Pagan Altar: A bit of occult, a bit of construction
One of those legendary Rock/Metal acts that have remained in business for decades is Pagan Altar – they have just released a new album! Formed by Terry Jones and his son Alan in 1978, this band from London is known as a part of the famous new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM). In our interview, guitarist, vocalist and founding member Alan Jones takes us down memory lane …
When and how did Pagan Altar form?
Pagan Altar formed in 1978 in Brockley, London. Our band Hydra had split about 6 months before and we wanted a new start.
Do you consider Pagan Altar to be a NWOBHM band or doom metal band?
Neither, we formed as a heavy Rock band and had not heard the term Doom until much later. We were always far too slow to be a NWOBHM.
Did the band have any troubles releasing their first album?
No, not really, but we did pay for the mastering ourselves and we already had the master done from 1982.
Are you interested in occult subjects, Alan?
Not so much now, but it was my dad that had a lot more interest in the subject
What kind of stage shows were offered by the band?
When we first started doing it in the late 70s / early eighties, it was more like new year. You could pretty much do what you wanted back then and we did manage to catch a few things alight back then.
Tell us about recording “Lords of Hypocrisy”.
Lords Of Hypocrisy was recorded between the original studio at the back of our house back at Brockley and a purpose built studio at the end of my dad’s garden in Plumstead. We used a 16 track Roland workstation, which I had just bought, and we would take it in the car between the two studios.
What were the sessions like?
Very loud. When we put the drums down at my dad’s studio in Plumstead. My dad had sound proved the cavities but then put plasterboard and plastered the walls, which looked great, but once you put a live kit in there, the sound just bounced back. Our drummer Mark perforated his ear drums and had to go the doctor in the end.
What did you think of other occult-themed bands that were on the scene in the early 80s?
To be honest. we never really took a lot of notice on what anybody else was doing.
Have you read any books on Occult themes?
I never did, that was more my dad’s thing, he may have read Aleister Crowley. I’m not sure, although we did both work for an occult shop in the 80s, but they had a construction business as a side line and we worked on that side of things. It did give my dad a lot of access to a lot of occult material.
What is your opinion of Occultism and the heavy metal scene with the coming of black metal and death metal in the 80s and 90s?
On the Occult, I really don’t have an opinion on it one way or the other.
Dennis, our other guitarist, is the expert on Black Metal and Death Metal etc. I really don’t know what is what and he has to tell me when we play those type of festivals.
What is the current metal scene like in the UK at the moment?
You are talking to the wrong person on this subject. My record collection ends at about 1985 and there is not much after that. Having said that, I did buy Tanith’s Latest album, which I love, which could sit in very well with my 1970s albums.
Any recent Pagan Altar releases that you could tell us about?
We have just brought an album out called “Never Quite Dead”.
Any future plans for the band?
I need to go to hospital for an Operation at the start of June, so this year has been a bit of a washout show wise. Because they have only just gave me a date, we haven’t been able to book anything, but if everything goes ok and I come out of it in one piece, we should be out and about a lot more next year.
What has kept the band going for so many years, Alan?
I just love playing live. With the latest band we all get on really well and when we go away on shows, it is more like a bunch of friends going out on a Beano. Although we take the shows very seriously when we all get together, we have a great time.
Thank you for the interview, Alan, and in the name of the entire STALKER crew, all the best for your upcoming surgery!
Text: John Wisniewski
Bandphotos: JReinhard
