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RUNESTAFF - Runestaff (1985) NWOBHM Heavy Metal Records HMR LP26
[img]https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3995/runestafffrunt1hp5.jpg[/img]
- Do It
- Whatever You Want From Me
- Time's Running Out
- Road To Ruin
- Runestaff
- The Last Time
- The Games You Play
- Last Chances
Joanne Syme - Vocals Wayne Moyez - Guitar Andy Page - Vocals/Guitar Jamie Durrant - Bass Kaust Rakhit - Keyboard Kevin Hunt - Drums
RUNESTAFF began life in Ipswich in 1980 as an all male quintet in the Tolkien inspired Prog Rock mould. Their first recorded product would be a three track 1982 demo cassette recorded at Hillside Sound Studios in Ipswich. Dogged by line-up shuffles the band added vocalist Joanna Symes when guitarist/vocalist Andy Page departed. However, Page soon returned, inspired by the posibilities opened up by the new singer, concentrating solely on guitar. The band spent the next couple of years building up a strong live following with constant gigging and the odd decent support slot, gradually adding a Harder edge to their Proggy sound The Wolverhampton based Heavy Metal Records issued a self-titled album in 1985. They followed this with two 7" singles, "Road To Ruin", and "Do It!" on Heavy Metal subsidiary FM/Revolver Records later that same year. Tragically, keyboard player Kaust Rakhit died of Thalasemia in mid 1985 and was replaced by Barry Godfrey. Depressed by the death of his friend, Page quit once more in 1986. A planned second album was stalled as vocalist Joanne Syme suffered a serious throat problem. With their momentum stalled by Syme's illness the band gradually dissolved in late '86. Hunt formed a new act ELYSIAN FIELDS in 1987.