OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

For anybody that doen`t already know this Al Atkins the founder of the World famous Judas Priest rock band was born and still lives in West Bromwich to this day.

Al is still rocking today at the ripe old age of 60 belting songs out at various venues

in the U.K. and abroad.

After leaving Priest Al worked at Guests of West Bromwich for many years as a Goods inwards storeman inbetween writing and performing.

Al is a very good old friend of mine.

Als website

http://www.alatkins.com/

And Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame was born in West Bromwich but lived in Halesowen.

Also whilst on the subject of West Bromwich musicians

The Wazzocks must surely be worth a mention fronted over the years mainly by Checker Ferguson from Tantany they must have played at some time or other in every licenced premises in West Bromwich raising thousands for Charity along the way and must have been going over 25 years.

Sunday afternoon `  Wazzocking ` used to be a pastime of mine

Dont forget Phil Lynott Thin Lizzy born at Hill Top.

Also Kevin Sheils was the drummer with the Wazzocks

I was going to put Kev`s name down and forgot i`ve known him years.

Chris Hill at 01:34PM on Jan 24, 2009

For anybody that doen`t already know this Al Atkins the founder of the World famous Judas Priest rock band was born and still lives in West Bromwich to this day.

 

Al is still rocking today at the ripe old age of 60 belting songs out at various venues

in the U.K. and abroad.

 

After leaving Priest Al worked at Guests of West Bromwich for many years as a Goods inwards storeman inbetween writing and performing.

 

Al is a very good old friend of mine.

all Judas Priest lived in our vicinity, greenside way,when they were kids,kenny downing was my son.s mate and was in my house virtually every day..i once advised him to get a job..anyone interested,i'm always available for advice.my mother was a friend of kenny's grannie,and once he gave them tickets to a judas priest concert in birmingham,they were both probably in their 70.s but they went.later i asked mom what she thought.she said"THE WALLS WAS BENDING"

KK Downing used to dabble in a few old motors, the old buying and selling & thing still attended West Bromwich car auctions on Holloway Bank buying the odd car well into his fame. I used to work there when I was 17 driving the cars through the auction room and very often saw him looking round the cars on the yard. He stood out a mile with his long blonce hair.

Blonde Hair

Uncle John at 02:40PM on Jan 24, 2009

Also Kevin Sheils was the drummer with the Wazzocks

Also Johnny  Wood  aka  J.T. he was with the Wazzocks years and still maybe

When not playing with the Band J.T. could usually be found in the Wheatsheaf on the Green.

bill phillips at 03:58AM on Jan 25, 2009

Chris Hill at 01:34PM on Jan 24, 2009

For anybody that doen`t already know this Al Atkins the founder of the World famous Judas Priest rock band was born and still lives in West Bromwich to this day.

 

Al is still rocking today at the ripe old age of 60 belting songs out at various venues

in the U.K. and abroad.

 

After leaving Priest Al worked at Guests of West Bromwich for many years as a Goods inwards storeman inbetween writing and performing.

 

Al is a very good old friend of mine.

all Judas Priest lived in our vicinity, greenside way,when they were kids,kenny downing was my son.s mate and was in my house virtually every day..i once advised him to get a job..anyone interested,i'm always available for advice.my mother was a friend of kenny's grannie,and once he gave them tickets to a judas priest concert in birmingham,they were both probably in their 70.s but they went.later i asked mom what she thought.she said"THE WALLS WAS BENDING"

Dug this up about Alan an the Judas Priest lads

Alan John "Al" Atkins (born October 11, 1947 in West Bromwich, Birmingham, England) is a hard rock vocalist, perhaps best known for his association with Judas Priest. He began his musical career in 1966, singing in a succession of blues-rock outfits before forming a band in 1967, named Judas Priest (named after the Bob Dylan song The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest). Featuring a musical direction unrelated to the future metal band, this band lasted until 1969, developing a small following in Birmingham before splitting up over creative differences.

By this time, bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were emerging, and Atkins was interested in pursuing a similar direction. Fellow Birmingham musicians K.K. Downing and Ian Hill had similar musical interests, so they teamed with Atkins to form a new band called Freight. Atkins did not like the name, so he suggested they be called Judas Priest, as he had rights to the name. After gaining a following in Birmingham, the Atkins-led Priest recorded a demo in 1971, which attracted the attention of Tony Iommi's management but failed to endear them with any of London's major record labels. Though the gigs began to improve, the band also had to contend with higher overhead, and no record deal was in sight.

As Atkins had a young daughter to support, he was forced to leave Priest in 1973 in favor of a day job. He was replaced by Rob Halford, who found himself singing many songs that were originally written by Atkins. Consequently, the album Rocka Rolla gives a portrait of Atkins' original vision for the band. Atkins eventually formed another band, Lion and went solo after it dissolved. Atkins has retained close ties to his former Priest bandmates, who assisted him on Victim of Changes, which featured rerecorded versions of songs he had written in the early

bill phillips at 03:58AM on Jan 25, 2009

Chris Hill at 01:34PM on Jan 24, 2009

For anybody that doen`t already know this Al Atkins the founder of the World famous Judas Priest rock band was born and still lives in West Bromwich to this day.

 

Al is still rocking today at the ripe old age of 60 belting songs out at various venues

in the U.K. and abroad.

 

After leaving Priest Al worked at Guests of West Bromwich for many years as a Goods inwards storeman inbetween writing and performing.

 

Al is a very good old friend of mine.

all Judas Priest lived in our vicinity, greenside way,when they were kids,kenny downing was my son.s mate and was in my house virtually every day..i once advised him to get a job..anyone interested,i'm always available for advice.my mother was a friend of kenny's grannie,and once he gave them tickets to a judas priest concert in birmingham,they were both probably in their 70.s but they went.later i asked mom what she thought.she said"THE WALLS WAS BENDING"

"The walls were bending"

I have just nearly choked on my coffee Bill, so funny !!!

You can just see them there with all the head bangers !

My late father worked with Al Atkins at Guest Motors. I remember dad telling me that he used to get a royalty cheque every now and then for his contributions to Judas Preist's first album.

I used to watch the Wazzocks at The Wheatsheaf, I think the bassist was Bruno Stapenhill who was formley in a band called Lion. Also remember Checker performing at Dartmouth Park during the 'Right to Work' march in the early 80's.

Your Dad must be Les Crump, I worked with him as well at Guests

I met your Sister at the recent reunion,she went there with Pauline Martin your Dad`s neighbour.

Here`s a piccy of Al in action

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k277/fester54/48a2cd2910845jpg.jpg

you're forgetting heavy metal was born here! robert plant is a distant relation to my good friend aaron! he was also born in hallem hospital now obviously today sandwell hospital

I was chuffed to see mention of Kenny Downingand especially Ian Hill.

Ian was a childhood friend of minewhen we lived in Bermuda Mansions on Yew Tree Estate.(Moved there in 1955/56)We were good mates and often spent hours just chatting and walking along the'cut'. His Dad was also a musician(played in the band at Yew Tree Club) butpassed away far too young. We used to play rounders on the grassy areas at themansions and Mr Hill; one day leaned out of his window and filmed us playing.Later we were invited by Mrs Hill, a very lovely looking lady, for tea and tosee the movie. It was very exciting as you can imagine. The best memory of theday is Mr Hill playing the film in reverse; we all found it extremely funny asyoung kids would.

(Hazel Andrews, Dianne Jones, Rhondda Blunt, Eddie Higetts, Chris& Kevin Wallace, David Brace, maybe David Golder (unsure)  and myself.)

As we grew into our teens we went our separate ways but I stillhave a look on their website now and then to see how he's doing.

They, JP visited Australia last year too and the diehards were outin great numbers.

If you read this Ian, Yvonne Parkes (now Powell) says Hello! 

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Kenny Downing work for a short time in the Harry Fenton shop in the Bull Ring Centre in Birmingham? We had a unique shop with two DJ's as manager and assistant manager and lots of visiting pop stars. One of our regular customers was Roy G Hemmings of the Roy Gee Stax Explosion who went on to sing with the Original Drifters for some 13-15 years

Michael at January 26, 2009 at 11:10 AM

bill phillips at 03:58AM on Jan 25, 2009

Chris Hill at 01:34PM on Jan 24, 2009

For anybody that doen`t already know this Al Atkins the founder of the World famous Judas Priest rock band was born and still lives in West Bromwich to this day.

 

Al is still rocking today at the ripe old age of 60 belting songs out at various venues

in the U.K. and abroad.

 

After leaving Priest Al worked at Guests of West Bromwich for many years as a Goods inwards storeman inbetween writing and performing.

 

Al is a very good old friend of mine.

all Judas Priest lived in our vicinity, greenside way,when they were kids,kenny downing was my son.s mate and was in my house virtually every day..i once advised him to get a job..anyone interested,i'm always available for advice.my mother was a friend of kenny's grannie,and once he gave them tickets to a judas priest concert in birmingham,they were both probably in their 70.s but they went.later i asked mom what she thought.she said"THE WALLS WAS BENDING"

"The walls were bending"

I have just nearly choked on my coffee Bill, so funny !!!

 

You can just see them there with all the head bangers !

Are you sure they hadn't been slipped something in their pop?  V funny