{{Short description|English heavy metal band}} {{About|the band|other uses|Wolfsbane (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Wolfsbane | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Tamworth, Staffordshire, England | genre = {{flatlist| *Heavy metal *hard rock }} | years_active = {{flatlist| * 1984–1994 * 2007 * 2009 * 2010–present}} | label = {{flatlist| * Def American * Bronze}} | current_members = Blaze Bayley<br/>Jason Edwards<br/>Jeff Hateley<br/>Steve Danger | past_members = Amanda Hemmings <br/>Jon Buckingham | website = {{URL|wolfsbaneband.com}} }} '''Wolfsbane''' are an English heavy metal band, active from 1984 to 1994, and again since 2010, following two brief reunions.<ref name="maiden 7 june announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.blazebayley.net/forums/index.php?topic=2533.0|title=Wolfsbane reunion|publisher=Iron Maiden official website|date=7 June 2010|access-date=8 June 2010}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> To date, the band has released five studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, two EPs and three demos. Wolfsbane are now notable for being vocalist Blaze Bayley's band before he went on to replace Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden and then pursue a solo career. In addition to Bayley, the band's current lineup includes guitarist Jason "Jase" Edwards, bassist Jeff Hateley and drummer Steve Danger.
==History== ===Initial career (1984{{endash}}1994)=== Wolfsbane were formed in 1984 in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.<ref name="LarkinHM">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1995|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-656-1|page=392}}</ref> They signed to Def American records, and Rick Rubin produced their first album, ''Live Fast, Die Fast'', released in 1989.<ref name="LarkinHM"/> Prior to this, they had recorded three demos entitled ''Wolfsbane'' (1985), ''Dancin' Dirty'' (1987) and ''Wasted but Dangerous'' (1988); the former was recorded in an old cellar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSIc0qu3y8I|title = Wolfsbane "Manhunt" Live @ the Asylum Birmingham 23/10/2015|via = YouTube}}</ref> Wolfsbane's second release, an EP titled ''All Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's Place'', was released in 1990, followed a year later by the band's second full studio album ''Down Fall the Good Guys'' (1991), which gave them their only UK Singles Chart entry with "Ezy" charting at No. 68. Despite not achieving the level of success that Def American had expected, Wolfsbane played from clubs to larger venues during the late 1980s and early 1990s with several notable acts, including Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Anthrax, Overkill, Sepultura, Kreator, Dark Angel, King Diamond, Magnum, The Almighty, The Wildhearts, The Quireboys, among others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wolfsbane|url=http://tosse2.se/tour_blaze_wolfsbane.htm|website=Tosse2.se|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
Being an English band, signed to an American record label did not work out well for them. Def American dropped Wolfsbane as they felt that the band were not selling well enough. This did not stop the band from being voted as the UK's best unsigned act in 1993. The same year, the band released a live album, ''Massive Noise Injection'', through the Bronze Company label.<ref name="LarkinHM"/>
The band released its third studio album, the self-titled ''Wolfsbane'', in 1994, again on the Bronze Company label. A limited edition of this album included the EP ''Everything Else''. However, when Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden, Blaze Bayley got the audition as their new singer and left Wolfsbane later on that year. Wolfsbane disbanded as a result.<ref name="LarkinHM"/>
===Post-breakup (1994{{endash}}2007)=== Jason Edwards, Jeff Hateley, and Steve Danger, the remaining members of Wolfsbane, joined with Jez 'Spencer' Housden to form the band Stretch in 1995. They released a 6-track mini-album ''World of Stretch'' on the Cottage Industry label.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
===One-off shows and reunion (2007{{endash}}2021)=== On 9 September 2007, Wolfsbane reformed for a one off short set at the Rock of Ages Festival in Tamworth. This was followed by their first UK tour in 13 years, with the band playing five dates as support for the Wildhearts in December 2007. Their next tour came in December 2009 supporting the Quireboys on their 'A Little Bit of What You Fancy 20th Anniversary Tour'.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Jason Edwards is currently a record producer, having most recently produced and mixed the self titled Wildhearts album and the Blaze Bayley album ''Promise and Terror''. He also mixed two tracks on Ginger Wildheart's ''555'' album and recorded and produced two bonus tracks for Ginger's Hey! Hello! project as well as mixing tracks for German punk band Radio Dead Ones. He is also one of three guitarists in Ginger & the Sonic Circus (project of Ginger, songwriter/frontman of the Wildhearts), and plays guitar for the God Damn Whores, alongside 'Random' Jon Poole (formerly of Cardiacs, previously stand-in bassist for the Wildhearts and also in the Sonic Circus), Denzel (also of the Sonic Circus), and Robochrist.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Blaze Bayley subsequently left Iron Maiden and embarked on a solo career with forming his own band, Blaze and later a new line-up with the Blaze Bayley Band, before he switched again as a solo artist since 2012. During Blaze Bayley's tour in support of his then new album, ''Promise and Terror'', tensions rose within the band. In the end of May 2010, both manager Anna Di Laurenzi and drummer Larry Paterson left the band to join Sinocence who had been the support band on the first leg of the tour. A couple of weeks later, in early June, Wolfsbane announced that they would be reuniting full-time and release a new album in 2011.<ref name="maiden 7 june announcement"/> Blaze Bayley continues to perform as a solo artist alongside singing with Wolfsbane.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
On 12 March 2011, it was announced that Wolfsbane would release the EP, ''Did It for the Money'', on 9 April.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155201 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908005948/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155201 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-08 |title=Wolfsbane To Release New Ep – Blabbermouth.net |website=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2011-03-12 |access-date=2014-07-28 }}</ref> They played a headline show at the Borderline in London on the same day the EP was released (9 April 2011).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/news.shtml |title=Official Wolfsbane Website |website=Wolfsbanehms.com |access-date=2014-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093733/http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/news.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> This was followed by a tour supporting Saxon, in April 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blazebayley.net/main.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100422173411/http://www.blazebayley.net/main.htm|url-status=dead|title=Official Blaze Bayley|archive-date=2010-04-22}}</ref> On 7 October 2011, it was announced that Wolfsbane would release their fourth studio album in 2012. Titled ''Wolfsbane Save the World'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164928 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910071438/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164928 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-10 |title=Wolfsbane: New Album Title, Cover Artwork Unveiled – Blabbermouth.net |website=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2011-10-20 |access-date=2014-07-28 }}</ref> it is available on the band's official website as well as via the merchandise stand on the band's upcoming tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164302 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910231234/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164302 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-10 |title=Wolfsbane: New Album To Be Released in January – Blabbermouth.net |website=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=2011-10-07 |access-date=2014-07-28 }}</ref>
On 24 October 2011, the band embarked on a UK tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfsbanehms.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824113222/http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=24 August 2010 |title=Official Wolfsbane Website |website=Wolfsbanehms.com |access-date=2014-07-28}}</ref> Joined by Manchester's Obsessive Compulsive as support for the tour. Footage from the 2011 UK tour can be seen on the Official Wolfsbane YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivm6vC88QAs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Ivm6vC88QAs |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Kathy Wilson – Wolfsbane Cardiff 29.11.2011 |via=YouTube |access-date=2014-07-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 15 December 2011, a video of the song "Smoke and Red Light" was added to the official Wolfsbane YouTube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaY-WpZfBng |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101002335/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaY-WpZfBng&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead|title=YouTube|via=YouTube}}</ref> The song is taken from the new album ''Wolfsbane Save the World'' and is based on the early days of the band's career.
On 17 October 2012, the band embarked on an 11 date UK tour. Special guest Givvi Flynn joined the band on stage for four of the shows to perform "Illusion of Love". On sale at the show was an album titled ''The Lost Tapes: A Secret History''.
===''Genius'' and next album (2022{{endash}}present)=== On 11 May 2021, Wolfsbane announced on their Facebook page that they had begun writing their first album in nearly a decade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=41980|title=Wolfsbane – Writing New Album|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=12 May 2021|date=12 May 2021}}</ref> Frontman Blaze Bayley confirmed in a February 2022 interview that the band was "listening to the rough mixes" of their new album and "finishing off a little bit here and there", and also expressed hope that it would be released in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=45071|title=Wolfsbane – Hoping To Release New Album This Summer|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=25 February 2022|date=19 February 2022}}</ref> ''Genius'' was revealed as the title of the album on 30 April 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=45930|title=Wolfsbane – Upcoming Album Title Revealed|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=2 May 2021|date=2 May 2021}}</ref> and it was released on 5 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=46205|title=Wolfsbane – New Album Details Revealed|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=28 May 2022|date=28 May 2022}}</ref>
On 6 August 2024, Wolfsbane announced on their Facebook page that they are in the studio working on a new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=55011|title=Wolfsbane – New Album Details Revealed|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=7 August 2024|date=7 August 2024}}</ref>
==Members== ===Current members=== * Blaze Bayley – lead vocals * Jason Edwards – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jeff Hateley – bass, backing vocals * Steve Danger – drums
===Former members=== * Amanda "Poo Poos" Hemmings – drums (1984) * Jason Lee Farrow – drums (1984) * Jon Buckingham "Stakk Smasher" – drums (1985–1986)
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== *''Live Fast, Die Fast'' (1989) *''Down Fall the Good Guys'' (1991) *''Wolfsbane'' (1994) *''Wolfsbane Save the World'' (2012) *''Genius'' (2022) *''Live Faster (Live Fast, Die Fast - Re-Imagined, Re-Recorded)'' (2025)
===Live albums=== *''Massive Noise Injection'' (1993) *''The Lost Tapes: A Secret History'' (2012) *''Go Loco at the Asylum'' (2018)
===Compilation albums=== *''Lifestyles of the Broke and Obscure'' (2001) *''Howling Mad Shitheads (The Best of Wolfsbane)'' (2009)<ref name="Discography">{{cite web |url=http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/history.html |title=Official Wolfsbane Website |website=Wolfsbanehms.com |access-date=2014-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809112846/http://www.wolfsbanehms.com/history.html |archive-date=9 August 2014 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
===EPs=== *''All Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's Place'' (1990) *''Everything Else'' (1994)<ref name="Discography"/> *''Did It For the Money'' (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=66166 |title=Wolfsbane Reveals New EP Details – in Metal News |website=Metalunderground.com |access-date=2014-07-28}}</ref> *''Rock!'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Wolfsbane-Rock/release/7976584 |title=Wolfsbane – Rock |publisher=Discogs|date=7 August 2023 }}</ref>
===Demos=== *''Wolfsbane'' (1985) *''Dancin' Dirty'' (1987) *''Wasted But Dangerous'' (1988)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5863|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic artist page] *[https://www.wolfsbaneband.com/ Official Wolfsbane website]
{{Wolfsbane}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfsbane}} Category:English heavy metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1984 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1994 Category:English hard rock musical groups Category:Musical groups from Staffordshire