Heaven

Australia's Heaven, a hard rock outfit from the 1980s that now lingers only faintly in memory, secured vocal contributions from both Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford on the backing tracks of its third and last release, the 1984 album Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Those appearances may have stemmed from connections to manager Michael Browning, previously linked with AC/DC. Scottish-born vocalist Allan Fryer assembled the group in Sydney during 1980 after coming close, yet ultimately losing, to Brian Johnson in the contest to succeed the late Bon Scott in AC/DC. Heaven issued its debut album Twilight of Mischief two years later, then brought former Rose Tattoo guitarist Mick Cocks into the lineup for the 1983 follow-up Where Angels Fear to Tread. Despite limited global sales, the band earned enough confidence in Fryer's potential to relocate to Los Angeles and share stages, at varying points, with Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and Kiss.

By the time Knockin' on Heaven's Door appeared, Heaven's presentation had acquired a glossy SoCal glam-rock finish, and the roster had been reshaped around Fryer with guitarists Mitch Perry, previously of Steeler, and Mark Cunningham, late of the Rick Derringer band, alongside bassist Dennis Feldman and drummer Tommy Dimitroff. The calculated makeover yielded little return when the album's title track, a cover of Bob Dylan's classic, failed to secure meaningful radio play. Further personnel shifts followed, including a short-lived stint on guitar by ex-AC/DC bassist Mark Evans, until Heaven officially disbanded at the close of 1985. Its members dispersed into assorted minor projects while Fryer eventually went back to Australia, where he assembled a partial Heaven reunion in 2001 to support Judas Priest on its Australian tour dates.