Saxon Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Saxon are one of the first NWOBHM bands. Like many of their peers they played a mix of mostly Traditional Heavy Metal, and some Hard Rock. For a band being around as long as they have, they have had relatively few lineup changes. Singer Biff Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn have been in the band since the beginning. Guitarist Graham Oliver was with the band till 1996 and replaced with Doug Scarratt who has been in the band since. Bassist Steve Dawson was with the band till 1986. Biff played bass for a short time after before Paul Johnson stepped in for a short time and finally Nibbs Carter who has been in the band since 1988. Pete Gill was the original drummer before the long time drummer Nigel Glockler joined in 1981. There were a few short periods where other drummers filled the role: Nigel Durham, Fritz Randow, and Jörg Michael. Nigel Durham is the only member to not contribute to writing. (Nigel noted below refers to Glockler) Obviously the influences of the long standing members would have more of an impact of Saxon’s sound.
B.B. King
Freddie King
Joe Morello
Ike & Tina Turner
Stevie Wonder
Albert King
Ollie Halsall
Allan Holdsworth
Lenny White
Terry Bozzio
Simon Phillips
Kate Bush
Vinnie Colaiuta
Mark King
In 2021 Saxon released the album Inspirations. Biff said all the songs on it were influences on them.
In an interview with Steve there is a weird section where it seems like he is answering a different question then what he is asked. He talks about looking up to bands like Cream, Hendrix, Motorhead, and UFO. I’m not sure if these are influences of his. Other him naming the influence from Sex Pistols and The Clash I’m not sure of his influences.
Doug said before getting into music seriously he was into bands like The Sweet, T. Rex, Slade, and other pop rock bands.
Paul Johnson only played bass on Destiny and only collaborated on a few song on it. I’m unsure of his influences.
Nibbs is the youngest member of the band and grew up with a different generation of music. For that reason he doesn’t share a lot the same influences as the rest of the band.
In an interview after his time with Saxon, Pete Gil said he got a kick out of playing military and Latin style drums. I haven’t been able to find much on any influence for him.
Nigel said there was a ton of great music in the 60’s and 70’s that influenced him including from the jazz-fusion scene. For newer bands he is a fan of Clutch and loves Evergrey. In school he said he played in a band that covered Jethro Tull, Free, Procol Harum, Jimi Hendrix, and other stuff.
Nigel also plays bass or at least did as a kid. He said he would play along with bands like Cream and Moody Blues.
Fritz Randow was the drummer for Metalhead and Killing Ground and collaborated with the band on the second of those. I’m unsure of his influences.
Jörg Michael was only on Lionheart. Although he has played for many bands, He is often not noted as a writer, however he is in Saxon. Besides influences noted above, he also named Herman Rarebell (Scorpions), and Roger Taylor (Queen).
Bands influenced by Saxon!
As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!
Sources:
https://www.loudersound.com/features/saxons-biff-byford-the-11-records-that-changed-my-life
https://www.loudersound.com/features/biff-byford-the-soundtrack-of-my-life
https://www.themetalvoice.com/post/saxon-s-biff-byford-all-the-songs-on-the-inspirations-covers-album-have-a-connection-to-the-band
https://metalnation.com/saxon-paul-quinn-2018-interview/
https://wordsandmusicbook.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/paul-quinn-saxon/
https://www.vintageguitar.com/15926/paul-quinn/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/5-minutes-alone-paul-quinn-636156
https://www.rhino.com/article/an-interview-with-steve-dawson-from-saxon
http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/graham_oliver.htm
http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/musicians/graham-oliver-ex-saxon.htm
https://garyalikivi.com/2017/05/28/men-at-work/
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-guitarist-says-the-groups-power-punk-material-has-grown-on-him-over-time/
https://www.headbangerslifestyle.com/interviews/2138/up-close-and-personal-with-saxon-bassist-tim-nibbs-carter
http://www.perun.hr/pete-gill-motorhead-it-was-guitarist-phil-campbell-who-got-me-into-motorhead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfClM8Qzu7s
https://www.moderndrummer.com/2018/04/on-the-beat-with-nigel-glockler-of-saxon-talks-gear-and-influences/
https://www.sonicperspectives.com/interviews/interview-with-nigel-glockler/
https://www.classicrockrevisited.com/show_interview.php?id=1099
http://kkdowning.net/steelmill/Interviews/nigel-glockler-saxon-steel-mill-interview/
http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/nigel_glockler.htm
https://metalshockfinland.com/2014/04/18/interview-with-nigel-glockler-saxon-my-party-piece-was-singing-child-in-time-i-could-get-all-the-high-notes/
http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.com/2013/01/meisters-views-of-cruise-volume-5-nigel.html
http://www.jorgmichael.com/interview7.php3
https://melbournesound.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/interview-with-stratovarius-drummer-jorg-michael/