Saxon never made it big like the others - why?

[veritas]

They actually were on the verge of becoming "bigger" in the United States right around 1983: they were the middle act of the Iron Maiden arena tour (Fastway) opened, and they KILLED on that tour, so much so they were kicked off the tour because of it (according to Biff, so who knows, but it may not be total bullshit becuase they were really great live on that tour.). At the same time, the Power and the Glory was an excellent albums (and the earlier ones were good).



The problems were, in no particular order:

1. Shitty record company that not only did very little promotion but then pushed them to get more commercial looking and sounding -- and this was a DISASTER because they lost most of their hard rock base and gained ZERO women or other fans
2. Lack of that one catchy or hooky song (or video)
3. Terrible image (although this is somewhat overrated -- Metallica didn't have a great look, but stuck to their guns and gained a loyal, growing following way before the black album)

As of 1984, they could fill 3,000 seaters in major markets headlining on Crusader tour.
I'm not saying they could ever have grown to be Iron Maiden status, but I do think if they had stuck to Power & Glory type albums, toured, and continued they could have had a more successful career here (and elsewhere).

They basically pulled an Accept.

[Tyketto Meniketti]

LA Guns (Phil, really) made the song "Wheels of Steel" sound cool.

[alexleehooker]

Way more successful in the UK than majority of US mtv lipstick bands worshipped on this site, who didn’t even chart.
There’s probably room for 2 major bands from any movement, like Coke,Pepsi then the rest. There’s probably room Nwobhm gave us iron maiden and def Leppard who went internationally huge, then behind that was Saxon, then tygers and the rest. Of course creatively it gave us much more - but economically maiden and Leppard were the ones picked out for the major label deals.

[Sleek]

[HueyRamone]

No, I know he looked cool, but there was a reason the music didnt translate across the pond, I guess...

[HueyRamone]

They actually were on the verge of becoming "bigger" in the United States right around 1983: they were the middle act of the Iron Maiden arena tour (Fastway) opened, and they KILLED on that tour, so much so they were kicked off the tour because of it (according to Biff, so who knows, but it may not be total bullshit becuase they were really great live on that tour.).

That was my first concert and Biff did say stuff from stage like "Ah, you liked that? I know a lot of you here tonight are here to see us", which may have pissed off Maiden. My dad who took me didnt like Biff's cockiness and that's why i remember it.

3. Terrible image (although this is somewhat overrated -- Metallica didn't have a great look, but stuck to their guns and gained a loyal, growing following way before the black album)

I feel like i've said it here recently, I would dispute that this was not a good look. It may not have been a pretty boy look, but most metalheads thought it was cool as fuck

[Wiseacre]

No, I know he looked cool, but there was a reason the music didnt translate across the pond, I guess...

someone bought a cock ring that year

[Sleek]

Yeah, there is a way to be "not pretty-boy" but still look cool. Bands like (early) Metallica or Motorhead were masters at that.

Saxon tho, just always looked like idiots whether they were going for pretty or not.

Unpretty idiots;



Idiots looking to be pretty:

[VinnieVincentsVag]

They’ve always sounded great live.

[veritas]

They actually were on the verge of becoming "bigger" in the United States right around 1983: they were the middle act of the Iron Maiden arena tour (Fastway) opened, and they KILLED on that tour, so much so they were kicked off the tour because of it (according to Biff, so who knows, but it may not be total bullshit becuase they were really great live on that tour.).

That was my first concert and Biff did say stuff from stage like "Ah, you liked that? I know a lot of you here tonight are here to see us", which may have pissed off Maiden. My dad who took me didnt like Biff's cockiness and that's why i remember it.

Ok, that makes sense. I saw them very earlier in the tour schedule and although Biff was very confident, he wasn't saying stuff like that yet. I can see why they got thrown off.
But at that point, I remember thinking "Saxon could become a decently big metal" because Power and the Glory was really good and their live show was stellar.
And then came Crusader and the wretched Innocence album.