Uriah Heep

dyd_dark moon · Trimis: 15/11/2006 16:10 Titlul subiectului: Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep is an English rock band, formed in 1969 when record producer Gerry Bron invited keyboardist Ken Hensley (previously a member of The Gods and Toe Fat) to join Spice, a band signed to his own Bronze Records label. Sometimes jokingly referred to as "The Beach Boys of heavy metal" for their melodic songs, and trademark multi-part harmony backing vocals, although their music draws on diferite influences including progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, and even country on occasion. In spite of their huge popularity in Britain and continental Europe, Uriah Heep was never able to break into the American market in a big way, with the exception of three hit songs, "Easy Livin' " from the 1972 album Demons and Wizards, "Sweet Lorraine" from the 1972 album The Magician's Birthday, and "Stealin' " from the 1973 release Sweet Freedom. The band released several commercially successful albums in the 1970s, but their audience declined during the 1980s, to the point where they became essentially a cult band in the US and UK, they maintain a significant following in Germany, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian Peninsula, Japan, and Russia, where they still perform at stadium-sized venues.

Their debut album, Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble (which was self-titled in the United States), introduced a heavy organ and guitar-driven sound, with David Byron's theatrical, dynamic vocals soaring above thunderous sonic backgrounds, although acoustic and jazz elements also featured in the mix. Their second album, Salisbury, was more squarely in the progressive rock genre, with its 16-minute title track featuring a 24-piece orchestra. Subsequent releases would find the group's ever-shifting lineup (between 1969 and 1980, the band changed drummers five times, bassists four times, and lead singers twice) frequently exploring fantasy-oriented lyrical themes, often in lengthy, multi-part compositions, largely penned by Hensley, who would eventually come to dominate the band during his tenure.

Following the 1976 replacement of vocalist David Byron with John Lawton (formerly of the German band Lucifer's Friend), Uriah Heep turned away from fantasy-oriented lyrics and multi-part compositions back toward a more straightforward hard rock sound typical of the era. The replacement of Lawton with vocalist John Sloman for the 1980 album Conquest was not well received by most fans, and Ken Hensley's acrimonious departure in September of that year left the group in a state of collapse. It fell to guitarist Mick Box to pick up the pieces and soldier on with a new singer Pete Goalby of Trapeze fame. Two early 1980s releases, Abominog and Head First, updated the band's sound and generated a brief, newfound interest in Uriah Heep among younger hair metal fans. Mick Box has been the band leader ever since, and in recent years, acted as their manager, until on April 5, 2005, the band retained Simon Porter as their manager. See announcement here: [1]

[edit] History - 1986 - Today
They still tour and release occasional studio (and frequent live) albums, featuring the same lineup since 1986 with Mick Box at the helm as band leader with his guitar since 1969, Trevor Bolder on bass who joined the band in 1976 until 1981 when they disbanded, and rejoined in 1983 replacing Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake on drums, again a former member who joined in 1972 until 1979 but has been back since 1982, singer Bernie Shaw, and Phil Lanzon on keyboards both joining in 1986. Making it 20 years as of 2006 the same act has been touring and recording, also have music spanning five decades. Their principal tour circuit is in Germany, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian Peninsula, Japan, and Russia, although they return to Britain for a tour each year that culminates in The Magician's Birthday Party (named for one of their most popular albums) in November in London. This event consists of fan gatherings (a devoted fan is usually referred to as a Heepster) at local venues featuring current and former band members, and a concert, often with guest appearances by former members, (including Ken Hensley, who has appeared onstage with the band at one show, and performed a separate solo concert as part of the festivities for another) which is filmed and released as a DVD and CD.

[edit] Acoustically Driven
An unplugged concert cd. It was recorded 2001 with some Guest musicians.

flute:Ian Anderson
backing vocals:Kim Chandler, Billie Godfrey, Emma Robbins
strings:Pauline Kirke (Cello), Liz Chi Yen Liew (violin), Sarah Chi Liew (violin), Saskia Tomkins(viola),
Melvin Duffy (Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar), Steafan Hannigan (Percussion, Uillean Pipes),
other functions: Jim Hughes(Guitar Technician, Stage Manager), Pip Williams (Acoustic Guitar, Arranger, Producer,
String Arrangements). See also Discography /Live albums

[edit] Announcements
As of April 5, 2005, the band has retained Simon Porter as their manager, see announcement here: [2]).

On April 26, 2005, the band announced on their website and in their Email newsletter that there would be no Magician's Birthday Party in 2005, as they are concentrating their efforts on writing and recording a new studio album to be released in early 2006 (see announcement on the band's website). Unfortunately, as the year draws to a close this album has yet to materialize.

On October 4, 2006, the band's "E-Heep" Email newsletter quoted Mick Box as stating "the new studio album will be partly recorded now and partly in the beginning of 2007, and then released next year".

[edit] Current Members
Uriah Heep band members 1969-2006 1969-1970 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Paul Newton – bass guitar
Alex Napier – drums

1970 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Paul Newton – bass guitar
Ollie Olsson – drums

1970 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Paul Newton – bass guitar
Keith Baker – drums

1970–1971 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Paul Newton – bass guitar
Ian Clarke – drums

1971–1972 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Mark Clarke – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1972–1975 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Gary Thain – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1975–1976 David Byron – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
John Wetton – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1976–1979 John Lawton – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1979–1980 John Sloman – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Ken Hensley – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Chris Slade – drums

1980-1981 John Sloman – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Gregg Dechert – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Chris Slade – drums

1981–1982 Disbanded
1982–1983 Peter Goalby – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
John Sinclair – keyboards
Bob Daisley – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1983–1985 Peter Goalby – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
John Sinclair – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1986 Steff Fontaine – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Phil Lanzon – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

1986–current Bernie Shaw – vocals
Mick Box – guitar
Phil Lanzon – keyboards
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Lee Kerslake – drums

Mick Box – Lead guitar/vocals (1969–present)
Lee Kerslake – Drums/vocals (1972–1979, 1982–present)
Trevor Bolder – Bass guitar/vocals (1976–1981, 1983–present)
Bernie Shaw – Lead vocals (1986–present)
Phil Lanzon – Keyboards/vocals (1986–present)

[edit] Former members
David Byron – Lead vocals (1969–1976)
Ken Hensley – Keyboards/guitar/backing and occasional lead vocals (1969–1980)
Paul Newton – Bass guitar/vocals (1969–1971)
Alex Napier – Drums (1969–1970)
Colin Wood – Keyboards on two songs on the debut album, never an official member (1969)
Nigel Olsson – Drums (1970)
Keith Baker – Drums (1970–1971)
Ian Clarke – Drums (1971–1972)
Mark Clarke – Bass guitar/vocals (1972)
Gary Thain – Bass guitar/vocals (1972–1975)
John Wetton – Bass guitar/vocals (1975–1976)
John Lawton – Lead vocals (1977–1979)
Chris Slade – Drums (1979–1981)
John Sloman – Lead vocals (1979–1981)
Gregg Dechert – Keyboards/vocals (1980–1981)
John Sinclair – Keyboards/vocals (1982–1985)
Bob Daisley – Bass guitar/vocals (1982–1983)
Peter Goalby – Lead vocals (1982–1985)
Steff Fontaine – Lead vocals (1986)