CATWITCH

Catwitch was a Melbourne band that blended some late LA sleaze influence with contemporary power metal, Goth rock and vampiric imagery with sometimes mixed results but their Gothic imagery and style was actually quite ahead of its time. Live, Catwitch was known for rather theatrical performances, a facet highlighted by a questionable TV documentary about them that was aired on the ABC but musically their albums showed Catwitch to be a solid band with good musicianship. The line-up for the first album 'Phobophilia' at least was Kieren O'Reilly on vocals, Rob Charlton on drums, Paul Tipping on bass, Aaron Salt and Hanny Mohammed on guitars. Tipping later joined Cryptal Darkness and Mohammed later went on to Black Majesty.

After the second album 'This Haunted Lullaby' the band virtually ended as O'Reilly was the only member left but in late 2003 Catwitch re-emerged with Charlton back in the group along with four new members, Josef Stanley (guitar), Rudi Paoletti (keyboards), Riley Strong (guitar) and bassist Quaagar X and a musical direction now geared solidly toward Goth metal. The 'Faces' album appeared in November 2004. Catwitch's line-up was in constant flux. Charlton switched to bass, Glenn James joined on drums, Kent Ross on keyboards and Andrew Shepherd on guitars with original guitarist Lawrence Rhoads returning to the band. Catwitch returned to the studio and released the EP 'Burn' in late 2007. A fourth album and a live DVD were mooted for 2008, but neither surfaced. Riley Strong formed Desecrator in 2010.

Kieran O'Reilly was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009 but despite his condition Catwitch continued to work regularly on the Melbourne live scene. In February 2010 Catwitch opened for Wednesday 13 in Melbourne. O'Reilly's illness deteriorated in mid-2011 and he died aged 40 on July 28, 2011, five days after the rest of the band played a benefit to help raise funds for his medical costs.

Members

Kieran O'Reilly (vocals), Lawrence Rhoads (guitar), Stephie Prosthetic (bass), Kent Ross (keys), Rigidy Rourke (drums), Josef Stanley (guitar), Glenn James (drums), Andrew Shepherd (guitar), Robert Charlton (bass), Riley Strong (guitar), Rudi Paoletti (keys), Quaagar X (bass), Aaron Salt (guitar), Hanny Mohammed (guitar), Mike Forsberg (drums), Helen Sabo (drums), Paul Tipping (bass), Daniel Bunn (guitar), Naim Kirk Ibrahim (guitar)

References

http://www.ausmetalguide.com/Catwitch