BIOGRAPHY/LOGO
In the early to mid 80’s, guitarists Davey Lee and Nacho Vara were well known in the San Antonio Texas metal scene with their respective bands; Sabre Sabatazh (Davey) and Séance (Nacho). Surprising many, Nacho left Séance and joined Davey’s band in June 1987. Soon after joining forces, the band name changed to Byfist.
With Davey and Nacho as the main song writers, Byfist shunned the ongoing Glam scene by delivering raw, no fluff, and no frills Power Metal. Byfist released a few EP’s, and opened for touring acts such as Fates Warning, Michael Schenker, Danzig, Killer Dwarfs, Reverend, Manowar, Savatage, Trouble, Frank Marino, Kings X, and many others.
In late 1988, Byfist produced a music/commercial video to promote the “You Should Have Known” EP, which aired on MTV in early 1989. Also at this time, Vikk Real came on board as the new lead vocalist. Shortly afterwards, the band met and befriended vocalist David Wayne (Metal Church/Reverend), who loved their music.
Later that year, David Wayne took Byfist to Silver Cloud Studio in Burbank California where he produced the “Adrenalin” EP with Joe Floyd (Warrior) engineering. It was also during this time until 1991 when the band received the most recognition. Byfist was compared to the likes of Armored Saint, early Metallica, Anthrax and Metal Church by metal music critics around the world. Unfortunately, Byfist broke up in the summer of 1991 due to poor management and bad decisions, which included signing a bad contract that blew their chances of getting signed with any significant labels at the time, most notably MCA Records. This, plus the ongoing grunge movement would signal the end of Byfist.
After a nine year hiatus, BYFIST resurfaced on the Metal scene in 2000 with a vengeance. With the resurgence of metal bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon, Byfist decided it was time to dust the cobwebs off and give it another go. Byfist re-released the "Adrenalin" EP via their own Saba Records (USA) label by embracing the Internet and sending out vast amounts of EPs to re-introduce themselves to the Metal world. It worked!
Many fans rekindled their love for BYFIST, and many new fans discovered them. Reviews of praise were written up left and right. Davey, Nacho and Vikk were writing new music and Byfist was playing shows when in 2002, a friend from the past, David Wayne, contacted Davey Lee asking that he and Nacho join his band, Reverend. Soon after, Vikk left Byfist. Davey and Nacho split their time between Reverend and Byfist (with various singers, bassists and drummers that came and went); even going on a west coast tour and a European tour with Reverend.
They continued with both bands until David Wayne’s death in May 2005, with their last show in March 2005 as David Waynes’ Metal Church in San Antonio Texas. Though David Wayne passed away, Davey and Nacho continued with Reverend, thus honoring David Waynes’ request to keep his music and band alive. In 2006, Byfist was signed by Metal Ages Records (USA), whose plan was to release a compilation of earlier Byfist recordings. Unfortunately, they went out of business before the CD could be released. Metal Age Records introduced Byfist to Rock It Up Records (Germany).
In 2007, they signed Byfist and released the “Preserving the Past” CD in 2008. Around May 2010, Vikk Real rejoined Byfist after encouragement from his wife Jessica (aka. Jeska). The band was rehearsing again when in July 2010, Jeska passed away from a tragic motorcycle accident. The next couple of months consisted of Benefit and Memorial shows for her with both Reverend and Byfist performing. A few months later, October 1st 2010, Davey Lee passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, thus ending Reverend, as Nacho wouldn’t continue this band without Davey.
Within 3 months, Byfist lost 2 family members, and though Vikk and Nacho grieved, they were determined to keep Byfist going to honor Davey Lee and Jeska. They started writing again and performing a few shows with guest musicians, when once again, Byfist was dealt another blow. On July 2nd 2011, Vikk Real died in a freak motorcycle accident, almost a year after his wife passed away. Losing 3 close friends, Byfist family, within a year devastated Nacho and Byfist came to a screeching halt.
Despite his heartache, Nacho’s desire has always been to honor his late metal brothers Davey Lee & Vikk Real by finding talented musicians to do Byfist justice. It wasn’t until October 2012 when a friend suggested that Ernie B. audition for lead guitarist that things started to look up. Once Ernie was on board, he introduced Nacho to vocalist Raul Garcia (Diablo) in March 2013.
Despite being out of the music scene for around 20 years, Raul nailed the audition and became the new vocalist. Byfist had a few shows here and there, and even opened for Omen and Queensryche. However, with conflicting work schedules with the bassist and drummer, the band had to find replacements.
In February 2016, Nacho and Raul approached bassist Stony Grantham (Shadowkeep) and asked if he’d like to join the band. A Byfist CD was given to him that night, and a day or two later, Stony called and said he was in. Byfist spent the next several months auditioning drummers when finally in August 2016, Stony asked Scott Palmer (Witches Mark) to audition, and that was it.
Byfist found their new drummer and they were now back in full force. Within a few months, Byfist fine-tuned their performances, worked on their recordings, and opened for Grim Reaper, Udo Dirkschneider, Michael Schenker, Stryper, Helstar, Igniter, and the late David Wayne’s former band, Metal Church. Many fans have approached Nacho after shows, telling him that this Byfist line up is doing Davey and Vikk justice, thus fulfilling his desire to honor his metal brothers.
Nacho truly feels that Davey and Vikk are smiling upon the band. Nacho is proud of Byfist’s past and is looking forward to a bright future with Raul, Ernie, Stony and Scott, his new metal brothers. Byfist signed with Pure Steel Records and are looking forward to the great possibilities that this new partnership can bring.
