Armored Saint is a heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Los Angeles, California by brothers Phil and Gonzo Sandoval and friend David Prichard while students at South Pasadena High School. Vocalist (and fellow student) John Bush and bassist Joey Vera completed the lineup. Gonzo came up with the band name while watching the film Excalibur.

The then-new label Metal Blade Records reissued the band’s first three demos as a self-titled EP. In 1983, Bush was asked by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich if he wanted to replace fired singer Dave Mustaine, but he turned it down because Armored Saint was finding success comparable to Metallica’s at the time.

Chrysalis Records signed the band and released March of the Saint in 1984. It spawned a minor MTV success with its single “Can U Deliver?”. Phil then left the group and Pritchard took over all guitar duties. The band’s following grew over the next several years, pushing their next three albums onto Billboard’s Albums Chart at #138, #108 and #114 respectively.

The band crossed paths with Metallica again in 1986 when Ulrich tried to recruit Vera after the untimely death of their bassist Cliff Burton, but he “wasn’t into it”, so Jason Newsted of Flotsam And Jetsam was then asked and took the position.

After 1987’s Raising Fear, the band added guitarist Jeff Duncan and toured opening for Alice Cooper, Michael Schenker and Ted Nugent in addition to a headlining their own tour. Chrysalis dropped the band when the tour was over, then Pritchard was diagnosed with leukemia and died in 1990.

Phil returned to help complete the band’s 1991 album Symbol Of Salvation on Metal Blade. The album did not chart and was deemed unsuccessful, with Bush also later describing the following tour as “the most miserable tour I’ve ever been a part of”. Bush accepted an offer to replace departing vocalist Joey Belladonna in Anthrax and this led to the band’s breakup. Vera performed with Fates Warning and Lizzy Borden. Phil and Gonzo formed Life After Death. Duncan formed DC4 with two of his brothers.

After three albums with Bush, Anthrax began a five year hiatus in 1998, so Armored Saint reunited and released Revelation in 2000, hitting the road with Dio and Lynch Mob. Armored Saint then went on hiatus when Bush returned to Anthrax to release We Have Come For You All in 2003.

In 2005, Anthrax announced a reunion with Belladonna so Bush exited the band and toured with Armored Saint in 2006. In 2009, Anthrax fans organized a ‘Bring Back Bush’ campaign, so he performed with Anthrax that year. But since Belladonna’s return in 2010, Bush has remained with Armored Saint, releasing albums and touring since. Their 2015 album Win Hands Down put the band back on Billboard’s Album Chart with a #183 peak.

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