'Everyone turned up except the spirits', Leicester Mercury, 23 March 1970

Leicester Mercury, Monday 23 March 1970, page 19. John Mitchell's report on Black Widow's Saturday night show at Ilkeston: 'As an experiment into the occult it was a non-event.' Press photographers, plain-clothes detectives and the vicar were all there; no spirits were. The piece is a good portrait of the band: Jim Gannon calling on the audience to help materialise 'the Lady Astaroth', Zoot Taylor wearing a crucifix though agnostic, Clive Box with a talisman, Kip Trevor insisting 'It's no gimmick.' The band say Alex Sanders, 'head of the hereditary witches', agreed to pass on ritual material after meeting them, which has set them at odds with other witches. They describe their consecrated sword, the witches' rope circle and the triangle on stage. How to cite: John Mitchell, 'Everyone turned up except the spirits', Leicester Mercury, 23 March 1970, p. 19. Alexandrian Witchcraft Timeline & Archive.

[1st photo] Notice on the door of Ilkeston’s dance hall for the Black Widow performance. [2nd photo] Kip Trevor, lead singer with the Black Widow group, waves a ceremonial sword as part of the Black Magic performance at Ilkeston. Everyone turned up except the spirits By John Mitchell No spirits appeared during the witchcraft rituals of Leicester’s Black Widow group at their show on Saturday night. As an experiment into the occult it was a non-event. Was it the popping of the Press photographers’ flash bulbs that kept the spirits away? Or was it the plain clothes police detectives in the audience? Or the presence of the Church of England vicar who was watching? Who can blame the spirits for staying away. A Saturday night dance in the drabness of the Co-operative Hall, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was not exactly the right manifestation scene. But the witchcraft show did prove one thing - as entertainers and musicians Black Widow are in the top league. “They are very good showmen. I feel they are much too sensible as people to be taking what they do seriously,” said the Rev. A. C. Robertson, vicar of St. Mary’s, Ilkeston, after the show. From what he had seen he did not think the act was dangerous. Criticism “The essence of good showmanship is to make the audience believe that you believe in what you are doing,” he said. But Black Widow are not satisfied with being good showmen. They want to use their music to promote public interest in the occult. It is this which has laid them open to criticism from spiritualists who warn that one day, given the right setting and the right atmosphere, a manifestation could occur. It would all be one huge joke . . . if only Black Widow were not serious. Listen to organist Zoot Taylor (21): “As a materialist I’m waiting for something to happen before I believe. I will have to see it with my own eyes. But, just the same, I’ve prepared for it like the others, so that if something does appear, I will know how to handle the situation.” Or as guitarist Jim Gannon told the audience, on Saturday: “We need your help, we need your concentration to help us get a materialisation of the Lady Astaroth (goddess). If we get one, she may possess one of the audience, or one of us, but there is no need to be frightened - it won’t hurt.” Sobering thought. Witchcraft presented itself to Black Widow some months ago. The band were looking for a direction for their music, a direction unexplored and appealing to audiences. Drummer Clive Box suggested witchcraft, and Jim Gannon set to work writing material. By the time material for a one-hour act was completed, witchcraft was no longer a gimmick. Members of the band studied books on the subject and met Mr. Alex Saunders, head of the hereditary witches, who impressed by their sincerity, agreed to pass on information about rituals. Fear This has opened up a conflict with other witches who believe such information should not be broadcast. But the band are carrying on. A feature of the act is a girl who takes part in a ritual sacrifice. A 17-year-old used to play the part but she dropped out through fear. The group have now found another girl who is prepared to take part and appear on stage naked - although she did not take part at Ilkeston, or the night before at Charles Keene College, Leicester. The band use props which have special significance. A consecrated sword which has never drawn blood is used for invoking the spirits. Special witches’ rope is used to mark out a magic circle on the stage for the act. Inside the circle is a triangle, the age-old Seal of Solomon. It is inside the triangle that spirits are most likely to appear, or enter a human body, claim Black Widow. Many of the words said during the act have been taken from actual witchcraft ceremonies. “It’s no gimmick,” said vocalist Kip Trevor. “If it was just a gimmick, we would never have taken it this far.” Talisman Zoot Taylor sees it as an experiment. “A scientist has to believe in what he is doing in an experiment - but it is not until the experiment is complete that he can see the result. It is the same with us, although if I ever see anything I suppose it will frighten the life out of me.” One can detect a certain apprehension in the band, a feeling that they are not absolutely sure how deeply they are involved. Zoot says he is a confirmed agnostic, but he wears a crucifix around his neck. “I wear it to protect me,” he said. Clive Box wears a talisman around his neck for the same reason. A talisman is only supposed to protect the wearer, but the rest of the band feel that while Clive is nearby, they are safe too. Even so, they insist that they are competent enough to handle any untoward happening that should arise. I hope they are right.