Tygers of Pan Tang

English heavy metal band formed in Whitley Bay in 1978, part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.

Founded in Whitley Bay in 1978; early acclaimed albums include Wild Cat (1980) and Spellbound (1981). John Sykes played guitar on Spellbound and later joined Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake (noted in reviews). The band underwent commercial/AOR-leaning phases in the mid-1980s (The Cage, The Wreck-Age). Robb Weir is the long-standing founding guitarist. Jacopo Meille (Italian) joined in the 2000s and is credited in reviews with helping to revitalize the band; the group reunited for live performances (including Wacken) and released recent albums such as Animal Instinct, Ambush and Ritual.

English NWOBHM veterans praised for early classics Wild Cat and Spellbound. Reviews highlight John Sykes's contribution on Spellbound and praise recent singer Jacopo Meille for revitalizing the band. The band's mid-80s AOR/pop detours (The Cage, The Wreck-Age) draw mixed reactions. Recent albums (Animal Instinct, Ambush, Ritual) and live shows are generally well received.

For:Fans of NWOBHM and classic heavy metal; readers looking for album reviews, band history and live-report coverage.