Judas Priest founder tells all in new book

And next month his colourful life will be opened up for all to see when he spills the beans in his long-awaited book Dawn of the Rock Gods.

It talks about the heyday of rock music in the Black Country and Birmingham and the scores of music venues in West Bromwich, which attracted world-class performers.

Al, now 61, of Sandwell Road, West Bromwich, left Judas Priest before the band went on to enjoy international stardom, but performed with music heavyweights David, Bowie, Elton John and Rod Stewart during the late 60s.

The father-of-five said the book, a collaboration with rock author Neil Daniels, will give an insider's view on some of the Midlands sounds that inspired music lovers.

He said: "I have been working on the book for several years and it has been a real labour of love. It is part autobiography, but also about the whole scene in the late 60s and early 70s. It was a fantastic time to grow up in, when music was developing at lightening fast speed and there were scores of venues where you could go to see live music."

Al grew up in Stone Cross and attended Charlemont School, before getting a job in a motorbike garage at 15.

It was while working at Prestige Motorbikes, near the Birmingham Road, that he got friendly with Robert Plant, who has contributed a photograph to the book and wished his old pal all the best with its success.

"That was in around 1968 I was in band called The Bitta Sweet and Robert was in The Band of Joy, before his Led Zeppelin days."

It was while in The Bitta Sweet that Al rubbed shoulders with the stars, at The Old Hill Plaza, a venue which attracted all the top names including The Beatles in the 60s and 70s.

He said: "The Bitta Sweet was a pop band and played alongside David Bowie, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Rod Stewart at the Old Hill Plaza. Back in those days Rod Stewart was a backing singer with a blues singer called Long John Baldry. And Elton John was still Reginald Dwight and was playing keyboards. Rod Stewart was really friendly, I had a drink with him after the gig.

"I only met David Bowie quite briefly but he was booed off stage, it wasn't a good night for him and Cat Stevens didn't do much better."

"Music was changing so fast at that time that in 1969 I formed Judas Priest, shortly after Black Sabbath hit the scene.

Al penned classics including Winter, Never Satisfied and Victim of Change. The original group, including Bruno Stapenhill, John Partridge and Ernie Chatterway split after just a year after their record company went bust.

Al then reformed the band with KK Downing, Ian Hill and John Ellis, but despite his early success with both bands, Al left Judas Priest in 1973.

Dawn of the Rock Gods is being printed by German-based publishers Iron Pages, which specialises in producing books about the music industry.