Salem UK was formed in 1979 by former Ethel The Frog members Paul Conyers and Paul Tognola. After numerous gigs and a self-released single the band split in 1983. The band reformed in 2008, releasing three four albums and touring across Europe, venturing as far as Dubai. Original members Simon Saxby (vocals) and Adrian Jenkinson (bass) still drive the band forward, now with Francis Gill (guitar), whose creative skills are a vital part of the band’s new edgy presentation.
Tracklist:
01. The Wraith
02. Betrayed
03. Circumstances Change
04. Win Lose or Draw
05. Souls of Evermore
06. Blind
07. Sentinel
08. Censored
09. Victorious
10. Queen Serene
Adrian: "We’ve had a rough time of it over the past 18 months and there were times when we thought it was all over, but we’ve come through, and we want to thank Steve and Tom for believing in us throughout the process. Now we’re back stronger than ever and it feels great!"
Simon: "The happiest of times was had writing and recording this album and the future looks good. Many thanks to family and friends and Teresa for her hard work, love and support. A special mention to John Cudbertson RIP my friend."
Francis: "I’ve been a Salem UK fan for around ten years now. I was doing a lot of work with Adrian around the time he was mixing “Forgotten Dreams” and I loved the stuff on that record. I remember thinking back then that I would love to make a record with Simon and Adrian. Thankfully for me the opportunity to fulfil that ambition presented itself rather organically last year when I was invited to play guitar for Salem UK. I’m immensely proud of the tracks on the new album. It has everything that Salem UK fans have come to expect, but with a much more contemporary angle in terms of the arrangement and delivery of the guitars. I may be biased, but it’s the best yet! I’d like to thank Simon and Adrian for making me feel so at home in the band. We’ve had an absolute ball making this record and playing shows all over Europe during the past year. I’m sure there’s much more fun to be had! I’d also like to give special thanks to Craig Jackson from Axesrus Guitar Parts for tolerating my ridiculous (and often plain cheeky) demands. The man is a true friend and an absolute diamond!"
Adrian: ""Win Lose Or Draw" is our fourth album of the modern era. It will be instantly recognisable as a Salem UK album to our fans, the classic melodic rock element is still there, and of course we have the unmistakable lead vocals of Simon. Francis brings a harder, more modern edge to the music and has certainly dragged our song writing into the modern era, which we have enjoyed very much. So now, alongside the Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake and Sabbath influences, you might just catch a suggestion of Evanescence, Lacuna Coil and Alter Bridge in there too! We are sure that fans will notice the musicianship too, we have worked our nuts off to make this album the best it can be, so that we can give the knowledgeable heavy metal/heavy rock community a slice of top-quality British rock. No stone has been left unturned in the recording of this album, we are immensely proud of it."
"Win Lose Or Draw" will be released on November 8, 2019, on Dissonance Productions.
ONLINE
LINEUP
Simon Saxby - Vocals
Francis Gill - Guitars
Adrian Jenkinson - Bass
Dave Megginson - Drums
{tab=title="BIOGRAPHY" class="orange"}
Salem I:
Salem was founded in late 1979 by two former members from the Metal for Muthas stars Ethel The Frog - Paul Tognola (vocals/guitar) and Paul Conyers (drums). Ade Jenkinson was drafted as the bass player and the first band meeting with Paul Macnamara (lead guitar) was 2 January 1980 in The Red Lion pub in Anlaby, Hull.
After a period of song writing and rehearsal, Salem began gigging in Hull and district, and recorded the first demo in January 1981.
Salem II:
Simon Saxby (vocals) joined Salem following Paul Tognola's departure for The Crack in March 1981 and the band continued to perform. Mark Allison joined to provide the depth of second guitar and twin-lead melodies. This line-up gigged regularly and released its own single Cold As Steel/Reach For Eternity in April 1982. Paul Macnamara was interviewed by Kerrang! in May 1982 and singles were sold globally.
Paul Conyers had to leave due to other professional commitments and Paul "Animal" Mendham took up the drum stool.
Salem III:
Salem continued to gig prolifically in the North of England with a hardcore of fans. They soon recorded another demo, for the first time capturing the fans' favourite The Keeper of the Keys. This raw session caught the passion of the live performances.
Salem won a battle of the bands at Huddersfield Polytechnic, following which they recorded the last demo at September Sound, Huddersfield, in March 1983, which demonstrated the maturing song writing of the band. Although a number of record companies expressed an interest in the music, the band imploded and played their last, sell-out gig in Hull on 31 May 1983.
In 2009, High Roller Records and Pure Steel Records approached Salem, keen to release the 1980s recordings on vinyl and CD. The result is the 2010 double-album In The Beginning ...
Following great interest in the band, Salem re-formed and played first gig in 27 years at The Adelphi, in hometown Hull.
In 2011, Salem recorded three new tracks (release as the limited edition New Tricks EP) and played again at The Adelphi on 9 December.
In July 2012, Ricky Squires (formerly of the dEAd ENd KIdS and the Heavy Metal Kids) joined Salem to play festivals and gigs with us, including Italy, Belgium and UK. Ricky moved on to play in Battleaxe.
Salem was invited to play the first BROFEST in March 2013 and marked the occasion with the release of the limited edition X Rated EP.
The album Forgotten Dreams was released on 6 December 2013 by Pure Rocks Records and has received excellent reviews.
In 2014, the band continued to play gigs and festivals in UK, Europe - including Play It Loud in Italy, Very 'Eavy in Netherlands, Headbangers Open Air warm-up in Germany, the Paris in France, Rock You To Hell in Athens, Greece - and in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with special deputy drummer Oli Davis.
Salem played gigs in 2015 in Belgium and England, and at festivals including Wildfire, Scotland, BÄÄÄM in Germany, Power & Glory II, headlined at RockWich in UK and British Steel, France. Also earlier in the year, the band filmed a second videos of the song "The Answer" at sites in Barton-upon-Humber and Beverley.
In July 2015, a new re-mastered version of the In The Beginning ... album was released by High Roller Records. The songs have been re-arranged into the original chronological order.
The album Dark Days was released in April 2016 on CD, with vinyl released in July.
Salem has played a series of gigs and festivals in 2016 including Muskelrock in Sweden, a return to Headbangers Open Air, at Heavy Metal Maniacs in Netherlands, and gigs in Belgium and in UK with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head, Witchfynde and Spartan Warrior.
Events in 2017 already include BROFEST in UK again, MataRock in Barcelona, Spain, British Steel in France again, Blast From The Past, Belgium and HRH NWOBHM back in UK.
Salem has signed a new record deal with Dissonance Productions and the third album Attrition was released on 23 February 2018.
Salem IV:
Salem has a new singer.
We have been rehearsing with the new singer and your first opportunity to see us with this line-up will be at Camden Underworld on 25th May.
We were shocked and saddened when, last December, Adrian Jenkinson chose to leave Salem. Following this, Simon Saxby decided to leave with Adrian.
The remaining members of Salem took legal advice from the Musician’s Union and, for absolute clarity, at their recommendation, we formally advised Adrian and Simon that we would be continuing as Salem.
We are already working on new material and will continue to bring you great rock music. We are booking further gigs including our first venture to Poland later in the year.
Salem has been cited, along with Iron Maiden, Saxon and Tygers of Pan Tang, as one of the "top 10 NWOBHM bands that are better than ever!"
DISCOGRAPHY
Forgotten Dreams - 2013
Dark Days - 2016
Attrition - 2018
Win Lose Or Draw - 2019