Hailing from Florida, CRIMSON GLORY released their classic debut through local label Par Records on this day in 1986. The band signed to Roadrunner soon after, and re-released Crimson Glory in 1987, following it with Transcendence in 1988.
We turned Midnight on to listening to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, the Scorpions and some other European metal bands to give him an idea of what we were looking for. He had the range, and he started applying his own sound to it and giving us what we were looking for, and he developed his own style. I think he was one of the greatest metal singers of all time. I've heard a lot of great singers over the years but I haven't heard anyone with the ability Midnight had. Particularly his ability to convey emotion.
When Midnight and the rest of us would get together and talk about creating music, we wanted to make music that was truly timeless. We didn't want to be just another band. We wanted to be big like the bands we admire, like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, the legendary bands that wrote music that was larger than life. We wanted to be in that realm so we always had a goal to be something that was truly special. We wanted to create a sound that was unique and melodies that were memorable. I think ultimately if you can achieve those things your music can be timeless, but you have to really work at it. Ultimately time determines your success. Maybe not financially, but on a musical level. We wanted Crimson Glory's music to last forever.
- Jon Drenning / Crimson Glory interview, BW&BK, 2009
Below: CRIMSON GLORY on UK television promoting the European tour (not too long after the Roadrunner release), which included a date at the Hammersmith Odeon (footage below).