Jaguar (band)

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Jaguar are a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Band formed in Bristol, England in December 1979. One of the major bands of the movement, they had little commercial success in Britain or North America but did better in mainland Europe and Japan.

[edit] Career

The original December '79 lineup consisted of Garry Pepperd (Guitar), Jeff Cox (Bass,Vocals) and Chris Lovell (Drums). In the following April Rob Reiss was added as vocalist/frontman. They built a strong local reputation and recorded two demos the latter of which earned them a deal with Heavy Metal Records, and in 1981 they released single BACK STREET WOMAN, a NWOBHM cult classic which sold over 400,000 copies. Unfortunately the band then had a major disagreement with the record company and the contract ended. Disillusioned, Reiss quit and was replaced by Paul Merrell.

In 1982 a strong performance at a Dutch rock festival won them a new deal with Neat Records and subsequent single AXE CRAZY sold reasonably well. After intensive touring, debut album POWER GAMES was released in early 1983. They were now well known in British heavy metal circles and prospects were promising. Follow up album THIS TIME followed in 1984 and was a marked change of direction, showing a Dance Music influence. Drummer Lovell hated it and was replaced by Gary Davies.

The marked change of direction alienated much of their core audience and sales and interest evaporated. By the end of 1985 there was little interest in them and the band folded. A revival of interest in the NWOBHM in Europe and Japan and a successful re-release of their first album in those regions propmpted a reformation in 1999, with modified lineup of Peppard, Jeff Cox, brother Nathan Cox on drums and vocalist Jamie Marten. An album WAKE ME followed in 2000. However Jeff Cox was then replaced by Darren Furze. Next album RUN RAGGED appeared in 2003. In 2005 the band were still a going concern on the NWOBHM nostalgia circuit.