Classic Rock Revisisted founder Jeb Wright recently caught up with original JUDAS PRIEST singer Al Atkins and born again Christian guitarist Paul May about their new ATKINS MAY PROJECT.

Jeb: Let’s get straight to the point: Where did you get the idea to do an album with a Christian guitar player? How did you guys meet?

Al:? We met about twenty years ago before Paul became a Born Again Christian. He was playing at a local Black Country gig with a band called ARCANA and I was introduced to him. I asked him to play on some demos I was recording at my studios and we just hit it off. He played guitar on my first four solo albums. We parted ways over the following years and he went into Christianity, playing and recording with various Christian artists. I formed the band HOLY RAGE and hit the road.

We met up one day last year. He told me he had been working on a new heavy rock/metal album and asked me to put some vocals down on it. When I heard what he had done I jumped at the chance to work with him again."

Jeb: How did the writing sessions for the album go? Did you do the lyrics?

Al: "No, this was Paul's baby and for the very first time I was not involved with the writing at all. Pressure off! It was such a change for me to just learn someone else’s songs and go into the studio and concentrate just on my vocals. Since I did this, I have had other offers of?the same nature from other artists."

Jeb: To my ears, this album is heavily influenced by the early New Wave of British Heavy Metal era. Agree or disagree?

Al: "You are dead right, I agree. This is the era of music we grew up with. It has overtones of Priest and IRON MAIDEN but with a more modern edge to the guitars on tracks like 'Can You Hear Me'. Classic British rock is where our roots lie and you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

Go to this location for the complete interview. Click here for information on the Atkins May Project.