User:WindfreakArt/sandbox

Airforce are a classic rock / nwobhm band from London, England, which was formed in 1986.

Early years
Chop Pitman and Tony Hatton first performed together in a band called EL-34, which was formed in East London, back in 1979, with Chop on guitars, Tony on bass guitar and drummer Mick Dietz. EL-34 had various vocalists and played mostly the London circuit back then including iconic rock venues such as “The Marquee Club”, “The Ruskin Arms”, and “The Cart & Horses”. After several years playing mostly London metal shows, the singer and drummer departed in 1986, leaving Chop and Tony looking for replacements.

Chop Pitman was a good friend of Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, and even lent him some of his equipment in the early days of the band. In 1986 Chop mentioned to Steve Harris that he was looking for a drummer to join his band ans Steve suggested Doug Sampson, who had played drums in Iron Maiden for over two years and was part of Iron Maiden’s first legendary studio recording “The Soundhouse Tapes”. Doug had left Iron Maiden in 1979 due to health issues aggravated from the constant touring, but had recently told Steve he was now recovered and ready to return to the music scene. Steve took Doug Sampson and Chop Pitman to the studio, where they had a rehearsal jam session together. Doug Sampson decided to join up with Chop and Tony, and shortly after Doug’s brother Sam Sampson joined as vocalist in EL-34.

It was then decided that a fresh start was needed with a band name change, and the new name Airforce was decided upon.

Rolf Prommel took over from Sam Sampson on vocals and was responsible for a lot of writing for the band. Chop is quoted as saying, “Why Has It Come To This, Fine Line and Melody In Me stick out as examples of his contribution to the band. . . He (Rolf) joined before Keith Haggis and was a big part of Airforce … great song writer”. After a few years Tony Hatton and Doug Sampson decided to go their separate ways, while Chop Pitman carried on for several more years with various musicians, before the band disbanded in 2001.

Chop’s Airforce
Airforce was reborn when Chop Pitman took to the stage once again after being introduced to a bass guitarist in 2008 who, due to work commitments, had been out of the music scene for a while. The ideal mix was found in 2009 after various drummers and vocalists were considered, finally settling on Dee Dyaz for vocals and Ian Jacklin on drums who had enjoyed stints with Slade, Alvin Stardust, Bay City Rollers and had even had chart success with Fiction Factory in the early '80s. Dee, sadly, had to be replaced after family commitments became a priority. Sebastian Bolocan took over for a while, later to be replaced by Freddy Ball on lead vocals and bass guitar.

In 2015 Airforce was contacted by Watch Out Records and was asked if the band would supply a track for the "Origins of Iron" compilation CD which featured all ex-Iron Maiden members. This stirred a renewed interest in the band, and a year later they released their 1st album "Judgement Day", which was a retrospective compilation of different Airforce line-ups over the years.

Reunion
Doug Sampson and Tony Hatton came to the launch party of the “Judgement Day” album and it was collectively decided to get the original band back together. Airforce auditioned Dilian Arnaudov for the vacant vocalist position, and the missing piece of the puzzle was found.

Dilian and the band wasted no time in writing new material and performing all over the UK and parts of Europe. Airforce released two EPs with Dilian "The Black Box Recordings" Volume 1 (2017) and Volume 2 (2018), with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno being a special guest on the track “Sniper”.

After Airforce appeared at the Hills of Rock festival alongside Iron Maiden and Judas Priest in Bulgaria in the summer of 2018, Dilian Arnaudov decided to remain in his native country and leave the band. Later that year, Italian singer Ivan Giannini (Vision Divine) joined up with Airforce to help the band fulfill their live commitments.

In March 2019 the band’s show in Poland was broadcast live on the internet and later released as the live album. This show marked the debut of Portuguese singer Flavio Lino, who joined Airforce later that year as the lead singer. The new album Strike Hard with Lino on vocals was recorded and released during the 2020 lockdown. Paul Di’anno was again a guest vocalist for the track “Don’t look in her eyes”, while Ivan Gianini performs on “The Reaper”

In May 2021 Airforce changed record labels and signed to Rock of Angels Records (ROAR), with whom they released a live album “Live Locked n Loaded” in October 2021.

Through all the years Airforce toured regularly in the UK, as well as in Europe, including some festival appearances. The band also had 2 tours in the US. In the end of 2021 Steve Harris, who remained a friend of Chop Pitman throughout the years, invited Airforce to support his solo project British Lion on the UK Winter Tour.

Airforce are currently working on a new studio album for release later in 2022.

Current members

 * Chop Pitman - guitars
 * Doug Sampson - drums
 * Tony Hatton - bass
 * Flavio Lino - vocals

Former members

 * Ivan Gianini - vocals
 * Dilian Arnaudov - vocals
 * Rolf Prommel - vocals
 * Sam Sampson - vocals

Albums

 * Judgement Day (2016)
 * Strike Hard (2020)
 * Live Locked n’Loaded (2021)

EPs and Singles

 * The Black Box Recordings Volume 1 (2017)
 * The Black Box Recordings Volume 2 (2018)
 * Band of Brothers (2019)