Dr Phibes & the House of Wax Equations

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Dr Phibes and the House of Wax Equations is the name of a psychedelic rock band based in the north west of England in the early to mid 1990s. They were regulars in the UK Indie Chart and had some links with other local bands in the North West.

The line-up consisted of Howard King Jr on guitar and vocals, Lee Belsham on bass and Keith York on drums. They toured extensively around the UK and across Europe. The most notable European Tour saw gigs at rock festivals in France, Switzerland and Germany. The German leg of the tour was only a few years after the Berlin Wall was removed (1989) and it was seen as a trial of the bands music to a brand new audience.

The fact that Howard was black and played guitar in a very free-form style - feedback and effects featured in most songs - meant that the band was often compared with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Between them, Lee Belsham and Keith York provided a solid rhythm to the lead guitar played by King in his unique style.

Keith Yorks talent behind the kit was built on a natural ability that the best drummers have across the world and this was complimented the rapport between all three band members that was awesome to see on stage. At the time Keith York was also using his skills to teach other drummers how to get 'into the groove'.

They recorded an album, Whirlpool, which was released in 1991 and followed it up the same year with a second EP, called Hazy Lazy Hologram.

The minor level of success continued with appearances at the Glastonbury Festival in 1992 and they also recorded a Peel Session for the legendary Radio One DJ John Peel in 1993^[1].

Later the same year they released their second album, Hypnotwister.

However, the band drifted apart and performed one of their last gigs - an extended jam really - in Manchester in 1995.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper reported on February 16, 1997^[2] that Howard King Jr had been charged with murdering his mother, Avril Fiona King, two days earlier at the home that they shared in Connah's Quay, near Chester in north Wales The outcome of the case was not reported in the national press. Locally it was reported that King had been convicted for his mother's murder.

The name was a homage to the horror films of British actor Vincent Price who starred in House of Wax and the two Dr. Phibes films.