2013, Jag Panzer came together in late 1981, being inspired by the onslaught of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The original line-up consisted of Harry Conklin on vocals (later nicknamed the ´Tyrant`), Mark Briody (who was the sole guitarist of the group in its first incarnation), John Tetley who played the bass, and Rick Hilyard as the drummer. The band was known as Tyrant in its first incarnation. They soon had to change their name, because another such named band existed in California. They saw a poster featuring a German World War II tank, named Jagdpanzer which they decided to name their band after. The band, who were all in their late teens at the time, played at local venues in the Denver club circuit, and recorded an EP in 1983, later known as TYRANTS. In early 1984, the band recruited Joey Tafolla, a native of California, and promptly recorded their first album, AMPLE DESTRUCTION. The album was an underground hit in the United States, and in Europe and Japan it was available on import only.