Elixir

Elixir is a British heavy metal band from Walthamstow, United Kingdom. It forms in 1983 and remains active. The group is associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and works in heavy metal and NWOBHM.

History

The band is formed in November 1983 by Steve Bentley, Kevin Dobbs, Nigel Dobbs and Phil Denton. It spends its early period writing material and rehearsing. Before settling on the name Elixir, the group uses the names Purgatory and Hellfire.

Elixir first recruits Sally Pike on vocals. After recording a four-song demo tape and playing two gigs, Pike leaves by the end of 1983. Paul Taylor replaces her in 1984. Later that year Norman Gordon joins on guitar after Steve Bentley leaves once the second demo tape is complete.

Two years later the band records its first album, The Son of Odin. In issue 137 of Terrorizer magazine in November 2005, the album is included in the magazine's top 20 power metal albums of all time. In 1988 Elixir records its second album, Sovereign Remedy, with Mark White on bass and former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr. Stevie Hughes replaces Burr for live work through 1989. At the end of that year Phil Denton leaves and Leon Lawson fills in for several live shows before the band comes off the road.

In 2001 the band returns to a line-up of Paul Taylor, Phil Denton, Norman Gordon, Kevin Dobbs and Nigel Dobbs and records its third album, The Idol.