Kev Riddles (68) TYTAN / ANGEL WITCH / SAMSON

[Ravenpride]

R.I.P

[Ravenpride]

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you all of the passing of the one and only Kevin Riddles, not only the bass player and founding member of Tytan but also a great friend, much loved band mate and all round good guy.
We are all utterly devastated.
Kevin "Kev" Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025
An absolute legend in the truest sense of the word, a larger than life character, an incredible and dedicated musician and a very fine and wonderful human being.
Rest easy big fella.

[Ravenpride]

Original ANGEL WITCH Bassist KEVIN RIDDLES Dies

Kevin Riddles, a founding member of ANGEL WITCH, TYTAN and BAPHOMET, died on Friday, July 4 after a battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.

Kevin Heybourne, sole remaining founding member of ANGEL WITCH confirmed Riddles's passing in a social media post earlier today (Monday, July 7). He wrote: "It is with immense sadness that I have to report that Kevin Riddles, our original bass player, passed away on Friday 4th July 2025.

"Kevin was a great guy and we remained mates until the end, he will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his wife Julie. Rest in peace Kev".

The Facebook page of Riddles's BAPHOMET also shared the news of his death.

"It is with great sadness that we have to inform you all of the passing of the one and only Kevin Riddles, original ANGEL WITCH member and bass player. We are all utterly devastated.

"Kevin 'Kev' Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025 An absolute legend in the truest sense of the word, a larger than life character, an incredible and dedicated musician and a very fine and wonderful human being.

"Rest easy big fella."

Riddles was an original member of ANGEL WITCH, involved in the conception and recording of the first classic album "Angel Witch" and other material until leaving in 1982 to form TYTAN. He was there at the beginning of the movement now called New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and was present at gigs in the Music Machine, Marquee and Band Wagon.

BAPHOMET was formed in May 2021 as to revisit the idea of performing the first iconic ANGEL WITCH album and tracks from Riddles era with the band, (1977-1982),staying true to the original old-school sound.

BAPHOMET commenced a first series of gigs and festivals, including Blast From The Past, Headbangers Open Air, Metal Maniacs, British Steel and Keep It True Rising 2.

TYTAN was formed in 1982 by Riddles and drummer Dave Dufort, vocalist Norman "Kal" Swan, and guitarists Steve Gibbs and Stuart Adams. They were are a British heavy metal band considered part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, known for their heavy driving riffs overlaid with epic melodic vocals.

Regarding how the idea for BAPHOMET came about, Riddles told Metal Talk: "[My wife] said, 'Why didn't you do something with that first album? There is the first album plus half a dozen extra songs that I was involved with. ANGEL WITCH still have to play a lot of those songs now, but not all of them."

[Ravenpride]

RIP Big Kevin Riddles , so sad to hear of his passing earlier today.
We have been fortunate to share the stage with him many times over the years , a larger than life character, always enthralling us with fantastic stories from the very beginning of the NWOBHM . Our heart felt condolences go out to his wife Julie Riddles and all his family and friends. There are many legends within this genre of metal but he has to be one of the very biggest there ever was.

[Eiserner Knut]

TYTAN - Gründer und Bassist Kevin Riddles ist tot
TYTAN-Gründer und ANGEL WITCH-Original-Bassist Kevin Riddles ist im Alter von 68 Jahren verstorben. Ruhe in Frieden.

Kevin "Kev" Riddles ist tot. Der britische Bassist starb am vergangenen Freitag, den 4. Juli, an den Folgen einer Krebserkrankung. Er wurde 68 Jahre alt. Darüber informierte seine Band TYTAN, die er ursprünglich 1981 gegründet hatte, in den sozialen Medien. "Mit großer Trauer müssen wir euch alle darüber informieren, dass der einzigartige Kevin Riddles verstorben ist. Er war nicht nur Bassist und Gründungsmitglied von TYTAN, sondern auch ein großartiger Freund, geliebter Bandkollege und ganz grundsätzlich ein guter Kerl. Wir sind alle am Boden zerstört. Kevin "Kev" Riddles ist in den frühen Morgenstunden am Freitag den 4. Juli 2025 in Frieden im Krankenhaus von uns gegangen. Eine absolute Legende im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, ein überlebensgroßer Charakter, ein unglaublicher und leidenschaftlicher Musiker sowie ein feiner und wundervoller Mensch. Ruhe in Frieden, Kumpel."

Kevin Riddles war 1978 an der Gründung der NWoBHM-Pioniere ANGEL WITCH beteiligt und ist auf dem selbstbetitelten Debütalbum der Band zu hören. Nach seinem Ausstieg Im Jahr 1981 hob der Bassist noch im selben Jahr TYTAN aus der Taufe und gründete später auch KEV RIDDLES' BAPHOMET.

Ruhe in Frieden, Kev.

Band: TYTAN Autor: Simon Bauer

Qielle: https://www.rockhard.de/news/tytan-kevin-riddles