Wrathchild (sometimes known as Wrathchild UK in the United States due to a naming conflict with Wrathchild America) are an English glam metal band. Formed in 1980, the group was an early exponent of the glam metal genre, founded at about the same time as US bands of the genre such as Mötley Crüe.
In their home country, the band's speciality was in its D.I.Y. aesthetic (common for many NWOBHM bands), over-the-top stage shows and striking imagery. During their early days, they would often play in pubs but still use confetti and pyrotechnics, whilst dressed in full glam metal gear, including their trademark platform boots and huge, teased hair.
The band has gone through several line-up changes over the years, with line-up number two - consisting of Rocky Shades, Lance Rocket, Marc Angel and Eddie Starr - considered the 'classic' line-up of the band. Up until 2023, bass player Marc Angel was the only member to consistently feature in every line-up of the band. From 2023 onwards, the band's line-up featured original vocalist Rocky Shades alongside four new bandmembers.
History
Wrathchild was formed in November 1980 in Evesham, Worcestershire, by Marc Angel and Philip Vokins (who were both formerly in a band called Sinner). They recruited Robert Barclay - known as Rocky Shades - for lead vocals, with Brian Parry on drums. Phil Vokins left in 1981 to join Bill Ward (ex-Black Sabbath) in America with his new band, Max Havoc. Brian Parry also departed at around the same time. Vokins went on to be a member of Tyrant (1984-1985 and 2014-present) and Persian Risk (1985-1986).
The band added two members from Medusa (which had also featured Steve Grimmett on vocals): guitarist Lance Rocket and drummer Eddie Starr, who became mainstays in the band and completed the line-up for a decade of touring and recording.
After releasing a string of demos, such as Mascara Massacre in 1982, the band was offered a record deal by Bullet Records. On this label the group put out their first official release in 1983: an EP called Stackheel Strutt. In 1984, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, Stakk Attakk. It would spawn two singles: a cover version of the Gary Glitter song, "Doing Alright with the Boys" and an original composition, "Trash Queen".
Just as Wrathchild became moderately successful, they became embroiled in contractual problems with their label, Heavy Metal Records. RCA Records, a major label, unsuccessfully attempted to sign the band from Heavy Metal Records in an effort to free them from their contract. Meanwhile, in 1984 the group released a video compilation called War Machine.
After settling the dispute with Heavy Metal Records, in 1988 (nearly four years later) the band released their second album, The Biz Suxx. This album spawned a single, "Nukklear Rokket", which had a promotional video that was produced by Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Dickinson played a protester in the video, whilst the performance was filmed in a car park near his home in Chiswick. Ron Kennedy directed and edited the video, as well as appearing in it as a mad professor. Steve Prior was the cameraman.
The band's third studio album, Delirium, was released shortly afterwards, in 1989. It featured Grim Reaper's Steve Grimmett on backing vocals. Soon after the release, Rocky Shades left to join the punk band Discharge and with the onset of grunge, Wrathchild broke up in 1990. A fourth studio album had been planned prior to the band breaking up, but this ultimately fell through.
Post-split activities
In the 1990s and early 2000s, several members of Wrathchild continued to perform in various bands. Marc Angel played bass in an underground alternative rock band called Bang Bang Machine, whilst Rocky Shades performed with a Blues Brothers tribute band, and then fronted The Handsome Beasts (between 2007 and 2013).
A Wrathchild reunion began to be arranged in 2005. Although the other bandmembers initially had plans to reunite with Rocky Shades, this led to a few rehearsals, but he had pre-existing tour commitments with his tribute band, "The Birmingham Blues Brothers", so he was obliged to put any involvement in a Wrathchild reunion on hold. A new singer was therefore recruited in his stead.
Wrathchild and Psychowrath
In 2005, Marc Angel, Eddie Starr and Phil Vokins started a band called "Psychowrath", featuring new singer Gaz Harris (ex-Beyond Recognition). In 2009, they acquired the trademarks for the names Wrathchild and Wrathchild UK. The band reverted to using the name "Wrathchild" and on 23 August 2011 they released an album entitled Stakkattakktwo on the Perris Records label.