Vardis
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Steve Zodiac (Stephen John Hepworth), Alan Selway, Gary Pearson |
| Defunct | 1986 (initially) |
| Fate | Reassembled in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Wakefield , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Germany |
Key people | Steve Zodiac (guitar, vocals), Alan Selway (bass), Gary Pearson (drums), Terry Horbury (bass), Joe Clancy (drums), Roly Bailey (bass) |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | www |
Vardis is a trio from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, known for their blend of hard rock, boogie rock, and heavy metal. Initially active between 1973 and 1986, the band reassembled in 2014.
They played a significant role in the new wave of British heavy metal era. The group’s lineup consisted of frontman Steve Zodiac (Stephen John Hepworth) handling guitar and lead vocals, Alan Selway on bass, and Gary Pearson on drums. Later on, Terry Horbury, previously with Dirty Tricks, took over bass duties from Selway.
Background
Originally formed in 1973 under the name 'Quo Vardis'—a misspelling of the Latin phrase "quo vadis"—the band shortened their name to Vardis by 1977. Their initial recordings at Holyground Studios featured Zodiac-penned originals "Jiving All Night Long" and "Stay with Me," followed by covers of "Roll Over Beethoven" and Status Quo’s "Don't Waste My Time."
Vardis became known for their electrifying live performances that fused elements of 1970s glam rock with heavy metal, highlighted by Zodiac’s signature Fender Telecaster tone and his barefoot, shirtless stage persona.
Their debut album, 100MPH (1980), was captured entirely live, receiving praise from critics and attracting a dedicated following. In 1981, they appeared at the Heavy Metal Holocaust festival alongside acts like Motörhead and Ozzy Osbourne, entertaining an audience estimated at 30,000.
The follow-up record in 1981, The World's Insane, included a rendition of Hawkwind’s "Silver Machine" featuring Judd Lander on bagpipes—a rarity in heavy metal—and keyboard contributions from Andy Bown of Status Quo. By 1982, Zodiac was ranked among the top 15 rock guitarists in a Sounds magazine readers’ poll.
The band dissolved during the mid-1980s amid legal conflicts involving their management.
Vardis reunited in March 2014 with Zodiac, Horbury, and Pearson resuming live performances at festivals across the UK and Germany. After Pearson left late that year, Hoplite Records issued a remastered version of their 1986 album Vigilante. Joe Clancy joined as drummer in January 2015 as the band announced forthcoming new material. The EP 200 MPH, released in July 2015, was met with favorable reviews.
In November 2015, Vardis secured an international contract with German label SPV/Steamhammer for their fifth studio album, Red Eye, planned for release in 2016. Bassist Terry Horbury passed away unexpectedly in December 2016; Martin Connolly stepped in temporarily for live shows supporting Red Eye. Roly Bailey was appointed permanent bassist in September 2019.
Live albums
- 100 M.P.H. (Logo, 1980) – reached No. 52 on the UK Albums Chart
- 100 M.P.H. @ 100 Club (SPV/Steamhammer, 2021)
Studio albums
- The World's Insane (Logo, 1981)
- Quo Vardis (Logo, 1982)
- Vigilante (Raw Power, LP022, 1986)
- Red Eye (SPV/Steamhammer, 2016)
Compilation albums
- New Electric Warriors (Logo, 1980)
- Metal Power (Logo, 1981)
- The Lion's Share (Razor, 1983)
- NWOBHM (Phonogram, 1990)
- New Electric Warriors (British Steel, 1997)
- The World's Gone Mad (Essential, 2000)
- NWOBHM Rarities (British Steel, 2000)
- Metal (Sanctuary, 2001)
- Rock of Ages (Sanctuary, 2002)
Singles and EPs
- "Jiving All Night Long" (Holyground Enterprises, 1973)
- "Roll Over Beethoven" (Holyground Enterprises, 1973)
- "100 M.P.H. EP" (Redball, 1979)
- "If I Were King" (Castle, 1980)
- "Let's Go" (Logo, 1980) – reached No. 59 on the UK Singles Chart
- "Too Many People" (Logo, 1980)
- "Silver Machine" (Logo, 1981)
- "All You'll Ever Need" (Logo, 1981)
- "Gary Glitter Part One" / "To Be With You" (Logo, 1982) – released as a double A-side single
- "Standing in the Road" (Big Beat, 1984)
- "200 M.P.H. EP" (Hoplite Records, 2015)