Pegazus

Pegazus
Origin	Melbourne, VIC
Genres	Power metal
Years active	1993 - present
Labels	Metal Warriors, Nuclear Blast, Battlegod
Associated acts	Black Majesty, Eyefear, Anarion, Catwitch, Turret, Horizons Edge, Katana Cartel, Drop Forged
Members	Johnny Stoj, Andy Sharp, Matt Ientile, Joe Stanley
Past members	Axel Winter, Cory Betts, Ange Sotiro, Rob Thompson, Joe Fata, Bernie Goldstein, Robbie Stoj, Hanny Mohammed, Danny Cecati, Dave King, Jusitn Flemming

Band Members

• Current Line-Up
  • Corey Betts (bass)
  • Ange Sotiro (drums)
  • Johnny Stoj (guitar)
  • Axel Winter (vocals)

• Former Members
  • Justin Flemming (vocals) 1993 - 1995, 2009 - 2013
  • Rob Thompson (vocals) (2000 - 2008)
  • Joe Fata (bass) (2004 - 2007)
  • Bernie Goldstein (drums) (2003)
  • Robbie Stoj (drums) (1993 - 2003)
  • Hanny Mohammed (bass) (2002 - 2003)
  • Danny Cecati (vocals) (1995 - 2000)
  • Dave King (bass) (1993 - 1998)

Formed

Melbourne, VIC, 1993

Band Information

For a short time in the late 90s Pegazus was one of Australia's most prominent metal acts, signed to a considerable deal with the world's largest heavy metal record label and with a prominent profile in Europe. Since then the band's fortunes have been somewhat mixed but Pegazus continues to enjoy a substantial following.

Pegazus was formed by the Stoj brothers (Johnny on guitar and Robbie on drums) in Melbourne in the early 90s. The band began with a tasteful if somewhat generic style of traditional-sounding metal along Judas Priest lines and with bassist Dave King and vocalist Justin Fleming recorded their debut album in 1995. Shortly after the album was released, Danny Cecati joined and gave the Pegazus vocal attack a much needed focus and definition. Work began on the follow up album and in the meantime the band shopped around for a record deal. Late in 1997 came a breakthrough for Pegazus when Nuclear Blast, on the strength of a demoed version of the album Johnny Stoj had posted them, snapped up the band for its growing worldwide roster. Wings of Destiny, originally released independently by the band, was re-packaged with much stronger artwork and issued internationally, picking up strong advance sales and healthy reviews.

In August 1998, Pegazus played its first shows outside of Melbourne, travelling to Europe where they played on two different stages at Germany's legendary Wacken Open Air festival, a spot on the main stage and another in the black metal tent when Darkseed withdrew from the show at the eleventh hour. King had already left the band at this point however and was temporarily replaced by Eric Martins. A brief return to Australia was followed by several dates in Europe with HammerFall.

By late in the year, Pegazus had begun working on album number three and auditioning new bass players. Cory Betts joined the band in January 1999. The Breaking the Chains album was released late the same year.

After the album's release Pegazus underwent considerable upheaval and controversy. In March 2000 it was announced that Cecati had been removed from the group apparently due to a conflict of interest as he was also working and recording with Anarion, although Cecati claimed he left of his own accord due to a feeling of creative enstiflement and general lack of activity by the band. He has since gone on to join Eyefear.

In late September 2000 Rob Thompson joined the band as lead vocalist and Pegazus completed another album, The Headless Horseman, perhaps their most mature recording to date. Betts left the band after finishing the album to dedicate his time to Black Majesty. Black Majesty and ex-Catwitch guitarist Hanny Mohammed replaced Betts for live shows for the next year or so. Robbie Stoj was forced to quit the band in September 2003 after sustaining a hand injury which restricts his playing; Pegazus recorded a live album in mid-2003 with Bernie Goldstein filling in on drums.

In late 2003 Pegazus and Nuclear Blast parted ways somewhat acrimoniously with the band claiming a lack of support from the label and issuing Live! - Thunder Down Under independently. Sotiro and former Black Majesty bassist Fata joined Pegazus in 2004. Pegazus has continued to play live infrequently but it is unlikely they will regain the heights they enjoyed in 98 – 99.

During 2007, Thompson suffered personal tragedy when his daughter died in a car accident. Betts re-joined the band following the departure of Joe Fata, but in April 2008 Thompson left Pegazus. Polish label Metal Mind reissued Wings of Destiny, Breaking the Chains and The Headless Horseman with bonus tracks including the "Metalbound" demo and various cover songs. Justin Flemming performed with the band at a show in Sydney in early 2009 before being announced as Thompson's permanent replacement. After more than a year of silence, Pegazus announced their first new album in almost a decade in early 2011. In the Name of Metal is due in mid-2011. A European tour was announced, but has since been postponed for undisclosed reasons.

Discography

Albums:

	1995	Pegazus	self release
	1998	Wings of Destiny	Nuclear Blast
	1999	Breaking the Chains	Nuclear Blast
	2002	The Horseless Horseman	Nuclear Blast
	2004	Live! Thunder Down Under	self release
	2011	In Metal We Trust	Black Leather

Compilation tracks:

Year	Track Title	Album Title	Label
1999	"Apache Warror"	Death... is Just the Beginning 5	Nuclear Blast
1999	"Destiny"	Metal Dreams	Nuclear Blast
1999	"Restless and Wild"	A Tribute to Accept	Nuclear Blast
2000	"Time Machine"	Death... is Just the Beginning 6	Nuclear Blast