RIP
Pagan Hel
By Victoria Purcell
“ Although my fingers don ’ t play frets they write with enthusiasm for metal !!!!!!” - Pagan Hel .
Pagan wrote hundreds of reviews for RAMzine over the past five years . She truly loved music and showcasing it through reviewing . Pagan was always on time , in fact always early and always wanted to hear more . She had been known to review up to eight albums a week in her prime and carried on reviewing right up to her final weeks . It ’ s safe to say that her preferred genre was death metal , however , she did dabble in other genres , telling us that she would be happy reviewing any style .
Pagan Hel was her reviewing alias and what she prefered to be called . She lived and grew up in Liverpool , where she attended many gigs and was an honorary member of biker club North West Harley . Her partner Graham Roadhog Lee who is in classic rock band Roadhog was extremely supportive of her . Our thoughts are with him in this difficult time .
After five years of reviewing and our first zine without her , it weights heavy . However , we shall remain positive , as that is exactly what Pagan did , right until the end . Strength like that is truly inspiring , and that is a lesson of
courage we will take with us . When I think of all the articles that Pagan wrote over the years , there is one that stands out , her feature on Dio . Here is an excerpt from Pagan ’ s Article on DIO in Issue 2 of RAMzine :
After being fortunate and truly honoured , I met Dio back in 1984 at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool during the ‘ Holy Diver ’ tour . I noted he possessed a caring and nurturing nature and adored his fans . He took time to speak with everyone who turned up to see him and was indeed a genuine and wonderful man blessed with heaps of talent ! The name Dio means ‘ God ’ in Italian and I personally feel this title is suited to a man of so much importance in the rock music industry .
Pagan liked to laugh and joke and she kept in good spirits . We will never forget her determination for championing music , and her contribution not just to RAMzine but the music industry as a whole .
Donations are being collected for Cat welfare , P . D . S . A and Marie Curie Hospice ( Speke Road , Woolton ) in Pagans honour .
Pagan with partner Graham
Pagan with editor Vicky