Warlock Texas

Jerry Warden

WARLOCK, later Warlock Texas (WT), formed in 1981. The original line-up was Jerry Warden (singer), David Warden (guitar), Casey Orr (bass) & Harden Harrison (drums). There were bands who'd play a metal tune or two between their rock songs in those early days but Warlock was the first all metal band to hail from the D/FW Metalplex. Warlock played the hardest, most uncompromising metal from the NWOBHM and other contemporary bands. Casey Orr & Harden Harrison left to form Rigor Mortis in the Fall of 1983. Les Choate replaced Harden Harrison on drums and Billy Blade replaced Casey Orr on bass. Rick Perry was added as a 2nd guitarist in 1983. David Warden left the band in Dec. of 1984 and Billy Blade left the band in Feb. of 1985. Eric Roy replaced Billy Blade on bass. Jerry Warden (singer), Rick Perry (guitar), Eric Roy (bass) and Les Choate (drums) became known as the classic lineup mainly because this lineup recorded the 1985 & 1986 releases.. Warlock recorded our first release at Jerry Abbott's Pantego Sound in 1985 and our 2nd release at Rick Rooney's Planet Dallas in 1986. From backyards, apartment complex club houses, clubs and halls, Warlock's live show became infamous for the heaviness and antics. Warlock began the pipeline of metal bands between Austin & San Antonio by bringing Watchtower, Militia and several other metal bands to the D/FW Metalplex and those bands brought Warlock to Austin/San Antonio. Warlock also broke new ground by being the first metal band to cross over into the Dallas punk rock scene by being the first metal band to play in Deep Ellum. Warlock disbanded in Sept. of 1986 Jerry formed Warden and Warden evolved into CrimeScene. Jerry also wrote for several mags from the early to mid 1990s before going to prison in April of 1995. Rick formed Gammacide w/ Eric Roy, Puncture and Warbeast. Les Choate formed Slatch and later played for the Rabid Flesh Eaters. Eric Roy was murdered in 2001. Warlock Texas reformed in 2011 feat. Jerry Warden, Rick Perry, Randy Cooke (drums) & Clay McCarty (bass). WT played a reunion show on Aug. 2, 2014, in our hometown of Arlington, TX and disbanded in early 2015. Jerry is in the process of reforming WT. Our original recordings were mastered by Kerry Crafton and are awaiting release on Underground Power Records in 2018... Jerry is a true Texas metal pioneer, who's made the promotion of metal throughout the D/FW Metalplex/Texas his lifetime mission and has become an ambassador of metal worldwide. Among his accomplishments after forming WT were a 'zine entitled Cut Throat Press, an outdoor concert series known as Heavy Meadows, opening N. Texas' first metal club, Rascals (Warlock was the house band at Rascals.), spearheading N. Texas' 2nd metal club, The Tombstone Factory, booking the first metal at and bringing the metal scene to Joe's Garage via the KMA Sunday Nite Metal Series and opening Hotel Hell. Jerry hosted one of the first metal radio shows on KNON as well as DJing a stint at satellite station Z Rock. Jerry continues to host shows via his concert promotion company, Elmo Jones Productions and is on the verge of creating the world’s official Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in Arlington, TX.