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Chapter VI : End Of An Era

I suppose the only thing left to add is what happened to the various band members after the demise of Pagan Altar.
By end of 1984/5 the NWOBHM was well on the wane with other genres of music taking its place. There were a few half-hearted attempts to rekindle what had once been but it all now seemed rather a pointless exercise. To the band, they had given it their best shot and whatever way you look at it at the time of the bands dissolution to them they appeared unsuccessful, it was time to move on. John Mizrahi had previously left and the chore of finding a replacement was a daunting prospect. A couple of drummers fitted the bill including Brian Cobbold and things picked up briefly, but the soul had gone from the band. Alan decided enough was enough and disappeared off to Wales to play in a band called XYZ that was touring and laying some tracks down in The Enid’s recording studio in Cambridge, he returned some two years later. He then formed various bands again in an effort to put across his own music, which by now had evolved into Rock music with a more Celtic feel. The more notable being ‘Iceni’ and a band that I consider to be of outstanding quality in their particular field ‘Malacs Cross’ soon to have their first album out on Oracle, Perhaps like Pagan Altar it will take 20 Years before anyone recognises their potential as well? Trev’s fortunes followed a similar pattern, in an effort to produce his own music he formed a number of bands with little or no impact, probably ‘The Goon Squad’ being the most successful. He still carried on recording bits and pieces of his own material but it was more for personal satisfaction than serious intent.

Al and Trev at the Eagle's Nest Heavy Rock Venue	Al With Malacs Cross

Terry considered that he’d put everything he had into Pagan Altar to no avail and didn’t want to continue with the performing side of music again, concentrating on setting up first a construction company and then a successful Design Consultancy for the disabled. He still liked to keep his hand in though; usually by acting as sound advisor and engineer to the others and that is how it stood until the need for the Pagan Altar CD arose.
Bill Carter, Terry’s father-in-law, who had always believed in Pagan Altar, insisted on supplying the initial financial backing to launch the Oracle project and after a few teething problems it is now on an even keel. With the forthcoming issues of the rerecorded Pagan Altar albums later in the year the band feel that perhaps it will in some small way repay the loyalty and patience shown by so many, which to be perfectly honest is actually the main reason the band are doing it. As someone once said “There you have it”.

Ivor. T. Harper.