Fifth Angel is an American heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

/ power metal

Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...

 band from Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...

.

Biography

Fifth Angel was formed in the suburbs of Seattle in late 1983, specifically, in the Bellevue area. The band's initial lineup consisted of Ted Pilot (vocals), James Byrd (lead guitar), Ed Archer (rhythm guitar), Ken Mary (drums) and Kenny Kay (bass).

John Macko replaced Kenny Kay on bass in 1987, while Kendall Bechtel replaced James Byrd on lead guitar. The group released a self-titled album in 1986 on Shrapnel Records

Shrapnel Records

Shrapnel Records is a guitar-oriented record label started in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. Guitarist Marty Friedman , one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii...

, which was re-released on Epic Records

Epic Records

Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

 in 1988. In 1989, the follow-up record, Time Will Tell, marked the end of the band, with its members going their separate ways by 1990.

Although many rumors cropped up in the 2000s about a reunion, it finally happened in 2009. Ed Archer, John Macko and Kendall Bechtel were joined by drummer Jeffrey McCormack and in 2010, the band played its first live show in its history at the Keep it True Festival, with guest singer Peter Orullian (ex-Heir Apparent).

The group is in the midst of recruiting another lead singer, and has tentative plans for a new album in 2011.

Current members

• Ed Archer - Guitar (1983–1989, 2009–present)
• John Macko - Bass (1988–1989, 2009–present)
• Kendall Bechtel - Guitar/Vocals (1989, 2009–present)
• Jeffrey McCormack - Drums (2010–present)

Former members

• Ted Pilot - Lead Vocals (1983–1989)
• James Byrd - Guitar (1983–1988)
• Ken Mary
  Ken Mary
  Ken Mary is a heavy metal drummer known for having played in many groups such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper...
  
   - Drums (1983–1988)
• Kenny Kay - Bass (circa 1985 - did not play on an album)
• Tim Branom - Lead Vocals (2010 - just rehearsals for Keep it True Festival)
• Peter Orullian - Lead Vocals (2010 - one live show only - KIT Festival - as a guest/touring member)

External links

• Official website for Fifth Angel
• Official website for James Byrd
• Official website for Ken Mary
• Band profile at Metal Archives.com

Discography

• Fifth Angel (Shrapnel Records
  Shrapnel Records
  Shrapnel Records is a guitar-oriented record label started in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. Guitarist Marty Friedman , one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii...
  
  , 1986; re-released on Epic Records
  Epic Records
  Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
  
  , 1988) US #117
• Time Will Tell (Epic, 1989)