Tytan

Tytan is a heavy metal band from London, formed in 1981 and associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The group includes Kevin Riddles among its original members and has also featured Dave Dufort, Steve Mann, Gary Owens, Kal Swan, Simon Wright, Andy Thompson, Les Binks and others across later line-ups. Its sound sits within heavy metal, NWOBHM, metal and power metal.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins in 1981 after Kevin Riddles and Dave Dufort leave Angel Witch. Kal Swan joins on Paul Samson’s recommendation. The first line-up consists of Norman “Kal” Swan on vocals, Steve Gibbs and Stuart Adams on guitars, Kevin “Skidz” Riddles on bass and Dave Dufort on drums.

Tytan plays its first concert in January 1982 at London’s Marquee Club. Later that year, the band appears in a live BBC Friday Rock Show session, performing “Cold Bitch”, “The Watcher”, “Far Side of Destiny” and “Blind Men and Fools”.

Recordings and early releases

In late 1982, Tytan signs to the Kamaflage label and releases the 7-inch single “Blind Men and Fools” / “Ballad of Edward Case” and a 12-inch version that adds “Sadman”.

In 1983, the band records material for a planned album at Ramport Studios in Battersea. The sessions include “Blind Man and Fools”, “Far Cry”, “Don’t Play Their Way”, “Women on the Frontline”, “Rude Awakening”, “Hold On”, “Nothing Ever Lasts”, “Forever Gone”, “Money for Love” and “Far Side of Destiny”. During this period the line-up includes Kal Swan, Steve Gibbs, Steve Mann, Kevin Riddles and Les Binks. Kamaflage later goes bankrupt and the album is not released.

Break-up, Rough Justice and later activity

The last known 1983 line-up adds Simon Wright on drums. Tytan breaks up in late 1983, then later reforms. Metal Masters buys the rights to the songs and releases Rough Justice in 1985, drawing on the band’s recorded material from the early 1980s.

In 2012, an invitation to play Keep It True XV Festival in Germany leads to another reforming of the band with a revised line-up. Kevin Riddles, Steve Gibbs and Steve Mann are joined by vocalist Tom Barna, Andrew Thompson on keyboards and drummer Andrew Prestidge. Steve Gibbs leaves in early 2014. Chris Benton, then Mikey Ciancio, and later James Wise each take over drumming duties, with Seth Markes becoming the current drummer. Dave Strange joins in November 2014 when Steve Mann departs, and is later replaced by Peter Welsh in 2021. Tony Coldham replaces Tom Barna, plays his last show in October 2018, and returns in 2021 to complete the current line-up.

The band releases Justice Served in 2017 and continues to tour in the UK and appear at British and European festivals.