Newcastle upon Tyne Heavy Metal act SATAN began life in 1979 and would create a huge cult interest for themselves in Europe and the West coast of America with their first album, 1983's 'Court In The Act'. They clawed out a significant market for themselves in Europe but would rarely perform live in the UK. Tragically, for a band so obviously ahead of their time when it came to precision Speed Metal, SATAN inflicted upon themselves a bewildering series of changes both in personnel and in title. Buckling under record company pressure the musicians issued product under three titles, SATAN, BLIND FURY and PARIAH. This lack of cohesion was to prove their undoing.

The original SATAN line-up included guitarist Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey, vocalist Andrew Frepp, bassist Steven Bee and drummer Andy Reed. Frepp, however, was soon replaced by Paul Smith. At this stage SATAN was still a school act. Bee was superseded on bass by Graeme "Bean" English and Steve Allsop took over on vocals. The group's first four song demo surfaced in November 1981. The group then pulled in another frontman, Trevor Robinson, for a brief tenure.

Reed's position behind the drum stool was relinquished to Ian McCormack, who played on the 'Into The Fire' demo, recorded with singer Ian Davison-Swift in November 1982. He in turn was usurped by erstwhile RAVEN man Sean Taylor. McCormack would later turn up in Huddersfield band BATTLEAXE. Reed meanwhile, remained with the band as a roadie.

This paved the way for the debut single, 'Kiss Of Death', comprising two tracks taken from the first four-song demo and another two songs from that demo appeared on the 'Roxcalibur' compilation album, on the Guardian label in 1982. Davison-Swift would stick with the group until just prior to the recording of 'Caught In The Act'. His position was taken by ex-BLITZKREIG and AVENGER vocalist Brian Ross for recording as Davison-Swift filled Ross' boots in the AVENGER ranks and later hooked up with another Northeastern Thrash combo, ATOMKRAFT.

Ross was replaced by Lou Taylor following 'Court In The Act', after TYSONDOG's Alan Hunter temporarily filled in for live commitments following Ross' departure, the band claiming that a lack of image onstage to be the main reason that Ross was asked to leave. Incidentally, during this period drummer Sean Taylor was also drumming for WARRIOR as a sideline.

Shortly after this latest change of vocalists in 1985, SATAN renamed themselves after Lou's previous band BLIND FURY and recorded the far more commercial 'Out Of Reach' which saw sales slide. Meanwhile, the 'Court In The Act' album was fast becoming a cult classic on the West coast of America. The band promptly kicked out Lou and renamed themselves SATAN, citing American interest in 'Court In The Act' for this change back to a more Metallic approach. SATAN recruited vocalist Mick Jackson, previously with ROUGH EDGE, in the process. A new SATAN album followed, billed 'Suspended Sentence', promoted by German touring as support to RUNNING WILD for two tours, the first in April and second in October of 1987. Following his final departure Lou Taylor went on to front TOUR DE FORCE and PERSIAN RISK and later became a known figure on the London club scene as a Rock DJ.

PARIAH was formed as a direct descendent from SATAN, being basically the same band, but, once again a name change was thought in order due to the connotations of the old monicker. The first album was recorded with producer Roy Rowland . Unfortunately, 'The Kindred' released in 1988, was never given a British release as PARIAH concentrated on the lucrative European market.

The second album, 1989's 'Blaze Of Obscurity' recorded at Horus Studios and produced by the band, built upon the success of the debut and proved that the name change had been the correct move as PARIAH albums sold in greater numbers than previous SATAN records. In 1991 the leading German metal band BLIND GUARDIAN paid due reverence by rendering their version of SATAN's 'Trial By Fire' for their 'Somewhere Far Beyond' record.

However, PARIAH folded amidst financial wranglings with their record company, even though sessions for an intended third album, recorded by guitarists Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins, bassist Graeme English, ex-SATAN and BATTLEAXE drummer Ian McCormack and former TYSONDOG vocalist Alan Hunter, was recorded at Links Studios in Newcastle during 1993.

With interest in the NW0BHM at a high in mainland Europe during the mid 90s unreleased PARIAH recordings from 1990 would be unearthed as the 'Unity' album. English and Ramsey, partnering with erstwhile SABBAT frontman Martin Walkyier, later found European success with the innovative SKYCLAD, debuting in 1991 with 'Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth'. Tippins, forsaking the harder end of the musical spectrum, became a regular on the Northeastern club circuit with folk band McALLUM and an ABBA covers troupe.

A Ross / Tippins / Ramsey / English / Taylor SATAN reunion album was on the cards at one point, but this project was allegedly shelved by one of the musician's wive's! A further stab at a reformation came when Brian Ross attempted to resurrect the band for a one off appearance at the German Wacken Festival but it was to no avail. Further reports came in September 2003 suggesting the 'Court In The Act' line-up was set to reform for a one-off performance at the German 'Keep It True II' festival, to be held in April 2004. However, just weeks after this announcement the band were forced off the billing. SATAN fans were appeased somewhat by the issue of archive live recordings from the Dynamo in 1983 entitled 'Live In The Act' that same year. They subsequently announced they were in fact to reform, featuring BLITZKRIEG singer Brian Ross and SKYCLAD's Graeme English and Steve Ramsey, for a one-off performance at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival that August. SATAN then announced a further high profile appearance at the 'Keep It True IV' festival held in April 2005 at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Koenigshofen, Germany.