you probably recall the 80s a bit better than me Phil, I was just knee high to a grasshopper at the time, but I suppose that alot of people thought Priest had fu_ked it too, until they released painkiller?
They definitely had a bit of a fallow period. They got really big in the UK around the time of
Stained Class and
British Steel (I remember those "Top of the Pops" appearances!), then they seemed to gain popularity in the US, peaking around
Screaming for Vengeance I guess, then it tailed off a bit. I remember
Turbo getting particularly bad reviews, although I think some of it is great! I think they were regarded as a bit past it, although (looking back) they were still a fairly young band really!
Painkiller was definitely seen as a big return to form - must say it sounds like a load of screechy noise when I listen to it now. :P
The thing I find odd about Priest is that some people (especially in the USA) now seem to associate them with the NWOBHM, which is totally wrong!
