classic by fans and critics alike, and the band were apparently on their way. The album was immediately heralded as a N.W.O.B.H.M. The band would then capitalize on this exposure with its watershed sophomore effort, 1980's Wheels of Steel, which boasted a much more suitable, heavier, metallic production that finally did new songs (and future standards) like "Motorcycle Man," "747 (Strangers in the Night)," and the title track proper justice. Saxon's resulting, eponymous debut of 1979 was marred by a lightweight production job, but the seasoned band still managed to build a strong following by touring Britain inexorably, supporting everyone from Motörhead to Nazareth. Initially calling themselves Son of a Bitch, they eventually settled on the subtler Saxon moniker, but, like many aspiring British heavy metal bands of the day, the quintet found it extremely difficult to obtain a record deal in post-punk England, finally signing with the French Carrere Records. Saxon was formed from the fusion of two bands, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in 1977 by vocalist Peter "Biff" Byford, guitarists Graham Oliver, and Paul Quinn, bassist Steve Dawson, and drummer Pete Gill - all of whom had been playing professionally or semi-professionally since as early as 1970. Internal strife also severely stunted the band's momentum toward the end of the '80s, yet Saxon somehow persevered, recording and performing consistently into the 21st century, and ultimately attaining a semblance of second-tier respectability from the loyal heavy metal community, particularly in mainland Europe. Saxon was one of the early leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, alongside Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, even outdistancing them at the onset, only to see their career slide into comparative obscurity within a few years due to a series of bad decisions and bad breaks.
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