With German Metal being taken to the global masses by the likes of SCORPIONS and ACCEPT in the 80's it was to be the female fronted WARLOCK who had the next shot at commercial success worldwide. Despite major backing, their obvious talents and delectable lead vocalist, WARLOCK fell apart just as they were poised to break big. WARLOCK first came together in 1982 in Düsseldorf, singer Dorothee Pesch having paid her dues as solo singer in the Düsseldorf cathedral choir before joining Heavy Metal band SNAKEBITE. During 1981 Pesch, guitarist Rudy Graf and bassist Frank Rittel, together with STALLION drummer Thomas Franke, had operated as BEAST, issuing a rehearsal demo tape.

With second guitarist Peter Szigeti on board WARLOCK's first recording sessions resulted in a 1983 demo tape featuring the songs 'Burning The Witches', 'Iron Lady', 'Cry For The Rebel' and 'Watch Out'. The latter song was subsequently re-worked as 'Sign Of Satan'.

The band started out with their Mausoleum Records debut 'Burning The Witches' in 1984 with an uncompromising heavy metal sound courtesy of the twin guitars and with a truly gifted metal vocalist in Pesch. Not only blessed with a dynamic range Pesch also retained a unique and natural rasp to her vocal style that combined with her looks marked her as a valuable focal point for WARLOCK. At one point magazines raced to get pictures of Pesch when at a Dutch gig, and unbeknown to her for a few seconds, her studded leather bra came undone! Naturally the photographers had a field day with the image providing some Metal magazines with welcome posters.

Although the opening album was laden down with too many stodgy metal-by-numbers songs, the underlying quality of the band shone through. By their signing with major label Vertigo Records, WARLOCK had matured as songwriters and consequently May 1985's 'Hellbound', produced by Henry Staroste and recorded at Country Lane Studios, Munich between February and April 1985, is a far superior effort. The band put in a notable gig on September 14th 1985, performing at the 'Metal Hammer Fest' in Loreley, Germany sharing a diverse billing with NAZARETH, VENOM, HEAVY PETTIN, WISHBONE ASH, SAVAGE GRACE, RUNNING WILD, TYRAN PACE, PRETTY MAIDS and METALLICA. Single release to promote 'Hellbound' included 'All Night' and a cut to shape picture disc of 'You Hurt My Soul (On And On)'. In September the VHS video 'Metal Racer' was put out, a live recording of the band's Camden Palace, London show.

Rudy Graf took time out to gain production credits on ASSASSIN's 1986 demo tape ''The Saga Of Nemesis'. WARLOCK supported W.A.S.P. on a British tour in 1986 promoting the 'True As Steel' album, this set again produced by Henry Staroste but notably improved in the sonic department courtesy of a Michael Wagner mix. Cassette versions in Europe added an extra song, 'Running Wild'. Despite this progress on the international scale WARLOCK's internal politics were none too good and Graf was out of the picture by this point, exiting to join RAGE in 1986. 'True As Steel' featured new guitarist Niko Arvanitis.

Szigeti quit in 1987 for U.D.O., taking bassist Frank Rittel with him, to be replaced by American Tommy Bolan, previously with ARMED FORCES. The line-up for the 'Triumph And Agony' album, issued that September, being Pesch, Bolin, bassist Tommy Henrickson and drummer Michael Eurich. The album was a commercial success, with three singles making strong headway in Europe; 'Für Immer', 'All We Are' and 'East Meets West'. Nevertheless, as the 90s drew in it was clear that WARLOCK the band had been demoted.

Any pretence at a band project was dropped in 1989 when the 'Force Majuere' album was issued under the title of simply DORO. The band at this point featured ex-RAINBOW drummer Bobby Rondinelli, guitarist John Levin and bassist Tommy Henrikson. Keyboards were contributed by DIO's Claude Schnell. DORO, relocating to New York and teamed up with outside songwriters along with GENE SIMMONS of KISS in the production chair, was being groomed as a potential solo star.

In 1992 Rittel and Szigeti formed CORACKO (later titled STONEWASHED) with vocalist Dirk Wicke and drummer Marin Englar. Eurich joined CASANOVA. Hendrickson later journeyed through WAR AND PEACE and JAILHOUSE. The man also supplied bass to GEORGE LYNCH's 1993 album 'Sacred Groove'.

During 2001 German Metal band POWERGOD would cover 'Burning The Witches' on their 'Bleed For The Gods' album. DORO is still a major Metal icon in her native land with a steady stream of solo releases behind her. Always popular in Germany, more recent albums has seen DORO's fanbase widening globally.

DORO celebrated her twentieth anniversary with a show held in Düsseldorf on the 13th December 2003. This event witnessed a unique set spanning her career and including guesting former members of WARLOCK. The interest in WARLOCK was renewed when it was announced that Pesch would reunite with her early band members for a one off reunion show at the August 2004 'Wacken Open Air' festival. This gig to include a performance alongside the 'Metal Classic Night Orchestra'. Novelly, WARLOCK asked fans to choose the set list for the gig from an internet poll.

The WARLOCK pairing of Niko Arvanitis and Peter Szigeti would perform at the 'Rock Classic Allstars' show at the Bochum Zeche Bochum on 22nd April 2005 as part of a celebrity band comprising "Star Search" winner Martin Kesici, the SWEET credited Jeff Brown, AXEL RUDI PELL and bassist Volker Krawczak, Kai Hoffmann from SECRET DISCOVERY and soccer star Holger Aden.