Soldier - The History

Starting Out

Formed in 1979 by Ian Dick, the original Soldier line up were Ian Dick (Guitar), Al Cannam (Guitar), Ram Tiwary (Bass), Steve Garner (Drums) and Garry Phillips (Vocals). Garry joined the band on the eve of the recording session that included the version of Silver Screen Teaser that appeared in many early Sounds Heavy Metal charts. This line up gigged mostly around the Midlands, however it was not long before the first of several personnel changes took place.

Some new blood

Early in 1980 musical differences forced the rhythm section to quit and Al Cannam disappeared! Ian and Garry decided it was time to push the band into new musical territories. A new rhythm section was added. Bass player Steve Barlow was brought in along with drummer Ian Astrop. It was at this point in the bands brief history that Soldier began to play rock music that was to become identified with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. A quick deal was made with Heavy Metal Records and Storm of Steel appeared on the now legendary Heavy Metal Heroes album.

Due to the heavy gigging to promote the record Ian Astrop quit and Garry brought in Steve Taylor (Distrainers, Alien) on drums and normal functions were quickly resumed! A former band mate of Steve Barlow, Nick Bicknell (Alien Heat) was soon added to reinforce the live sound, and on 23rd October 1981 it was this line up recorded the now legendary NWOBHM single Sheralee. Sheralee received very good Radio One airplay but was killed by poor distribution in the UK. However it faired better in Europe reaching No. 3 in Italy.

Again the band gigged extensively but cracks had begun to appear. On March 20th 1982 after a gig at the legendary rock venue, The Brimmington Tavern, Ian unhappy with the newer material, quit due to musical differences. At this point seventeen-year-old Nick Lashley was added and the band entered into their final gigging line up.

With song writing duties now being completed mainly by Steve Taylor the band had also moved in a more melodic rock direction and away from its original metal and NWOBHM roots.

Moving On

In 1982 a live cassette Live Forces was issued through the bands Soldier Stormtroopers fan club. This recording has also been heavily bootlegged over the years. The band continued to tour all over the country and entered into contract talks with several record and management companies. Deals were offered and withdrawn deals were even turned down! Internal politics and differences over musical direction had also started to destroy the band and at the beginning of 1983 Steve and Garry quit.

This was effectively the end of the band. After February 1983 the band never gigged again.

Former Gaskin bass player Mark McKenzie and Girl vocalist Phil Lewis joined the band, but this line up did not make it out of the studio. After recording a couple of demo�s the band split for a final time. Two tracks promising what might have been are available in the downloads section of the site. However after a twenty-year wait and a chance email received in 2002 Garry, Ian and Steve decided to complete the unfinished business. After a couple of rehearsals the band entered into the studio in February 2003 to record the Infantrycide EP with Ian Astrop recruited again for drumming duties.

The recorded version of Infantrycide on the EP features Nick Lashley on lead guitar. Technology simply not available twenty years ago meant that Nick was able to record his guitar part at his home studio in America! Due to the commercial and critical success of the EP and the renewed interest in Soldier, Hellion Records licensed much of the bands early material and demos and released the Heavy Metal Forces album in 2004. In the same year Hellion also licenced the Infantrycide EP for South America where it was a big success.

The decision was made to start gigging and this lead to the recruitment of the bands most dynamic drummer Alex Smith in early 2004. Also in this year the band released the single Murderous Night/I�m Taken In on the new German record label Killer Metal Records.

In November 2005 Soldier Ian Dick, Garry Phillips, Steve Barlow and Alex Smith released Sins of the Warrior on Heavy Metal Records. After three mad years the band is now considering its next move.

During 2005 Garry�s respiratory problem meant that singing live became very difficult. Spirit of Rush main man Declan Burgh (who co-wrote I�m Taken In with Ian) offered to help out, but it did not sound like Soldier without Garry. So unfortunately live work has had to be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

On a more positive note the band has received and is considering some interesting offers to record and release a new 25th Anniversary single of Sheralee.

Watch this space