Persian Risk

Persian Risk
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1979 in Cardiff, Wales
Founder	Phil Campbell
Headquarters	Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, Europe
Key people	Carl Sentance (vocals), Phil Campbell (guitar)
Products	Heavy metal music, albums, singles

Persian Risk is a heavy metal group from Wales, emerging during the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The band was established in 1979 in Cardiff, Wales by guitarist Phil Campbell, formerly of Stoned Soul Party. The original members comprised vocalist Jon Deverill, second guitarist Dave Bell, bassist Nick Hughes, and drummer Razz (Russell Lemon). Their initial period of activity lasted until 1986, with a revival occurring in 2012 led by vocalist Carl Sentance, who was the sole member from the later lineup.

History

Towards the end of 1980, Jon Deverill departed to join Tygers of Pan Tang, and Carl Sentance, who had previously played alongside Hughes and Lemon, stepped in as the new frontman. Under Sentance's leadership, Persian Risk released the sought-after single "Calling For You" backed with "Chase the Dragon" in 1981. After parting ways with replacement guitarist Alex Lohfink, the band streamlined to a quartet and contributed "Calling For You" to the Heavy Metal Heroes Vol. 2 compilation in 1982. Additionally, their track "50.000 Stallions" featured on Neat Records' 60 Minutes Plus cassette compilation (1982), which was later reissued as All Hell Let Loose (Neat/Base Records, 1983). They followed these efforts with the "Ridin' High" single backed with "Hurt You," released through Neat Records and praised by critics.

Drummer Razz exited in late 1983 and was initially replaced by Dixie Lee (formerly of Lone Star and Wild Horses) before Steve Hopgood (ex-Chinatown and Shy) took over permanently. The band also added second guitarist Graham Bath (ex-Sphinx) to their lineup. Founding guitarist Phil Campbell left after joining Motörhead, who selected Persian Risk as support for their 1984 UK tour. Phil Vokins (ex-Tyrant, Wrathchild) succeeded Campbell on guitar. Signing with London-based Zebra Records that year, they unveiled the Too Different EP, which reflected a more refined musical style.

In 1984, Persian Risk made their only national television appearance in the UK on Channel 4’s ECT show, performing "Women In Rock," "Rise Up," and "Too Different." These tracks were later included on their 1986 album Rise Up (Metal Masters). However, mounting internal tensions led to the group's dissolution shortly thereafter. Following the split, Nick Hughes joined Idol Rich; Steve Hopgood co-founded Wild! and subsequently played with Paul Di'Anno’s Battlezone and Killers; Carl Sentance toured with Tokyo Blade and lent his vocals to Welsh band Tredegar; Graham Bath also collaborated with Battlezone and Killers.

In February 2012, Carl Sentance revealed plans to record seven new songs alongside four reimagined Persian Risk tracks for an upcoming album without involvement from any original members. The project featured contributions from Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey and former Thunder bassist Chris Childs.

The resulting album, Once A King, was launched in October 2012 through German label High Roller Records. The lineup included Sentance on vocals, Airey on keyboards, Childs on bass, Alex Meadows also on bass, Tim Brown on drums, and guitarists Danny Willson and Howie G. Later that year in November, Persian Risk performed at Wales’ "Hard Rock Hell" festival featuring Sentance, Brown, Howie G., and ex-Blaze bassist Wayne Banks. In April 2014, they appeared at Germany’s "Keep It True" festival. Their third studio release, Who Am I?, arrived on 6 November 2014.

Post break-up activities

Carl Sentance was brought on by Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler to lead the Geezer Butler Band in 1986. By 1990, Welsh guitarist Paul Chapman, known for his work with Lone Star, UFO, and Waysted, invited Sentance to front the band Ghost based in Orlando, Florida. Sentance also established an American lineup of Persian Risk alongside guitarist Mark Lanoue, performing throughout the Southern United States until 1995. Upon returning to the UK, he collaborated with members of Wraith before joining the Swiss hard rock group Krokus in 1998, contributing to their Round 13 album and remaining for three years. In 2005, Sentance co-led Whole Lotta Metal with fellow vocalist Tony Martin of Black Sabbath renown, alongside other British metal session musicians in a touring cover ensemble. He lent his vocals to the Power Project's 2006 release Dinosaurs, working with seasoned American artists Carlos Cavazo, Jeff Pilson, and Vinny Appice. On stage, Sentance performed with Deep Purple's Don Airey & Friends and appeared on Airey's solo album A Light in the Sky (2008). His solo debut, Mind Doctor (2008), featured contributions from Airey and the rhythm section of Thunder. In 2015, Sentance became the lead singer for Nazareth.
Steve Hopgood became part of a late-1990s version of Tank, releasing the live album The Return of the Filth Hounds – Live in 1998 and participating in a Japanese tour celebrating the 20th Anniversary of NWOBHM. This tour was captured on the split CD Metal Crusade '99, which also featured bands like Samson and Praying Mantis.
Phil Vokins resurfaced in 2006 with Psychowrath, a band including former Wrathchild members bassist Marc Angel and drummer Eddie Starr, along with Beyond Recognition vocalist Gaz Harris. Psychowrath continues to be active.
Nick Hughes transitioned into a career as a trance DJ and producer under the name Toad. He is also the resident DJ and promoter of 'Toadstool', a psytrance event held in Gloucester, UK.
Jon Deverill departed from rock music following his final late-1980s albums with Tygers of Pan Tang, The Wreck-Age and Burning in the Shade. He has since built a successful career as a stage actor after graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Under the stage name Jon de Ville, he toured nationally in productions such as Blood Brothers (2007) and The Sound of Music (2008). An album initially recorded in the mid-1980s with former Tyger Fred Purser under the name Square World was eventually released by Mighty Music in December 2018 as Purser Deverill – Square One.
Phil Campbell stayed with Motörhead for over three decades, contributing to sixteen studio albums. In 2004, he was voted among 'The 100 Welsh Heroes' through Wales’ largest online poll. Campbell earned a Grammy Award alongside Motörhead for Best Metal Performance in 2005 for their rendition of Metallica's "Whiplash". He currently performs and records with his own group, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.

Current lineup

Carl Sentance: lead vocals (1980–1986, 2012–present)
Jason Banks: guitar (2014–present)
Wayne Banks: bass guitar (2012–present)
Tim Brown: drums (2012–present)

Past members

John Deverill: lead vocals (1979–1980)
Dave Bell: guitar (1979–1980)
Razz: drums (1979–1983)
Phil Campbell: guitar (1979–1984)
Nick Hughes: bass guitar (1979–1986)
Alex Lohfink: guitar (1980–1981)
Dixie Lee: drums (1983–1984)
Graham Bath: guitar (1983–1986)
Phil Vokins: guitar (1984–1986)
Steve Hopgood: drums, percussion (1984–1986)
Lou Taylor: lead vocals (1986)
Chris Childs: bass guitar (2012)
Alex Meadows: bass guitar (2012)
Danny Willson: guitar (2012)
Howard "Howie G" Jarrett: guitar (2012–2014)

Persian Risk USA formation (active 1992–1995):

Fred Wendal: drums (1992)
Carl Sentance: lead vocals (1992–1995)
Mark Allen Lanoue: guitar (1992–1995)
Jeff Laroche: guitar (1992–1995)
Tom Neely: bass guitar (1992–1995)
Tommy Rodriquez: drums (1992–1995)

Singles

"Calling for You" backed with "Chase the Dragon" (SRT Records, 1981)
"Ridin' High" backed with "Hurt You" (Neat Records, 1983)
"Too Different" 12" EP release (Zebra Records, 1984)

Albums

Rise Up (Metal Masters, 1986 / High Vaultage, 1997 / Powerage, 2002)

01. "Hold the Line" 02. "Jane" featuring Didge Digital on keyboards 03. "Rise Up" 04. "Brave New World" 05. "Don't Turn Around" 06. "Sky's Falling Down" 07. "Break Free" 08. "Dark Tower" 09. "Rip It Up" 10. "Women in Rock"

Note: The High Vaultage reissue included three additional tracks from the Too Different EP as bonus material.

Once a King (2012)

01. "Asylum" 02. "Riding High" 03. "Killer" 04. "Once a King" 05. "Soul Deceiver" 06. "Battle Cry" 07. "Spirit in My Dreams" 08. "Ride the Storm" 09. "Fist of Fury" 10. "Women and Rock" 11. "Wasteland"

Note: Features newly recorded versions of earlier Persian Risk songs.

Compilation albums

Heavy Metal Heroes Vol.2 (Heavy Metal Records, 1982)
60 Minutes Plus (Neat Records, 1982)
All Hell Let Loose (Base Records/Neat, 1983)