Raider (14)

RAIDER were a short-lived 4 piece melodic heavy metal band from the midlands in the UK, that existed between October 1984 and August 1985. Following the demise of Evesham band BLACK DOG in October 1984, drummer Mark Grimmett teamed up with vocalist Martyn ‘Dog’ Arnold, formerly of local rockers Warlock, to put together a new band in a more melodic direction. Mark then asked former BLACK DOG guitarist and songwriter Nick Singleton and bassist Jamie Laird to join him in the new band. Originally called XS, the new band decided on the name RAIDER and entered Worcester’s Stuff Studios to record a demo tape of three new songs, “Excess”, “This Is The Law” and “Darker Than Night”, all songs written by Singleton/Grimmett. The demo was produced by GRIM REAPER’s Nick Bowcott. In January 1985 RAIDER played their first gig at The Barn in Worcester, supporting GRIM REAPER, but by April 1985, they split with bassist Jamie Laird for ‘musical differences’ and recruited Steve Smith as replacement. RAIDER played their first gig with Steve on bass in June 1985 and in July they returned to Stuff Studios to record the second demo entitled “Lay Waste To The World”, featuring the songs “No Time To Die”, “Fight The Good Fight” and “Lay Waste To The World”. Following the recording of the demo, the band split up with vocalist Martyn in August 1985, and set about trying to find a replacement. After some unsuccessful auditions with prospective new vocalists, drummer Mark, who had always had a good voice decided to put himself forward as the new singer, a move which turned out to be permanent and led to the formation of CRYWOLF in October 1985.