
Their set was recorded, but not officially released until 2000. On 16 August, they earned a positive reception at the first Monsters of Rock festival, commemorated by the following year's " And the Bands Played On". As a result, Saxon began a series of long UK tours. It resulted in two hit songs: the title track and the crowd favourite "747 (Strangers in the Night)". Wheels of Steel, released in 1980, charted at No. They began by supporting established bands such as Motörhead and Ian Gillan Band, and released their first album Saxon in 1979. Carrere refused the band name Son of a Bitch because it would be impossible to obtain radio airplay, so the band changed their name to Saxon in July, and signed a contract with Carrere in September. In 1978, the band began negotiating with the French disco-oriented record label Carrere Records, run by Freddy Cannon in the UK. Former Glitter Band member Pete Gill soon replaced Cowell as drummer. Walker quit after a couple of years, and was replaced briefly by Dave Cowell in 1977.

They recorded a demo known as Tapestry in late 1975, and gigged extensively during 1975–1978.

They adopted the name Son of a Bitch for its more aggressive tone, and they pushed toward a heavier sound. In 1975, Coast was falling apart, and S.O.B.'s lead singer and guitarist Steve Furth left to go solo, so in November 1975 a new band was formed by S.O.B.'s Oliver, Dawson and Walker, and Coast's Byford and Quinn. Coast contained a singing bass player Peter "Biff" Byford, and guitarist Steve Quinn. Meanwhile, Coast was a local rival rock band named after the 1972 song "Coast to Coast" by Trapeze.

in 1974, taking inspiration from the 1972 Free album Tons of Sobs. Shifting the line-up, Blue Condition changed their name to S.O.B. Their style was blues rock and hard rock. The former was initially called Blue Condition, forming in 1970 with Graham Oliver on guitar, Steve "Dobby" Dawson on bass, and John Walker on drums. Saxon came together from components of two Yorkshire bands: S.O.B.

Bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and guitarist Doug Scarratt at the Rockharz 2016 (Biff Byford in the background) History Formation and early years (1975–1979)
