A London based Hard Rock outfit, PHANTASM were very concerned with image, particularly when it came down to hair extensions. Put together by the veteran ex-ANGEL WITCH, TYTAN, NEVADDA FOXX and TROY drummer Dave Dufort with ex-BLADERUNNER guitarists Gary Jones and Mark Wilde, erstwhile FLAIR and GYPSY vocalist Jan Stevens certainly looked the part and had the voice to match.

Dufort actually had a lengthy history in rock n' roll being an ex member of 1965's THE VOICE, THE SCENERY and PAPER BLITZ ISSUE. All of these mid 60's acts featured latter day SAVOY BROWN, DOG SOLDIER and CHICKENSHACK guitarist MILLER ANDERSON. Dufort then moved on to EAST OF EDEN in the late 60's (he appears on the 1969 album 'Mercator Projected'), as well as being a member of KEVIN AYERS band.

This incarnation of the group produced some very classy demos, such as the Guy Bidmead produced 'Chimera' effort and gigged hard, including spots at London's Marquee and regional shows alongside THE GRIP and DEUCE. Bassist Tom Prince also operated in parallel with Welsh act TREDEGAR. In 1988 Wilde left, to be replaced by Gavin Taylor, shortly followed by the exit of Jan Stevens. The vacant mikestand was allocated to Carol Hendrix formally of covers band SCREAMER, but PHANTASM split soon after.

Dave Dufort went on to work with members of TIN MACHINE while Jones and Hendrix earnt a living with covers band TROOPER. Gavin Taylor, on the other hand, went on to join FIRST STRIKE then GENERAL DYNAMIX. By 1994 he had joined the JODY TURNER BAND. Price was later to figure in SIX TON BUDGIE. In the late nineties Dufort his name to Herman Jerian and recording historical theme music based on Richard the Lionheart. Jan Stevens, now as Jan Parker, featured with SLAM.

Garry Sharpe-Young