SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 14, 2025) – Wings of Destiny: The Story of Fifth Angel is now available from Amazon.com and booksellers worldwide. Written by Brian J. Heaton, the book examines Fifth Angel’s rise from the Seattle suburbs in the 1980s, the band’s collapse in the wake of grunge, and the group’s celebrated rebirth nearly 20 years later.
Wings of Destiny is the first biography written about Fifth Angel, and Heaton left no stone unturned in telling the story. Some of the key points discussed in the book include lead guitarist James Byrd’s departure from the group prior to their second album, Time Will Tell, why original singer Ted Pilot didn’t reunite with his bandmates in 2009, and the mysterious departure of lead guitarist/singer Kendall Bechtel following Fifth Angel’s release of The Third Secret in 2018.
Fifth Angel is an American heavy metal band originally from Bellevue, Washington. Drawing comparisons to Queensrÿche, Scorpions, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, Fifth Angel signed with Shrapnel Records in 1986, releasing its self-titled album. They moved to a major label, Epic Records, in 1988, which re-issued Fifth Angel’s first album and its follow-up, Time Will Tell. Fifth Angel’s “Midnight Love” served as the theme song for The Howard Stern Show before the band broke up in 1990. Fifth Angel reunited in the 2010s, releasing The Third Secret (2018) and When Angels Kill (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 can be purchased in three formats: a deluxe hardcover, a standard paperback, and an eBook. Presented in full-color, the book spans almost 300 pages and includes over 100 images, including never-before-seen candid shots from the band members’ archives.
“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.”
Wings of Destiny: The Story of Fifth Angel is Heaton’s fourth book. He previously authored Jason Slater: For the Sake of Supposing (2025); and Roads to Madness: The Touring History of Queensrÿche (1981-1997) (2024). He also co-wrote Building an Empire: The Story of Queensrÿche (2021) with James R. Beach and Brian L. Naron.
