Saxon are an English
heavy metal band formed in 1975 in
Barnsley. As leaders of the
new wave of British heavy metal
The new wave of British heavy metal (commonly abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that started in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Journalist Geoff Barton coined the term i ...
(NWOBHM), they had eight
UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. They had numerous singles in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
and chart success all over Europe and Japan, as well as success in the United States.
During the 1980s, Saxon established themselves among Europe's most successful metal acts. The band tours regularly and have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. They have also been cited as a major influence or inspiration by notable bands, including
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albu ...
,
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instru ...
,
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wi ...
,
Slayer,
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The s ...
,
Pantera
Pantera () is an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas formed in 1981, and currently comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-known lineup consist ...
,
Testament
A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament.
Testament or The Testament can also refer to:
Books
* ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book
* ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...
,
Dokken,
Skid Row
A skid row or skid road is an impoverished area, typically urban, in English-speaking North America whose inhabitants are mostly poor people "on the skids". This specifically refers to poor or homeless, considered disreputable, downtrodden or fo ...
,
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of the ...
,
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Exo ...
,
Overkill
Overkill may refer to:
* Overkill (term), the use of excessive force or action to achieve a goal
* Surplus killing, when a predator kills more prey than it can eat
* Overexploitation, depletion of a natural resource through overharvesting
** Ove ...
,
King Diamond and
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost () was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich. They are known for their strong influence on the development of extreme metalBukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and avant-gard ...
.
History
Formation and early years (1975–1979)
Saxon was formed in November 1975 by former Coast members
Peter "Biff" Byford on
vocals
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or witho ...
, Paul Quinn, and former SOB and Blue Condition members
Graham Oliver on
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...
s,
Steve "Dobby" Dawson on
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
; and former
Glitter Band member
Pete Gill on
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair of matching drumsticks ...
who replaced original drummer John Walker in 1977.
They were originally named "Son of a Bitch"
and gigged extensively in 1976-78 and recorded at least one demo in 1976 using that name.
The band changed their name to Saxon in July 1978 and in September the same year the band signed to French record label
Carrere Carrere or Carrère may refer to:
As a name
* Georges Carrère (1897–1986), French classical violinist
* Edward Carrere (1906–1984), Mexican art director
* Emmanuel Carrère (1957–), French author, screenwriter, and director
* Fernando Car ...
, run by Freddy Cannon in the UK. They began by supporting established bands such as
Motörhead
Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a prec ...
and
Ian Gillan Band, and released their eponymous
debut album in 1979.
Success in the UK (1980–1982)
''
Wheels of Steel'', released in 1980,
charted at No. 5 in the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
. It resulted in two hit songs: the title track and the crowd favourite "747 (Strangers in the Night)".
As a result, Saxon began a series of long UK tours. On 16 August, they earned a positive reception at the first
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual hard rock and heavy metal music festival held in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as the Netherlands, Poland ...
festival, commemorated by the following year's "
And the Bands Played On".
Their set was recorded, but not officially released until 2000. In April, Saxon made the first of many appearances on ''
Top of the Pops
''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most o ...
'', performing the hit "Wheels of Steel".
''
Strong Arm of the Law'' was released later in the year,
charting at No. 11 in the UK. Two singles were issued: the title track and "Dallas 1PM", the latter about the
assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Sold-out tours of Europe and the UK followed as the album charted in several European countries. The band was also popular in Japan, where the single "Motorcycle Man" stayed in the charts for almost six months.
"On the ''Strong Arm of the Law'' tour, in 1981, we met
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, writer, musician, radio host, director and producer. Born in Los Angeles, California, Shearer began his career as a child actor. From 1969 to 1976, Shearer was a membe ...
," Dawson recalled. "We thought he was just an American journalist. He spent three days on the road with us.
henwe all went to see ''
This Is Spinal Tap'', I didn't recognise
Harry. I was too busy laughing my head off. But some of the other guys didn't see the funny side."
In 1981, the band released their fourth album ''
Denim and Leather'',
dedicated to their fan base. Still popular today, its title track "Denim and Leather" is regarded as a metal anthem. The album also featured fan favourites such as "Princess of the Night", "Never Surrender", and "
And the Bands Played On" – all UK Top 20 hits. ''Denim and Leather'' followed its predecessor's success and went Gold in several European countries, including the UK. By this time, the band was seen as the leaders of the NWOBHM movement, with future greats
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
and
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals) ...
following close behind.
Just as the band was to embark on a long tour to follow the success of ''Denim and Leather'', drummer
Pete Gill left, after injuring his hand.
The band quickly replaced him with
Nigel Glockler
Nigel Glockler (born 24 January 1953) is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer for the heavy metal band Saxon, which he first joined in 1981.
Career
Glockler began his musical career in 1980 as the drummer for the British band K ...
, formerly of
Toyah,
who had to learn the entire set within a day and a half. Glockler is still with the band today.
Headlining tours around the UK and a sold-out tour in Europe with support act
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...
resulted in ''
The Eagle Has Landed'' (1982, UK No. 5).
It was planned as a double album, but the record company decided to release it as a single live album, despite protests from the band. Saxon also played the
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual hard rock and heavy metal music festival held in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as the Netherlands, Poland ...
festival again in 1982, becoming the first band to appear there twice.
''Power & the Glory'' and EMI years (1983–1987)
As the NWOBHM movement began to fade, 1983's ''
Power & the Glory
''Power & the Glory'' is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in March 1983 by Carrere Records. This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler and was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in the fall ...
'',
their best selling album to date, saw Saxon confirmed as one of the leading metal acts in Europe, along with
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
and
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...
. The "Power and Glory Tour" was an arena tour that began in Europe, and was a huge success. The US leg of the tour, as special guest to Iron Maiden, along with Fastway, proved to be successful and Saxon found themselves becoming a major act in the US as the album, in its first week of release, sold more than 15,000 copies in Los Angeles alone. The cover art of the album was produced by Hollywood film director
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades th ...
.
In late 1983, Saxon left
Carrere Carrere or Carrère may refer to:
As a name
* Georges Carrère (1897–1986), French classical violinist
* Edward Carrere (1906–1984), Mexican art director
* Emmanuel Carrère (1957–), French author, screenwriter, and director
* Fernando Car ...
and signed with
EMI Records
EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...
in 1984, with their first release on the label being ''
Crusader''.
Though still heavy, critics felt the album had a more commercial sound, and fans began to wonder what direction the band was taking. Despite its commercial sound, the title track became a fan favourite. The album sold over two million copies and the 1984 world tour "The World Crusade" was a success both in Europe and America. In the US, the band toured with Accept as their special guests, as well as supporting
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albu ...
for some shows of a year long tour.
With the release of ''
Innocence Is No Excuse
''Innocence Is No Excuse'' is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1985. It was the group's first album for EMI after a falling-out with their previous label, Carrere Records, and their last with original bassist Stev ...
'' in 1985, the band continued to take a more commercial direction,
and this divided fans as the band's once raw, heavy sound had been watered down for the large US market. A huge sold out world tour in support of the album followed, but tensions began to appear within the band and, by early 1986, bassist Steve Dawson was fired, and Saxon was forced to record their eighth studio album ''
Rock the Nations
''Rock the Nations'' is the eighth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released on 19 September 1986.
Album notes
The album is the first not to feature original bassist Steve Dawson, who was fired from the band earlier in 1986. Fo ...
'' without a replacement.
With
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
making guest appearances as pianist on two tracks, and Byford recording the bass parts, the album charted higher than its predecessor and was considered a success. They hired bassist Paul Johnson to play for the band's European arena tour that followed. In the summer of 1986, Saxon headlined the
Reading Festival
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Fest ...
and toured the United States.
In 1987, the band took time off from the constant touring and recording that had begun in the mid 1970s, and only a minor tour of the U.S. and Canada was scheduled. In early 1987, Nigel Glockler left the band and was replaced by Nigel Durham.
Decline of fan base and continued European success (1988–1993)
The band found it hard to attain chart success in America; the release of ''
Destiny
Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual.
Fate
Although oft ...
'' (1988) did not change this,
and Saxon were later dropped by EMI. In 1988, Paul Johnson was replaced by Nibbs Carter. Nigel Glockler also decided to return to the band. 1989 saw the release of ''Rock n Roll Gypsies'',
a live album recorded on an arena tour of eastern Europe in 1988, but by 1989, the gigs at the big stadiums and arenas of Europe and the US were few and far between and, with no record deal, Saxon's future was uncertain.
The band eventually decided to embark on a European tour titled '10 Years of Denim and Leather' which proved to be a successful move as the band was re-established as a popular act. In 1990, they signed to
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldw ...
and started work on their new album ''
Solid Ball of Rock
''Solid Ball of Rock'' is the tenth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1991 on Virgin Records. Five of its 11 tracks were written by new bassist Nibbs Carter, who co-wrote another three songs.
"For our audience – and withou ...
'', which was released in 1991 and proved to be successful.
In 1992, Saxon sustained this success with the release of ''
Forever Free''. The album was produced by
Biff Byford and Herwig Ursin. A UK version of the album featured an alternate cover with a "Space Marine" from the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame. "Iron Wheels" was released as a single. The song was written about and dedicated to Byford's father who worked in the coal mines of
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
.
Departure of Graham Oliver and return to heavier sound (1994–2002)
During 1994, Saxon recorded the album ''
Dogs of War''.
Shortly afterwards, Graham Oliver was fired by the band in 1995. The band replaced Oliver with Doug Scarratt, a long time friend of drummer Nigel Glockler. Saxon recorded a new music video for ''Dogs of War''. 1996 saw the release of another live album, ''The Eagle Has Landed Pt II''. They also recorded a cover of the
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...
song "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", for a tribute album entitled ''
A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal''.
Saxon released ''
Unleash the Beast
''Unleash the Beast'' is Saxon's thirteenth studio album, released in 1997. It is the first studio album with Doug Scarratt on guitar, making it the first album to feature the band's current lineup as of 2022.
Track listing
All tracks writte ...
'', produced by
Kalle Trapp and Saxon, in 1997. Saxon began their Unleash The Beast tour in May, where they played in Europe. ''Unleash the Beast'' reached the top 100 in the charts in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. In November, they played two gigs in Brazil (São Paulo and Santos) and ended the year with a Christmas show in Belgium. In 1998, the band toured the US, as well as playing the Brazilian Monsters of Rock. After relentless touring, drummer Nigel Glockler took time off to recover from a neck and shoulder injury and was temporally replaced by Fritz Randow.
September 1999 saw the release of ''
Metalhead''. The album was praised in Germany where Saxon had begun to play the
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...
Festival, where they later became a regular fixture. Saxon also headlined the first
Bloodstock Festival in the UK. In 2001, they again headlined the Wacken Open Air Festival and recorded the live DVD "Saxon Chronicles". Saxon also released the album ''
Killing Ground'' during the same year. In 2002, Saxon released ''Heavy Metal Thunder'', a
compilation album featuring re-recorded versions of songs from the band's biggest selling albums.
Battle for band name and ''Lionheart'' (2003–2006)
In 1999, former members Graham Oliver and Steven Dawson registered 'Saxon' as a trade mark. They then maintained that they had exclusive rights to the name and tried to prevent Biff Byford and Saxon's promoters and merchandisers from using the name. Byford applied to the Trade Mark Registry to have the trade mark declared invalid. He applied on the basis that the registration had been obtained in bad faith and that he was entitled to prevent use of the trade mark by bringing an action for 'passing off', that is an action to stop others misrepresenting themselves as Saxon. In 2003, the High Court declared that it was Byford and the current members of the band who owned the name, and were therefore in a position to prevent Oliver and Dawson passing themselves off as Saxon. After this Oliver and Dawson renamed their band
Oliver/Dawson Saxon.
Fritz Randow left the band in 2004. His replacement was former
Stratovarius
Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, five DVDs and six live albums. In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes, and after f ...
member
Jörg Michael. 2004 also saw the release of ''
Lionheart'' their 16th studio album. The album title was inspired from
Richard Lionheart,
King of England
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Baili ...
. "Beyond the Grave" was released as a single and a music video. The album received positive reviews and the title track remains a fan favorite. Nigel Glockler rejoined the band in 2005. In 2006, the band released the live album, ''
The Eagle Has Landed – part 3
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...
''. The band were due to play that year's
Dubai Desert Rock Festival
The Dubai Desert Rock Festival was an event celebrating various styles of rock and metal music on one stage in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Originally a one-day festival, it was expanded to two days in 2007 and 2008, before its eventual cancel ...
and perform alongside
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wi ...
. Just before the band were due to play Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing had withdrawn the band's permission to play the festival. It was rumored that the historical lyrics in ''Crusader'' were the reason for this.
Re-establishment in the UK (2007–2010)
In 2007, Saxon were the subject of an episode of ''
Harvey Goldsmith's Get Your Act Together''. As part of his programme, Goldsmith wanted to try and restore their popularity and reputation. He drafted in two new producers to oversee the production of a new single "If I Was You" (a song about gun culture), which went to number one in the Rock Charts in over 10 countries (becoming their most successful single for over 12 years). At the end of the programme, Saxon played at the half sold out Sheffield City Hall. Saxon also performed at the 2008
Download Festival.
Saxon's ''
The Inner Sanctum
''The Inner Sanctum'' is the seventeenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 5 March 2007. It is the first album by the band to feature drummer Nigel Glockler since 1997's ''Unleash the Beast''. A limited edition with D ...
'' album, released in Europe on 5 March 2007, and North America on 3 April, was seen by critics as their best work in years. The band then started a world tour in support of the album.
Saxon released a new studio album, ''
Into the Labyrinth'', on 12 January 2009. The album received positive reviews and continued the success that ''
The Inner Sanctum
''The Inner Sanctum'' is the seventeenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 5 March 2007. It is the first album by the band to feature drummer Nigel Glockler since 1997's ''Unleash the Beast''. A limited edition with D ...
'' had created. The band also headlined the Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. In February, it was announced that the band were cancelling the Spanish leg of their European tour with
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer ...
, due to scheduling issues. At the start of 2009, they toured the UK with
Doro, and again at the end of the year they did a UK tour, co-headlining with Motorhead. In August of that year, they played at
Sonisphere. In September Saxon announced the release of ''Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie'', a documentary on the band's history from the beginning.
Continuing their success in the UK, Saxon performed at the 2010 Download Festival, which took place at
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit located near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England. The circuit business is now owned by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation, and the surrounding Donington Park Estate, still owned ...
between 11 and 13 June. The band played the ''Wheels of Steel'' album in its entirety to mark the 30th anniversary of its release.
''Call to Arms'' and ''Sacrifice'' (2011–2014)
Saxon released their nineteenth studio album, ''
Call to Arms'', on 3 June 2011. It debuted at number 6 on the UK Rock Albums chart. The band embarked on a world tour which saw them visit the US; Saxon also revisited the UK for a second leg of the tour. The band announced on their Call To Arms tour that a number of fans at each venue, each paying £10, would be able to watch them soundcheck. This was donated to the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and Childline charities.
Saxon were billed as special guests supporting Judas Priest at Hammersmith Apollo on 26 May 2012. Saxon also played Download Festival 2012, and were recorded playing "Wheels of Steel" for the festival's Highlights show shown on Sky Arts. On 13 February 2012, the band announced that they were releasing a new live DVD and CD package entitled ''Heavy Metal Thunder - Live: Eagles Over Wacken'', which compiled their 2004, 2007 and 2009 performances at the Wacken Open Air across various formats. In March, Saxon won the
Metal Hammer 2012 Golden God award for 'Best UK band'.
In October, the band announced that their next studio album would be titled ''
Sacrifice'' and it was released in March 2013.
On 11 December 2012 ''Heavy Metal Thunder - The Movie'' saw an international release and was the first Blu-ray release for the band. 2013 also saw the release of a new compilation album ''Unplugged and Strung Up''. 2014 saw the release of a new live album named ''St. George's Day Sacrifice - Live in Manchester''. The band also embarked on a tour in October of that year named Warriors of the Road.
''Battering Ram'', ''Thunderbolt'' and ''Carpe Diem'' (2015–present)
During an interview in November 2014, Biff Byford revealed that: "We're making the new album in January, February and March". In a March 2015 interview, Byford described the album as a mixture of
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
and heavy metal. When asked about a possible release date, Byford said: "We're looking at maybe at a summer release. It just depends on whether it's ready or not. We're looking at finishing the album by the end of April. We're keeping our fingers crossed."
On 1 August 2015, the band announced 16 October as the release date of ''
Battering Ram
A battering ram is a siege engine that originated in ancient times and was designed to break open the masonry walls of fortifications or splinter their wooden gates. In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large, heavy log carried ...
'' and also premiered the official video of the title track.
On 14 September 2016, Biff Byford announced on Facebook that Saxon were working on a new album with producer
Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap (born 18 July 1969) is an English guitarist, record producer and composer with over 100 albums to his name, most of which have been produced at his Backstage Recording studios in rural Derbyshire. Some of the most critically acclaime ...
, for an early 2017 release. In October 2016, the band announced a tour in the U.S. for the early spring of 2017 with
UFO. In a 16 March 2017 interview with former
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The s ...
vocalist
Neil Turbin on Canada's The Metal Voice in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...
, Biff Byford gave an update on the new album saying that several songs were already recorded with a few more to complete, with an estimated release date for early 2018.
On 15 June 2017, Byford revealed that the title of their new studio album was ''
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the Proto-Indo-European mythology#Sky Father, 'Sky Father'; this ...
''. Saxon and UFO teamed up again for another round of shows in North America for the fall. On 7 November 2017, the band announced that the album would be officially released on 2 February 2018. To support the album, they briefly toured Europe and the UK with
Diamond Head,
Rock Goddess
Rock Goddess are an English all-female heavy metal band formed in Wandsworth, South London, in 1977 by sisters Jody Turner and Julie Turner.
The band were initially active during the new wave of British heavy metal musical movement, releasin ...
and
Magnum from late February to early March 2018, and was the support act along with
Black Star Riders for
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...
's
Firepower World Tour from mid March to early May 2018.
In an October 2018 interview with Sonic Perspectives, Byford confirmed that Saxon would "definitely" record a new album sometime in 2019. He was quoted as saying, "We don't have to have too much commitment to timings. We're an established band — we can pretty much do what we want. If we feel like writing, then we write. If we don't feel like writing, then we don't write. Simple as that." Byford had stated that their new album was expected to be released in early 2021; but later sighted a tentative February 2022 release.
Saxon released their first album of song covers, ''Inspirations'', on 19 March 2021. Their 24th studio album, ''
Carpe Diem
is a Latin aphorism, usually translated "seize the day", taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace's work '' Odes'' (23 BC).
Translation
is the second-person singular present active imperative of '' carpō'' "pick or pluck" used by Horace ...
'', was released on 4 February 2022 with the band embarking on the ''Seize the Day'' tour alongside Diamond Head which ended in November 2022.
Band members
Current members
*
Biff Byford – vocals
(1975–present); bass
(1986)
* Paul Quinn – guitars
(1975–present)
*
Nigel Glockler
Nigel Glockler (born 24 January 1953) is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer for the heavy metal band Saxon, which he first joined in 1981.
Career
Glockler began his musical career in 1980 as the drummer for the British band K ...
– drums
(1981–1987, 1988–1999, 2005–present)
* Nibbs Carter – bass
(1988–present)
* Doug Scarratt – guitars
(1995–present)
Former members
*
Graham Oliver – guitars
(1975–1995)
*
Steve Dawson – bass
(1975–1986)
*
Pete Gill – drums
(1977–1981)
* John Walker – drums
(1975–1977)
* Paul Johnson – bass
(1986–1988)
* Nigel Durham – drums
(1987–1988)
* Fritz Randow – drums
(1999–2004)
*
Jörg Michael – drums
(2004–2005)
Temporary musicians
* Rainer Hänsel – guitars
(1995) – replaced Graham Oliver on the ''Dogs of War'' recording
* Trevor Thornton – drums
(1998) – replaced the injured Nigel Glockler on the second leg of the ''Unleash The Beast'' tour
*
Yenz Leonhardt – bass
(2010) – replaced Nibbs Carter on the 2010 European tour
* Sven Dirkschneider (Son of
Udo Dirkschneider) – drums
(2015) – sat in for Nigel Glockler on the ''Warriors of the Road'' tour (four shows only)
*
Brian Tatler
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, West Midlands. The band was part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement and is acknowledged by thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Megadeth as an import ...
– guitars
(2022) – replaced Paul Quinn on part of the ''Seize the Day'' tour
Timeline
Discography
* ''
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country ( Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the No ...
'' (1979)
* ''
Wheels of Steel'' (1980)
* ''
Strong Arm of the Law'' (1980)
* ''
Denim and Leather'' (1981)
* ''
Power & the Glory
''Power & the Glory'' is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in March 1983 by Carrere Records. This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler and was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in the fall ...
'' (1983)
* ''
Crusader'' (1984)
* ''
Innocence Is No Excuse
''Innocence Is No Excuse'' is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1985. It was the group's first album for EMI after a falling-out with their previous label, Carrere Records, and their last with original bassist Stev ...
'' (1985)
* ''
Rock the Nations
''Rock the Nations'' is the eighth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released on 19 September 1986.
Album notes
The album is the first not to feature original bassist Steve Dawson, who was fired from the band earlier in 1986. Fo ...
'' (1986)
* ''
Destiny
Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual.
Fate
Although oft ...
'' (1988)
* ''
Solid Ball of Rock
''Solid Ball of Rock'' is the tenth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1991 on Virgin Records. Five of its 11 tracks were written by new bassist Nibbs Carter, who co-wrote another three songs.
"For our audience – and withou ...
'' (1991)
* ''
Forever Free'' (1992)
* ''
Dogs of War'' (1995)
* ''
Unleash the Beast
''Unleash the Beast'' is Saxon's thirteenth studio album, released in 1997. It is the first studio album with Doug Scarratt on guitar, making it the first album to feature the band's current lineup as of 2022.
Track listing
All tracks writte ...
'' (1997)
* ''
Metalhead'' (1999)
* ''
Killing Ground'' (2001)
* ''
Lionheart'' (2004)
* ''
The Inner Sanctum
''The Inner Sanctum'' is the seventeenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 5 March 2007. It is the first album by the band to feature drummer Nigel Glockler since 1997's ''Unleash the Beast''. A limited edition with D ...
'' (2007)
* ''
Into the Labyrinth'' (2009)
* ''
Call to Arms'' (2011)
* ''
Sacrifice'' (2013)
* ''
Battering Ram
A battering ram is a siege engine that originated in ancient times and was designed to break open the masonry walls of fortifications or splinter their wooden gates. In its simplest form, a battering ram is just a large, heavy log carried ...
'' (2015)
* ''
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the Proto-Indo-European mythology#Sky Father, 'Sky Father'; this ...
'' (2018)
* ''
Carpe Diem
is a Latin aphorism, usually translated "seize the day", taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace's work '' Odes'' (23 BC).
Translation
is the second-person singular present active imperative of '' carpō'' "pick or pluck" used by Horace ...
'' (2022)
See also
*
List of new wave of British heavy metal bands
References
External links
*
Saxon Albums PlaylistsFrench websiteCzech website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saxon
1977 establishments in England
Articles which contain graphical timelines
EMI Records artists
English heavy metal musical groups
Musical groups from South Yorkshire
Musical groups established in 1977
Musical quintets
Virgin Records artists
New Wave of British Heavy Metal musical groups
Musicians from Barnsley
Carrere Records artists
CMC International artists