The book, “Wings of Destiny: The Story of Fifth Angel,” offers an in-depth look at the rise, fall, and resurrection of the American heavy metal band Fifth Angel. Written by author Brian J. Heaton, the book is now available for purchase worldwide through Amazon.com and other booksellers.
The biography delves into the band’s origins in the suburbs of Seattle in the 1980s, their subsequent collapse with the rise of grunge, and their celebrated return to the music scene nearly two decades later. As the first biography ever written about Fifth Angel, “Wings of Destiny” explores several pivotal moments in the band’s history, including the departure of lead guitarist James Byrd before their second album, “Time Will Tell,” the reasons behind original singer Ted Pilot’s absence from the 2009 reunion, and the mysterious exit of lead guitarist and singer Kendall Bechtel after the 2018 release of “The Third Secret.”
Fifth Angel, often compared to iconic bands like Queensrÿche, Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, first signed with Shrapnel Records in 1986, releasing their self-titled debut album. The band later moved to the major label Epic Records in 1988, which re-issued their first album and its successor, “Time Will Tell.” The band’s song “Midnight Love” gained further recognition as the theme for “The Howard Stern Show” before their breakup in 1990. Fifth Angel reunited in the 2010s, releasing “The Third Secret” in 2018 and “When Angels Kill” in 2023 through Nuclear Blast.
“For a band that wasn’t very active during its heyday, Fifth Angel has a fascinating and rich story,” Heaton said. “From chasing the brass ring and signing a deal with Epic Records, to the drama of so many musicians coming in and out of the group when they reunited, it certainly was an adventure to piece the narrative together. I’m excited to give fans a deep dive into Fifth Angel’s history.”
“Wings of Destiny” is available in three formats: a deluxe hardcover, a standard paperback, and an eBook. The full-color book spans nearly 300 pages and is enriched with over 100 images, including previously unreleased candid photographs from the personal archives of the band members.
“All the guys in the band gave me extensive interviews and sent imagery that helped flesh out Fifth Angel’s past,” Heaton added. “Followers of Fifth Angel and heavy metal fans in general will love reading about the quirky rollercoaster ride this band has taken and hopefully come away with a deeper appreciation for their music. In many ways, Fifth Angel is the definitive ‘what could have been’ tale in heavy metal lore.”
This is Heaton’s fourth book, following his previous works “Jason Slater: For the Sake of Supposing” (2025) and “Roads to Madness: The Touring History of Queensrÿche (1981-1997)” (2024). He also co-authored “Building an Empire: The Story of Queensrÿche” (2021) with James R. Beach and Brian L. Naron.
You can purchase “Wings of Destiny: The Story of Fifth Angel” in paperback, hardcover, or eBook formats: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQPBLRHT
