Wolf (from Chester)

Ken Tunstall was the lead singer of Wolf, from Chester, England, and recorded the single "See Them Running" in 1981, leaving the band after the release of the single.

Q. - Hello Ken, tell us a little bit about your beginnings in the heavy metal world, what lead you to be a singer?

Ken - Always been a singer, from early school days in the quire and Church as a soloist up to the age of 16 at 17 my best friend at school (Steve Jones, now in the Bundbeds) asked if i was interested in singing in a band, which i did but to start my voice was to clean and bright, but with a bit of miss use it got to rock standard.

Q. - When did you join Wolf? How did it all start? Tell us a bit about the early days of Wolf too.

Ken - Wolf, with Wally Rumsey. You have to remember in the 70's in the Chester area people moved around to different bands, I meet Wally in a jam session when a number of different bands just got together and had a good thrash and Wally and i got well together and were in a number of different line ups till we got to wolf and played a number of venues across the North west of England.

Q. - What other bands did you play before Wolf?

Ken - Lots lol, Boris, Switchblade, Frostbite if i can remember anymore will let you know.

Q. - What were the main difficulties that the band faced in the early days? Was it hard to find a place to rehearse? Were all of you available to rehearse? Did you need any material?

Ken - As i remember we had a number of places that we used for practice including a Barn full of potatoes, a garage next to Chester racecourse, but mostly Village halls.

I think we all made the practice sessions and if we did not those who did would use the time.

Q. - How about shows? Did you play regularly in the UK back then? Did you share stage with some well-known bands?

Ken - Yes, most weekends in pubs and clubs and some private functions.

I don’t remember sharing with any other better known bands that us.

Q. - The single "See Them Running" came up in 1981, how was it received by the fans at that time? Did the single have airplay on radio stations?

Ken - The single did escape in 81 and was played on radio ones Tommy Vance show, but did not do all that well as it was funded by the band and i departed just after the release.

Q. - When did "Wolf" split up exactly? What happened that lead to the split?

Ken - I know i was the first out, and did not find out till they were playing a club in Chester and thought, that's strange I’m not singing bit of bad blood about that.

Q. - What do you think that lacked to Wolf to have a successful career?

Ken - Never in the right place at the right time. I think the band was good enough but in order to get on at that time it would have ment a relocation to London as some of us were married that was a no go.

Q. - Did you keep in touch with the other former members all over the years?

Ken - Yes we did, but Aldy the bass player is no longer with us, Wally is still going strong and never stopped playing I’m hoping to get something together. But not song in over 5 years due to health reasons.

Q. - What other bands did you play after Wolf? Tell us a bit about it please.

Ken - Frostbite was after wolf, but that imploded due to personnel issues between the two leads after that just random gigs with other bands and line up's but nothing on the scale of Wolf / Frostbite.

Q. - Were you happy with the split compilation "Echoes of the Past" by High Roller Records? Was it like a dream come true to see these songs release after all these years?

Ken - I was unbelievable that something I had a part in creating (words & Vocals) would end up on an LP and recognised so many years later.

Q. - Do you keep an eye to hard rock and heavy metal music nowadays?

Ken - It’s in my blood and still enjoy going to see top bands and support local bands and hope to carry on doing so.

Q. - How did you see the whole N.W.O.B.H.M. movement, back then, and how do you see the interest around those bands and recordings nowadays?

Ken - It’s an incredible movement and just shows the level of talent that was about and is still about in the metal seen where music in my mind is pure and not contrived like the Pop stuff you see and hear today that cannot be reproduced with a band of PC's or additional  musicians.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Ken - Keep up the good work. People like myself and others who shall we say are more mature find this resurgence of interest really exciting.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!