Warlock
After two years of constant gigging, the German band Warlock: Doro (b. Dorothee Pesch, 3 June 1964, Dusseldorf, Germany; vocals), Peter Szigeti (guitar), Rudy Graf (guitar), Frank Rittel (bass) and Michael Eurich (drums), finally released an album. Signed to the independent Mausoleum label, they issued BURNING THE WITCHES, which boasted a sound typical of German bands like the Scorpions and Accept, but with the vocals of Doro sounding strangely like Ronnie James Dio. The album, and the presence of their striking blonde-haired vocalist got them noticed in the rest of the world and they were signed by Vertigo Records, who released HELLBOUND a year later. By 1986 the emphasis on the band was focused mainly on Pesch. Graft left to be replaced by Niko Arvantis and the next single, You Hurt My Soul, was withdrawn (the tracks turned up later on a 12-inch EP). TRUE AS STEEL suffered from over-production and Americanization. Pesch then re-located the band to New York where they dissolved. A new line-up, with Eurich the only surviving member, added Tommy Bolan (guitar), Tommy Henriksen (bass) and, eventually, a re-hired Arvantis. The resulting album, TRIUMPH AND AGONY, was definitely the latter, and again the band split. 1989's FORCE MAJEURE, credited to Doro And Warlock, was essentially a solo effort. Bobby Rondinelli, formerly of Rainbow, played drums on that set. A year later Warlock were confined to history as Pesch fully adopted the American sound and pushed herself forward as a new Lee Aaron or Lita Ford. Her first solo album was produced by Gene Simmons (Kiss), since when her record sales have fallen in line with public indifference.