Kevin Riddles, the original bass player of Angel Witch, has died at the age of 68, it has been announced by his former bandmate Kevin Heybourne on Instagram
Kevin Riddles, the bassist for Angel Witch, has passed away at 68, as confirmed in an announcement.
The news was shared by Kevin Heybourne, the last original member of Angel Witch, in an Instagram post on 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.”
Riddles was best known as the founding bassist for the British heavy metal band Angel Witch.
His subsequent band Baphomet also acknowledged his passing on their official Facebook page.
“Kevin “Kev” Riddles passed away peacefully in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning 4th July 2025,” the statement read. “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.”
The tribute concluded: “Rest easy big fella.”
Kevin was among the founding members of Angel Witch, a rock group established in London in 1976. Today, Angel Witch is recognised as one of the key bands in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) history, which began to take shape in the mid-1970s, gaining global popularity in the 80s.
Unlike more extreme metal music, Angel Witch and other NWOBHM bands emphasised hooks and melody, amplifying the intensity of earlier hard rock music and blending it with the speed and aggression of early punk rock.
Kevin played a significant role in the creation of Angel Witch’s eponymous debut album, which hit the shelves in 1980. However, he left the band in 1982 to form his next band, Tytan.
That group, which also featured Angel Witch drummer Dave Dufort, was also a key figure in the NWOBHM movement, as it formed just as similar bands were at the peak of their popularity and commercial success. The band split shortly after but the heavy metal act returned when Riddles played again in 2012 for a reunion that saw the group finally released a second full-length album.
Angel Witch has continue to exist in a variety of shifting lineups on and off throughout the years. They continue to make music today, albeit with an ever-changing lineup.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
