. I'm not just saying that because I manage the
band, either. For my money,
Satan is a
band who is a the top of their game.
There's not been anything I didn't like that the band has ever
released. I think Brian's voice fits the
band well, and has since he joined over thirty years ago. He is the voice of
Satan. It's so rare to see a band like them these
days. The original five members from the
Court in the Act era are still playing together, and writing and recording, and
performing on the highest level. So
maybe that is why I manage the band.
They are the best! It's
undeniable.
MBOM: Was
Motorhead a NWOBHM band or were they a precursor like
Judas Priest?
Jarvis: Definitely not a NWOBHM band.
They are more a U.K. Punk band than anything in my opinion. At least when they started. They are one of the most important bands to
the NWOBHM movement, but they came before and helped inspire it all, along with
Priest, punk rock, and the big three (
Sabbath,
Zepplin, and
Purple).
MBOM: Please recommend a good playlist for a NWOBHM newcomer.
Jarvis:
MBOM: Which NWOBHM band do you wish had been more
successful/well known?
Jarvis: Raven.
They get well known for the first band to take Metallica on
tour. Well they were also the first band
to take Night Demon on tour. So
what?! The fact is that Raven still have
more energy on stage today as any metalcore acrobatic band out there. This guys are the real deal and always have
been. There are so many great songs that
span their catalog, it would be hard for me to pick the perfect setlist by
them, because something would obviously have to be left out. I'm not sure if it was bad decisions, bad
management, the public not being mature enough for them, or all of the
above. The fact that Raven's still not
as well known as they should be continues to blow my mind. I'm happy to have them still around, as I
know their die hard fans are. The
positive thing is that they are still making new records, touring the globe,
and always have a certain spark in them that makes them relevant today, and
always working toward a better future for the band. They are one of the most important bands in
the NWOBHM scene, and there can never be a conversation about the genre without
mentioning them. Their legacy is
cemented.
MBOM: Which of the classic "Black And White EPs" is
your favorite -
Paralax -
White Lightning,
Mythra -
Death And Destiny, or
Crucifixion -
Green Eyes?
Jarvis: Mythra.
I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with this band
many times, and every time
"Death and Destiny" or
"UFO" is played, and just can't
stop smiling.
Paralex and
Crucifixion
also put out good EPs, but the
Mythra EP has a little more musicianship for me,
good solid rock hooks, and a production more liking to my ear. Overall it's a more solid outing in my
opinion.
MBOM:
Night Demon's covers of
Jaguar's "Axe Crazy"
and
Diamond Head's "Lightning To The Nations" are excellent. Any
plans for any other NWOBHM covers?
Jarvis: Yes, we are actually
in the studio next week to record a cover of
LeGriffe's “Fast Bikes”. Here's another band that had it not been for
our friend Rob McNees in Houston, TX, we would have never heard of, would have
had to wait to discover it years later.
Rob made us an old school mix-tape for the road, because our touring van
only had a cassette player in it. The
tape began with the
Fast Bikes EP. We
ere totally blown away! I think we must
have listened to that thing hundreds of times on tour, and we still do to this
day. Definitely a diamond in the rough,
and a band that fell through the NWOBHM cracks.
I highly recommend checking out this band.
MBOM: Which NWOBHM band that never released an album do you
wish had released a full length? (Five bonus points for picking
Trespass.)
Jarvis: I'm actually going to
say
Buffalo. I know they put out a
record in the 2000's way late in their career, but really those first singles
are so good, and show so much promise.
It makes me wonder what they would've become had they kept it going in
the early days.
Trespass also would've
been a great band.
One of These Days is
definitely one of my favorite singles. (Editor's note - I'll award 2.5 points for acknowledging the greatness of
One Of These Days.)
MBOM: Are there any recent albums by old NWOBHM bands that you
can recommend?
Jarvis:
- Satan – Life Sentence
and Atom By Atom. A new album has been
completed and will be released in 2018.
I can tell you know that it's gonna be something great!
- Raven – Extermination
- Diamond Head – Diamond Head
- Mythra – Still Burning
MBOM: Do you have any cool NWOBHM rarities/collectibles?
Jarvis: I actually own a copy
of the Diamond Head white album. The
version I acquired years ago is just the white cover with no signatures on it. It is real though, and it is on Happy Face
Records. When Night Demon did some dates
with Diamond Head, I had Brian Tatler sign the black jacket for me. He confirmed that it was a legit copy, then
proceeded to write the year under his signature. LOL!
Another bucket list moment, nonetheless.
MBOM: Is there a particular NWOBHM rarity that you'd like to
have in your collection?
Jarvis:
- Iron Maiden – Soundhouse Tapes
- Jaguar – Axe Crazy single
- Witchfinder General – Burning a Sinner
MBOM: Thanks for taking the time to talk about NWOBHM! Any last
words or anything else to add?
Jarvis: Thanks for spreading the word on NWOBHM. For me it's the best sub genre in all of
heavy metal. It has the perfect balance of melody, heaviness, and true spirit
than anything else I've ever heard.
These songs still live up to this day and continue to inspire me. I still can't believe that just when I think
I've heard every NWOBHM band that ever existed, something gets unearthed for me
and I start all over again. I hope
that's something that continues to happen.
Cheers!
_______________________________________________
Muthas, I hope you enjoyed the interview with Jarvis and it inspires you to buy some
Night Demon and to listen to more NWOBHM!
Also, Jarvis just announced
Frost and Fire in London (!) on May 11-12, 2018. Several NWOBHM legends are scheduled to play including
Angel Witch,
Mythra,
Bashful Alley and
Jaguar!
As always, MAKE MINE METAL!
