The band was founded under the name of Lucifer and initially comprised guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, bassist Kevin Riddles and drummer Steve Jones. Lucifer split and Steve Jones joined up with Bruce Dickinson to form Speed. The remnants of Lucifer became Angel Witch in the following year,when Dave Hogg joined on drums. Eventually Rob Downing left the band.
Angel Witch's first song to achieve mainstream popularity was "Baphomet", which was included on a compilation entitled Metal for Muthas. This song drew a fair amount of attention to the band and they eventually signed a recording deal with EMI. However, the deal was soon cancelled, due to the bad performance of their first single released under the EMI label which was entitled Sweet Danger and lasted a single week in the British charts.
In 1980 Bronze Records picked up the band and they soon proceeded to record and release their debut album, self-titled Angel Witch. This album is considered one of the most notable from the NWOBHM, but subsequent to the album's release, the band's structure began to fall apart. Kevin Riddles and Dave Hogg left the band to join Tytan, and despite Heybourne's attempts to continue Angel Witch with other musicians, the end of the band was declared and he joined Deep Machine.
Angel Witch was brought back to activity in 1982, when Heybourne and two musicians from Deep Machine - namely vocalist Roger Marsden and drummer Ricky Bruce - left to assemble a new Angel Witch line-up together with bassist Jerry Cunningham. This line-up lasted a very short time, as Marsden's voice didn't fit the style of the band very well. He was fired from the band and Heybourne assumed the vocals once more.
By 1983 the band had ceased its activity and Heybourne moved to Blind Fury. In 1984 Angel Witch was once more brought to life, this time with the help of bassist Peter Gordelier, singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums. This line-up recorded the album Screamin' N' Bleedin'. Dave Hogg left the band one more time, but not without many snide remarks from the band's fans. He was replaced by Spencer Hollman. With the new drummer they recorded Frontal Assault, which deviated heavily from Angel Witch's previous albums in having many melodic elements.
Dave Tattum left the band in the same year and for a few years Angel Witch played as a trio in sporadic live performances. In 1989, they recorded a new live album, entitled simply Live - not to be mistaken with the band Live.
Heybourne decided that it would be in the band's best interest to move to the USA, but the other members had no way of accomplishing that, having stable lives on their home country. Thus, an American incarnation of Angel Witch was born. It was composed of Heybourne, bassist Jon Torres (from Laaz Rockit), drummer Tom Hunting and guitarist Doug Piercy. This line-up functioned quite well and soon the band had booked a fair amount of shows throughout the USA. However, it was found that Heybourne had some pending issues regarding immigration, and he was arrested one day before the first concert of the band. Without Heybourne, Angel Witch was soon dissolved.
After the release of the Resurrection compilation in 2000 the band intended to play together once more but after a series of internal conflicts Heybourne assembled yet another line-up with new members. As of 2001 the band is still active even though they do not perform concerts frequently.
Discography
* Angel Witch (1980)
* Loser (EP, 1981)
* '82 Revisited (Live, 1982)
* Screamin' and Bleedin' (1985)
* Frontal Assault (1986)
* Live (Live, 1990)
* Resurrection (2000)
* 2000: Live At The LA2 (Live, 2000)
Free Man
Angel Witch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I can see the light of day
Things have changed a lot since I was last out here
I guess that's the way things, way things go
Now I'm a freeman again
I don't give a damn what happens in there
Now I'm through, what a life
As I look around I couldn't remember my old home
Now there's a tower block in its way
I remember all my friends and my wife
They don't want to know me anymore
They wouldn't listen, they didn't understand
They accused me of crime I didn't commit
It was some other guy, but it wasn't me
They wouldn't give in, they wouldn't believe me
But now I'm a freeman again
I couldn't give a damn what happens in there
Now I'm through, what a life
Because now I'm a freeman
In Angel Witch's song "Free Man," the singer expresses his joy and relief at finally being released from prison after being locked away for many years. As he steps out into the world, he notices that things have changed and his old life, including friends and his home, is no longer there. He is a "free man" once again but is also jaded by the difficulties he faced while incarcerated and the lack of support he received from those he knew before.
The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair that the singer felt while being falsely accused and serving his sentence. He speaks about his former friends and wife who have abandoned him due to his situation, highlighting the lack of support and understanding he received during this difficult time. The tower block that exists in his old home's place symbolizes the drastic change in the world that has occurred since his time away. The singer's sense of detachment from his old life and his newfound freedom are the main themes of this song.
The overall tone of the song is one of bitterness and disillusionment. The singer is happy to be free once again, but he is also disappointed by the people he used to know and the world they live in now. The song might be viewed as an anthem for those who have suffered injustice and the perception that the world has left them behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been locked away for all these years
I have been imprisoned for a long time
Now I can see the light of day
Now I am free and can enjoy the world outside
Things have changed a lot since I was last out here
Many things have happened that I have missed while being in prison
I guess that's the way things, way things go
I accept that life moves on and things change, which is out of my control
Now I'm a freeman again
I have regained my freedom after serving my sentence
I don't give a damn what happens in there
I do not care about what happens in prison now that I am free
Now I'm through, what a life
I am relieved to have completed my sentence and ready to restart my life
Because now I'm a freeman
My sense of freedom is valuable to me
As I look around I couldn't remember my old home
I cannot recognize my old home due to the changes made to the surroundings
Now there's a tower block in its way
A new building, a tower block, has been built where my old home used to exist
I remember all my friends and my wife
I recall my former friends and spouse from before my imprisonment
They don't want to know me anymore
Those individuals from my past life now reject me and do not want to have contact with me
They wouldn't listen, they didn't understand
They refused to hear my side of the story and comprehend my innocence
They accused me of crime I didn't commit
They claimed that I was guilty of an offense that I had not committed
It was some other guy, but it wasn't me
The actual perpetrator of the crime was someone else, not myself
They wouldn't give in, they wouldn't believe me
Despite my attempts to persuade and convince them of my innocence, they would not accept my argument
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEVIN HEYBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind