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C O L U M N S
Where Are You?
Glory Bells Band --FOUND! By: Eric Compton Published: Saturday, October 15, 2005 
After reading so many praises for Glory Bells (also known as Glory Bells Band) in
Martin Popoff's useful "The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal", I made it a point
to search the band out. Always wanting to pick up all of Popoff's 9 or 10 rated records, I
found it interesting that such high regards were heaped upon a band that I had never heard
of nor read about. After searching the globe for the last five years I was finally able to
track down both of the band's releases, the '82 "Dressed In Black" and the '84
"Century Rendezvous".After sitting down with both records one thing is certainly clear. Mr. Popoff is definitely hearing the same thing I'm hearing. Vocalist Glory North is one amazing vocalist, really calling on the rock and roll persona of Zeppelin's Robert Plant (see "Guest Working Man") and combining that high pitched rocka rolla with the likes of Crimson Glory's singer Midnight. If that isn't enough high pitched superstardom, add in a bit of raw, traditional metal in the way of Attacker singer Bob Mitchell. Glory North is really a mixture of all three of those vocalists. But beyond just the voice is the incredible, soulful sounds of the band. Musically both records are like a fine mixture of Sabbath doom, Zeppelin blues, and Saxon new wave. That is one incredible trio of sounds and it all rolls perfectly together on these two releases. While "Dressed In Black" is quite possibly the strongest of the two, at least more metallic in sound, "Century Rendezvous" may do more in regards to hard rock. Both are simply amazing and are a must have for any metal collection. After hearing these fine releases I had to find out more. Guess what? There is no more! Nothing. Nada. Zippo-Snippo. The band simply disappeared after the '84 release. To my knowledge this band is nowhere on the planet, and I don't like that. Let's find this incredible talent, let's scan the murky waters and find out just what happened to allow this group to slide between the boards. The members in question: Glory North - Vocals Miguel Santana - Guitar Franco Santunione - Guitar Bo Andersson - Bass Peter Udd - Drums Update: Recently we received an email from a Glory Bells fan, who was nice enough
to email us with some more information regarding the band. Here is the info that we received:
Singer Glory North's real name was Goran Nord. After Glory Bells he went on to form a band
called Glory North, which recorded an unreleased album. That later turned into Glory,
the band later fronted by Goran Edman. Where that band is now is another Where Are You
column waiting in the wings. Guitarist Franco Santunione joined Electric Boys,
then went on to play in Reptile Smile. Drummer Peter Udd played with Yngwie Malmsteen
for a stretch before Glory Bells. Thanks to Patrick for supplying the info!
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RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
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