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Guitarist Craig McMahon directs a new horror movie called "MACHINED" from Post Reel Pictures

 

 
  • Summer 1980 - Jeff Allen meets Craig McMahon, Tom McNeely & Pat Ryan at a local house party. The band needing a vocalist, asks Jeff to audition.

 

  • Jeff tries out for band sighting influences from Alice Cooper, Mick Jagger & Robert Plant. The band still allows him to try out telling him to get to know Paul D’ianno, Rob Halford & Ozzy Osbourne.

 

  • The band is officially formed with Craig McMahon and Tom McNeely on Guitar, Pat Ryan on Bass, Ken Wentling on Drums and Jeff Allen on Vocals.

 

  • The Band starts bi-weekly rehearsals in Ken Wentling’s basement. The set is comprised entirely of covers from British Heavy Metal Bands, i.e. Angelwitch, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Raven & Ozzy Osbourne.

 

  • Band decides to call itself “Witchslayer”. The “Witch” part due to their love of the band “Angelwitch” and the “slayer” part due to them wanting to be perceived as “Whitemetal” and not “Blackmetal”.

 

  • Autumn 1980 – Band gets its first gig when Tom McNeely hears of a house party needing entertainment. Witchslayer plays in the house basement. Paul Speckmann shows up and jumps in on the chorus of Iron Maiden’s “Running Free”.

 

  • Witchslayer gets another gig at an Elk Grove Village Town Hall Teen night.

 

  • Band plays local rock bar Haymaker’s on new talent night. It’s first club appearance. Most band member’s were underage and had to leave immediately after set.

 

  • Winter 1980 - Another local band, Damien Thorne, asks Witchslayer to open for them at the local American Legion Hall. 1000 fans show up packing the hall.

 

  • Craig writes the bands first original song and calls it “Witchslayer”.

 

  • Spring 1981 - With minor successes happening, egos start getting in the way. The band suffers its first implosion. Ken Wentling & Tom McNeely quit, Jeff, Craig and Pat keep the name and move on.

 

  • Craig, Jeff & Pat begin to pick up the pieces and start by looking for a new Drummer. Through the local musician ads in the Illinois Entertainer, Craig & Pat locate Dale Clark. Craig & Pat go over to meet Dale. Dale turns out to be very cool and talented yet he’s playing on a starter drum kit. Craig says he wants a drummer with a better kit. Dale goes out the next day and buys top of the line kit. Dale is officially in the band.

 

  • Guitarist auditions are held, after a series of players are seen the band decides on Tom Grubbey.

 

  • The second version of the band is officially formed with Craig McMahon and Tom Grubby on Guitar, Pat Ryan on Bass, Dale Clark on Drums and Jeff Allen on Vocals.

 

  • Summer 1981 – The band being without a rehearsal space, end up renting a storage garage in a warehouse district and begin practicing again.

 

  • The band opens for Thrust at Haymakers, soon after they realize that the chemistry is not there. The band decides to go with just one Guitar player.

 

  • The band decides that it is in its best interest to no longer play covers and agree to start playing only originals. Craig McMahon becomes the main song writer in the band.

 

  • Autumn 1981 - The band pisses off the owner of the storage unit complex and gets kicked out of their rehearsal space. After a series of unsuccessful attempts to find rehearsal space they end up practicing in Jeff’s basement.

 

  • Pat Ryan has a falling out with the band and quits.

 

  • Craig and Jeff ask their friend Sean McCallister who is from the neighborhood, likes Witchslayer, is a great Bass player and is in between bands to join Witchslayer. Sean accepts.

 

  • The third version of the band is officially formed with Craig McMahon on Guitar, Sean McAllister on Bass, Dale Clark on Drums and Jeff Allen on Vocals.

 

  • Winter 1981 – While in Jeff’s basement the band starts coming into its own, Salem Trials, Deceiver, I Don’t Want To Die, Seduction, The Crypt, & Losin it are written.

 

  • The band attempts to play incognito at Haymakers on a weekday (New talent night) using the name Nanja (Jeff’s cat).

 

  • Spring 1982 – When the Bass vibration cracks the picture window in Jeff’s house, Jeff’s mom kicks them back out onto the streets to find rehearsal space. The band by this time has met and become friends with the guys from Zoetrope and Trouble. Trouble is practicing in the basement under a bar called “The Devils Inn” in Chicago. They inform Witchslayer that more rehearsal space is available.

 

  • Witchslayer builds a separate rehearsal space in the basement under the Devils Inn. Witchslayer in one room jamming, Trouble in the other room. Bartender constantly comes down to complain that we are too loud and the glasses on the bar are vibrating.

 

  • Summer 1982 - Witchslayer opens for Trouble at the Rusty Nail.

 

  • The band decides it’s time to start learning the recording process and met sound engineer Steve Kusciel through Streeterville studios in Chicago. Steve begins to work with the band to record a 5-track Demo.

 

  • Autumn 1982 – Trouble loses Bass player.

 

  • Witchslayer teams up with Diamond Rexx for a show at the American Legion Hall. Trouble formally asks Sean McCallister to join their band when the show is over.

 

  • Sean decides to join Trouble, but agrees to finish 5-track demo with Witchslayer prior to leaving.

 

  • Winter 1982 - Witchslayer along with Steve Kusciel record 5-Track demo featuring songs Witchslayer, Losin It, I Don’t Want to Die, Seduction and Deceiver.

 

  • Sean leaves for Trouble and records “Psalm 9”.

 

  • Rick Manson replaces Sean McCallister.

 

  • The forth and final version of the band is officially formed with Craig McMahon on Guitar, Rick Manson on Bass, Dale Clark on Drums and Jeff Allen on Vocals.

 

  • Witchslayer and Zoetrope play in Aurora, IL.

 

  • Spring 1983 - Witchslayer forms official fan club “The Crypt” in Chicago and Germany.

 

  • New songs are written: Augery, Vixen, Baneful Ruin, The Crypt & Hang Em High.

 

  • Summer 1983 – Craig, Jeff & War Cry go to LA for the US Festival.

 

  • Jeff & Craig meet Brian Slagel from Metal Blade.

 

  • Slagel invites Witchslayer, Thrust, Trouble, Zoetrope & War Cry to be on Metal Massacre IV.

 

  • Witchslayer plays solo at a Chicago Club.

 

  • Autumn 1983 – Metal Massacre IV is released.

 

  • The band’s 5 track demo circulates worldwide.

 

  • Illinois Entertainer writes article on Heavy Metal Scene in Chicago, Trouble, Witchslayer, Paradoxx, Eric Steele and Zoetrope are featured.

 

  • Witchslayer opens for Trouble at the Rusty Nail on Halloween.

 

  • Winter 1983 – Local promoters ask Witchslayer to open for Accept at the Chicago Metro. Accept does not allow Witchslayer to open one hour prior to show for reasons unknown.

 

  • Spring 1984 – Witchslayer plays final show outdoors at the University of Illinois Chicago Campus.

 

  • Witchslayer breaks up.

 

  • 20 years later…….

 

  • Summer 2004 – Jeff contacts Craig. Jeff and Craig get together to record three new songs Craig has written, The Crypt (version 2), Rebecca Nurse & Rain.

 

  • Jeff and Craig plan on digital release of 5-Track Demo, UIC Live & new tunes to put closure to Witchslayer era.

 

  • Summer 2005 – Dale Clark contacts Craig. The very next day….Rick Manson contacts Craig.

 

  • Jeff, Craig, Dale & Rick have conference call and agree to meet and finally record an album of music.

 

  • Official WitchSlayer.net  website created.

 

  • Craig writes and directs the horror film “Machined”.

 

  • Autumn/Winter 2005 – Witchslayer writes and records new album….

 

  • 2006 – Projected release of Witchslayer album….

 

 

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