Saxon
Though Saxon’s origins were undeniably humble, the band made some of the finest heavy metal of the 1980s and beyond, particularly during the heady years of 1980 and 1981, a timeframe during which they released three near-perfect albums in quick succession, as well as touring with their good friends Motörhead and appearing at the inaugural Monsters Of Rock Festival at Castle Donington, an experience so joyous and meaningful that they felt compelled to immortalize it via the Top 20 hit ‘The Bands Played On’ (“See the people, feel the power/There was sixty thousand there”).