Elixir (British band)

History

After forming, the band spent its initial period writing material and rehearsing. The members briefly used the names Purgatory and Hellfire before settling on Elixir; the name was chosen when Steve Bentley closed his eyes and placed his finger on a word in a dictionary at random. The group recruited vocalist Sally Pike, who recorded a four-song demo tape and played two gigs with them before leaving by the end of the year. In 1984, Paul Taylor replaced Pike, and later that year guitarist Norman Gordon joined to fill the spot left by Steve Bentley, who departed after the band completed its second demo tape. Elixir released its debut single Treachery (Ride like the Wind) / Winds of Time in 1985; Ronnie James Dio reviewed the single in Kerrang! (No 99) and gave it a positive assessment. The band recorded its first album The Son of Odin in 1986; in issue 137 (November 2005) of Terrorizer magazine, the album was included in the top 20 power metal albums of all time alongside Judas Priest's Painkiller, Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II and Cirith Ungol's King of the Dead. Elixir recorded its second album, initially called Sovereign Remedy, in 1988 with bassist Mark White and former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr. Stevie Hughes replaced Burr for the band's live commitments through 1989. At the end of that year, Phil Denton quit and was replaced by Leon Lawson for several live shows before the band came off the road. The second album was released by the Sonic label as Lethal Potion in 1990; in 2004, it was re-released as Sovereign Remedy on the TPL label with all tracks, the original mix and new artwork. In 2001 the band reverted to the line-up of Paul Taylor, Phil Denton, Norman Gordon, Kevin Dobbs and Nigel Dobbs, and in 2003 recorded its third album The Idol, composed of material written in the 1980s. With rising popularity, the band toured in Greece, Germany and the United States. Elixir recorded its fourth album Mindcreeper in 2006, released by Majestic Rock. The band released the album All Hallows Eve on 31 October 2010 on its own CTR label. Between 2006 and 2012, Elixir organised six editions of the British Steel Festival, appearing on the bill at each event; from 2008 onward, the festival was held at the Camden Underworld.