Tygers of Pan Tang (TOPT) are an English heavy metal band from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside. Formed in 1978, the group originally featured lead vocalist Mark Butcher who was replaced by Jess Cox, guitarist and backing vocalist Robb Weir, bassist and backing vocalist Richard "Rocky" Laws, and drummer Brian "Big" Dick. The group's current lineup includes Weir, drummer Craig Ellis (since 2000), vocalist Jacopo "Jack" Meille (since 2004) and bassist Huw Holding (since 2021). Jess Cox formed "Jess Cox's Tygers of Pan Tang" in 2015 and has featured members of Blitzkrieg.
History 1978–1987 TOPT were formed in 1978 by Robb Weir, Rocky Laws and Brian Dick, who added Mark Butcher after Weir briefly considered performing lead vocals. He was replaced before the end of the month by Jess Cox. During the recording of their debut album Wild Cat, the band decided to add a second guitarist, and after several auditions brought in John Sykes. After the album's promotional tour ended in October 1980, Cox suddenly left. He was replaced the following month by Jon Deverill. The new lineup released Spellbound and Crazy Nights in 1981, before Sykes left to join Thin Lizzy and was replaced by former Penetration guitarist Fred Purser. Shortly after issuing The Cage in 1982, TOPT were dropped by MCA Records, and before the end of the year the group had disbanded.
In 1985, Deverill and Dick reformed TOPT with new members Steve Lamb, Neil Sheperd (both guitars) and Colin Irwin (bass), the latter of whom was soon replaced by Dave Donaldson in time for the recording of comeback album The Wreck-Age. Lamb had recently been a member of Robb Weir's band Sergeant, while both Sheperd and Donaldson had worked with former TOPT frontman Jess Cox in recent years. For the 1987 follow-up Burning in the Shade, Deverill, Lamb and Dick worked with songwriter Steve Thompson as a guest contributor, before breaking up for a second time.
1999 onwards Jess Cox and Robb Weir reunited at Wacken Open Air festival in August 1999 to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of TOPT's first single "Don't Touch Me There", adding Blitzkrieg members Glenn S. Howes on guitar, Gavin Gray on bass and Chris Percy on drums. This led to a full reformation of the band the following year, with sole original member Weir joined by new vocalist Tony Liddell, guitarist Dean Robertson, bassist Brian West and drummer Craig Ellis. Shortly after the release of Mystical, the band's first studio album since 1987, Liddell was replaced by Angel Witch bassist Richie Wicks. The new vocalist remained until October 2004, recording Noises from the Cathouse before leaving due to "ongoing work commitments". Italian singer Jacopo Meille took over in December.
After releasing Animal Instinct in 2008, followed by a series of re-recordings of earlier material, West officially departed in November 2011 to focus on his duties as bass technician for Uriah Heep, with Gavin Gray returning to take his place. Ambush followed in 2012, before Robertson left at the beginning of 2013 to focus on other projects. He was replaced by Micky Crystal. In 2015 Jess Cox formed “Jess Cox’s Tygers of Pan Tang” and made festival appearances across Europe as well as a tour of South America. The Micky Crystal era saw the band release two albums, the critically acclaimed “Tygers of Pan Tang” and the album which is regarded as the post 2000’s jewel in the crown “Ritual.” Crystal’s guitar playing and songwriting were widely credited between critics and fans as restoring the signature guitar fireworks missing since the John Sykes era.
Micky Crystal left the band in March 2020, claiming poor management and lack of democracy led to the decision referencing a 1984 John Sykes interview with Kerrang which claimed similar. He was followed by Gavin Gray in July 2021. Their replacements have been Francesco Marras and Huw Howlding (also ex-Blitzkrieg) respectively. Marras continued the fretboard fireworks and made one studio album “Bloodlines” with the band. Marras left the band in November 2025. In January 2026 the band announced John Foottit as their new guitarist. Footitt appears on a few tracks on the album Electrifyed alongside producer Marco Angioni.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRobb Weirall releases, except The Wreck-Age (1985) and Burning in the Shade (1987)Craig Ellis2000–presentall releases from Mystical (2001) onwards except A New Heartbeat (2022)Jacopo "Jack" Meille2004–presentlead vocalsall releases from Animal Instinct (2008) onwardsHuw Holding2021–presentbassall releases from Bloodlines (2023) onwardsJohn Foottit2026–presentguitarnone to date
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBrian "Big" DickRichard "Rocky" Laws1978–1982Mark Butcher1978lead vocalsnone Jess CoxJohn Sykes1980–1982 Jon Deverilllead vocalsFred Purser1982The Cage (1982)Steve Lamb1985–1987Neil SheperdguitarThe Wreck-Age (1985)Colin Irwin1985bassnone Dave Donaldson1985–1987The Wreck-Age (1985)Gavin GrayChris Percy1999 drumsLive at Wacken (2001)Glenn S. HowesguitarDean Robertson2000–2013all releases from Mystical (2001) to Ambush (2012)Brian West2000–2011bassall releases from Mystical (2001) to The Spellbound Sessions (2011)Tony Liddell2000–2001lead vocalsMystical (2001)Richie Wicks2001–2004Michael "Micky" Crystal2013–2020Francesco Marras2020–2025Bloodlines (2023)
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesEarly – August 1978Mark Butcher – lead vocals Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Rocky Laws – bass, backing vocals Brian Dick – drums, percussionnone August 1978 – July 1980Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Rocky Laws – bass, backing vocals Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jess Cox – lead vocalsWild Cat (1980) "Rock n' Roll Man" (1980) First Kill (1992)July – October 1980Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Rocky Laws – bass, backing vocals Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jess Cox – lead vocals John Sykes – guitar, backing vocalsnone November 1980 – April 1982Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Rocky Laws – bass, backing vocals Brian Dick – drums, percussion John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals Jon Deverill – lead vocalsSpellbound (1981) "Don't Take Nothing" (1981) Crazy Nights (1981) The Cage (1982) April – November 1982Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Rocky Laws – bass, backing vocals Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jon Deverill – lead vocals Fred Purser – guitar, backing vocalsThe Cage (1982) Band inactive November 1982 – early 1985Early 1985Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jon Deverill – lead vocals Steve Lamb – guitar, backing vocals Neil Sheperd – guitar Colin Irwin – bassnone 1985–1987Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jon Deverill – lead vocals Steve Lamb – guitar, backing vocals Neil Sheperd – guitar Dave Donaldson – bass, backing vocalsThe Wreck-Age (1985)1987Brian Dick – drums, percussion Jon Deverill – lead vocals Steve Lamb – guitar, backing vocalsBurning in the Shade (1987)Band inactive 1987–1999August 1999Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Jess Cox – lead vocals Glenn S. Howes – guitar Gavin Gray – bass, backing vocals Chris Percy – drumsLive at Wacken (2001)2000 – November 2001Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Tony Liddell – vocals Dean Robertson – guitar Brian West – bass Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocalsMystical (2001)November 2001 – October 2004Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Dean Robertson – guitar Brian West – bass Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Richie Wicks – vocalsLive in the Roar (2003) Noises from the Cathouse (2004) Live in Holland (2005)December 2004 – November 2011Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Dean Robertson – guitar Brian West – bass Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – vocalsAnimal Instinct (2008) Animal Instinct x2 (2009) The Wildcat Sessions (2010) The Spellbound Sessions (2011)November 2011 – January 2013Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Dean Robertson – guitar Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – lead vocals Gavin Gray – bass, backing vocalsAmbush (2012)February 2013 – March 2020Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Gavin Gray – bass, backing vocals Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – lead vocals Micky Crystal – guitar, backing vocalsThe Crazy Nights Sessions (2014) Tygers of Pan Tang (2016) Ritual (2019)October 2020 – July 2021Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Gavin Gray – bass, backing vocals Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – lead vocals Francesco Marras – guitar, backing vocalsnone August 2021 – November 2025 Robb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – lead vocals Huw Howlding – bass Francesco Marras – guitar, backing vocals Bloodlines (2023) Live Blood (2024)January 2026 – presentRobb Weir – guitar, backing vocals Craig Ellis – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jacopo Meille – lead vocals Huw Howlding – bass John Foottit – guitarElectrifyed (Releases September 11th 2026)
References
External links Tygers of Pan Tang official website