Denim and Leather: The Rise and Fall of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal

Between 1978 and 1983, Great Britain spawned a DIY uprising of over 500 heavy metal bands. Many soon became the household names of the 1980s metal invasion…many others did not. For the first time, author Michael Hann captures the whole nose-to-tail story of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in all its power and glory, exploring the bands, clubs, radio, magazines, festivals, and the majesty and misfires of the NWOBHM in over 100 interviews with members of Venom, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Angel Witch, Samson, UFO, Tygers of Pan Tang, Vardis, Judas Priest, Saxon, Whitesnake, Girlschool, Witchfynde, Demon, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow, Gillan, Led Zeppelin, and more.

Michael Hann’s work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, The Times of London, the Independent, The Spectator, The Economist, The New Statesman, The Quietus, and Uncut, among others.
He is the former music editor of The Guardian, and a former editor of FourFourTwo magazine.
The first band he saw was Samson, opening for Whitesnake at Hammersmith Odeon in January 1983. He believes Witchfinder General’s Death Penalty to be the best NWOBHM album.
Denim and Leather is his first book. He lives in London.