Violent Storm

On Saturday 14th March 1992, Cardiff band Violent Storm who were formed in 1986, were booked alongside Spanish national socialist band Division 250, No Remorse, and Battlezone to play for the NS Accion Radical in Spain. However, Violent Storm did not make it to the concert. Tragedy struck the band on the Friday while on their way to Heathrow airport to catch a flight with No Remorse and Battle Zone. The car in which they were travelling smashed into the bridge on the M4 near Bristol during a storm. The cause of the accident is not known for certain, but according to one report "the car is thought to have been lifted six feet by a freak gust of wind and hurled against the bridge." Four of the five people in the car were killed instantly. They were Paul Casey, Brian Sheeley, Darren Sheeley, and Jason "Jask" Oakes, a close friend of the band. The only survivor of this horrific Friday the 13th crash was vocalist Billy, who was thrown through the windscreen and found with head wounds 20 yards from the crushed car. 

Both British bands No Remorse and Battlezone assumed the lads had missed their plane and would arrive shortly. Upon arriving in Spain they discovered what had happened. After much thinking it was decided that the gig would go ahead and would become a tribute to Violent Storm. A three minute silence was observed and Blood & Honour supporters gathered at the gig from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Britain and Belgium raised their right arms and paid homage to our fallen brothers. 

Most of the national newspapers carried the story of the bands tragedy. Only 9 days after their deaths, the Wales On Sunday newspaper ran a report revealing the “real truth” about the “racist roots” of Violent Storm. It was no surprise to see the name of the virulently left-wing but now defunct organisation ‘Searchlight’ mentioned in their article as the source for their information. Whilst family and friends mourned the loss of four young lives, the Red scum under the cover of darkness daubed Violent Storm’s local pub with the words “FOUR DOWN ONE TO GO”. Which all happened before Paul Casey had even been laid to rest! The following month in April a benefit concert was organised in Leicestershire. With Skullhead, Squadron and Skrewdriver playing and a collection was made and well over a £1,000 (well over £2,000 in today’s money) was sent to the families of the fallen. 

Recording for Violent Storm's album wrapped on 12 March 1992, the day before the car accident that killed the band. Intended for release on Rebelles Européens in 1992, the tapes were given to the Sheeley brothers' mother, who put them aside. The album was eventually released in 1995. "Celtic Warrior" was Billy Bartlett's original idea for the name of Violent Storm, and he would use the name for his next band.