two bassists. I said I was in a band with Paul. left EMI [where he was commercial director] One show a couple of years back, Motörhead’s They were into Free – that’s where Sob came to go with Carrere [as UK MD] and he took drummer Mikkey Dee got onstage to play with from, their Tons Of Sobs – and we our demo from EMI to Claude, so that’s how you and you said that “he’s now playing with were more into the complicated stuff. Then we ended up on Carrere. a real metal band”. the drummer left, so we thought “let’s do it”, Biff: There’s lots of humour, pisstaking! but I’d only do it if Paul did too. We did our Was your new name, Saxon, a marketing ploy? We’re close friends. first gig in Rotherham, with two basses and Biff: The record company didn’t like the two guitars, and just ran with it. name Son Of A Bitch. It was too narrow: it You appeared on Top Of The Pops; did that Graham: had a tape of a demo only worked for the kids. We were under surprise you? with Biff singing, as they were a rival band, contract, which was hard to get. Son Of Biff: The first time was for . Coast. Biff did not sing live but he had sung A Bitch was a silly name anyway. You won’t We got this phone call: it had gone into the a song called Lady on this demo, and as he get airplay or get noticed in the US with charts at No 31 or something and we needed said, we had both lost members of our a name like that. It was a singles market: if to play Top Of The Pops. We did it a few days respective bands. Also, we had a van but no you didn’t have a hit and get on Top Of The before, in a studio on our own. It was bizarre, singer, they had a PA but no van, and Steve Pops, you wouldn’t make it. really: lip syncing, no audience. We wanted really saw the potential in Biff’s singing and Graham: When we flew to Paris to sign to play live but couldn’t get all our gear in. asked him to join us. We knew Quinny the deal with Carrere in 1978, it was their A bit scary to do, but we did it in 15 minutes. from early days in Pagan Chorus; he was distributor in the US that said we had to a great player. change the name. Freddie Cannon came What do you remember about playing Donington up from London and we met him at the in 1980? Then you changed your name? Newcastle Station Hotel at 1am after a gig at Biff: I didn’t know what Biff: Yes. Son Of A Bitch was nothing to do The Doggy Club a few weeks later. It took was at the time – it was our first festival. We’d with Sob; it was to fit in with the punk scene. until 5am to come up with the name Saxon. sold 150,000 copies of Wheels Of Steel. We Graham: We did a few shows as Sob, but at just decided to do our [usual] show, and have a gig at Nashville Rooms in London, a guy a great time. I was shit scared! The dressing from Sheffield, Alan Bown, who I think had room was miles away, you had to get driven The Alan Bown Set, suggested we change our from there to the stage, and in front of name to Son Of A Bitch as it would be more 60,000-70,000 people. It was all a bit fitting. This was right in the thick of punk. daunting, but I think we were the band of AND We had the same energy but better playing, the day because we weren’t established like and so we took his advice. the others were. When did you give up the bass? Did Spinal Tap’s tour with you Biff: There was no conscious decision, I had to find inspiration for the movie? a twin-neck at the time, so could have played Biff: I don’t remember… I know he spent bass or guitar. We played with two bassists some time with Steve. We had Motörhead’s for a couple of months, it was alright... well, bus. It wasn’t a sleeper, there were no beds; THE BAND PLAYED ON it was a silly idea! Dobby was a bassist and we stayed in hotels and drove to the gig the I was enjoying the singing, so I just stopped next day, so he probably spent time with Saxon have survived the ups and downs of life as stalwarts playing. I was doing alright as a singer. Steve at the hotel. I know Steve showed him stuff like the stance, playing with one hand. What kind of material were you playing? of British metal, and a recent renaissance has seen them Coast in Graham: Our then-manager Nigel Thomas Biff: Both Steve and Graham, and Paul and ’74,with Biff had connections. He got Ridley Scott to do hit new highs. Vocalist and original axeman myself brought in songs that we worked on Byford seated the Power And The Glory video. He asked us together... Militia Guard, Judgement Day, on our Denim & Leather tour if we minded sacrifice Joe Geesin on the Altar Of The Gods Still Fit To Boogie and Backs To The Biff: The first suggestion for our name was a guy travelling on the road with us for Wall – what later became our first album. Anglo Saxon. I think it’s why there was a week, as this guy was making a film comedy We [Paul and I] were more musical, interest in Germany, because of Saxony. about a band, so we agreed. As it turned out astions of the New Wave of changes, and the pressures of changing earlier sets have seen a 180g coloured vinyl technical, while Graham and Steve were it was Harry Shearer, who nicked Steve British Heavy Metal, it is now 35 musical fashions, all of which contributed to edition by Back On Black. The European more riff-oriented. Your debut LP is considered the first NWOBHM [Dawson]’s image. years since Saxon released their a decline in popularity in the late 80s. But label Night Of The Vinyl Dead has album. Were you aware of any kind of movement debut album. Widely considered this was followed by a serious resurgence at unleashed some very limited pressings too. How influenced were you by the punk explosion? at the time? What Spinal Tap moments of your own did the first true album of the the turn of the century. A multitude of guest appearances too Biff: We weren’t really, not consciously; we Biff: I don’t know. We’d had bits and pieces you have? movement, it was the first of a With guitarist Doug Scarratt, bassist numerous to list here has most recently were more into gigs, and the tracks being in the press, then this two-page spread in Biff: Every band does – we had plenty. I went stringB of classics that featured tracks like of Nibbs Carter and drummer seen Biff front The Scintilla Project on played at The Roundhouse [Camden]. Sounds, saying we were the link between to the movie’s premiere with , Wheels Of Steel, 747 (Strangers In The (recently sidelined by illness) joining Quinn their Hybrid set. There’s also news of punk and metal, and it said The New Wave and I didn’t see anything of us in there – Night), and and Byford, Saxon regained much of their more reissues and a DVD with narration Signing to Carrere, chiefly a disco label back then, Of British Heavy Metal. It wasn’t until we apart from Steve, of course. . lost ground and continue to produce from Rick Wakeman; they never stop. was a brave move. How did it come about? did [second album] Wheels Of Steel, when Graham: I did tell Harry about our show Formed in the late 70s as Son Of A critically acclaimed , and fill venues Here vocalist Biff and original guitarist Biff: Well, we’d sent this demo tape to EMI, Maiden were signed too, that any kind of with Motörhead at Hammersmith when they Bitch, the band featured singer Biff Byford, several times the size of the ones they were Graham take us through the highs and lows but sadly, a deal didn’t happen. If two guys at scene galvanised. had been testing the dry ice and the stage was guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn, playing in the mid-90s. Their differences of their heavy metal thunder. EMI hadn’t left, who knows what would wet. I used to run on from the wings playing bassist Steve Dawson and drummer Pete with Saxon now put to one side, original have happened? To tell the truth we couldn’t Did your friendship with Motörhead help? the A-chord intro to Motorcycle Man, Gill. As Saxon, they soon became part of members Graham and Steve are continue to RC: How did your two earlier bands, Coast and get arrested at the time. We weren’t aware of Biff: It definitely did; they helped us no end slipped flat on my back and carried on a metal scene that included Iron Maiden, tour as Oliver/Dawson Saxon to much Sob, come together? any scene [that Carrere was involved in]; they on tour, opened our eyes, introduced us to playing. My tech Rob Price ran on and Samson, and a host of others, acclaim, earning good reviews. Biff: We knew each other, we played the offered us an advance and a two-album deal, a wider audience. They came to see us live, picked me up and I never stopped playing. their sound characterised (often) by twin The catalogue of reissues and same clubs and pubs. I got a call from them so we took it. we went to see them; great times. We weren’t This ended up in the movie, as did other bits guitars, high-energy catchy riffs and hints compilations is a minefield, but like many [Steve Dawson and Graham Oliver] when Graham: Claude Carrere said that when he jealous of each other. We’re still friends – we from our shows. We met Harry a while ago in of their bluesy or progressive roots. heavy metal bands, Saxon have embraced their band Sob had lost their singer and heard Frozen Rainbow and the guitar solo – were going out with them last January, London, and he remembered the gigs in Like many bands, they’ve been dogged the vinyl revival; new albums receive guitarist. But I was a bassist. So one week which was mine, so I was chuffed – he we’ve played with them before, it’s a great Leicester and Cardiff, and travelling on our by a shifting line-up, management and label a heavy-duty release and many of their later they called back and touted the idea of decided to sign us. Freddie Cannon had just package for fans. bus. He’s written the foreword for our book. 46 Record Collector Record Collector 47 Tracks such as Wheels Of Steel, 747 and Princess How do you feel your sound developed during the Although more commercial, Innocence Is No Studio, Hilversum, Netherlands, and Elton [Broadbent] demo of , You later played with drummers Jorg Michael Of The Night have become like anthems. How do Carrere years? Excuse was a good time for the band? was recording next door. Our producer Gary Nigel [Glockler] and I had been listening to (Stratovarius) and Fritz Randow (Eloy), how did you feel about them now? Biff: Not much at all, really; we just wrote Biff: It did ok sales-wise and we got airplay Lyons had the idea of Elton playing piano Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers, and loved they fit in? Biff: I think they are anthems! There are the same way. We were concentrating on too. The band weren’t as heavy from the on Northern Lady. Gary asked him and how, after the Hammond groove, Ian Paice Biff: Fritz was great, his playing fitted in, some fantastic songs from the time, by us, our writing and we left the production up guitar point of view, but the rest of us Elton replied: “I thought you would never comes in on the cymbal on the opening but he wasn’t a . He started Whitesnake, Iron Maiden. We were all young to the producers. We didn’t have were the same. ask!” and immediately had his piano track. We thought that, along with Biff’s drinking again, which was quite sad. He and naïve, we just wrote songs. Albums two, mainstream producers. The label couldn’t brought from Studio Two to Studio One. idea of the Alex Harvey-type intro, would was a nice guy. We got Jorg in to that one three and four (Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm afford people like Martin Birch and we While you were ecording in 1986, He heard the track one time and after a be great to open the song. album, Lionheart, and tour, but he wasn’t Of The Law, ) are our just ended up using the producers who was that the first time since the band formed that quick run-through, more or less nailed it in This was the first time since the used to playing live. Holy Trinity. I don’t know why they’re so were supplied. you’d played bass, Biff? Haven’t you written songs one take, which was amazing to watch. He early Saxon albums that we really worked popular, but they belong to the audience on the bass since? was a real rocker for sure. It was kinda like as a collective and brought out the best In 2001 you covered ’s In The now. It would be against the ethos if we Wasn’t it the Strong Arm Metal compilation that Biff: Yes. I still play it a lot when writing. a jam. Party ’Till You Puke was done tongue ideas from each other. Paul Quinn remarked Court Of The Crimson King – one of your more didn’t play them. It’s all about the time, not upset your management? I was playing and writing on the bass a few in cheek. It was done in the new way, that my solo on Altar Of The Gods was the audacious covers... just the songs. Us and Maiden were a breath Biff: Yes. They just put that album out weeks ago. It keeps me in touch with my digitally, and moved around, but for the best guitar solo on the album, which was Biff: It was my idea, it was from my and of fresh air. without telling us. Our manager, Nigel musician side, and if I’m writing with Paul most part Elton’s parts went straight down. very pleasing. Paul’s love of prog. Most people cover 21st Thomas, wanted us off Carrere anyway or Doug [Scarratt, current guitarist], and Century Schizoid Man. I love the voice on When Pete Gill left, how did Toyah’s drummer and to go to EMI. He wanted to break Nibbs [Carter, bassist] isn’t around, I pick Destiny marked a low point in comparison, didn’t it? The UK Forever Free album had a different sleeve Crimson King, a lot of young fans thought Nigel Glockler fit in? America. Carrere didn’t pay an advance on up the bass. Biff: There’d been some line-up changes. to the European edition… it was our song. Biff: Pete was acting a bit strange then, the compilation so Nigel said it was time There wasn’t any chemistry in the band and Biff: Yes, it featured biker Space Marine I don’t know what happened. He called the to go. Crusader, our last Carrere album, Is it true that Elton John loved playing on Rock we were on a downward spiral. It was a wake- from the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop war Since drummer Nigel Glockler returned in manager and said he couldn’t do the Denim was distributed by EMI, so EMI was the The Nations? up call; I took control of the band after that, game. It was also licenced for UK release 2005 for his third stint, Saxon have enjoyed And Leather tour. Someone said he’d hurt obvious choice. Biff: He only really played on one track, and we got ourselves back writing together. by Warhammer. Our manager was into a renaissance around the world... his hand. The management knew Nigel, Party ’Til You Puke, which was a good Warcraft and gaming, I think he wanted to Biff: There’s been a resurgence over the last they’d worked with him in Krakatoa. We Why did EMI put you on Parlophone? rock’n’roll number. Northern Lady was After the EMI deal ended, you signed to Virgin blag a load of free figures! seven years, especially in the UK, but we’ve auditioned six drummers and Nigel was the Biff: I have no idea. The story goes that it more of a jam: we sampled him live. He Germany via CBH. How did that come about? worked hard. There’s been lots of changes most dynamic. He had to learn the set in was because Iron Maiden were on EMI. was playing along to the song, the engineer Biff: We had a three-album deal that EMI The 90s saw Saxon become much bigger in with our new manager, we talked about it two days. Pete came to see us at Sheffield, Parlophone was just across the corridor recorded him and we looped it. He’s didn’t renew. We had a break and weren’t Europe and develop a heavier sound. Did they and agreed the only way to get back in the I don’t know what happened; Nigel became – it was a bit more arty. But I really don’t a good lad, Elton. doing a great deal. I was renovating houses go hand in hand? UK was to do small gigs; we played King a full-time member. know why we were put on it. Graham: We were recording in Wisseloord and selling them, and we did a live album. Biff: The heaviness was kinda intentional. Tut’s in Glasgow, for example – the kind of I was living in Lincolnshire and this There were all these European power metal venues we’d played in the early 80s. promoter, Reiner Hansel, drove there, bands writing about battle, swords, and pulled up, and said that Virgin Germany I thought, “Hey, we’re Saxon, we did Since 2007’s , you’ve wanted to sign us, and I said yes. We went Crusader, let’s get back to that.” So we did regularly put five or six tracks from the current back in the studio and it all really started with Dogs Of War, , and it album in your set; when you toured Killing again; Solid Ball Of Rock was a key album. worked. We’d gone too far down the Ground, you only played one or two. Does that rock’n’roll route; needed to get back to our indicate fresh confidence in your material? New bassist Nibbs Carter had settled in by then. roots, we’d lost our heaviness. Biff: Yes. Back then we relied more on the Biff: His first studio album was Solid Ball Of older tracks, we were insecure. That’s Rock, but he’d done a couple of tours with How did Steve Dawson’s and Graham Oliver’s changed now, we’re more confident in us, a couple of live albums. He wasn’t really departure affect the band? writing great tracks. We’re all the same: us, a songwriter back then, but a great musician. Biff: When Graham left we were [in the Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motörhead; It definitely helped settle the band, he process of] reconnecting with our roots. It you’ve got to stop trying to compete with brought a quality to us as a unit. always affects songwriting when someone yourselves, and go with the merit of what integral leaves. Steve and I wrote most of you’re currently doing. A few covers aside, was Bram Tchaikovsky’s Solid together. The Ball Of Rock the only time you deliberately used an chemistry after he left was not good. Over the last seven years your albums have outside writer? Biff: Yes. The studio where we recorded Solid Ball Of Rock was owned by Bram; he SAXON UK Discography Clockwise from left picture: Graham Oliver, 1985; in Jersey 1980 (from second left) Oliver, Byford used to be in The Motors. He said he had and Steve Dawson with air/road crew; Biff and Graham; Oliver, Nigel Glockler and Paul Quinn two songs for us. Solid Ball Of Rock was SINGLES 1979 Carrere SAM 109 Big Teaser/Stallions Of The Highway (12”, promo only)...... £12 a rock’n’roll number, written about Jerry 7/79 Carrere CAR 118 Big Teaser/Stallions Of The Highway (some in p/s) ...... £6/£3 Lee Lewis. Paul and I made it ours: we 11/79 Carrere CAR 129 Backs To The Wall/Militia Guard (some in p/s) ...... £6/£3 1979 Carrere CAR 143 Wheels Of Steel/Stand Up And Be Counted (p/s)...... £5 transposed it into a full-on rock song. I’ve 6/80 Carrere HM 5 Big Teaser/Rainbow Theme/Frozen Rainbow (reissue, p/s)...... £5 always been an Alex Harvey fan and we used 6/80 Carrere HM 6 Backs To The Wall/Militia Guard (reissue, p/s)...... £5 Faith Healer as the template for the intro. 6/80 Carrere CAR 151 747 (Strangers In The Night)/See The Light Shining (p/s)...... £4 6/80 Carrere CAR 151 T 747 (Strangers In The Night)/See The Light Shining (12”, p/s)...... £6 I love the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, 9/80 Carrere CAR 165 Suzie Hold On/Judgement Day (live) (p/s)...... £4 I used to go and see them in the 70s. 9/80 Carrere CAR 165 T Suzie Hold On/Judgement Day (live) (12”, p/s)...... £6 As covers go, our version of 11/80 Carrere CAR 170 /Taking Your Chances (p/s)...... £4 11/80 Carrere CAR 170 T Strong Arm Of The Law/Taking Your Chances (12”, p/s)...... £6 Christopher Cross’ Ride Like The Wind 1981 Carrere SPC 8 Wheels Of Steel/747 (Strangers In The Night) (double A side cassette).£2 [on Destiny] was a good version; the video 4/81 Carrere CAR 180 And The Bands Played On/Hungry Years/Heavy Metal Thunder (p/s)....£3 4/81 Carrere CAR 180 And The Bands Played On/Hungry Years/ on YouTube gets lots of hits. Destiny Heavy Metal Thunder (picture disc)...... £5 didn’t have many great songs of our own. 7/81 Carrere CAR 204 Never Surrender/20,000 Ft (p/s)...... £4 I wrote Requiem about Phil Lynott, but 7/81 Carrere CAR 204 F Never Surrender/20,000 Ft (remix)//Bab-Shoo-Ap/ Street Fighting Gang (double pack, gatefold p/s)...... £6 didn’t want to mention him in the song. 10/81 Carrere CAR 208 Princess Of The Night/Fire In The Sky (p/s)...... £4 Graham wanted to throw in Jimi 4/83 Carrere SAXON 1 Power And The Glory/See The Light Shining (live) Hendrix. From a fan’s point of view, it’s (p/s, some with poster p/s)...... £3/£5 4/83 Carrere SAXON P 1 Power And The Glory/See The Light Shining (live) (picture disc)...... £6 about rock’n’roll – a celebration of all 4/83 Carrere SAXONT 1 Power And The Glory/See The Light Shining (live)/(12”, p/s)...... £5 those we’ve lost. 7/83 Carrere CAR 284 Nightmare/Midas Touch (p/s)...... £3 Graham: When we heard Bram and Micky’s 7/83 Carrere CAR 284 P Nightmare/Midas Touch (picture disc)...... £5 48 Record Collector Record Collector 49 revealed power-metal, prog-metal and older Saxon leanings. Was that intentional? 7/83 Carrere CAR 284 T Nightmare/Midas Touch/747 (Strangers In The Night) (live) 2002 Steamhammer SPV085 74482 HEAVY METAL THUNDER (picture disc LP)...... £15 Biff: Not really. The power-metal comes (12”, p/s, with free patch)...... £7 2002 Steamhammer SPV 085 74481 HEAVY METAL THUNDER (2CD, re-recorded and live)...... £10 from working with European producers; we 2/84 Carrere CAR 301 Sailing To America/A Little Bit Of What You Fancy 2004 Steamhammer 060 23909 LIONHEART (LP, inner sleeve)...... £15 (p/s, also 12” in p/s)...... £3/£5 2004 Steamhammer SPV 085 69692 LIONHEART (CD)...... £8 realised we can do that too, writing about 4/84 Carrere CAR 323 Do It All For You/Just Let Me Rock (p/s)...... £3 2004 Steamhammer SPV 087 69690 LIONHEART (CD, digipak with patch)...... £8 fantasy and swords. I love that about 7/85 Parlophone R 6103 Back On The Streets/Live Fast Die Young (p/s)...... £4 2006 Steamhammer SPV 99982 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED PT III (2CD, digipak) ...... £12 European power-metal. 7/85 Parlophone 12 R 6103 Back On The Streets (extended)/Live Fast Die Young/ 2007 Steamhammer SPV 30477 THE INNER SANCTUM (LP, inner sleeve)...... £15 Back On The Streets (7” version) (12”, p/s)...... £5 2007 Steamhammer SPV 95922 THE INNER SANCTUM (CD)...... £8 1985 Parlophone R 6112 Rock’N’Roll Gypsy/Krakatoa (p/s, some with a poster p/s)...... £5/£3 2007 Steamhammer SPV 95920 THE INNER SANCTUM (CD/DVD, digipak)...... £12 The Unplugged And Strung Up album was in the 1985 Parlophone RP 6112 Rock’N’Roll Gypsy/Krakatoa (picture disc)...... £5 2009 Steamhammer SPV 91711 INTO THE LABYRINTH (2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £18 making for a few years... 1985 Parlophone 12 RP 6112 Rock’N’Roll Gypsy/Krakatoa/Medley – Heavy Metal Thunder/ 2009 Steamhammer SPV 91712 INTO THE LABYRINTH (CD)...... £8 Taking Your Chances/Stand Up And Be Counted/Warrior (12”, p/s)...... £5 2009 Steamhammer SPV 91710 INTO THE LABYRINTH (CD/DVD, digipak)...... £12 Biff: I was undecided about what to do 1986 EMI EMI 5575 Waiting For The Night/Chase The Fade (p/s)...... £3 2011 UDR UDR 0027 CALL TO ARMS (LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 with it. We did a lot of these tracks a few 1986 EMI 12 EMI 5575 Waiting For The Night (Extended)/Chase The Fade/ 2011 UDR UDR 0031 CALL TO ARMS (picture disc LP, stickered PVC sleeve)...... £20 Waiting For The Night (7” version) (12, p/s, some with patch)...... £6/£5 2011 UDR UDR0025 CALL TO ARMS (CD)...... £10 years ago. The first was Coming Home; we 1986 EMI EMI 5587 Rock The Nations/747 (Strangers In The Night) (p/s)...... £5 2011 UDR UDR0028 CALL TO ARMS (2CD, digipak, includes Live At Donington 1980)...... £14 just wanted to showcase the guitar 1986 EMI EMIP 5587 Rock The Nations/747 (Strangers In The Night)/ 2012 UDR UDR 974692 HEAVY METAL THUNDER – LIVE, EAGLES OVER WACKEN differently. We are a blues-oriented band – And The Bands Played On (shaped picture disc)...... £8 (4DVD/CD, 12”, 12” box, flag, certificate, 1,000 only, mail order)...... £60 1986 EMI 12 EMI 5587 Rock The Nations/747 (Strangers In The Night)/ 2012 UDR UDR 0103 HEAVY METAL THUNDER – LIVE, EAGLES OVER WACKEN it’s where we come from, and we wanted to And The Bands Played On (12”, clear vinyl, p/s)...... £7 (3LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £25 try a few things. 1986 EMI EMI 5593 Northern Lady/Everybody Up (p/s)...... £5 2012 UDR UDR 0102 HEAVY METAL THUNDER – LIVE, EAGLES OVER WACKEN (2CD)...... £10 When we recorded Into The Labyrinth, 1986 EMI 12 EMI 5593 Northern Lady/Everybody Up/Dallas 1PM (12”, p/s)...... £6 2012 UDR UDR 0100 HEAVY METAL THUNDER – LIVE, EAGLES OVER WACKEN 2/88 EMI EM 43 Ride Like The Wind/Red Alert (p/s)...... £5 (2CD + DVD, digipak)...... £12 we tried Crusader [orchestrated] and we 2/88 EMI EMP 43 Ride Like The Wind/Red Alert (shaped picture disc)...... £10 3/2013 UDR UDR 0153 SACRIFICE (picture disc LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 really liked it. Some tracks we tried just 2/88 EMI 12 EM 43 Ride Like The Wind/Red Alert/Rock The Nations (live) (12”, p/s)...... £8 3/2013 UDR UDR 0152 SACRIFICE (CD)...... £8 2/88 EMI 12 EM 43 Ride Like The Wind/Red Alert/Rock The Nations (live) (CD)...... £8 3/2013 UDR UDR 0150 SACRIFICE (2CD, gatefold card/book sleeve)...... £12 didn’t work. We did Power And The Glory 1988 EMI EM 54 I Can’t Wait Anymore/Broken Heroes (live) (p/s)...... £4 11/2013 Demon EDSA 5021 LIVE IN GERMANY 1991 (picture disc LP)...... £18 which I didn’t like. We re-recorded some 1988 EMI EMS 54 I Can’t Wait Anymore/Broken Heroes (live) 11/2013 Demon EDSA 5021 LIVE IN GERMANY 1991 (CD)...... £10 tracks at the same session, before (p/s in pouch with poster/discography)...... £6 11/2013 UDR UDR 0284 UNPLUGGED AND STRUNG UP (2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 1988 EMI 12 EM 54 I Can’t Wait Anymore/Broken Heroes (live)/ 11/2013 UDR UDR 0283 UNPLUGGED AND STRUNG UP (CD)...... £10 we did Sacrifice. Gonna Shout (live) (12”, p/s)...... £6 11/2013 UDR UDR 0280 UNPLUGGED AND STRUNG UP (2CD, digipak, 1991 Virgin Germany DINS 105 Requiem (We Will Remember) (Single Version)/ includes Heavy Metal Thunder)...... £14 Will you play any of these arrangements live? Altar Of The Gods (p/s)...... £5 3/2014 UDR UDR 0310 ST GEORGE’S DAY SACRIFICE LIVE IN MANCHESTER (2CD)...... £12 1991 Virgin Germany DINSY 105 Requiem (We Will Remember)/Altar Of The Gods Biff: We’re thinking about something, (shaped picture disc)...... £8 Selected REISSUES but we can’t really say, as nothing’s 1991 Virgin Germany DINST 105 Requiem (We Will Remember) (Single Version)/ 2002 Connoisseur Collection Altar Of The Gods/Requiem (We Will Remember) (Album Version)/ VDOPCD 352 ROCK’N’ROLL GYPSIES (CD, extra tracks)...... £12 confirmed. We’d like Rick Wakeman to Reeperbahn Stomp (12”, p/s)...... £8 2004 Angel Air SJPCD 070 DIAMONDS AND NUGGETS play with us, maybe at Wacken. We 1991 Virgin Germany DINSD 105 Requiem (We Will Remember) (Single Version)/ (CD of 2000 rarities compilation, extra tracks)...... £8 might do a few bits, such as a half-and-half Altar Of The Gods/Requiem (We Will Remember) (Album Version)/ 2005 Back On Black BOBV 009 PD SAXON (picture disc LP)...... £15 Reeperbahn Stomp (CD single)...... £10 2005 Back On Black BOBV 010 PD WHEELS OF STEEL (picture disc LP)...... £15 rock’n’roll and orchestral set at some time 1993 Warhammer WARCS 8 Iron Wheels/Forever Free (12”, p/s) ...... £12 2005 Back On Black BOBV 011 PD STRONG ARM OF THE LAW (picture disc LP)...... £15 in the near future. 1993 Warhammer WARSG 8 Iron Wheels/Forever Free (CD, card sleeve, lists WARCS 8 on disc)...... £12 2005 Back On Black BOBV 301 LP WHEELS OF STEEL (picture disc 2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 1995 Virgin CMBH VGP 000018 Dogs Of War/Hold On (CD, printed in Holland)...... £12 2005 Back On Black BOBV 302 LP STRONG ARM OF THE LAW (picture disc 2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 1997 Virgin CMBH AVMRFP Absent Friends (1 track CD)...... £15 2006 EMI 0946 3 62874 2 3 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (remastered CD, extra tracks)...... £10 Is there much unreleased material? 2004 Steamhammer SPV 2006 Steamhammer 69698 LIONHEART (CD/DVD, digipak in box)...... £15 Biff: I think Graham Oliver’s released most 055 69923 CDS-E Beyond The Grave (radio edit)/Beyond The Grave 2007 SPV SPV74192 CD (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 (album version)/Beyond The Grave (video) (Germany, CD)...... £15 2008 Steamhammer SPV 21172 CD THE EAGLE HAS LANDED Pt II (2CD)...... £10 of it! There’s not much left over in the first 2007 Steamhammer SPV 98063 CDS I’ve Got To Rock To Stay Alive/Going Nowhere Fast 2009 EMI 50999 6 99341 2 4 POWER AND THE GLORY (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 place. We spend more time writing than (Germany, CD, with Lemmy and )...... £12 2009 EMI 6 99342 2 3 CRUSADER (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 actually recording. 2007 Steamhammer SPV 96003 CDS If I Was You (Single Version)/If I Was You (Album Version)/ 2009 EMI 694442 5 STRONG ARM OF THE LAW (remastered CD, extra tracks)...... £10 747 (Strangers In The Night) (UK CD)...... £12 2009 EMI 6944432 6 SAXON (remastered CD, extra tracks)...... £10 Graham: Most of that Angel Air stuff, 2008 Steamhammer SPV 305903 CDS Live To Rock/Live To Rock (Rock Club version)/Coming Home 2009 EMI 694445 2 4 WHEELS OF STEEL (remastered CD, extra tracks)...... £10 Peter Purnell had the licence and brought it (Bottleneck Version) (Germany, CD)...... £8 2009 EMI 699333 2 5 DENIM AND LEATHER (remastered CD, extra tracks)...... £10 2010 EMI 50999 6 84337 2 7 DESTINY (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 to my attention. We all consented. I think ORIGINAL ALBUMS 2010 EMI 6 84333 2 1 INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 Pete Gill had In The Raw licenced, but 1979 Carrere CAL 110 SAXON (LP)...... £6 2010 EMI 6 84344 2 7 ROCK THE NATIONS (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 I’m not certain. Steve and I went through 1980 Carrere CAL 115 WHEELS OF STEEL (LP)...... £6 2011 Back On Black BOBV 252 LP THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (2LP, red vinyl, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 1980 Carrere CAL 120 STRONG ARM OF THE LAW (LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £6 2012 Back On Black BOBV 288 LP DENIM AND LEATHER (picture disc 2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £15 most of what was at Abbey Road for the 1981 Carrere CAL 128 DENIM AND LEATHER (LP)...... £8 2012 Back On Black BOBV 297 LP INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE bonuses on the EMI remasters. I think all 1982 Carrere CAL 137 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (LP)...... £6 (2LP, gatefold sleeve, extra tracks)...... £15 1982 Carrere CALP 137 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (picture disc LP)...... £15 2012 Back On Black BOBV 298 LP POWER AND THE GLORY (LP, purple vinyl)...... £15 the best bits are on the relevant releases but 1983 Carrere CAL 147 POWER AND THE GLORY (LP)...... £6 2012 Back on Black BOBV 299 LP ROCK THE NATIONS (2LP, coloured vinyl, I do recall Biff singing Mule Train 1983 Carrere CALP 147 POWER AND THE GLORY (picture disc LP)...... £15 gatefold sleeve, extra tracks)...... £15 unaccompanied from the Wheels Of Steel 1984 Carrere CAL 200 CRUSADER (LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £7 2012 Back On Black BOBV 300 LP CRUSADER (LP, clear vinyl)...... £15 1984 Carrere CALP 200 CRUSADER (picture disc LP)...... £15 2013 Demon DEMREC 04 SOLID BALL OF ROCK (LP, inner sleeve, extra tracks)...... £12 outtakes, and Radio Clyde recorded shows 1984 Carrere International 817 849-2 CRUSADER (CD)...... £10 2013 Demon EDS 5017 SOLID BALL OF ROCK (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 at the Glasgow Apollo. We did a belting 1985 Parlophone SAXON 2 INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE (LP, inner sleeve) ...... £7 2013 Demon DEMREC 07 DOGS OF WAR (LP, picture disc, 500 only)...... £15 show for the King Biscuit Flour Hour that 1985 Parlophone SAXONP 2 INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE (picture disc LP)...... £15 2013 Demon EDS 5019 DOGS OF WAR (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 1986 EMI EMC 3515 ROCK THE NATIONS (LP)...... £7 2013 Demon EDSA 5018 FOREVER FREE (CD, extra tracks)...... £10 would still be in their vaults. 1986 EMI CDP 7 46371 2 ROCK THE NATIONS (CD)...... £10 1988 EMI EMC 3543 DESTINY (LP)...... £7 OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON 11/00 Phoenix Music PHMUKCD 001 RE://LANDED (CD)...... £10 Sacrifice and Call To Arms both had tracks 1988 EMI CDP 7 90066 2 DESTINY (CD)...... £10 1989 Roadrunner RR 9416 1 ROCK’N’ROLL GYPSIES (LP)...... £6 2002 Angel Air NJPDVD 603 ROCK HAS LANDED – IT’S ALIVE (DVD)...... £8 released on iTunes only; will they ever get 1989 Roadrunner RR 9416 2 ROCK’N’ROLL GYPSIES (CD)...... £8 2003 Angel Air SJDCD 130 IT’S ALIVE (CD)...... £8 a physical release? 1990 Essential ESDLP 132 GREATEST HITS LIVE (2LP, gatefold sleeve)...... £10 2012 Angel Air SJPCD 379 MOTORBIKER (CD)...... £8 1990 Essential ESDCD 132 GREATEST HITS LIVE (CD)...... £10 8/14 Angel Air SJPCD 446 BLOOD AND THUNDER LIVE (CD)...... £10 Biff: That’s up to the record company. It 1990 Virgin Germany LPVIR 4 SOLID BALL OF ROCK (LP, innersleeve)...... £10 SON OF A BITCH 1990 Virgin Germany CDVIR 4 SOLID BALL OF ROCK (CD)...... £10 was in the contract. So we gave them the 1996 Henghest, no cat no Treacherous Times/Victim You (CD promo)...... £10 1993 Warhammer WARLP 10 (0867) FOREVER FREE (LP)...... £20 worst… no, worst is the wrong word… the 1996 IRS 431012 VICTIM YOU (CD)...... £12 1993 Warhammer WARCD 10 (0868) FOREVER FREE (CD, poster insert)...... £20 2001 Angel Air SJPCD 079 VICTIM YOU (reissue CD, extra tracks)...... £8 tracks least liked by the band. One of them 1995 Virgin Germany 7243 83998326 DOGS OF WAR (CD)...... £10 was a close call. 1996 Virgin/CBH 841630 2 THE EAGLE HAS LANDED Pt II (2CD)...... £12 Graham OLIVER 1997 CBM/SPV 085 18762 UNLEASH THE BEAST (CD)...... £12 9/01 Angel Air RAJP 901 Born To Rock’n’Roll (edit)/Annabel/ 1998 BBC Music 7243 497772 2 4 BBC SESSIONS/LIVE AT READING FESTIVAL 1986 (CD)...... £8 Born To Rock’n’Roll (album version) (CD single)...... £4 What’s next for Saxon? 1999 IRS IRSCD 993.011 LIVE AT DONNINGTON 1980 (CD)...... £8 9/01 Angel Air SJPCD 085 END OF AN ERA (CD)...... £8 Biff: We’re writing for a new album at the 1999 Steamhammer SPV085 21502 METALHEAD (CD, initially jewel case in card box)...... £15/£10 2000 Zoom Club ZCRCD 43 LIVE IN THE RAW 1981 (CD)...... £8 Steve DAWSON moment, and I’m working on a solo album. 2001 Steamhammer SPV085 72562 KILLING GROUND (CD)...... £8 07/02 Angel Air SJPCD 102 PANDEMONIUM CIRCUS (CD)...... £8 I don’t know which will happen first. I don’t 2001 Steamhammer SPV089 72560 KILLING GROUND (2CD, digipak, Nigel GLOCKLER/Doug SCARRATT know how different it’ll be – either much bonus disc of Classics Rerecorded)...... £12 2002 Classic Rock Prodns CRP 1052 LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM (2CD)...... £8 2001 MAD MEN AND ENGLISH DOGS (CD)...... £15 heavier or more melodic, I don’t know. It’ll either be like Journey or ! RC 50 Record Collector Record Collector 51