MySpace a place for friends

Colorado natives Jag Panzer first came together in late 1981, being inspired by the onslaught of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that had taken the Heavy Metal world by storm in the early 80s. The original line-up consisted of Harry Conklin on vocals (later nicknamed the "Tyrant"), Mark Briody (who was the sole guitarist of the group in its first incarnation), John Tetley who played the bass, and Rick Hilyard as the drummer. The band was known as Tyrant in its first incarnation. They soon had to change their name from Tyrant, however, because another band by the name of Tyrant existed in California.

The band, who were all in their late teens at the time, played at local venues in the Denver club circuit, and recorded a legendary EP in 1983, later known as "Tyrants". In early 1984, the band recruited guitar hero extraordinaire Joey Taffolla, a native of California, and promptly recorded their first LP, titled "Ample Destruction". The album was released in August of that same year by a small indie label called Azra Records. The album eventually became one of the most sensational underground metal albums of all time!

After the release of the album, the band relocated to Southern California, in order to play a few gigs and try to make it to the major league. That never really happened, as Joey eventually quit the band in 1985, releasing a solo album in 1987, while Harry Conklin played with New York's Riot for a brief period of time in the late 80's before forming his own band, caslled "Titan Force". Without the two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Mark Briody and John Tetley, as Rick Hilyard had also been replaced by Butch Carlsson, who left in 1986, revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba and guitarist Chris Lasegue.

Swedish born drummer Rikard Stjernquist was added to the line-up and the band proceeded to record the follow-up to their first LP "Ample Destruction". The album was recorded in late 1987 but never got an official release. The album, which came to be known as "Chain of Command" was in fact bootlegged more than once, becoming a smash on the underground metal community.

By 1994, the band had reunited, this time with vocalist Daniel J. Conca, and of course Tetley and Briody on bass and guitars respectively. Guitarist Chris Hostka and drummer Rikard Stjernquist were also present for their first official album in almost 10 years, called "Dissident Alliance".

By this time, Harry Conklin's Titan Force had run their course, and Harry decided to get back together with his old buddies for another try. He brought with him shredder Joey Taffolla, and the band got an offer for a record contract with the Century Media label.

The first album they released on Century Media was "Fourth Judgement" which came out in late 1997. The album featured a song from the officially unreleased "Chain of Command" LP, titled "Shadow Thief".

Guitarist Chris Broderick was thrown in the mix, after Taffolla's departure in 1997, this time for good. The next album was title "Age of Mastery" and was released in the fall of 1998. It featured many songs from the Chain of Command LP and was another smash. Having reaffirmed their devotion to heavy metal, Jag Panzer sought to tackle more ambitious territory for their next album. Thane to the Throne was a concept album about William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

"Mechanized Warfare" was released in 2001, then the band released a double CD in 2003 that featured many previously unreleased tracks as well a lot of songs from their first LP. The album, titled "Decade of the Nail-Spiked Bat" came out in 2003 and featured re-recorded and /or remixed old material. In 2004 the band released a new album titled "Casting the Stones". The unreleased "Chain Of Command" album was remixed and was finally released in 2004 as a limited European CD edition.

After 10 years Chris Broderick left the band in January 2008 to play with "Megadeth". He's been replaced by well-known Chris Lasegue, who played on "Chain of Command".

Discography

Casting The Stones - Released October 19th 2004

Chain Of Command - Released June 21st 2004

Decade Of The Nail Spiked Bat - Released July 23, 2001 in Europe and August 7, 2001

Mechanized Warfare - Released July 23 2001 in Europe and August 7 2001 in the U.S.

Identity 7 - Released July 23rd 2001 in the U.S

We've Got Another Cup Coming - Released May 2001

Metal-Rules.com Volume One - Released July 23, 2001

Thane To The Throne - Released May 9th in the U.S. Released June 22nd (All other territories)

Identity 6 - Released April 2000 in the U.S. Features 'King At A Price' from 'Thane To The Throne'

Do You See What I See? - Released December 10th 1999 (Internet Release Only)

Holy Dio (U.S) - Released 1999. Features the Jag Panzer cover of 'Children of the Sea'. Single disc U.S version.

Holy Dio (Europe) - Released 1999. Features the Jag Panzer cover of 'Children of the Sea'. Double Disc Euro release.

Identity 4 - Released 1997 in the U.S. Featuring 'Future Shock' from 'The Fourth Judgement'

Powermad 97 Festival Sampler - Released 1997 in the U.S. Featuring 'Future Shock' from 'The Fourth Judgement'

The Fourth Judgement - Released September 1997 worldwide.

Legion Of The Scroll - Released 1996 Dissident Alliance - Released 1994 worldwide.

Dissident Alliance - Released 1994 in Europe. Special Editon Version.

Jeffery - Released 1994 in Europe. CD single of the track 'Jeffrey' from 'Dissident Alliance' Featuring 'Battle Zones' from 'The Tyrant's E.P.'

Shadow Thief - Bootleg. Release date 1992

Ample Destruction - Released 1991. Reissue on Metal Blade Records.

Chain Of Command - Bootleg. Release date 1991.

Tyrants - Released 1991. Reissue on Mausoleum Records.

Ample Destruction - Released 1990. Reissue on Metalcore Records.

Ample Destruction - Bootleg. Release date 1989

Chain Of Command - Bootleg. Assumed release date 1988. Double vinyl set.

The Wild Bunch- Released 1985

Ample Destruction - Bootleg. Released 1985

Ample Destruction - Released 1984 in the U.S

Untitled E.P - Released 1983 in the U.S

Death Row - Released 1983 in the U.S. Shaped picture disc single of the song 'Death Row' from the untitled e.p.

For more information on the band check out their website!

For guitar lessons check out the MySpace Page of Chris Lasegue