HardNews Page 9
from Tim Henderson
of Bravewords.com
Edited by HardRadio

10/16/25 Page 9

WINGS OF DESTINY: THE STORY OF FIFTH ANGEL is now available from booksellers worldwide. Written by Brian J. Heaton, the book examines Fifth Angel's rise from the Seattle suburbs in the 1980s, the band's collapse in the wake of grunge, and the group's celebrated rebirth nearly 20 years later. Heaton left no stone unturned in telling the story. Some of the key points discussed in the book include lead guitarist James Byrd's departure from the group prior to their second album, Time Will Tell, why original singer Ted Pilot didn't reunite with his bandmates in 2009, and the mysterious departure of lead guitarist/singer Kendall Bechtel following Fifth Angel's release of The Third Secret in 2018. Fifth Angel is an American heavy metal band originally from Bellevue, Washington. Drawing comparisons to Queensryche, Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, Fifth Angel signed with very longtime HardRadio friend Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records in 1986, releasing its self-titled album.