TAUREA - The Early Daze!
Formed in late 88 - that's how the press bumf always started back then, way before 'Heavy Metal' became dirty words! Way before Grunge, Thrash, Rap, Nu Metal and Bling! Our early influences where Judas Priest, Ozzy, Scorpions and Diamond Head mixed with the cutting edge of the bands 'of the time' like Metallica, Queensryche, Bonfire and Crimson Glory added to our melodic songwriting. We actually tried to be original and give 100% with whatever we did ...well, we tried!
The Taurea original line up was:
Malc Rowe - Vocals & Guitar
Neil 'Eddie' Edwards - Guitar
Kev Rice - Bass
Kev 'Kit' Wain - Drums
We toured our collective asses off around the Midlands, Nottingham, Derbyshire, gaining a great local following with some of the best gigs being Loughborough and Leicester Uni's, Mansfield Charity Show hosted by Kerrang!'s Krusher, Heanor and Ripley's Leisure Centres and many others. TAUREA released many Demo's Tapes - yes folks, remember them? 'Last Days Of Winter' and 'The Tengu / In My Dreams' along with the (unreleased EP) 'Fighting Back' We never actually got the chance to release a Full album, which was a real shame, but we had some great tunes -
Shaketown, Without Your Love, Last Days Of Winter, The Tengu, In My Dreams, 2 C U, Fighting Back, Destiny, Freedom, Calls For Justice, Night Without End.
TAUREA MK II
Guitarist Phil May joined the ranks of TAUREA with the departure of guitarist Eddie and was first heard on the track 'Heroes' featured on the Mansfield Co-alition CD Compilation Album. Phil joining the band changed the bands musical direction ...eventually ... with the heavier angry approach taken on the 'End To Pleasantries' Demo EP.
1994 - End To Pleasantries
Breaker, Indecision, Fallen, Don't Waste My Time, No Mercy, Save Yourself
We also wrote a few un-recorded tracks like Cathode Junkies.
The band toured the UK club and pub circuit impressing fans and critics alike with the new harder edged sound which also lead to French swap tours with French heavy metal band Nightreaper (who still remain good friends)
1995 - Neurotic
Leave Me Be, Old Man, Nothing, Eye 4 Eye, Wot The Fuck!
Neurotic again pushed the heavier side of metal, but retained the melody and the promo artwork saw the band photo shoot dressed in straight jackets in a padded cell ..cool! TAUREA once again gigged up and down the UK, and again in France but this time as the Headline act. Unfortunately in the musical climate - 'the musical wastland' that was the 90's and the flood of Brit Pop and Grunge, TAUREA like many other unsigned Metal bands were forced to start down the path of adding cover songs to get gigs which saw them performing at Biker Festivals and Rock Cover Band venues.
TAUREA MK III
1997 saw the departure of both Kit and Phil so the line up was changed once again and saw the band welcome on board Steve 'Stevo' Orridge on Guitar and Chris Martin on Drums. This new line up gave way to yet another musical change, much more metallic and crunchy with a Pantera style edge and we all got really hairy! Check out the pictures coming soon! The songs we did where Heavier with hints of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Motorhead and Judas Priest.
1997 - Mindwar
Burn Inside, Wont Take This, Mindwar, Evermore (In Perpetuum)
All in all, TAUREA was a big part of my life for 10 years! We outlasted our contempories, most roadies and even wives and girlfriends! But, TAUREA rocked on! It was a long Rock n Roll apprenticeship - we learnt the pitfalls the hard way with many ups and downs but without a doubt, lots of great memories and Rock n Roll tales!
'Kaptin' Kev Rice - September 2006
Kev Rice & Phil May are still rocking with Pro-jekt
Malc Rowe + Chris Martin with Those Damn Dingoes
