Cynic (UK)

Cynic (UK) was formed in Malvern Worcestershire by Lead Guitarist, Shaun Grant, in 1979. He had been at school with Drummer, Tim Batkin, and had played together in a school rock covers band, Renegade, circa 1977.After leaving school in 1978, Shaun worked with best friend and former Lead Guitarist from Health Warning, Dominic Heptinstall, who together recruited Tim Batkin into what became Cynic (UK) in 1979.The trio were joined by Vocalist Tony Eyres, and Bassist Barry Pedlingham, and played their first concert in December 1981 to a motorcycle gang, known locally, as the Webbs.Cynic (UK) played in and around Worcestershire on the same circuit as Grim Reaper, Wrathchild, Tyga Myra and Virgin Star, playing what would later be referred to as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.In 1982 Cynic (UK) recorded a four track demo called "Do or Die", with Paul White engineering, (later to become editor in chief of Sound on Sound magazine). This demo has found its way onto numerous torrent download sites, but curiously only with three of the four tracks. The opening track, "Killroy" has been missed.In 1983 Cynic (UK) financed and produced its first 7" vinyl single, called Suicide. At the time this brought BBC Radio appearances for the band, and later the single, in Malc Macmillan..s book, "The Encyclopaedia of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal", would describe it as "genre defining, and should be placed on the highest level of hierarchy for ultra rare collectables. Martin Poppoff, author of RUSH "Grace under Pressure", would also favourably mention the Suicide Single in his book of New Wave of British Heavy Metal singles.After the release of Suicide, Tony Eyres and Barry Pedlingham left Cynic (UK), and were replaced with John Ridsdale on Vocals, and Neil Orgee on Bass.In 1987, with this line up, Cynic (UK) returned to the studios to record the four track EP "Rebel Eye", which was distributed as a cassette with picture sleeve.Late in 1989 John Ridsdale announced he would be leaving Cynic (UK), and Cynic (UK) decided to record a selection of their then material, which would later, (2003) be released, re -mastered, as a CD under the sub title, "Right Between the Eyes", which would also include some tracks from "Rebel Eye" and the "Suicide" single, side A and B, but none from "Do or Die"By the early 1990..s Cynic (UK) had dissolved with each band member pursuing other gigs.Due to the insistence of the Internet, and the publication of the two books mentioned, Cynic (UK) reformed in 2003, with Shaun Grant now handling Vocals, and Gary Curtiss on Bass.Cynic (UK) appeared on BBC TV and Radio in 2005.In October 2006, Cynic (UK) returned to the recording studio, this time to the legendary UK residential studio, Rockfield, in Monmouth, Wales - where RUSH recorded Hemispheres, and A Farewell to Kings albums, with Matt Butler, credited on RUSH Power Windows and Hold Your Fire albums, engineering. The album, with cover art design, direction and photography provided by Hugh Syme, has the sub title, "Suburban Crisis".