1969: Uriah Heep

 Mar, 04 - 2014   no comments   1960s Music


Cover of "Very Eavy, Very 'umble"

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and are regarded as one of the seminal hard rock acts of the early 1970s.  Uriah Heep’s progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion’s distinctive features have always included a massive keyboard sound, strong vocal harmonies and (in the early years) David Byron‘s quasi-operatic vocals.  Twelve of the band’s albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart (Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975) while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums Demons and Wizards was the most successful (#23, 1972).  In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the “Lady in Black” single was a big hit.  Along with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep had become one of the top bands in the early 1970s – one of “The Big 4” of hard rock.

Cover of "Demons & Wizards"

Uriah Heep’s audience declined by the 1980s, to the point where they became essentially a cult band in the United Kingdom and United States. The band maintains a significant following and performs at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and Scandinavia. They have sold over 40 million albums worldwide with over 4 million sales in the U.S.

Uriah Heep released their debut album Very ‘eavy…Very ‘umble (called Uriah Heep in the U.S.) in 1970. After its release, Keith Baker became the group’s drummer; he recorded Salisbury, the group’s second album, before deciding he couldn’t keep up with the band’s extensive touring and was replaced by Ian Clarke.

Cover of "Magician's Birthday"

Salisbury, featuring a 16-minute title track recorded with a 26-piece orchestra, showcased the band’s more progressive tendencies. Later that year, Ian Clarke was replaced by Lee Kerslake and Mark Clarke replaced Newton; Mark Clarke quickly left the band and Gary Thain became the group’s bassist. This lineup of Uriah Heep was its most stable and popular; beginning with 1972’s Demons and Wizards, they released five albums between 1972 and 1975.
Different World After 1975, the band’s popularity began to slip. Byron left the band in 1977 and was replaced by John Lawton, yet the group’s fortunes kept declining right into the early ’80s. However, Uriah Heep soldiered on, continuing to release albums into the ’90s and 2000s. The album roster included Different World (1994), Sea of Light (1995), Sonic Origami (1998), and Spellbinder (1999).

  • Pop/Rock
  • Prog-Rock
  • Hard Rock
  • Album Rock
  • Heavy Metal
  • British Metal
  • England, United Kingdom
  • 1969–present

Uriah Heep in Milan, November 9, 2008


Current members

  • Mick Box – lead guitars (1969–present)
  • Phil Lanzon – keyboards (1986–present)
  • Bernie Shaw – lead vocals (1986–present)
  • Russell Gilbrook – drums, percussion (2007–present)
  • Davey Rimmer – bass (2013–present; substitute – 2013; substitute for Trevor Bolder)

Former members

  • Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars (1969–1980)
  • David Byron – lead vocals (1969–1976; died 1985)
  • Paul Newton – bass (1969–1971)
  • Alex Napier – drums, percussion (1969–1970)
  • Nigel Olsson – drums, percussion (1970)
  • Keith Baker – drums, percussion (1970–1971)
  • Iain Clarke – drums, percussion (1971)
  • Mark Clarke – bass (1971–1972)
  • Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion (1971–1979, 1981–2007)
  • Gary Thain – bass (1972–1975; died 1975)
  • John Wetton – bass (1975–1976)
  • Trevor Bolder – bass (1976–1981, 1983–2013; died 2013)
  • John Lawton – lead vocals (1976–1979; substitute – 1995, 2013; substitute for Bernie Shaw)
  • John Sloman – lead vocals, keyboards (1979–1981)
  • Chris Slade – drums, percussion (1979–1981)
  • Gregg Dechert – keyboards (1980–1981)
  • Peter Goalby – lead vocals (1981–1986)
  • John Sinclair – keyboards (1981–1986)
  • Bob Daisley – bass (1981–1983)
  • Steff Fontaine – lead vocals (1986)

Substitute musicians

  • John Jowitt – bass (2013; substitute for Trevor Bolder)

Uriah Heep US issue cover

  • …Very ‘Eavy …Very ‘Umble (1970)
  • Salisbury (1971)
  • Look at Yourself (1971)
  • Demons and 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)

Cover of "Magician's Birthday Party"

  • Gypsy 1970 …Very ‘eavy …Very ‘umble
  • Lady in Black 1971 Salisbury
  • The Wizard 1972 Demons and Wizards
  • Easy Livin’ 1972 Demons and Wizards
  • Free Me 1977 Innocent Victim
  • Stealin’ 1973 Sweet Freedom
  • July Morning 1971 Look at Yourself
  • Sympathy 1977 Firefly
  • Come Back to Me 1978 Fallen Angel
  • Tears in My Eyes 1971 Look at Yourself
  • Sunrise 1972 The Magician’s Birthday
  • Rain 1972 The Magician’s Birthday
  • Look at Yourself 1971 Look at Yourself
  • One Way or Another 1976 High and Mighty
  • Salisbury 1971 Salisbury
  • The Magician’s Birthday 1972 The Magician’s Birthday
  • Time to Live 1971 Salisbury
  • Bird of Prey 1988 Live in Moscow
  • The Park 1971 Salisbury
  • Return to Fantasy 1975 Return to Fantasy
  • The Magician’s Birthday Party
  • Circle of Hands 1972 Demons and Wizards
  • Wonderworld 1974 Wonderworld
  • Come Away Melinda 1970 …Very ‘eavy …Very ‘umble
  • Cheater
  • Blind Eye 1972 The Magician’s Birthday
  • Sweet Lorraine 1972 The Magician’s Birthday
  • On the Rebound 1982 Abominog
  • Sweet Freedom 1973 Sweet Freedom
  • Paradise / The Spell 1972 Demons and Wizards
  • Into the Wild 2011 Into the Wild
  • Wake Up 1970 …Very ‘eavy …Very ‘umbl

Lady in black

july morning 1972

Easy Livin’ Live

Live (1973) Full Album

Demons Wizards [full album]

 Very´eavy Very´umble 1970

Uriah Heep -The Magician’s Birthday

Ten Miles High (1979)[Full Unreleased Album + Bonus Tracks]

Look At Yourself [full album]

 

  1. Mercury Records
  2. Chrysalis Records
  3. Sequel Records
  4. Universal Music Group
  5. Island Records
  6. Vertigo Records
  7. Warner Bros. Records
  8. Sanctuary Records Group
  9. Bronze Records
  10. Castle Communications
  • Spice
  • The Gods
  • Living Loud
  • Toe Fat
  • Ozzy Osbourne Band
  • Status Quo


Related articles

Leave a Reply