Newcastle upon Tyne Heavy Metal band TYSONDOG amusingly took their name from the bassist's girlfriend's dog! The band was rooted in an earlier act billed as ORCHRIST which comprised vocalist Alan Hunter, guitarist Paul Burdis, bass player Kev Wynn and drummer Kev Hunter. The latter, brother of RAVEN's Rob 'Wacko' Hunter, would make his exit to act as RAVEN roadie. Peter Reeve duly took over the drum stool position as TYSONDOG started to receive label interest from such now renowned indies as Ebony, Music For Nations, Roadrunner and Newcastle's own Neat Records.

Signing to Neat TYSONDOG cut the 1983 single track 'Eat The Rich', featuring Alan Hunter on lead vocals. However, shortly after recording this track a lead vocalist was deemed crucial to the band's line-up and 'Clutch' Carruthers was inducted. Carruthers laid down his vocals on the B side 'Dead Meat'. With the single just in the shops Reeves opted out. Nevertheless, progress was swift and 'Eat The Rich' even garnered valuable exposure being featured in 'The Chain' movie. The band set about recording their debut album 'Beware Of The Dog'. Ged 'Wolf' Cook sat in on drums but would quit immediately after recording team up with ATOMKRAFT. He was replaced by Rob Walker. Although 'Beware Of The Dog' was produced by Cronos of VENOM, the man himself proclaimed afterwards that he thought the band were "shit" and nothing more than JUDAS PRIEST imitators, stating that he had done it purely as a favour because Wolf was the brother of VENOM manager Eric Cook.

Although acknowledged to be blighted by a particularly thin drum sound reception to the album though was, in the main, enthusiastic especially in mainland Europe. Gigs ensued including prestigious shows in Holland at the Dynamo club and at the 'Aardschok' festival. The 'Shoot To Kill' EP followed in 1985. TYSONDOG was slated to support American Shock Rockers MADAME X but this tour was pulled.

Signing to Eric Cooke of VENOM repute for management TYSONDOG set to work on a second album 'Crimes Of Insanity', the single from which would be a cover version of ALICE COOPER's seminal 'School's Out' hit. Hunter backed out once these sessions were over and the band opted to persevere as a quartet. Oddly the 'School's Out' single would be promoted by a new look TYSONDOG, eschewing the familiar leather and studs for teased, hair sprayed hair and glammier apparel. The band did get to grace the stage with WARLOCK for a run through of JUDAS PRIEST's 'You've Got Another Thing Comin' at Kerrang magazine's 100th edition celebrations but a more substantial support tour to VENOM in North America fell through due to visa problems. The bad luck continued as Carruthers was involved in a car crash on the way to a vital gig at London's Marquee club.

TYSONDOG had already started demoing material for a proposed third album when they learned Neat Records was no longer interested. The band announced it was to fold and a swansong gig in Newcastle saw Alan Hunter joining them onstage for a final time.

Wynn teamed up with ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG vocalist JESS COX in TYGER TYGER. Alan Hunter featured in ATOMKRAFT and also performed vocals on the third PARIAH album, recorded in 1993, which until recently remained unreleased.

The Brazilian Rock Brigade label would re-issue both albums complete with tracks from the 'Shoot To Kill' sessions. In 2002 the Sanctuary label compiled all the available band material for the 'Painted Heroes' collection. As Ged Cook, the TYSONDOG drummer established Newcastle upon Tyne record label Demolition Records.