VIRUS [INFECTING THE GAFF W/INFESTATION 11TH JULY]

Virus were one of the pioneers of British Thrash Metal in the 80's,formed in 1986 by H Heston & Tez Kaylor...2 of the members of the punk/oi! band Criminal Damage.They brought in John D Hess in their forming year & to complete their quartet in 1987 they called on the services of Coke McFinlay.Their first recording (PREY FOR WAR) was completely funded by the Band itself,which didnt make many waves in the press.It wasn't till their 2nd album (FORCE RECON) in 1987 that people really started to take notice of the true potential of the band.This was enforced by the thrash stylings of Coke,which took them to new heights in the genre. The way the music scene was going in the late eighties,there seemed to be a rise of Thrash metal bands in Britain,some of them very good some not so good...but Virus seemed to always be up there with the big hitters of the genre.The Press always dogged them,probably becauses of their strong punk rootsThey were labeled the bad boys of Thrash metal,simply because most of their gigs ended up in fights,drunken brawls & roadie punch ups,but they still maintained a modicum of decorum when they met their fans!Virus hit the stage for the very first time supporting Suicidal Tendencies & punk outfit Chelsea at the Clarendon in London,they gigged & toured with some of the most influential Thrash outfits of the late eighties..ie. Megadeth, DeathAngel, Nuclear Assault, Lazz Rocket, Cro-Mags, Kreator,Celtic Frost, Voi-Vod, Sabbat, Acid Reign, Overkill, Lawnmower Deth, Deathwish, Nalpalm Death, Sacrelige BC, Decifer...the list is endless.Their last recording (LUNACY)was undoubtedly their best preformance on vinyl,it moulded together all their influences,churning into a chaotic mish mash of lunatic ,frenzied riffs,which no other band would try to touch on,thus creating something which has influenced a great many bands since the 80's.The band split up in early 1990After more than a 20 year abscence VIRUS are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In the summer of 2008 Coke Mcfinlay, the only remaining member of the band decided to raise Virus from the ashes & enlisted Dave Sherwood from TIBERUIM, Matt Cooper from CELLBOUND & Sam Brandon from Power/Death Metallers MATRON. its a new era for VIRUS & a new lineup which seems to be working very well from the point of view of their fansThey release a four track E.P in summer 2009 entitled "RAPED BY MUTANTS" which will show the world that VIRUS truly are a force to be reckoned with!!!!!
" Lunacy " at the ROCK ATTIC 13TH DEC 2008"Seeing is believing"at the rock Attic 20/12/08