The Witch | Artist
The Witch aka "Witch" aka "We Intend to Cause Havoc" is a Zambian rock band formed 1971 in Lusaka by Chris Mbewe (lead guitar, vocals, acoustic guitar), John Muma (rhythm guitar, vocals), Gedeon Mulenga (bass), Boidi Sinkala (drums), and Emmanuel "Jagari" Chanda (vocals, cowbells, marracas). They are widely regarded as the most popular "Zamrock" band of the 1970s. After releasing seven studio albums between 1972 and 1984, several of which are regarded as cult classics, the band faded into obscurity but re-surfaced in 2023 with a new album Zango. Singer "Jagari" Chanda is the only remaining original member, supported by new members Patrick Mwondela (keyboards), Jacco Gardner (bass), Nico Mauskoviç (drums, percussion), Stefan Lilov (guitar), and JJ Whitefield (guitar). Jacco Gardner was formerly with Dutch psych band The Skywalkers, and, together with Nico Mauskovic, formed the duo Bruxas in Portugal. Stefan Liloy was in Swiss band The Cats Never Sleep, and JJ Whitefield aka Jan Weissenfeld, was in German afro-Jazz outfit Karl Hector & The Malcouns. The Witch originally formed during Zambia's post-independence golden days, but by the late 1970s, economic collapse and increasing government authoritarianism saw Witch, like most Zamrock bands, fading away. This prompted Jagari to leave the band and pursue his career as a teacher. The band then recruited Patrick Chisembele and Christine Jackson as lead vocalists and they moved away from rock towards disco music. In 2012 Jagari was invited to the US to revive the band along with a new generation of European players faithfully recreating the Zamrock style. Standout band albums include Lazy Bones!! (1975), Lukombo Vibes (1976), Witch: Including Janet (1977), and Zango (2023). The musical style of the band falls generally in the so-called "Zamrock" mould of psych-tinged garage rock African style, with some funk, heavy lead fuzz guitar and a raw edge, with occasional wah-wah breaks. Their earlier albums even had prog influences which drew unlikely comparisons with bands like Yes. As a footnote to the Witch story, Jagari is the only surviving member of the original lineup, all the others having perished in the AIDS epidemic that ravaged much of Africa in the '80s and '90s.
Artist Website: weintendtocausehavoc.com
Featured Albums: The Witch
Related Artists: We Intend to Cause Havoc, The Peace
