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Chapter III : On The Road

From mid 1982 onwards the band made great strides in all departments. The music had never really been a problem, but now considerable time and effort went into to portraying the mood and feel from a visual aspect. The stage act was perfected to a fine art and followed an ongoing theme that continued throughout the whole set beginning with 'Pagan Altar' and culminating in the 11 minute long ‘Armageddon’, which contained solos by each member of the band. The dual-purpose and reasons behind the stage act were not only for the visual effect to accentuate the theme behind the songs, but also as a means to get on stage. I certainly can’t recall any other band of the time doing anything remotely similar and if there was, not one in the same position as Pagan Altar.I have gone to great length later on in this bio to describe in lurid detail the whole beginning section and the background behind the stage act. I consider it may also have some bearing on the lack of achievement accrued by a band that obviously had a wealth of talent. I am not one to cast aspersions so I wont mention any names, but I do know that on at least two occasions when well known bands came to watch them play with a view to them filling support slots on tour, none of which ever materialised. I leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why.
When Pagan Altar did manage to get a support slot it didn’t go quite according to plan either, The main band, and I use the term loosely, heard them doing a sound check and flatly refused to go on after them, Pagan Altar headlined!
Periodically Pagan Altar were booked to appear on the touring ‘Powerhouse’ Heavy Metal road show. On one such occasion in ‘81 at a venue called ‘The Headstone’ all the preparation and setting up had been completed and the band was sitting in the dressing room waiting to go on.
In walked a reasonably well-known band of the time and asked if they could use the bands gear to play a spot after Pagan Altar had been on, apparently to promote their new single. Terry pointed out that they were welcome to use their gear but as they were a five piece and Pagan Altar was now only a four would that not cause a problem. The band in question replied that it wasn’t important, as the crowd had all come to see them anyway. Fair enough, Pagan Altar went on stage and really played well, Al had a field day and really let rip. Terry announced over the P.A. that the other band was to follow them and play their new single. The other band refused to go on and just sat on their arses and signed a few autograph.