Lucifer's Friend was a German hard rock and progressive rock band formed in the early 1970s. Known for incorporating elements of jazz, psychedelic, and pop music, the band gained a cult following despite limited commercial success. Though originating in Germany, Lucifer's Friend is typically not categorized as part of the krautrock movement.

The group was initially formed in 1970 when British vocalist John Lawton, formerly of Stonewall, joined forces with Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Peter Hesslein, and Joachim Reitenbach, all former members of the German Bonds. The same lineup had previously recorded an album under the name Asterix. Afterward, they adopted the name Lucifer's Friend and released their self-titled debut album later that year. In 1971, some members also formed a side project called the Pink Mice, excluding Lawton.

The band released its early albums on Vertigo Records in Europe, while distribution in the United States occurred through smaller independent labels such as Billingsgate, Janus, and Passport. As a result, releases often arrived in the U.S. much later, making the albums difficult to find and limiting broader commercial success. In the late 1970s, Lucifer's Friend signed with Elektra Records and shifted toward a more pop-oriented sound, but these later releases achieved less success than their earlier work.

Lucifer's Friend became known for frequently changing musical direction. Their 1970 debut, "Lucifer's Friend," featured dark themes and a heavy sound influenced by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, and is considered a notable early heavy metal recording. The second album, "Where the Groupies Killed the Blues," moved into experimental progressive and psychedelic rock and was largely composed by John O'Brien Docker. Their third album, "I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer," adopted a more straightforward rock style, with themes centered on the life of touring musicians.

The fourth album, "Banquet," leaned into jazz fusion, featuring complex arrangements and a 30-piece backing ensemble, as well as shorter tracks reminiscent of bands like Chicago and Traffic. The fifth release, "Mind Exploding," attempted to blend the jazz elements of "Banquet" with the rock approach of the previous album, though it was not as well received.

John Lawton left the band in 1976 to join Uriah Heep. During his absence, the band released two albums—"Good Time Warrior" (1978) and "Sneak Me In" (1980)—which leaned toward a more commercial sound. Lawton returned for the 1981 album "Mean Machine," which marked a return to heavier rock influences, drawing comparisons to bands such as Foreigner and Bad Company.

Lawton’s solo album "Heartbeat," released in 1980 on RCA, featured the lineup from "Sneak Me In" and is considered by some to be a de facto Lucifer's Friend album.

Lucifer's Friend disbanded in 1982 but reunited briefly in the early 1990s to release the album "Sumo Grip." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.