Biografia

Outside of the likes of Black Sabbath, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Bodast and possibly Jethro Tull, Black Widow would probably be considered the forerunners of what would later be known as Occult Rock. Originally formed out of Leicester in 1966 as Pesky Gee!, vocalist Kip Trevor and Kay Garrett, guitarist Jim Gannon, bassist Bob Bond, keyboardist Jess “Zoot” Taylor, multi-wind instrumentalist Clive Jones and drummer Clive Box garnered enough interest with Pye Records to record their self-titled album. Almost a year later the band would reform minus Garrett as Black Widow. Signed to CBS Records Black Widow released their debut album Sacrifice. Laced with references to satanism, black magic and the occult, the album would make the Top Forty. Touring through out Europe, along with appearances at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970, the band’s extravagant live show which included a mock sacrifice of a nude female would create such an uproar, particularly after word got out about the band receiving advice from self proclaimed witch Alex
Sanders, concerts were usually attended by waiting members of the clergy crying blasphemy to any journalist out looking for a story. What many failed to notice was the fact that they were witnessing pure classic progressive rock - with a twist. The single, Come To The Sabbat, was indeed progressive rock at it’s best. Black Widow’s 1971 self-titled second album would fine them moving away from dark roots and doom as well as a new band line up (Bassist Geoff Griffths would replace Bond and drummer Romeo Challenger would replace Box). Despite being a fine album in it’s own right, their second release would give them a luke warm reception. Former Cressida guitarist John Culley would replace Gannon (Gannon would record with Susan Traynor - aka - Noosha Fox and later with Alice Cooper) for their 1972 album Black Widow III, which led them further away from their mystical beginnings. CBS Records would drop them within the year.

Disillusioned, the band would produce themselves for their fourth album. Possibly their strongest sessions yet, the recordings would be shelved as vocalist Kip Trevor would exit the band. American vocalist Ric Prince (formerly with Plum Nelly, later with Twisted Sister - before Dee Snider) would join but Black Widow would soon dissolve. Trevor was later involved in the orchestrated version of The Who’s Tommy and would record with Trevor Horn (later of The Buggles and Yes) as Big A, drummer Romeo Challenger would give his talents to Showaddywaddy (U.K.’s highly successful answer to the U.S.’s Sha Na Na), Clive Jones and Clive Box would form the Glam Rock/Punk band Agony Bag and record the cult classic Rabies Is A Killer, Griffiths would join Moving Fingers and release a handful of singles. Thanks to Clive Jones and Mystic Records, Black Widow IV was finally released in 1997 as was 1998’s Return To The Sabbat - a 1969 recording of Black Widow’s debut album featuring original Pesky Gee! vocalist Kay Garrett. Thanks to the likes of Smack! managment and Black Widow Records, future classics are currently being created.