William Kidd

Captain William Kidd welcoming a young woman on board his ship. Postcard published by The Foundation Press, Inc., 1932. Reproduction of oil painting from series: The Pageant of a Nation.William Kidd, better known as Captain Kidd, had an very unfortunate career. He is believed to have been born into a poor seaman’s family in Dundee, Scotland in around 1654, later settling in New York. Not much else is known about his early life except that he took to the seas like his father before him. Although active in the grey area of privateering, it is likely that he never intended to adopt a life of piracy and was simply a victim of circumstances.

Kidd the privateer

Kidd is thought to have worked on a French privateer frigate, the Sainte Rose, during peace time. He was involved in actions against the Dutch and Spanish, including participating in the failed French attack on the Dutch Guianas. When England declared war on France in 1688, Kidd patriotically became a privateer against the French in American theatre of the War of the Grand Alliance known as King William’s War.…

Visions of Atlantis

A symphonic power metal band from Austria formed in 2000. They play melodic music with both male and female lead vocals. Their songs mix nautical and fantasy themes with their most recent albums concentrating more on the topic of pirates. The band’s line-up has changed considerably over the years, the only remaining and founding member being Thomas Caser on drums. The band has recorded many albums, including three live ones in addtion to those listed below.

  • Eternal Endless Infinity (2002)
  • Cast Away (2004)
  • Trinity (2007)
  • Delta (2011)
  • Ethera (2013)
  • The Deep and the Dark (2018)
  • Wanderers (2019)
  • Pirates (2022)
  • A Pirate’s Symphony (orchestral) (2023)
  • Pirates II – Armada (2024)

The Vision of Atlantis website.

Pirate Queen

Catchy and melodic tunes by probably the first all-female pirate metal band band. Pirate Queen’s music is a blend of pirate- and fantasy themed symphonic power metal. Their debut single and video, “Pirates From The Sea”, was released on November 24, 2023 via Despotz Records to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

​The Captain’s Beard

The Captain’s Beard are a folk-rock, pirate band from Brighton, UK. Their music ranges from traditional folk and sea shanties, upbeat originals and downright silly songs about Cockney Mermaids, English Monarchs and rubbish vans. Since their inception, they have released 3 albums and have toured extensively across the UK and Europe, making a name for themselves through their high-energy stage shows and intimate, impromptu offstage performances.