The “Dream” of White Witch began 40 years ago in 1984 when Jeff Pittinger from “Early Frost”- Doug Lehman from “Merlin”- Carl Berry and Jack Death from the band “Warlock” started “White Witch” . All with similar influences such as Ozzy/ Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper Judas Priest, UFO and other heavy rocker from the 70’s
Formed to focus on original music the band worked on acquiring enough originals with a mix of some classic covers, to take to the local nightclub scene. Dink’s in Montoursville was the local nightspot, and they soon found themselves sharing the stage with names like Hybrid Ice, Harpo, Dirty Looks, Teeze, Kings and Queens, and more. Opening for bands like Steppenwolf at the Pike Drive-In in Montgomery, PA, John Kay of Steppenwolf walked by, took a look at Jeff, and said, “Look, an Alice Cooper clone.” Minutes later, Jeff in his custom witch outfit and mask was hanged “execution style” onstage in front of 7,000 rowdy concertgoers as 21 Harleys were fired off one at a time. The roar of the crowd and the rumble of the Harleys are moments Jeff will never forget.
White Witch was first featured in the PA Musician Magazine in August of 1987—leather-clad rockers on their “Pillage the Village Tour.” Doug’s outfit, quoted as being derived from the local hardware store, created a sci-fi heavy metal persona, followed by the rest of the band’s dark and ominous heavy grunge look and feel. In a time of makeup and hairspray, White Witch paved the way for the darker side of metal that was yet to come. In 1988, they released their first cassette, “Hell is Doomed,” which was available in all the record stores in the area and sold over 5,000 copies.
As time went on, the band changed, and soon Doug found himself moving to Florida in the early 90s. You would think that would have been the end for White Witch, but instead, they started a long-distance relationship that has endured and made their musical connection even stronger. Jeff and Doug pass ideas along through CDs sent via snail mail, keeping it old-school and simple. They know each other’s rhythms and rhymes so well that Jeff can even emulate Doug’s guitar parts through vocals during practice sessions. When you play with someone for this long, you become connected.
In 2004, they released another album, “The Power,” followed in 2008 by “Never Dies The Dream” and a change in the lineup, with new bassist Bill Zimmerman joining the band. They were also once again featured in PA Musician Magazine in a special December Christmas issue titled “Season of the Witch.” In it, “The Professor” dug deep into the workings of the Witch, saying, “It only takes moments into a White Witch live show to realize that this is a seasoned and confident unit that fully believes in their music. Their performance is tight, powerful, and spirited, and they sell their setlist of heavy-rocking original tunes and select cover material with abundant enthusiasm. Doug delivers beefy riffs and sharp guitar solo work atop the forceful and thunderous rhythms generated by Carl and Bill. Against the booming backdrop, Jeff confidently sings and works the crowd, marauding the stage and offering anecdotes and stories along the way.”
The White Witch story is ever-evolving. After Bill suffered from some medical issues, he stepped aside, and after some trial and error, Jimmy Lovcik stepped in as the new bassist. On Oct 5th Jeff celebrates 19 years clean and sober, somehow he made some really good decisions and never deviated from the plan “If my story can help or inspired one person-out there-then I did some good. It only takes one believer to make the church bells ring” . Fighting the demons of the past is something that can tear a band apart, but despite long-distance relationships, personal struggles, and lineup changes, White Witch continued to put out new music, including the self-titled “White Witch” album in 2019 and the re-release of “Hell is Doomed” by Heaven and Hell Records in 2020. This was followed by two videos in 2021 for “Changes Coming” and the popular “Log Splitter,” a song about a man’s best friend come wintertime. You can check them both out, along with all kinds of great White Witch content, on their Facebook page linked at the end.
Unfortunately, two years ago, drummer Carl Berry suffered a stroke, but after a long recovery, he is once again ready to get behind the kit. To honor the occasion, Jeff and the guys are hosting a “White Witch 40th Anniversary Music Festival” on Saturday, September 14th, at the PA Pipeline Headquarters in Montoursville, PA. This will be Carl’s first time back playing with the band after his recovery. This event is really just a way for the members to celebrate the band in superior fashion. The festival is from 1-8 pm and, along with White Witch, will feature performances by Keith and Sonya’s Acoustic Roadshow, Mallory Scoppa Gardner, Bret Alexander, and The Chris Myers Band. All the bands will be recorded for PA Pipeline TV, with live interviews as well. The public is welcome to attend, as Jeff hopes this will be a celebration of life for all his good friends and bandmates.
As White Witch marks this incredible milestone, the band reflects not only on their musical journey but also on the enduring friendships and the unbreakable bond they’ve forged over four decades. Their story is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the power of music to bring people together. With Carl back on drums, a revitalized lineup, and a loyal fanbase, the future looks brighter than ever for White Witch. The dream they started 40 years ago is far from over—in fact, it’s still growing. As the band takes the stage at their anniversary festival, they’ll do more than celebrate their past—they’ll also continue to write the next chapter of their legacy — “NEVER DIES THE DREAM…”
So, whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the White Witch experience, one thing is certain: this is a band that never stops believing in the dream. And as they’ve proven time and again, the dream never dies.
So join us Saturday, September 14th with the following great musicians to CELEBRATE!!!
