1970 to 1979

A veritable British Rock institution, SAXON has over twenty years and more experienced the exalted heights of chart success as well as battling through more lean years. The band found favour at first in their homeland, made serious headway into the American market before concentrating on mainland Europe where the act still maintain a sizeable following. Musically SAXON are instantly characterised by Biff Byford's distinctive and quite enormous vocal holler and an ability to craft some of the most memorable riffs in Metal. During their major label period the band suffered from a serious miscalculation in terms of direction, mellowing out significantly, but have more than made up for it in recent times with superb albums such as 'Unleash The Beast' and 'Lionheart'.

Although coming to prominence in 1980 with the groundbreaking 'Wheels Of Steel' album the origins of the band can be traced back a full decade earlier with the formation in 1970 of BLUE CONDITION by guitarist GRAHAM OLIVER and bassist Steve 'Dobby' Dawson. A Blues orientated Hard Rock outfit, BLUE CONDITION would evolve into S.O.B. by 1974 (named after the FREE album 'Tons Of Sobs') retaining the same line up of Oliver, Dawson, vocalist / guitarist Steve Furth and drummer John Walker.

The following year Furth was to depart to concentrate on a Blues career as S.O.B. began pursuing a steadily heavier direction. Another local act COAST (named after the TRAPEZE track 'Coast To Coast) were in the midst of disintegration and the suggestion was made that bassist Peter 'Biff' Byford assume the mantle of S.O.B. vocalist. A deal was reached whereby COAST guitarist Paul Quinn, formatively of MIGHTY MOUTH and PAGAN'S CHORUS, was also enrolled. During this early period S.O.B. gigged hard, the pressure telling as Walker quit. His position was taken briefly by Dave Cowell. After a matter of weeks former GLITTER BAND drummer Pete Gill had made the position permanent as S.O.B. became SON OF A BITCH.

During this period Byford and Quinn joined the JOHN VERITY BAND with the former on bass. When Verity became a member of ARGENT Byford and Quinn kept gigging under the JOHN VERITY BAND handle for a short time. Eventually they diverted their efforts back to SON OF A BITCH.

With their new name, SON OF A BITCH debuted at Bradford's Talk Of The Town venue where an EMI Records executive, Pete Hinton, became convinced of their potential. The band was in turn referred to French label Carrere Records and a contract was signed in Paris.

As recording for the debut album ensued the record company judged that there would be strong opposition in America from distributors for the tag SON OF A BITCH and the band were persuaded to adopt the fresh title of SAXON. The band's debut album was cut at Livingstone Studios and produced by John Verity.

1980

Following their workmanlike eponymous debut album for the French Carrere label in 1979, SAXON found themselves opportunely amidst the full force of the NWoBHM movement as they released the classic 'Wheels Of Steel' album, cut at Ramport Studios with Pete Hinton behind the desk, in February of the following year. This album, actually far more representative of SON OF A BITCH's live set than it's predecessor, provided the band with biker anthems and hard hitting Metal SAXON became renowned for. Many believe that SAXON have never bettered tracks such as 'Wheels Of Steel', 'Motorcycle Man' and '747 (Strangers In The Night)'. In Britain the band toured heavily supporting MOTÖRHEAD and NAZARETH as 'Wheels Of Steel' gave the band a high chart placing, hitting number 5 in the UK, and two major hit singles.

Although Hard Rock music in general scored a huge impact on the UK music scene in 1980, SAXON's brace of epic chart busters, '747 (Strangers In The Night)' and 'Wheels Of Steel', still ranked amongst the very finest releases. The band would also appear at the inaugural 'Monsters Of Rock' event at Castle Donington in August 1980 alongside the likes of a headlining RAINBOW, the SCORPIONS and JUDAS PRIEST amongst others.

Later the same year, they capitalised on their popularity with the October 'Strong Arm Of The Law' album, once again employing both Ramport Studios and Pete Hinton as producer. Again SAXON produced a record hosting genre classics, with the epic 'Dallas 1PM', about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, '20,000 Feet', 'Heavy Metal Thunder' and title track all scoring strongly with fans. With the album breaking the UK charts at number 11, the group toured Europe as support to JUDAS PRIEST. The stakes got higher as SAXON landed the guest position to AC/DC's gigantic 'Back In Black' American tour. SAXON rounded off their American foray opening shows for BLACK SABBATH and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. Better was to follow as the world tour continued with American dates providing support to RUSH in many 20'000 capacity sold out arenas commencing September before headlining Britain with opening act LIMELIGHT that winter.

1981 to 1988

'Denim And Leather' bolstered SAXON's fan base in 1981 with both 'And The Bands Played On', written about their Castle Donington festival appearance the previous year, and 'Never Surrender' keeping the band in the singles charts. The Nigel Thomas produced record found SAXON recording outside of the UK for the first time, utilising both Aquarius Studios in Geneva, Switzerland and ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. However, by 1982 drummer Pete Gill was out. The official band explanation was that Gill had damaged his hand but other sources suggest he was fired. The former drummer would eventually join MOTÖRHEAD in 1984 for the 'Orgasmatron' album.

SAXON's replacement was Nigel Glockler, former member of KRAKATOA and Punktress TOYAH's live band, who debuted on the live 'Eagle Has Landed' album. SAXON performed a ground breaking tour of North America in 1984 on the back of 'The Power And The Glory' outing. This record marked another first for the band as tracks were crafted at Axis Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia with Jeff Glixman at the controls. Gigging saw a bout of co-headline shows across the USA with MÖTLEY CRÜE prior to support dates with IRON MAIDEN. The band returned to Europe for another lengthy tour with guests ACCEPT.

The band maintained the momentum with the historically themed 'Crusader', tracked at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. Fortunately producer Kevin Beamish's past record with top name AOR acts did not stifle the group's heaviness and the record found ready favour with fans. Not widely advertised, many failed to notice that SAXON had included their first official cover version, a rendition of SWEET's 'Set Me Free'. For the 'Crusader' tour the band employed a huge stage set, based on castle battlements although the band also became embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute with former label Carrere for alleged non payment of royalties. This situation finally resolved itself in late 1985 when Parlophone gained rights to the band's back catalogue.

SAXON's first album for new label Parlophone, 'Innocence Is No Excuse', produced by Simon Hanhart at Union Studios in Munich, Germany, was released whilst former label Carrere were still in court, claiming the band were still signed to them. The band toured Britain in 1985 supported by Danes PRETTY MAIDS. It was generally acknowledged that 'Innocence Is No Excuse' presented a tamed down sound from SAXON but it nevertheless gave the band its highest US chart placing. Back at home though, SAXON's support began to slide, 'Innocence Is No Excuse' only reaching number 36 in the charts. Longstanding SAXON fans would see the band's new label regrettably steering SAXON's music into mellower territory for a successive brace of albums.

SAXON's second EMI album, the Gary Lyons produced 'Rock The Nations', forged at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Holland, saw the departure of a disillusioned STEVE DAWSON. He was replaced by former HERITAGE and STATETROOPER man Paul 'Fasker' Johnson although Byford had actually recorded all the bass parts for the album. Also note would be the surprise inclusion of ELTON JOHN, the star having been recording in the same complex being persuaded to put down piano on the tracks 'Party Til You Puke' and 'Northern Lady'.

SAXON toured Britain again in 1986, with guests in the form of Japanese act LOUDNESS. North American shows found the band on a co-headliner with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. With popularity undoubtedly on the wane, many felt that the EMI affiliated Parlophone did not regard SAXON as a priority act and the subsequent Stephan Galfas produced album 'Destiny', with new drummer Nigel Durham, did little to revive the band's career or dispute the theory. However, the band's spirited cover of the CHRISTOPHER CROSS hit 'Ride Like The Wind' did revive their fortunes temporarily, as the garnered both radio and MTV exposure. It wasn't enough though and in 1988 EMI dropped the band.

1989 to 1995

With the end of the decade closing in and the loss of major label EMI, found SAXON support both in the UK and US markets faltering. Glockler found a new home with GTR in North America. Dawson briefly formed USI with ex-SAXON colleague drummer Nigel Durham and vocalist / guitarist Steve Johnson before bailing out. In 1993 Dawson formed WANTED, again uniting with Durham, new members guitarist Hayden Conway and vocalist Adrian Davidson.

However, Nigel Glockler returned to SAXON in 1989 and the group defiantly set about an enormous British tour to re-awaken interest based on the live album 'Rock n' Roll Gypsies', released through Roadrunner Records. SAXON's experimentation with a smoother sound had now closed and from this juncture the group got back to their natural raw Heavy Metal stance. Johnson left to join USI and was duly replaced by Tim 'Nibbs' Carter as another lengthy tour of Germany was undertaken, this time sharing the billing with MANOWAR. That same year Byford would find time to guest session on the 'Kaizoku' album by Japanese act AIR PAVILION.

SAXON started 1991 by releasing the Kalle Trapp produced 'Solid Ball Of Rock' album, committed to tape at Karo Studios in Brackel, Hamburg and their first for new label Virgin Records. 'Solid Ball Of Rock' notably witnessed a shift in the songwriting duties as new man Nibbs Carter scored credits throughout, solely composing five tracks. UK headline dates throughout March of that year, backed by the single 'We Will Remember', saw ROADHOUSE as support. The ensuing world tour to promote the album took them to such far flung territories as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and even New Zealand.

The follow up 'Forever Free' was released in Germany with different sleeve artwork to that of the British version. Kloot executed the original sleeve art but with interest in their homeland still unsteady, the gaming company Games Workshop, who put the album out through their custom Warhammer imprint, issued 'Forever Free' with suitably lavish sci-fi artwork. Again SAXON took on a cover version, this time the WILLIE DIXON Blues standard 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You'. 'Forever Free's sonic delivery, which received much criticism highlighting an uncharacteristically thin sound, was handled by Herwig Ursin, the band constructing the record both at Hey You Studios in Vienna, Austria and Gems Studios in Boston, Lincolnshire.

SAXON remained a strong draw in Germany and would put in another highly successful European tour co-headlining with MOTÖRHEAD and dubbed the 'Bombers And Eagles' tour. The pairing also put in one show at London's Hammersmith Odeon. SAXON later toured Britain as headliners with support act FRANKENSTEIN, but fared badly attendance wise.

Enthusiasm for the band's output and concerts was still buoyant in mainland Europe and the band's upward career turn commenced once again with the issue of 1995's 'Dogs Of War'. The album would see co-production credits going to band manager Rainer Hänsel. That same year Paul Quinn contributed guest guitar parts to German act SARGENT FURY's 'Turn The Page' album. In a shock move, his longstanding guitar partner GRAHAM OLIVER surprisingly quit shortly after the release of 'Dogs Of War'. Oliver's position was filled by Doug Scarratt on SAXON's subsequent British tour supported by CHINA BEACH. 'Dogs Of War', although a fine album, found the band at a nadir of popularity in Britain. Released on Virgin Records in Germany the small independent HTD issued the record in Britain.

The group toured in Germany with GLENMORE and played further dates in Texas. The year ended on a high as the band joined the December 'Blind Guardian Christmas Party' tour, headed up by BLIND GUARDIAN and also boasting LOVE/HATE, SKYCLAD, RAGE and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Some of these shows were recorded for what would become the 'The Eagle Has Landed Part II' live album.

1996 to 2007

SAXON cut a rare tribute in 1996 offering their version of 'You've Got Another Thing Comin' to the JUDAS PRIEST tribute 'Legends Of Metal'.

Confusion then reigned as the departed GRAHAM OLIVER reunited with his erstwhile SAXON cohorts Pete Gill and STEVE DAWSON to form a new act and in the process issued legal proceedings to claim the name SAXON for themselves. Eventually, after much public bickering, Oliver's new band titled itself SON OF A BITCH, a throwback to pre-SAXON days. Further members would be added to this new combo in ex-THUNDERHEAD vocalist Ted Bullet and former SARACEN guitarist Haydn Conway.

SAXON regrouped, pulling out all the stops for their next effort. The resulting album, 1997's 'Unleash The Beast', took many by surprise as SAXON delivered an album that was to rank alongside 'Wheels Of Steel' as being one of their finest efforts. The Kalle Trapp produced album pushed SAXON back to the very forefront of the Metal scene again and included a touching tribute to their long term highly respected tour manager J.J. (John Jones) who had passed away the year before.

Naturally, the band set out on the road in Europe with support act ROYAL HUNT and ex-VICTORY and ELOY man Fritz Randow on the drum stool, but some of the dates sadly were marred by poor attendance's, not to due the band's status, but to confusion over concert dates. Nevertheless, the strength of the 'Unleash The Beast' album proved beyond doubt that SAXON still had a point to prove, the band putting in a batch of British concert dates in 1998.

1998 also saw SAXON returning to America for a string of shows before an appearance at the Brazilian 'Monsters Of Rock' festival. The world tour ended in Holland as support to DEEP PURPLE. Quinn put some outside activity in by laying down guitars on the IRON MAIDEN tribute '666 The Number Of The Beast'.

SAXON's future though seemed unclear as SON OF A BITCH frequently perform billed as SAXON as they have done at a Dutch Festival alongside KINGDOME COME, Spanish dates with THUNDER and even British shows. To further confuse matters 'Destiny' era drummer Nigel Durham has replaced Gill in SON OF A BITCH but not before being asked to by Byford to replace Glockler in SAXON!

Even as late as early 1999 SAXON were being billed as performing in British clubs but this was in reality SON OF A BITCH. The dates were subsequently cancelled due to illness. Oliver disbanded SON OF A BITCH later that year to form a JIMI HENDRIX tribute band with his son on drums. However, by June the pair had teamed up with members of STORMWATCH and WITCHFYNDE to create the LUTHAR BELTZ BAND. That same month the bonafide Byford fronted SAXON put in festival gigs in Germany sharing a billing with B?HSE ONKELZ, ROSE TATTOO and DANZIG.

Oliver and Dawson came back to the fore in early 2000 announcing an operating title of OLIVER/ DAWSON SAXON. Joining them were drummer Durham, guitarist Haydn Conway and ex HURRICANE, MADAM X and SHY vocalist John Ward.

The welcome archive 'Live At Donnington 1980' release strangely, for a British label, mis-spells the venue of this world famous event. The release 'Diamonds And Nuggets' featured early unreleased material dating as far back as pre SAXON 1971.

Randow joined MOON'DOC in 2000. Quinn used downtime in 2000 to aid THRESHOLD vocalist ANDY McDERMOTT on his debut solo album 'In The Meantime'.

Late 2000 saw the debut OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON release, a live album recorded in the Czech Republic titled 'Re: Landed'. In other SAXON associated activity mid 2001 had Nigel Glockler and Doug Scarrett debuting their side project MAD MEN AND ENGLISH DOGS.

The 2001 SAXON album 'Killing Ground', produced by NIKOLO KOTZEV of BRAZEN ABBOTT and NOSTRODAMUS and mixed by erstwhile ACCEPT guitarist Hermann Frank, would see the band embarking on a rare foray into the world of cover versions, this time cutting their rendition of KING CRIMSON's epic 'Court Of The Crimson King'. Initial copies of the album would come with a bonus disc entitled 'Classics Re-Recorded comprising of eight staples re-cut by the 2001 line up.

Another traditionally lengthy bout of touring would follow commencing with a headline slot at the Ibiza 'Bike Week' festival in September before October UK gigs. SAXON's European trek would finally wind down in Germany during late November. The band would then support JUDAS PRIEST at their London Brixton Academy gig in December. During 2002 SAXON returned to the American touring circuit, opening proceedings with an appearance at the Asbury Park, New Jersey 'Metal Meltdown' festival in early April. Later shows had SAXON at the Belgian 'Grasspop' Metal Meeting festival in July as well as Moscow during August.

Ex-SAXON bassist STEVE DAWSON would issue a solo album 'Pandemonium Circus' in February of 2002. Drummer Fritz Randow would contribute his services to SINNER's 2002 album 'Let There Be Execution'.

Elaborating on the successful 'Classics Re-recorded' project of the previous year SAXON's 2002 album 'Heavy Metal Thunder' would turn out to be a set of re-worked classics. Initial copies of the album also included a bonus disc which added a live video of 'Killing Ground' from the 'Wacken' festival and five tracks recorded live in San Antonio during April of 2002. A European tour set for January of 2003 would see WOLF and NOCTURNAL RITES as support.

A major victory for the band came in late February 2003 when the High Court in London ruled in favour of Biff Byford over the legal rights to use the name SAXON. Summer festivals found the band in quite a unique position by appearing at the Italian 'Gods Of Metal' festival and the German 'Rock Hard' event on the same day, the band playing in Italy at 5pm before being whisked on a plane to Dortmund for a show at 10pm. SAXON would be back headlining on European soil in shows commencing 28th November in Spain, ably supported by DORO, DIONYSUS and CIRCLE II CIRCLE.

SAXON fans would be intrigued to learn of former guitarist GRAHAM OLIVER's 2004 release, credited to SAXON and entitled 'Alternative Innocence'. Released by the Majestic Rock label the record comprised alternative and unused versions of songs that made up the band's 1985 release 'Innocence Is No Excuse', along with three unreleased tracks.

The band did rehearse with the PARADISE LOST, KILL II THIS and BLAZE credited Jeff Singer on drums but by April SAXON, utilising Jörg Michael of STRATOVARIUS on the drums, they would be ensconced in Gems studio in Lincolnshire recording a new studio album 'Lionheart'. Besides his high profile tenure with the flying Finns, Michael's credits read like a who's who of German Metal having racked up credits with AVENGER, RAGE, MEKONG DELTA, HEADHUNTER, LAOS, GRAVE DIGGER, AXEL RUDI PELL and RUNNING WILD amongst others. The new look band kicked off an exhaustive 25th anniversary tour in Scandinavia during September. Support would be lent by Sweden's DREAM EVIL along with Germany's METALIUM and CHINCHILLA. The band, alongside DORO, BONFIRE, EDGUY, CRYSTAL BALL and IN EXTREMO would also be among acts participating in the 27th January 2005 'Rock for Asia' festival held at the Saturn Arena in Ingolstadt, Germany to benefit the victims of the December Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

SAXON announced that they would celebrate twenty five years of the NWoBHM movement with a themed tour of Germany during April. The band's live show for these dates would comprise solely songs from the period with writers from 'Rock Hard' magazine working as DJs for the evening, spinning tracks from the NWoBHM era. However, these gigs, alongside an announced appearance at the 'Desert Rock' festival in Dubai, were postponed after Biff Byford's house in Normandy burnt down. US tour dates, scheduled for May, would be pushed back into November.

Remedy Records weighed in with a double tribute album to SAXON billed 'Eagleution'. Featured bands included STORMWARRIOR, PARAGON, PERZONAL WAR, GODDESS OF DESIRE, TWISTED TOWER DIRE, BREAKER, SEVENTH SON, NECRONOMICON, POWERGOD and SOLITUDE amongst many others. Also issued would be limited edition picture discs of 'Saxon', 'Strong Arm Of The Law' and 'Wheels Of Steel' through the Back On Black label. Meantime, Biff Byford put in a guest vocal appearance on German Thrash act DESTRUCTION's 'Inventor Of Evil' album.

Following European live dates SAXON welcomed back former drummer Nigel Glockler in August. However, the re-scheduled US tour dates, set for November, would be pulled once again, apparently due to late delivery of visas. SAXON were scheduled to play the United Arab Emirates 'Dubai Desert Rock' festival on 16th March but ran into political controversy. Just days before the event, an Arab newspaper printed the lyrics to the 1984 song 'Crusader', including the line "The Saracen heathen will soon taste our steel", after which government body Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing withdrew permission for the band to appear.

In June SAXON launched the double concert set 'The Eagle Has Landed Pt. III', comprising tracks taken from 2004 and 2005 shows in Stockholm, Nuremberg, Kiel, Fulda, Berlin, London and the 'Wacken Open Air' show. In October 2006 the group was set to unite with a heavyweight billing comprising STRATOVARIUS, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SEPULTURA, NEVERMORE, AFTER FOREVER, PRIMAL FEAR and GOTTHARD for the 'Live n' Louder' festivals across Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. However, they cancelled these gigs just days beforehand. On 26th January 2007 the band, supporting the Hallam Kids charity, took part in the Guinness Book of World records "biggest air guitar esemble" held half-time at the Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland football match in Sheffield.

March and April 2007 live shows in the UK and Europe were lined up with HELLFUELED and MASTERPLAN. Steamhammer Records set a March 5th European release date for the studio album 'The Inner Sanctum'. The label would also release a double live DVD, entitled 'To Hell And Back Again'. Byford published his autobiography, 'Saxon - Never Surrender (Or Nearly Good Looking)', in April. UK dates in May saw support from CHOKEHOLD.

SAXON released an "anti-gun-crime" single, 'If I Was You', in the UK on 16th April via SPV Records with all proceeds being split equally between The Non Violence Foundation and the Gun Control Network.

The group would spend May 2008 ensconsed in the recording studio with longterm producer Charly Bauerfeind. A succession of European festival dates ensued, after which the group hooked up familiar touring partners MOTÖRHEAD with support DANKO JONES for a co-headline tour of the UK and Germany in November and December. In side activity, Tim Carter sessioned on the THOMSEN album 'Let's Get Ruthless'.

'Into The Labyrinth', recorded at Twilight Hall in Krefeld, Germany, under the direction of Charlie Bauerfeind, saw release in Germany on 9th January 2009. Digipack versions hosted the promotional video for 'Live To Rock', a tour documentary and a movie of 'Parzifal' starring Biff as King Arthur. A double album vinyl gatefold edition also saw release.Registering on the charts, 'Into The Labyrinth' impacted at no. 23 in Germany, 44 in Sweden, 61 in Switzerland and 116 in the UK.

SAXON and ICED EARTH teamed up for a European co-headlining tour in February 2009 hitting France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy and Spain. The band performed at the inaugural 'Hammerfest' festival, sharing the stage with PARADISE LOST, SEPULTURA, OPETH and CATHEDRAL, held at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, Wales in April. UK and Irish dates in April and May, dubbed the 'Battalions Of Steel' tour, saw DORO as special guest.

Coolhead Productions released the SAXON documentary film 'Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie', in December 2009 to celebrate the group's 30th anniversary. The movie not only featured contributions from members of SAXON, past and present, but also from the likes of Lars Ulrich, of METALLICA, Lemmy, Fast Eddie Clarke, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, of MOTÖRHEAD, promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Danko Jones, Doro Pesch and others. It comprised rare archive material and previously unseen concert footage, from the 1980s line ups to the St. George's Day show in 2008 and 'Wacken Open Air' festival in 2009. 

Garry Sharpe-Young