Move Over Iron Maiden: Saxon’s Time in the Spotlight Has Finally Arrived

Netflix Greenlights Saxon Documentary Series: “Wheels of Steel – The True Story of British Heavy Metal’s Unsung Titans

Netflix has officially begun production on a new docuseries centered on legendary British heavy metal band Saxon, one of the most influential yet often overlooked pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Titled “Wheels of Steel – The True Story of British Heavy Metal’s Unsung Titans”, the series aims to bring Saxon’s decades-long legacy roaring into the spotlight, delivering an unfiltered chronicle of grit, power, and music that helped forge a genre.

Emerging from South Yorkshire in the late 1970s, Saxon exploded onto the scene alongside acts like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Motörhead, but often remained the quiet storm in the shadow of flashier contemporaries. Yet with albums like Strong Arm of the Law, Denim and Leather, and the immortal Wheels of Steel, Saxon carved out a fiercely loyal global following, becoming standard-bearers for working-class metal and relentless touring energy.

Netflix’s new docuseries promises to pull back the curtain on the band’s five-decade career, featuring exclusive interviews with founding members Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, and other key players. It will also explore never-before-seen tour footage, personal stories from the road, and the band’s role in influencing later generations of metal artists—from Metallica to Megadeth.

“Saxon was never about trends. We were about songs, speed, and connecting with fans who lived the same lives we did,” frontman Biff Byford shared in a recent press statement. “We’ve seen the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Now it’s time to tell the story.”

The series will delve into the band’s early struggles, their pivotal role in the British metal movement, and their surprising renaissance in recent years, with their 2022 album Carpe Diem earning critical praise and proving that Saxon’s battle cry still resonates.

Netflix producers say the tone of the documentary will be raw and celebratory, reflecting the band’s no-frills ethos and blue-collar spirit. The production team behind Metal Lords and This Is Pop is onboard to handle the visuals and storytelling, promising a blend of cinematic nostalgia and live-wire performance footage that will energize new and old fans alike.

With a revival of classic rock and metal in full swing—and Netflix’s growing catalog of music documentaries winning over younger audiences—“Wheels of Steel” is set to serve as both an introduction and a tribute to a band that refused to sell out or burn out.

The docuseries is expected to debut in 2026, coinciding with Saxon’s rumored 50th-anniversary world tour.