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For other uses, see Uriah Heep.

<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: #f9f9f9;">Image:EasyLivinSpainSingle.jpg
</td></tr><tr><th>Country</th><td>England</td></tr><tr><th>Years active</th><td>1969 – present</td></tr><tr><th>Genres</th><td>Progressive rock
Heavy metal
Hard rock</td></tr><tr><th>Labels</th><td>Mercury Records, and others.</td></tr><tr><th>Members</th><td> see below</td></tr>

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 diverse 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.

Contents 1 History - 1969 - 1985 2 History - 1986 - Today 3 Acoustically Driven 4 Announcements 5 Current Members 6 Former members 7 Discography 7.1 Studio albums 7.2 Live albums 7.3 Compilations 8 See also 9 Trivia 10 External links

[edit] History - 1969 - 1985

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 which was recorded in 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 guitar, 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)
• 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)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• Very 'eavy... Very 'umble (1970) – titled Uriah Heep in U.S.
• Salisbury (1971)
• Look at Yourself (1971)
• Demons & Wizards (1972)
• The Magician's Birthday (1972)
• Sweet Freedom (1973)
• Wonderworld (1974)
• Return to Fantasy (1975)
• High and Mighty (1976)
• Firefly (1977)
• Innocent Victim (1977)
• Fallen Angel (1978)
• Conquest (1980)
• Abominog (1982)
• Head First (1983)
• Equator (1985)
• Raging Silence (1989)
• Different World (1991)
• Sea of Light (1995)
• Sonic Origami (1998)

[edit] Live albums

• Uriah Heep Live (1973) - often referred to as "Live '73" by Heepsters
• Live at Shepperton '74 (1986) – recorded 1974
• Live in Europe 1979 (1986) – recorded 1979
• Live in Moscow (1988)
• Spellbinder Live (1996)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents In Concert (1997) – recorded 1974
• Future Echoes Of The Past (2000)
• Acoustically Driven (2001)
• Electrically Driven (2001)
• The Magician's Birthday Party (2002)
• Live in the USA (2003)
• Magic Night (2004)
• Between Two Worlds (2005)

[edit] Compilations

• Anthology (1986)
• Lady In Black (1994)
• The Lansdowne Tapes (1994) – recordings by Spice and outtakes from the first three Uriah Heep albums, recorded 1968–1971
• A Time of Revelation (1994) – four-disc anthology including much previously unreleased material, recorded 1968–1995
• Uriah Heep: The Collection – sixteen songs spanning 1970–1983(2000)
• Remasters: The Official Anthology (2001)
• 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Uriah Heep (2001)
• Very Best of Uriah Heep (2006)

[edit] See also

• David Byron
• Ken Hensley
• Spice
• Heepster
• Roger Dean

[edit] Trivia

• The band is named after the character Uriah Heep from the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

• The power metal collaboration between Blind Guardian's vocalist Hansi Kürsch and Iced Earth's guitarist Jon Schaffer, called Demons & Wizards, takes its name from Uriah Heep's 1972 album Demons and Wizards.

[edit] External links

Uriah Heep was one of the first bands to recognize the power of the internet, and maintain a very active web presence, with the band and fans from all over the world actively participating. Some of the most important Heep-related websites are:

• Uriah Heep official website
• The Official Uriah Heep Discography
• Ken Hensley official website
• David Byron official tribute website
• Mick Box official website
• Official website for pre-1986 Uriah Heep
• Official US Uriah Heep fan website
• "England's Own Uriah Heep" fan website
• Netherlands Uriah Heep fan website
• Huge Uriah Heep and related website
• Uriah Heep on Progboard: Uriah Heep albums reviews and ratings
• A Very 'Umble site containing Uriah Heep Discography (LT)bg:Юрая Хийп (група)

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