Barnsley, England
NWOBHM
Last update/review:
February 6, 2024
Saxon
Saxon began life as Son Of A Bitch, formed by Graham Oliver
and Steve Dawson in the late 70's.
Biff Byford and Paul Quinn came over from another band, and
when Pete Gill signed up, the classic lineup was born.
They changed name to Saxon right before their first album,
and by the time of
Wheels Of Steel they were regarded as one
the leaders of the fledgling NWOBHM movement.
Though the lineup has changed over the years, their blue-collar
approach to their music has won them long-standing fan appeal
that remains to this day in their native England.
The four albums released in their prime (
Wheels Of Steel through
Power And The Glory ) are regarded as classics in the genre.
An legal battle ensued between the current lineup (led by
original members Byford and Quinn) and former members Oliver and
Dawson, over the rights to the name Saxon.
Some time after leaving Saxon, Oliver and Dawson wished to form
a new band to continue the old Saxon tradition that they believed
had diminished in recent times.
Originally that new band took the old Saxon name
( ),
releasing an album Victim You in 1996.
They then decided they wanted the Saxon name for themselves, and
a legal battle ensued.
A final court settlement was reached in October 2003, awarding
naming rights to Biff's group, with the other faction allowed to
continue as Oliver Dawson Saxon.
Saxon themselves march on, releasing a 2004 album, Lionheart ,
featuring tireless drummer Jörg Michael.
More recently, the band announced the return of drummer Nigel Glockner.
Current Members
Biff Byford
vocals
Doug Scarratt
guitars
Brian Tatler
guitars (Diamond Head )
Nibbs Carter
bass (ex-Fastway )
Nigel Glockler
drums
Former Members/Guests
Paul Quinn
guitars
Graham Oliver
guitars (Oliver/Dawson Saxon )
Steve Dawson
bass (ex-Oliver/Dawson Saxon )
Paul Johnson
bass (Demon )
Pete Gill
drums (ex-Motorhead , ex-Oliver/Dawson Saxon )
Nigel Durham
drums (ex-Oliver/Dawson Saxon )
Fritz Randow
drums (ex-Sinner , ex-Victory )
Jörg Michael
drums (ex-Grave Digger , ex-Headhunter , ex-House Of Spirits , ex-Mekong Delta , ex-Axel Rudi Pell , ex-Rage , ex-Running Wild , ex-Schwarzarbeit , ex-Stratovarius , ex-Unleashed Power )
Discography
Studio
Live
Compilation
Video
Saxon
1979
Carrerre
Rainbow Theme
Frozen Rainbow
Big Teaser
Judgement Day
Stallions Of The Highway
Backs To The Wall
Still Fit To Boogie
Militia Guard
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Pete Gill
Wheels Of Steel
1980
Carrerre
Motorcycle Man
Stand Up And Be Counted
747 (Strangers In The Night)
Wheels Of Steel
Freeway Mad
See The Light Shining
Street Fighting Gang
Suzie Hold On
Machine Gun
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Pete Gill
1980 Readers' Album
#7
Strong Arm Of The Law
1980
Carrerre
Heavy Metal Thunder
To Hell And Back Again
Strong Arm Of The Law
Taking Your Chances
20,000 Ft
Hungry Years
Sixth Form Girls
Dallas 1PM
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Pete Gill
1980 Readers' Album
#8
Denim And Leather
1981
Carrerre
Princess Of The Night
Never Surrender*
Out Of Control
Rough And Ready
Play It Loud
And The Bands Played On*
Midnight Rider
Fire In The Sky
Denim And Leather
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Pete Gill
The Eagle Has Landed
LIVE
1982
Carrerre
Motorcycle Man
747
Princess Of The Night
Strong Arm Of The Law
Heavy Metal Thunder
20,000 Ft
Wheels Of Steel
Never Surrender
Fire In The Sky
Machine Gun
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Nigel Glockler
Power And The Glory
1983
Carrerre
Power And The Glory
Redline
Warrior
Nightmare
This Town Rocks
Watching The Sky
Midas Touch
The Eagle Has Landed
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Nigel Glockler
Strong Arm Metal
COMPILATION
1984
Crusader
1984
Carrerre
The Crusader Prelude
Crusader
A Little Bit Of What You Fancy
Sailing To America
Set Me Free
Just Let Me Rock
Bad Boys
Do It All For You
Rock City
Run For Your Lives
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Nigel Glockler
Innocence Is No Excuse
1985
Capitol
Rockin' Again
Call Of The Wild
Back On The Streets
Devil Rides Out
Rock N' Roll Gypsy
Broken Heroes
Gonna Shout
Everybody Up
Raise Some Hell
Give It Everything You've Got
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Steve Dawson
Nigel Glockler
Rock The Nations
1986
Capitol
Rock The Nations
Battle Cry
Waiting For The Night
We Came Here To Rock
You Ain't No Angel
Running Hot
Party Til You Puke
Empty Promises
Northern Lady
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Paul Johnson
Nigel Glockler
The Best
COMPILATION
1987
Anthology
COMPILATION
1988
Destiny
1988
Enigma
Ride Like The Wind
Where The Lightning Strikes
I Can't Wait Anymore
Calm Before The Storm
S.O.S.
Song For Emma
For Whom The Bell Tolls
We Are Strong
Jericho Siren
Red Alert
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Paul Johnson
Nigel Durham
Rock'n'Roll Gypsies
LIVE
1989
Enigma
Power And The Glory
And The Bands Played On
Rock The Nations
Dallas 1PM
Broken Heroes
Battle Cry
Rock N' Roll Gypsy
Northern Lady
I Can't Wait Anymore
This Town Rocks
The Eagle Has Landed
Just Let Me Rock
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Back On The Street
COMPILATION
1990
Best Of Saxon
COMPILATION
1991
Solid Ball Of Rock
1991
Charisma
Solid Ball Of Rock
Altar Of The Gods
Requiem (We Will Remember)
Lights In The Sky
I Just Can't Get Enough
Baptism Of Fire
Ain't Gonna Take It
I'm On Fire
Overture In B-Minor/Refugee
Bavarian Rhapsody
Crash Dive
Requiem
Reeperbahn Stomp
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Greatest Hits Live!
LIVE
1991
Grand Slamm
Opening Theme
Heavy Metal Thunder
Rock N' Roll Gypsy
And The Bands Played On
20,000 Ft
Ride Like The Wind
Motorcycle Man
747
See The Light Shinin'
Frozen Rainbow
Princess Of The Night
Wheels Of Steel
Denim And Leather
Crusader
Rockin' Again
Back On The Streets
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
1991 Readers' Album
#37
Forever Free
1993
Mayhem
Forever Free
Hole In The Sky
Just Wanna Make Love To You
Get Down And Dirty
Iron Wheels
One Step Away
Can't Stop Rockin'
Nighthunter
Grind
Cloud Nine
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
The Best Of Saxon
1994
Griffin
Dogs Of War
1995
Mayhem
Dogs Of War
Burning Wheels
Don't Worry
Big Twin Rolling
Hold On
The Great White Buffalo
Demolition Alley
Walking Through Tokyo
Give It All Away
Yesterday's Gone
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Graham Oliver
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
The Eagle Has Landed II
LIVE
1996
CBH
Intro/Warlord
Dogs Of War
Forever Free
Requiem (We Will Remember)
Crusader
Lights In The Sky
Iron Wheels
Ain't Gonna Take It
Crash Dive
Refugee
Solid Ball Of Rock
The Great White Buffalo
The Eagle Has Landed
Princess Of The Night
Can't Stop Rockin'
Denim And Leather
Wheels Of Steel-Demolition Alley
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Unleash The Beast
1997
Virgin
Gothic Dreams
Unleash The Beast
Terminal Velocity
Circle Of Light
The Thin Red Line
Ministry Of Fools
The Preacher
Bloodletter
Cut Out The Disease
Absent Friends
All Hell Breaking Loose
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
1997 Readers' Album
#27
Metalhead
1999
Steamhammer/SPV
Intro
Metalhead
Are We Travellers In Time
Conquistador
What Goes Around
Song Of Evil
All Guns Blazing
Prisoner
Piss Off
Watching You
Sea Of Life
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Fritz Randow
1999 Readers' Album
#78
Killing Ground
2001
Steamhammer/SPV
Prelude To War
Killing Ground
Court Of The Crimson King
Coming Home
Till Hell Freezes Over
Dragon's Lair -
You Don't Know What You've Got
Deeds Of Glory
Running For The Border
Shadows On The Wall
Rock Is Our Life
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Fritz Randow
Classic Rock Legends
VIDEO
2002
Live Innocence / The Power And The Glory
VIDEO
2003
The Saxon Chronicles
VIDEO
2003
Lionheart
2004
Steamhammer/SPV
Witchfinder General
Man And Machine
The Return
Lionheart
Beyond the Grave
Justice
To live by the Sword
Jack Tars
English Man´o`war
Searching for Atlantis
Flying on the Edge
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Jörg Michael
2004 Readers' Album
#47
The Eagle Has Landed III
LIVE
2006
Steamhammer/SPV
This Town Rocks
Backs To The Wall
Redline
Stand Up And Be Counted
Never Surrender
Frozen Rainbow
Suzie Hold On
Play It Loud
Warrior
See The Lights Shining
To Hell And Back Again
Stallions Of The Highway
Wheels Of Steel
And The Bands Played On
Crusader
The Return
Lionheart
Man & Machine
Beyond The Grave
Searching For Atlantis
To Live By The Sword Pt. I
Unleash The Beast
To Live By The Sword Pt. II
Flying On The Edge
Jack Tars
English Man 'O' War
Court Of The Crimson King
Broken Heroes
Dragon's Lair
Rock Is Our Live
Travellers Time
Solid Ball Of Rock
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Jörg Michael
The Inner Sanctum
2006
Steamhammer/SPV
State Of Grace
Need For Speed
Let Me Feel Your Power
Red Star Falling
I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)
If I Was You
Going Nowhere Fast
Ashes To Ashes
Empire Rising
Atilla The Hun
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Transmissions (Live At Nottingham Rock City 1990)
LIVE
2007
Into The Labyrinth
2009
Steamhammer/SPV
Battalions Of Steel
Live To Rock
Demon Sweeney Todd
The Letter
Valley Of The Kings
Slow Lane Blues
Crime Of Passion
Premonition in D Minor
Voice
Protect Yourselves
Hellcat
Come Rock Of Ages (The Circle Is Complete)
Coming Home (Bottleneck Version)
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
2009 Readers' Album
#26
Call To Arms
2011
Militia Guard
Heavy Metal Thunder - Live - Eagles Over Wacken
2012
Militia Guard
Battalions of Steel
Let Me Feel Your Power
Lion Heart
Strong Arm of the Law
Killing Ground
Metalhead
Wheels of Steel
Unleash the Beast
Dogs of War
Rockn Roll Gipsy
Rock the Nations
Motorcycle Man
Forever Free
Solid Ball of Rock
Crusader
The Power and the Glory
Princess of the Night
Heavy Metal Thunder
Live to Rock
747 (Strangers in the Night)
Stallions of the Highway
Denim and Leather
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
2012 Readers' Album
#60
Sacrifice
2013
UDR
Procession
Sacrifice
Made In Belfast
Warriors Of The Road
Guardians Of The Tomb
Stand Up And Fight
Walking The Steel
Night Of The Wolf
Wheels Of Terror
Standing In A Queue
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
2013 Readers' Album
#16
St. George's Day Sacrifice - Live In Manchester
2014
Sacrifice
Wheels Of Terror
Power And The Glory
Made In Belfast
Rock 'N' Roll Gypsy
And The Bands Played On
I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive)
Night Of The Wolf
Conquistador
Broken Heroes
Guardians Of The Tomb
Never Surrender
Ride Like The Wind
Crusader
Stand Up And Fight
Dallas 1 PM
747 (Strangers In The Night)
Wheels Of Steel
Strong Arm Of The Law
Denim And Leather
Princess Of The Night
2014 Readers' Album
#40
Warriors Of The Road
VIDEO
2014
Battering Ram
2015
UDR
Battering Ram
The Devil's Footprint
Queen Of Hearts
Destroyer
Hard And Fast
Eye Of The Storm
Stand Your Ground
Top Of The World
To The End
Kingdom Of The Cross
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
2015 Readers' Album
#16
Thunderbolt
2018
Militia Guard
Olympus Rising
Thunderbolt
The Secret Of Flight
Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz)
They Played Rock And Roll
Predator
Sons Of Odin
Sniper
A Wizard's Tale
Speed Merchants
Roadie's Song
Nosferatu (Raw Version)
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
2018 Readers' Album
#13
Inspirations
COVERS
2021
Silver Lining
Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones cover)
Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
Paperback Writer (The Beatles cover)
Evil Woman (Crow cover)
Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix cover)
Bomber (Motörhead cover)
Speed King (Deep Purple cover)
The Rocker (Thin Lizzy cover)
Hold the Line (Toto cover)
Problem Child (AC/DC cover)
See My Friends (The Kinks cover)
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Carpe Diem
2022
Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)
Age of Steam
The Pilgrimage
Dambusters
Remember the Fallen
Super Nova
Lady in Gray
All for One
Black Is the Night
Living on the Limit
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
More Inspirations
COVERS
2023
Silver Lining
We¿ve Gotta Get Out of This Place (The Animals cover)
The Faith Healer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band cover)
From the Inside (Alice Cooper cover)
Chevrolet (ZZ Top cover)
Substitute (The Who cover)
Gypsy (Uriah Heep cover)
Man on the Silver Mountain (Rainbow cover)
Detroit Rock City (Kiss cover)
Razamanaz (Nazareth cover)
Tales of Brave Ulysses (Cream cover)
Biff Byford
Paul Quinn
Doug Scarratt
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler
Hell, Fire And Damnation
2024
Silver Lining
The Prophecy
Hell, Fire and Damnation
Madame Guillotine
Fire and Steel
There's Something in Roswell
Kubla Khan and the Merchant of Venice
Pirates of the Airwaves
1066
Witches of Salem
Super Charger
Biff Byford
Doug Scarratt
Brian Tatler
Nibbs Carter
Nigel Glockler