Formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland during 1979, SWEET SAVAGE, featuring ex-SEVENTH DAWN drummer Davy Bates, released various singles across Europe during the early 80s and built a solid reputation. However, the main reason Rock fans tend to focus on the Irish group stems from the fact that they were DIO, WHITESNAKE and DEF LEPPARD guitarist VIVIAN CAMPBELL's first venture. Support slots to both WISHBONE ASH and MOT?RHEAD, during tours of Ireland, ranked amongst the group's eary achievements, SWEET SAVAGE certainly also benefited from production courtesy of Chris Tsangarides and finally made it over to mainland Britain during 1981 supporting THIN LIZZY.

However, SWEET SAVAGE were struck a bitter blow when Vivian Campbell, following a Radio One 'Friday Rock Show' session to record the tracks 'Into The Night', 'Killing Time' and 'Queen's Vengeance', left to join former BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW singer Ronnie James Dio's new solo outfit DIO in 1982. Indeed, many of the songs on DIO's seminal 'Holy Diver' debut were re-workings of SWEET SAVAGE tracks. For example, 'Rainbow In The Dark' was originally SWEET SAVAGE's 'Lady Marion'.

Following Campbell's departure SWEET SAVAGE underwent many line up changes, including the brief addition of GIRL drummer David Gaynor, before calling it a day. Initially, Ian 'Speed' Wilson was recruited on guitar with Raymond Hailer taking on vocal duties. This role would then be taken by HARV (John Harbinson), a veteran of local acts such as TROJAN, TESTAMENT, ASHANTI and SEVENTH DAWN. Adding Stevie Prosser on keyboards, and with a marked move away from Hard Rock and into more melodic territory, the band evolved into EMERALD.

Vocalist Rob Cass (Robert Casserley) was to turn up during 1984 fronting former GEDDES AXE drummer John Burke's VENTURE, then in 1986 as vocalist for BERNIE MARSDEN's band ALASKA. Vocalist Harv later fronted DEN OF THIEVES.

After his high profile tenure with DIO, featuring prominently on the landmark 'Holy Diver' and 'Last In Line' albums, VIVIAN CAMPBELL later appeared with in an equally high profile spell with WHITESNAKE before forming RIVERDOGS. The guitarist spent a brief period with a formative NELSON, playing on then erstwhile FOREIGNER vocalist LOU GRAMM's solo album 'Long Hard Look' before forming SHADOWKING with Gramm and finally settling in DEF LEPPARD.

With METALLICA, who covered 'Killing Time' as the B side to their 'The Unforgiven' single, helping to keep the SWEET SAVAGE name alive, it was perhaps inevitable that the Irish group would reform after quite a record company bidding war in 1996. The debut album features many old tracks although Campbell's position was taken by Simon McBride who, at the age of 15, was 'guitarist of the year' in 'Guitar' magazine.

SWEET SAVAGE performed at the German Wacken festival in 1999 but the new album 'Rune' was none too well received. Ex-singer HARV returned post millenium with an all new solo band, releasing the album 'Back', as well as fronting WHITESNAKE tribute act SNAKEBITE. Hamburg Power Metal band NOT FRAGILE covered 'Eye Of The Storm' in 2004.

VIVIAN CAMPBELL released his debut solo album, 'Two Sides Of If', in September 2005. Harv founded PRESS RED in 2006 for the album 'New World'. Harbinson re-emerged in 2007 fronting the resurrected FASTWAY. Days after this announcement it was revealed bassist Raymond Haller had also joined up with FASTWAY.

In June 2008 US imprint Maniacal Records and Germany's High Roller Records announced a joint vinyl release for a SWEET SAVAGE double LP release of studio material, demos and live songs from the band's early years of 1978 to 1981 entitled 'Eye Of The Storm - The Early Years'.