Al Atkins
Encyclopedia
Alan John "Al" Atkins (born 11 October 1947, Stone Cross, West Bromwich
, Birmingham
, England
) is an English
heavy metal
vocalist, perhaps best known for his association with Judas Priest
. He began his musical career in 1964, singing in a succession of blues rock outfits before forming a band in September 1969, named Judas Priest (named after the Bob Dylan
song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest
"). Featuring a musical direction unrelated to the future metal band, this band lasted until April 1970, developing a small following in Birmingham before splitting up over creative differences.
By this time, bands such as Led Zeppelin
and Black Sabbath
were emerging, and Atkins was interested in pursuing a similar direction. Fellow Birmingham musicians K.K. Downing, Ian Hill
and John Ellis, who were in a band called Freight (April-October 1970) had similar musical interests, and teamed up with Atkins to form a new band. Atkins did not like the name Freight, so he suggested they be called Judas Priest, as he had rights to the name. After gaining a following in Birmingham, the Atkins-led Priest recorded a demo in 1971, which attracted the attention of Tony Iommi
's management but failed to endear them with any of London's major record labels. Though the gigs began to improve, the band also had to contend with higher overhead, and no record deal was in sight.
As Atkins had a young daughter to support, he was forced to leave Priest in May 1973 in favor of a day job. He was replaced by Rob Halford
, who found himself singing many songs that were originally written by Atkins. Consequently, the album Rocka Rolla
gives a portrait of Atkins' original vision for the band. Atkins eventually formed another band, 'Lion' and went solo after it dissolved. Atkins has retained close ties to his former Priest bandmates, who assisted him on Victim of Changes, which featured re-recorded versions of songs he had written in the early 1970s. He continues to record with his band Holy Rage.
A press release dated 21 May 2011 stated that Atkins would be contributing session vocals for the heavy metal opera project, Lyraka.
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
vocalist, perhaps best known for his association with Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. He began his musical career in 1964, singing in a succession of blues rock outfits before forming a band in September 1969, named Judas Priest (named after the Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest
The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest
"The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" is a song on Bob Dylan's 1967 album John Wesley Harding. He has performed the song live in 1987 , 1988, and 2000....
"). Featuring a musical direction unrelated to the future metal band, this band lasted until April 1970, developing a small following in Birmingham before splitting up over creative differences.
By this time, bands such as Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
were emerging, and Atkins was interested in pursuing a similar direction. Fellow Birmingham musicians K.K. Downing, Ian Hill
Ian Hill
Ian Hill is a founding member and bassist for the Birmingham-based Grammy award winning heavy metal band, Judas Priest....
and John Ellis, who were in a band called Freight (April-October 1970) had similar musical interests, and teamed up with Atkins to form a new band. Atkins did not like the name Freight, so he suggested they be called Judas Priest, as he had rights to the name. After gaining a following in Birmingham, the Atkins-led Priest recorded a demo in 1971, which attracted the attention of Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
's management but failed to endear them with any of London's major record labels. Though the gigs began to improve, the band also had to contend with higher overhead, and no record deal was in sight.
As Atkins had a young daughter to support, he was forced to leave Priest in May 1973 in favor of a day job. He was replaced by Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
, who found himself singing many songs that were originally written by Atkins. Consequently, the album Rocka Rolla
Rocka Rolla
Rocka Rolla is the debut album by the British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1974. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath's first three albums....
gives a portrait of Atkins' original vision for the band. Atkins eventually formed another band, 'Lion' and went solo after it dissolved. Atkins has retained close ties to his former Priest bandmates, who assisted him on Victim of Changes, which featured re-recorded versions of songs he had written in the early 1970s. He continues to record with his band Holy Rage.
A press release dated 21 May 2011 stated that Atkins would be contributing session vocals for the heavy metal opera project, Lyraka.
Solo
- Judgement Day (1990)
- Dreams of Avalon (1992)
- Heavy Thoughts (1994)
- Victim of Changes (1998)
- Demon Deceiver (2007)
- Demon Deceiver... Plus (Re-release with two bonus tracks, 2010)