Power Metal band FIFTH ANGEL debuted with what was generally recognised across the worldwide Heavy Metal community as an awesome Terry Date produced album. Drummer Ken Mary had previous experience in the ranks of the RANDY HANSEN band, STRIKE and TKO before he was involved in getting FIFTH ANGEL off the ground and alongside Seattle friends vocalist Ted Pilot, guitarists JAMES BYRD and Ed Archer plus bassist Kenny Kay. Previous to founding FIFTH ANGEL Byrd had been operating in a UFO / SCORPIONS covers band.

FIFTH ANGEL first recorded an EP then a four track demo that was shopped to a variety of labels. Mike Varney's Shrapnel label would be the company keen enough to sign the group, utilising the original demo tracks allied to newly recorded material. RANDY HANSEN would guest as session bassist on four of the album tracks. Whilst helping to mix the album in San Francisco, Mary was tapped by Varney to play drums on CHASTAIN's 'Rulers Of The Wasteland'.

FIFTH ANGEL's first record garnered such laudatory reviews it was soon picked up by major label Epic Records who remixed it and re-issued it in new sleeve artwork. The band also scored a management deal with the major Concrete Marketing group. Prior to its re-release however bassist Kenny Kay departed in favour of John Macko. In the transitory period Ken Mary also used the break to gain valuable experience by enrolling in ALICE COOPER's live act for his 'Constrictor' world tour of late 1987.

Oddly, with a stack of laudatory reviews and major label backing FIFTH ANGEL splintered. Mary joined HOUSE OF LORDS in 1988. He later formed the vaguely Christian Alternative Metal group SOUL SHOCK REMEDY, eschewing the drums in favour of a singing position and adjusting his surname to Mari.

With the departure of James Byrd in 1988, FIFTH ANGEL recruited Kendall Bechtel in his stead. The 1989 album 'Time Will Tell', produced by Terry Brown, featured LISA DALBELLO on backing vocals.

James Byrd formed the grandly titled JAMES BYRD'S ATLANTIS RISING and released a self-titled album through Roadrunner in 1991. The band included ex TKO and Q5 bassist Evan Sheely alongside the lesser known drummer Scott Hunt and vocalist Freddy Krumins. A JAMES BYRD solo album 'Octoglomerate' surfaced in 1993. The follow up, '1995's 'Son Of Man', would bear the rarest of endorsements from the guitar genius YNGWIE MALMSTEEN who penned sleeve notes highly praising the guitarist. Byrd would work with erstwhile LYNCH MOB singer Robert Mason for the 1996 effort 'The Apocalypse Chime'. That same year the guitarist founded his own Byrd Guitar Company.

Mary was back in a reformed HOUSE OF LORDS during 2000. JAMES BYRD continues to issue solo albums, the July 2002 'Anthems' album simply credited to BYRD. In 2005 Byrd contributed his interpretation of 'The World Anthem' to a FRANK MARINO tribute album though WildMess Records entitled 'Secondhand Smoke'.

Conjecture in January 2007 signalled a FIFTH ANGEL reunion was in the works. However, in early February a statement put paid to these hopes, reading "The FIFTH ANGEL reunion is likely off. After a couple of key members of the band preferred not to go forward with the live shows, Fifth Angel has decided to shelve reunion plans indefinitely."