Manchester's A II Z (named after the A–Z Street Atlas) were the beneficiaries of fortuitous timing, being formed by brothers Dave (vocals) and Gary Owens (guitar), Cam Campbell (bass), and Karl Reti (drums), just in time (late 1979) to be swept up by the initial excitement surrounding the new wave of British heavy metal.
Manchester's A II Z, named after the A–Z Street Atlas, were fortunate to emerge during a period of heightened interest in British heavy metal music (late 1979).