Formed during the glory days of the nascent NWOBHM movement, Northampton’s very own Marquis de Sade burned briefly (but brightly) releasing a demo tape and a highly-collectable 7” before parting ways in 1982. After reforming and releasing a well-received album (Chapter II) the band are very much a going concern and intent to take on the world once again. Ahead of the band’s upcoming concert at Northampton’s Black Prince venue on 16th August 2024, we speak to bassist Pete Gordelier to get the low down.

Can you tell us about the band’s history.

We formed early 1980. My brother Chris and I were looking through the musicians wanted ads and answered one for a singer and bass player. We learned a couple of songs from a demo and went to audition somewhere in south London. The three band members we met there were brothers Gary and Kevin Pope (drums and guitar) and Remo (keys and guitar). We hit it off straight away so the audition turned more into a rehearsal. A set of songs came about quickly and gigs were easier to find back then so we were on the road in no time.

Formed at the tail end of punk. What made you decide to play metal as opposed to punk?

All five of us were prog/metalheads so the punk movement, albeit great for music at the time, was not for us. We’d been listening to bands like Uriah Heep, Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Genesis and ELP so metal was in our blood.

In tune with the times, the band’s original tenure was short but sweet. Are you happy with what the band achieved in that short time frame?

We were very happy with how well we were doing, like I say we found gigs easy to come by and started to pull some good crowds. I think we needed good management to take us that step further. That was the difficult part. Probably the reason we drifted apart. Individually we started trying new projects so the band never really split. We drifted.

Can you tell us about the recording of the band’s sole single? Can you believe the prices it fetches nowadays?

I remember our day recording the single ‘Somewhere Up In The Mountains’ coupled with ‘Black Angel’. Something we had talked about for a while, so when Gary and Kevin’s father was working for the entertainer/singer/actor and producer Kenny Lynch he persuaded him to come and see us play live. He liked us and so he released the single through his record label X.Pose Records.

To our amazement the price of the single soared. People were paying hundreds of pounds for a copy. The most expensive to date went for $1,500. Someone in France last year paid £650. One journalist called it The Holy Grail of NWOBHM singles. We don’t mind that at all.

What was it like putting the tracks together for the 2012 compilation. How do you look back on the NWOBHM? Why do you think that movement aged better than other musical cults from that era?

It was a German record label called High Roller that approached us about the compilation album. They already had the demos and a copy of the single. It was their idea to release the album, which was great for us. It’s been repressed twice since then so that’s nice to know it’s been selling.

We feel the NWOBHM movement has aged better because of the quality of the bands and their songs. So many great bands were around at that time and everyone knows metal was and still is, massive around the world so the longevity of the movement and the bands is not at all surprising. Most of them, like us, are still going strong and regularly touring.

I particularly enjoyed my time as I was lucky enough to join Angel Witch in the mid 80’s, so to be involved with them and MDS made it a great time for me.

How did the band’s reformation come about? Did it seem difficult considering Covid?

Sadly the guitarist Kevin Pope passed away a year before Covid struck. Gary Pope organised a memorial for him and I went along. All the old faces from our early days were there. Everyone was saying we should get back together. We had lost touch with Remo so Gary’s close friend Giles Holland, a phenomenal musician was happy to take on the role of keyboard player. I asked my younger brother Paul if he fancied joining on guitar. I’m sure he accepted before I finished asking the question. We went away and relearned the old songs and booked a rehearsal. On the day it was obvious we had all done our homework. The songs sounded amazing. Very emotional too. So strange without Kevin on guitar but Paul has done an outstanding job. New songs were written and a set formed in no time. Then just as the gigs started to get booked Covid hit.

It’s the core of the original line-up. How did it feel to play together as Marquis de Sade after all that time?

I remember our first rehearsal as the new line up. It was just like the old days, so emotional playing the old songs, especially for Gary. It still is, but Kevin would definitely give us his seal of approval.

In the accompanying video it certainly looked like you had a lot of fun re-recording ‘London Air’. How has it been revisiting the old songs.

During the video for London Air was where technology came in handy. Miming in front of a green screen was new to me. Chris was living in Spain so he did his part and sent it over then off to the editing suite, We are hoping to do more with the newer songs but it’s such a good feeling playing the old ones.

But the band aren’t resting on past glories. You released your first full-length last year in the shape of Chapter II. Can you tell me about the writing process? How do you feel about the album now that it has been out in the world for a year? Any plans for a follow up?

During the Covid lockdown we used the time in a very constructive way and started recording new songs for the album. It was all done in our home studios then sent to Paul who produced it. It’s the same with the writing, we all live quite a way from each other so we send out ideas to be worked on.

We are very proud of the album Chapter II. Our record label Golden Core have done an amazing job on mastering, printing and the pressing. Our drummer Gary did all the artwork which is incredible. It has had fantastic reviews. One journalist – John Tucker- named it his album of the year and said “..it’s a masterpiece from start to finish. Well written. Stunningly executed and superbly presented. It is a truly great album and must rank as one of the best releases of recent years”.

Some other reviews say:

MetalHeads named it Progressive Metal album of the year. An absolute surprise hit. An incredible variety of impressions which are able to inspire and overwhelm the listener at any time 10/10

The METAL Mag said – A must have. Their music is a mix of Saxon, Deep Purple, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult 100/100

August 16th you hit Northampton’s Black Prince venue. How do you feel about the gig and what can people expect from a Marquis de Sade gig?

We have been lucky with the gigs in the last year. The Abyss Festival in Sweden and Keep it True in Germany were up there with our best. Then Holland, Belgium and the UK. Great crowds and the new songs were very well accepted. However, we finally get to play Northampton! This is where I am hoping to get to see a lot of my old friends from when I used to run Big Noise Rehearsal Studios with my family.

I can’t wait to play The Black Prince! It’s going to be a great show. Chris is a very entertaining frontman and with Paul and Giles’ showmanship it is quite a spectacle.

Finally, what are the plans for the band beyond the summer?

We already have songs for the next album so our next few months will be spent concentrating on that. Hopefully recording together for a change. We have been busy working on a little surprise for our fans but that’s for another day.