Anybody remotely interested in Judas Priest or the birth of heavy metal needs to read this. There's nobody more qualified to take you along for the ride than Al Atkins, original singer for the Birmingham metal band Judas Priest. Atkins talks about the band's origins and what it was like being a part of the scene when brilliant bands like Cream and amazing musicians like John Bonham were creating their musical identities.
As much as Atkins talks about the formation of Priest, he also lays out what the period was like with terrific anecdotal memories. Here you can read about the band's earliest recordings, their first gigs supporting bands like Black Sabbath, Status Quo, and Slade, and his ultimate departure in May 1973.
The authors have gathered interviews with other Priest members to create a fully fleshed overview of the Brummy band's rise to metal greatness. There are also some illuminating photos from Atkins's own collection.