Arbitrater

Ian "Biff" Smith and Graham Kerr originally played together in the punk band The Varukers. In 1986 they started the thrash metal band Arbitrater with other Varukers members Rat and Paul Miles . One year later, Biff, Graham, and Kevin Frost (drums) left Arbitrater, picking up second guitarist Grem Darroch and ex- Paralex vocalist Phil Ayling and started Metal Messiah . According to some sources there is also a demo titled "Choose Your Weapons" that was released in 1988, although information from a dependable 'zine contradicted this. Toured with Bolt Thrower and Xentrix . Also did a tour called Commercial Suicide with Perception. After the band split, Lawrence Paterson worked with Black Sabbath and Cozy Powell. Compilation appearances: - "Memories of Yesterday" on A Taste of Armageddon (Master, 1989) - "Judge and Jury" on Contract In Blood: A History of UK Thrash Metal (Cherry Red, 2018)