New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Salem was launched toward the end of 1979 by two former members of the curiously named Ethel the Frog, best known for contributing a song to the epochal Metal for Muthas compilation as well as recording an irony-free metallic cover of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." Clearly seeking a more serious moniker with which to record more serious music, Paul Tognola (vocals/guitar) and Paul Conyers (drums) eventually drafted lead guitarist Paul MacNamara and bassist Adrian Jenkinson before committing their first demos to tape in January 1981. But when Tognola quit to join a different band (the Crack) that March, vocalist Simon Saxby and second guitarist Mark Allison were brought in to replace him, joining the others for the recording of Salem's only commercial single, "Cold as Steel" (b/w "Reach to Eternity"), in April 1982. The single was favorably reviewed in Kerrang! Magazine, which also ran an interview with lead guitarist MacNamara, but labels didn't seem all that interested, and so the band retreated once again to write new material while continuing to hone their stage show. However, when original drummer Conyers decided to leave (he was replaced by Paul "Animal" Mendham), Salem's next lineup found it difficult to make further headway, despite taking it upon themselves to record yet another batch of demos including the adventurous fan favorite "The Keeper of the Keys" trilogy before disbanding. Sporadic reunions would later take place in a bid to tap into ever recurring N.W.O.B.H.M. nostalgia, and 2010 saw the release of a Salem career anthology titled In the Beginning… through High Roller/Pure Steel Records. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia