About Sweet Savage
The first iteration of the band ('79 - '83) featured Vivian Campbell on guitar. Campbell would go on to play with major rock/metal acts, Dio, Whitesnake and Def Leppard. The band supported Thin Lizzy on their Renegade tour and supported major acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Wishbone Ash and Motorhead. During this phase, in 1981, they released a single 'Take No Prisoners' which included the song that they are most famous for, 'Killing Time'. They also released a demo which was a session recorded for BBC Radio One's Friday Rock Show (hosted by DJ Tommy Vance). Despite relative obscurity, Metallica, in their early days, picked up on the song 'Killing Time' and recorded it on an early demo 'Ron McGovney's `82 Garage Demo'. After Campbell left for Dio, the band went on hiatus for about a year.
For the next phase of the band ('84 - '85) they brought in Ian "Speedo" Wilson on guitar to replace both Campbell and Trev Flemming. They also added vocalist Robert Casserly. Two singles, 'Straight Through the Heart' and 'The Raid' were released before this version of Sweet Savage disbanded.
In 1990 Metallica released a version of 'Killing Time' as the B-side for 'The Unforgiven'. This fuelled renewed interest in Sweet Savage. As a result of this interest, Sweet Savage reformed in 1996 and signed a deal with Neat Records releasing their first album, which, of course, they titled 'Killing Time'. Simon McBride joined the band on guitar and original member Trev Fleming was back in again on the other guitar. The album contained re-worked versions of songs for their early career. They released a second album of new material 'Rune' in 1998. This version of the band disbanded in 1998. Simon McBride would later go on to be a full time member of Deep Purple.
Sweet Savage reformed in 2008. They played major metal festivals 'Headbangers Festival' and 'Wacken' in Germany to great acclaim and also supported Metallica in Dublin as well as playing support to other major rock & metal acts, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Deep Purple. In 2010 Marty McCloskey took over on drums from Jules Watson who went on to drum for Conjuring Fate. Trev Fleming died after an illness in 2010. They released an album 'Regeneration' in 2011 and continued to gig and tour over the years. In 2023 they supported Saxon at Olympia, Dublin and Ulster Hall, Belfast. They released an album entitled Bang in 2025. Former guitarist Simon McBride was involved in it's recording in a guest capacity, contributing guitar parts and co-producing the album along with Ray Haller.
Members
Ray Haller – vocals, bass guitar (1979–present)
Marty McCloskey – drums (2010–present)
Phil Edgar – guitar (2011–present)
Former Members
Trev Fleming – guitar (1979–1983, 1996, 2008–2010; died 2010)
Vivian Campbell – guitar (1979–1983)
David Bates – drums (1979–2008)
Robert Casserly - vocals (1983–1985)
Ian Wilson – guitar (1984–2012)
Jules Watson – drums (2008–2010; died 2021)
Simon McBride – guitar (1996–1998)
Video
Sweet Savage - Eye Of The Storm (Friday Rock Show Session)
Sweet Savage - Live at Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast 1981
Sweet Savage - Prospector Of Greed
Sweet Savage - Into The Night
Sweet Savage - Killing Time, Live 2012, Belgium
Comments
Hopper wrote on 2006-11-28 00:00:00:The best bunch of guys that you could have met, mad bastards and a pleasure to have worked with. Cheers ya boys ye!!!
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