No doubts they all had a following, but certainly for me, at that age, it was as a result of exposure in things like Sounds and subequently Kerrang that championed the NWOBHM, that the likes of Gillan, Rainbow et al came to my attention. Even Hawkwind have said that the NWOBHM helped their profile (it also made them a heavier band at that time IMO). And if you think about it, things like Donington Monsters of Rock, that put such bands on, were post NWOBHM, or at least a result of the resurgence of rock. KISS also did well out of it - their 1980 post NWOBHM British tour was far better recieved than their first jaunt across the Atlantic.
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