Demon (band)

Early years The original lineup was completed by former Hunter members Les Hunt (lead guitar), Chris Ellis (bass), and John Wright (drums). The band were signed by Mike Stone's Clay Records in 1980 and licensed to Carrere Records to join their stable of metal bands. Their debut album, Night of the Demon, was released in 1981. After their 1982 follow-up album, The Unexpected Guest, the band experimented beyond the NWOBHM sound and moved the band in a more melodic direction whilst still retaining the more traditional heavy metal black magic lyrical style. In 1983, Demon took a change in direction. Reunion (2001–present) Hill reunited the band with new members in 2001, and released a new album called Spaced Out Monkey. The band has since gone onto release a further three albums: Better the Devil You Know (2005), Unbroken (2012) and their latest release Cemetery Junction, which was released on 28 October 2016. All of the band's post-reunion releases have received positive reviews from the press, leading the band to go on and play many festivals across Europe - including the Bang Your Head!!! festival and Sweden Rock Festival - but infrequently embark upon full tours. The band toured with Magnum singer Bob Catley in 2005, and in 2018 celebrated the 35th anniversary of The Unexpected Guest by touring the UK, playing all of the songs from the album, plus some other classics. On 26 March 2024, the band announced a new album: Invincible, which was released on 17 May, again receiving favourable reviews. Former guitarist John Waterhouse died on 12 October 2025, at the age of 75. ==Members==

Current • Dave Hill – lead vocals (1979–1992, 1997–present) • Karl Waye – keyboards (2001, 2012–present) • Neil Ogden – drums, percussion (2002–present) • David Cotterill – guitars (2007–present) • Paul 'Fasker' Johnson – bass (2011–2012, 2022–present) • Paul Hume – guitars (2012–present) Former • Paul Riley – bass (1979–1980) • John Wright – drums, percussion (1979–1987) • Clive Cook – guitars (1979–1980) • Mal Spooner – guitars (1979–1984; died 1984) • Les Hunt – guitars (1981–1983), bass (1981) • Chris Ellis – bass (1982–1983; died 2022) • Gavin Sutherland – bass (1984–1985) • Steve Watts – keyboards (1984–1991) • John Waterhouse – guitars (1985–1992; died 2025) • Andy Dale – bass (1987–1988, 1997–2011) • Nick Bushell – bass (1988–1991) • Scott Crawford – drums (1988–1991) • Steve Brookes – guitars (1988–1992, 1997–2001) • Mike Thomas – bass (1992) • Paul Rosscrow – drums, percussion (1992) • Ray Walmsley – guitars (1997–2011), bass (2012–2022) • John Cotterill – drums, percussion (1997–2001) • Duncan Hansell – keyboards (1997–2001) • Paul Farrington – keyboards (2002–2012) • Karl Finney – guitars (2003–2005) • Tim Read – guitars (2005–2007) Timeline ==Discography==

Studio albums • Night of the Demon (1981) • The Unexpected Guest (1982) – UK No. 47 • The Plague (1983) – UK No. 73 • British Standard Approved (1985) • Heart of Our Time (1985) • Breakout (1987) • Taking the World By Storm (1989) • Hold On to the Dream (1991) • Blow-out (1992) • Spaced out Monkey (2001) • Better the Devil You Know (2005) • Unbroken (2012) • Cemetery Junction (2016) • Invincible (2024) EP • Wonderland (1984) • Demon (1986) Live albums / compilations • One Helluva Night - Live in Germany (1990) • Anthology (1991) • The Best of Demon: Volume One (1999) • The Time Has Come – Best of Demon (2006) Videos • Live In Hamburg (VHS only) (1993) • ''The Unexpected Guest Tour – Live at Tiffany's 1982'' (2008) • Up Close and Personal! Live in Germany 2006 (2009) Dave Hill solo album • Welcome To The Real World (1994) ==See also==