Although conspicuous by his absence during the 1970s and 1980s, singer Al Atkins had in his own way made his mark upon its origins as founder member of JUDAS PRIEST. Co-writer of the PRIEST stage classic 'Victim Of Changes' it was to be after a lengthy hiatus that Atkins was to return to the scene.

Atkins career started from his early teens when he was employed as a drummer for many Midlands acts including THE REACTION. Graduating to lead vocals his first port of call in 1966 was THE BITTA SWEET together with bassist Bruno Stapenhill, guitarists Albert Hinton and Brian Fieldhouse and drummer Lawrence 'Lossa' Farley. In 1968 Atkins and Stapenhill then joined an act titled HALFBREED, changing the name to THE CHAPTERS OF LIFE then, at an agent's insistence THE JUG BLUES BAND.

By 1968 the pairing of Atkins and Stapenhill had founded SUGERSTACK together with guitarists Jeff Furnival and Michael Reeves and drummer John Partridge. Reeves left to join POSSESSED but was killed in a road accident with fellow band members. Furnival joined EXTREEM. Atkins, Stapenhill and Partridge founded JUDAS PRIEST in 1969 with guitarist John Perry sowing the seeds of a future Rock legend.

Atkins left JUDAS PRIEST in May 1973 (being replaced by Rob Halford) to form LION with ex-JUDAS PRIEST bassist Stapenhill, ex-STALLION and JUG guitarist Harry Tonks and former EXTREEM, POSSESSED and BUDGIE drummer Pete Boot touring European clubs until their demise in 1978.

LION succeeded in arousing considerable record company interest but only ever released an indie single 'Journey' in 1977. During their time LION headlined gigs with support act THE STRANGLERS and played as guests to HEAVY METAL KIDS and the SEX PISTOLS. Stapenhill joined BULLION, reuniting with another ex-JUDAS PRIEST member guitarist Ernie Chataway and Pete Boot again after LION's split.

Atkins did not record again until 1989. Known by PRIEST fans as the mystery co-writer of 'Victim Of Changes' Atkins cut a fresh version for inclusion on his debut 'Judgement Day' album, which also features his erstwhile colleague bassist Bruno Stapenhill. In Atkins is a much bluesier vocalist than JUDAS PRIEST's internationally known Halford although still in posession of a powerful voice.

Both the first and second album, 1991's 'Dreams Of Avalon', a heady mix of bluesy seventies hard rock, has Birmingham band A.N.D. (headed by guitarist Paul May and bassist Pete Emms) as session musicians. Drums on the debut are by A.N.D. drummer John Anthony (although John Brooks- now of THE CHARLATANS, demoed the tracks) whilst session man Blade handles the sophomore release. Additional bass on 'Dreams Of Avalon' came from John Wylde.

'Heavy Thoughts', produced by JOHN PARR and HARD RAIN keyboard player Paul Hodson, once more features Emms and May with the TAKE THAT credited slide guitarist Gerawyn Thomas. The 1995 album featured a rendition of the JUDAS PRIEST track 'Caviar And Meths' in its full form, only a short instrumental section was included on JUDAS PRIEST's 1974 'Rocka Rolla' album. The recordings were apparently to have been produced by present day JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing but upon his arrival at the studio Downing expressed the opinion his input was not required. At present this album has only seen a release in the Phillipines.

During 1996 Atkins planned to release an album of very early JUDAS PRIEST material and featuring some original members including updated versions of demo tracks and a version of QUATERMASS's 'Black Sheep Of The Family', a live favourite of JUDAS PRIEST prior to any deal.

However, this idea was anathema to JUDAS PRIEST's present management company Trinifold who were none too pleased at having any of the limelight stolen away from the band's phenomenal "come back" album 'Jugulator'. Atkins at one point was even toying with the idea of going out with a live band titled JUDICATOR.

Atkins album finally saw the light of day on Neat Metal Records titled provocatively 'Victim Of Changes'. Many were surprised also at the inclusion of another ex-JUDAS PRIEST and TRAPEZE man drummer Dave Holland, Atkins retaining the services of May (by now also a member of cult Progressive outfit JANUS) and Emms. MARSHALL LAW vocalist Andy Pyke provided backing vocals. Alarming to many was that the album cover was an amalgam of the 'Sin After Sin' and 'Stained Class' artwork- rather bizarre bearing in kind that neither Atkins or Holland appeared on these records.

Rumours abounded in 2000 that the next release would be under the band title of STEELFORCE or ATKINS / HOLLAND. Although work was undertaken on this project later word had it that Al was in fact working with ex-DEF LEPPARD guitarist Pete Willis. In 2002 Al participated in a nostalgic LION reformation for the Birmingham 'Fill Your Head With Rock' benefit show.

As 2004 dawned came the news that Atkins band partner Dave Holland had been convicted at Northampton Crown Court of trying to rape a special needs youngster. The 55 year old drummer, sentenced to eight years in prison, denied all charges. The offences had ocurred at the drummer's Stoke Buerne home between June and December 2002 when Holland was giving the seventeen year old drumming lessons.

In March of 2004 Atkins was scheduled to form up part of a one off 'N.W.O.B.H.M. ALL STARS' band alongside ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG singer JESS COX and erstwhile IRON MAIDEN guitarist Dennis Stratton for a performance at the New Jersey 'Metal Meltdown' festival. Joining these guests in Atkins' band would be South African guitarist Mike de Jager, longstanding bassist Pete Emms and drummer Adrian Badland. Subsequently, Atkins and Stratton forged a new band unit dubbed THE DENIAL. Studio recordings saw Atkins utilising the BUDGIE credited Simon Lees on guitar, Emms on bass and Mick Hayles on drums, both the latter two also operational with THE VASELINE RATS.

In June Al Atkins revealed he was penning his biography 'Dawn Of The Metal Gods'. He would also be laying down new material 'Blood, Demons and Whiskey' with DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler. Unfortunately one of THE DENIAL's first gigs would end in tragedy as Dennis Stratton suffered a serious injury when a speaker unit fell on top of him, hurting his shoulder and crushing his fingers. The damage was so serious it would be doubted if he could play guitar again. Brian Tatler duly filled in for future gigs.

August found Atkins duetting with Kansas based guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Johnny Lokke on THE NEW BREED's 'Bound By The Thread' album. By October, reports told that Atkins was still crafting a new album, billed as 'Demon Deceiver', cutting a track entitled 'Bleeding'. The record was still not completed by May 2005 as Atkins announced that he was still recording as he "wasn't 100 percent happy with it". In July he returned to MadHat Studios to cut yet another "a much shorter and faster" version of 'Victim Of Changes' (his fourth attempt).

Pete Emms was replace by Scott Dallow in 2006.

The September 2009 album 'Demon Deceiver...Plus' added two newly recorded HOLY RAGE tracks.