Tygers Of Pan-Tang is one of the most underrated band in the world. They started asone of the heaviest NWOBHM band and later went for a more classy sound. Formed at the end of 1978, the band (Jess Cox [vc], Robb Weir [gt], Rocky [bs] and Brian Dick [dr] ) giged in native North East and recorded a single through Neat Records in November 1979, "Don′t Touch Me There". A major company, MCA Records, offered the band a deal and released a follow up "Rock And Roll Man". The band toured England in 1980 with Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Magnum and Scorpions and a new single, "Suzie Smiled" was released.

Their debut album, WILD CAT, shot in the British top 30 on its first week of release. John Sykes (ex-Streetfighters) joined the band as guitarist playing his first gig at Reading Festival in front of 60.000 people! To support their first album the band toured England as headliner in September and October 1980 and a new single, "Euthanasia", was released. Then Jess Cox left the band to form a new band, Lionheart, with Dennis Stratton, previously guitarist with Iron Maiden, but after a sold-out London Marquee gig the singer moved on to his solo career and formed Jess Cox Band. Cox was replaced by ex-Persian Risk singer, Jon Deverill.

The new line-up released a new album, SPELLBOUND, and three singles, "Hellbound", "Story So Far" and "Don′t Stop By", and toured succesfully UK and Europe.

In late 1981 the Tygers released CRAZY NIGHTS and only a single from this album, "Love Don′t Stay". But soon John Sykes left the band and was replaced just before a French tour in 1982 by Fred Purser, previously with obscure punk-new wave band Penetration.

The result of this was the release of a new album in September 1982, THE CAGE, and three singles: the big hit "Love Potion No. 9" still with Sykes playing lead guitar, and the following "Rendevous" and "Making Tracks" (even in extended-mix version!). A tour in Japan followed, but on its return the band lost their management and record company and consequently decided to split.

MCA released a "Best of" in October 1983 with tracks from all four album and some singles.

In 1985 Jon Deverill and former member Brian Dick reformed the band with Steve Lamb (gt), Neil Sheppard (gt) and Dave Donaldson (bs). Steve Lamb played some gigs with Brian Dick in a band called Seargent, while Neil Sheppard and Dave Donaldson were in the final line-up of Jess Cox Band, who eventually formed a spin-off band called Tyger-Tyger with Robb Weirr. The reformed TOPT released a new album, THE WRECK AGE through Music For Nations in summer 1985 (Steve Thompson played bass on this record even if he didn′t officially joined the band). The band toured UK and made some TV apparitions and received some good reviews.

In 1987 Zebra Records released the last TOPT album to date, BURNING IN THE SHADES. The final line-up on this album is Jon Deverill, Steve Lamb, Brian Dick plus guest musicians Steve Thompson (kb and bs) and Phil Caffrey (backing vc). Sadly the album, the more melodic of all Tygers production, received bad reviews from UK press, and the Tygers later disbanded.

Neat Records, the first TOPT label released an album called FIRST KILL, recorded at Impulse studio in 1979-80 with the original line-up in a "live studio situation with no overdubs" to capture the "true sound behind the original Tygers Of Pan Tang". This album contains a song from Tyger-Tyger project, "Small Town Flirt" written by original songwriters Jess Cox and Robb Weir.

MCA records released in 1992 a Japan album from John Sykes, PLEASE DON′T LEAVE ME, that included some TOPT singles and b-sides of the Sykes-era plus three versions (original, short and instrumental) of the song "Please Don′t Leave Me" written by John Sykes and Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. Another compilation, SINGLES, was released in Japan in 1992 through MCA records.

In 1998 Jess Cox joined on stage Blitzkrieg during their show at Wacken Open Air festival, playing a short three songs set of old Tygers songs. The crowd reaction was really good and one year later, to celebrate the band 20th annyversary and the 10th Wacken Open Air, Tygers Of Pan Tang were invited to play on main stage. Even if drummer Brian "Big" Dick and bass player Rocky was unable to join the band, the Tygers (now Jess Cox and Robb Weir, backed by Blitzkrieg′s guitarist, bassist & drummer - Glen S. Howes, Gavin Gray & Chris Percy) permormed a memorable show in front of a big crowd. (Author: Guidorusso Productions (Author: members.it.tripod.de/guidobau/)

DISCOGRAPHY: (not including compilations, box sets or DVDs)
1980 Wild Cat
1981 Spellbound
1981 Crazy Nights
1982 The Cage
1982-1984 Compilations and Best of Albums
1985 The Wreck-Age
1986 First Kill
1987 Burning in the Shade
1992 Singles
1999 On the Prowl
2001 Live At Wacken
2001 Live at Nottingham Rock City
Mystycal