Armored Saint

A pillar and veteran of the Los Angeles heavy metal scene, Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval (guitarist) and Gonzo Sandoval (drummer). They teamed up with Dave Prichard (guitarist) and John Bush (singer), whom they had met at South Pasadena High School. The band was complete when bassist Joey Vera joined. The band name was chosen after the musicians had seen the film Excalibur. A first demo was conceived and presented to a number of record companies. The band finally signed with Chrysalis Records in 1984. The same year saw the release of Armored Saint's first studio album, March of the Saint, quickly followed by Delirious Nomad. While this second effort marked the band's first appearance on MTV with the video for "Can U Deliver?", it also saw the departure of guitarist Phil Sandoval. In 1987, Armored Saint recorded their fourth opus, Raising Fear, as a quartet. For the next two years, the band played non-stop, opening for a host of prestigious acts including Metallica, Judas Priest, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper. But the musicians' efforts seemed out of all proportion to the promotion provided by their record company, which didn't support them enough for their liking. Armored Saint joined the Metal Blade label. The collaboration began with a live album, Saints Will Conquer, the first to feature the contribution of new rhythm guitarist Jeff Duncan. But the band suffered a terrible setback when it learned that its guitarist, Dave Prichard, had been diagnosed with leukemia, just as he was beginning work on a demo for the next album, Symbol of Salvation. The musician passed away on April 27, 1990, shortly before the recording sessions were due to begin. Following this tragic event, the Sandoval brothers returned to the band. With a new dynamic in place, and the tour very well received, Anthrax offered John Bush the position of singer, which he accepted after careful consideration. Auditions were held for new members to join Armored Saint, but to no avail. The band reached an impasse, and the musicians decided to call it a day in 1992. It wasn't until Anthrax took a break in 1999 that John Bush reunited with his partners and reactivated Armored Saint for an album, Revelation. But the reunion was short-lived, as Anthax was soon reactivated, and Joey Vera joined Anthrax in 2004. It was not until the following year that Joey Vera and John Bush were released from their obligations, as Anthrax wished to perform again with the personnel from the Among the Living album. This decision led to the return of Armored Saint. This is celebrated with a sixth album, La Raza, in 2010. It is followed five years later by Win Hands Down. In 2020, the still-active band gives birth to Punching the Sky, their eighth album in a career spanning almost forty years.