Demon & Tygers of Pan Tang @ The 1865, Southampton - 01/05/26
- Charis Lydia Bagioki
- May 4
- 3 min read
Night of the Demon (again): 40 years later and still no exit strategy
Usually, I reserve my loyalty to bands that I don’t discover out of the blue, but experience at the right time in my life; and that loyalty spans decades. For me, Demon fall squarely into that category, since I saw them for the first time in 2016 at Live Evil Festival, where their performance wasn’t just a set but a recalibration of everything I have become today as a person. Fast forward to 2026 at The 1865 in Southampton, and the question is not whether that feeling would return, but whether it could survive time, expectation and the mild cynicism that inevitably develops with age and experience. Spoiler alert: rock n roll never dies.
For context, both bands in today’s co-headliner bill (Demon and Tygers of Pan Tang) emerged from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (or NWOBHM) during the late 70s and early 80s, prioritising speed, melody and a certain refusal to be subtle. Demon, formed in 1979, carved out their own niche as a more melodic and atmospheric approach compared to their peers, with albums such as Night of the Demon and The Unexpected Guest being theatrical, layered and ambitious. Meanwhile, Tygers of Pan Tang leaned harder into riffs and aggression, with early releases such as Wild Cat and Spellbound defining a sharper edge of the genre; not to mention their role in launching John Sykes – google him – and his signature guitar sound that still carries weight in guitar circles (iykyk). Both bands have outlasted trends, industry shifts and time and to me, that alone is impressive. But still enjoying it on stage like we are still in the 80s? That is as rare to see as a woolly mammoth.
I missed the opening band but I was right on time in the venue to catch the first headliners of the night, Tygers of Pan Tang. Tygers delivered a set that feels less like nostalgia and more like proof of concept that still defines its legacy. Their setlist comprised of tracks such as “Love Potion No. 9” (the cover that launched them into the scene), “Hellbound”, “White Lines”, “Suzie Smiled” and their newest testing-the-waters single “Electrifyed”. We are talking about a band that performs with sharpness, efficiency, riffs that cut through the room and on top of this, they out-perform any young bands in a heartbeat. It was not the playing that stood out (even though that was tight and unflashy) but the visible enjoyment of being on stage. They exchanged smiles mid-song, nodded, moved on the stage like they owned it and (as one would expect) engaged their audience. From a photographic perspective, you notice that immediately. Tygers are a band that wants to be there and give you the moments, not the poses.
When Demon took the stage, there was an immediate shift in tone and atmosphere. The bright colours of Tygers gave way to a more eerie intro, and as the band came on stage I couldn’t help but remember the first time I saw them live in 2016. At that time, it was a discovery. Now, it was continuity. Frontman Dave Hill still commands the stage with a presence that is equally theatrical and grounded, without attempt to capture the youth but a clear understanding that whatever they have been doing in the past 40 years works when properly executed. Starting off with the one-hit-wonder “Night of the Demon”, the setlist landed exactly where it needed to. Carrying the same atmosphere, “Sign of a Madman”, “Nowhere to Run”, “Don’t Break the Circle” and “One Helluva Night” had the crowd dancing on its feet for the entire hour. What was striking was how well the songs have aged; still built on mood and melody, they flowed seamlessly to create a narrative that spanned the band’s career from start to finish.
Finally, it would not be a review if I didn’t mention the crowd. Striking a balance that is increasingly rare, the crowd was engaged and appreciative without being chaotic or passive. The singalongs across both sets emerged organically, and there was immediate response to the bands’ energies, participating into Demon’s theatrics and Tygers’ pace. Most of the people in the room have been long-time fans (me included). On a more personal note, the elements that made these bands impactful, like the atmosphere, the presence, the authenticity and the pure heart and soul of rock n roll have massively shaped my life for the best part of a decade. As a photographer, the bright colours and atmosphere of NWOBHM shape how I look for moments in my photos, whilst the principle of ‘do it for rock n roll’ is a huge part of my life.
Watching two bands still enjoying the process and executing at a high level was a great reminder as to why this music still endures.
