Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep is an English rock band founded in 1967 in London by guitarist Mick Box (who will be the only permanent member), first as Hogwash and then, after the arrival of singer David Byron, Spice. It was late 1969, when a contract was signed with the Vertigo label and the first album was in preparation, that the band adopted the name that had since been known to it, according to a character by Charles Dickens. Very 'eavy... Very 'umble was born in 1970, the line-up was made up, besides Box and Byron, of guitarist/clavier/singer Ken Hensley, bassist Paul Newton and drummer Nigel Olsson. The drummer position was unstable in the early years: Salisbury (released in February 1971) was recorded with former Supertramp Keith Baker, and Look At Yourself (October 1971) with Ian Clarke. Lee Kerslake was finally recruited at the end of 71, and remained in office until 2007 (except for a hiatus between 1979 and 1981). It is also with a new bassist, Gary Thain, that comes out in 1972 what will become Uriah Heep's greatest success: Demons And Wizards. The Magician's Birthday followed later that year and Sweet Freedom in 1973. Wonderworld appeared in 1974, when the band was subjected to internal tensions, and was perceived as a false step by both fans and members. In addition to stories about royalty, Byron was drunk most of the time and Thain had serious drug problems that led to his dismissal in December 1974, and his death from an overdose a year later. Things seem to be getting better with the arrival of bassist John Wetton (ex-King Crimson), who performed on two albums: Return To Fantasy in 1975 and High And Mighty in 1976. At the time, however, Byron's alcoholism was increasingly felt, especially during concerts; He was ousted in July 1976. Soon after, Wetton, who did not agree with the other members, left the adventure. In 1977 Trevor Bolder (formerly David Bowie) became the new bassist and John Lawton the new singer. With Firefly , the Prog side is abandoned in favor of a more direct but generally well-received Hard Rock. Innocent Victim (1977) and Fallen Angel (1978) continue along this path but include more Pop influences (too much to the taste of guitarist Mick Box). Tensions arise between Hensley, who imposes the least of his compositions, and the rest of the group. The late 70s/early 80s was then a sign of change for Uriah Heep, first with Lawton's eviction and his replacement by keyboard singer John Sloman, followed by drummer Lee Kerslake's departure, replaced by Chris Slade, and after the release of Conquest in 1980, Hensley's departure and then the other members, leaving Box alone in the saddle. The line-up was completed again in 1981 with singer Peter Goalby, bassist Bob Daisley, keyboardist John Sinclair and the return of Kerslake to the drums. Abominog then marked the beginning of the formation in the 1980s, followed in 1983 (after Bolder's return to bass) by Head First. Released in 1985, Equator is a commercial semi-failure, and the last participation of Goalby, who suffers from voice problems, and Sinclair, who joins Ozzy Osbourne. The arrival of Bernie Shaw's song and Phil Lanzon's keyboards in 1986 marked the beginning of a long period of stability, as although albums were rarer, the line-up remained unchanged for about twenty years. Raging Silence and Different World were released in 1989 and 1991, respectively, but it was especially Sea Of Light in 1995 that enabled the group to reconnect with some success. He was followed in 1998 by Sonic Origami, who had no successor until ten years later. In early 2007, Kerslake's health forced him to withdraw, and it was with Russell Gilbrook behind the drums that Uriah Heep found the way back to the studio. Wake The Sleeper is born in 2008. In 2009, Celebration - Forty Years Of Rock , a compilation of re-records (with two new titles) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the formation. Into The Wild , in 2011, was the last album for Trevor Bolder, who died two years later of pancreatic cancer. Davey Rimmer was recruited to the bass, and after filming with the band for almost a year, his first studio participation was Outsider in 2014. In 2015 Totally Driven , another re-recording compilation, and in 2018 Living The Dream , the twenty-fourth studio album.
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