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Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep is a British rock band that formed in 1969. They are known for their unique blend of progressive rock and hard rock, and have sold over 40 million albums worldwide. The band's lineup has changed several times over the years, but their most well-known lineup consists of Mick Box (guitar), Ken Hensley (keyboards), David Byron (vocals), Gary Thain (bass), and Lee Kerslake (drums).

Uriah Heep's early albums, including "Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble" (1970), "Salisbury" (1971), and "Demons and Wizards" (1972), helped establish the band's reputation as a major force in progressive rock. These albums featured epic tracks with intricate arrangements, virtuoso musicianship, and literary-inspired lyrics.

The band's later albums, such as "Sweet Freedom" (1973), "Wonderworld" (1974), and "Return to Fantasy" (1975), saw them incorporating more commercial elements into their sound, including shorter, more radio-friendly tracks and a greater emphasis on catchy hooks and choruses.

Despite some lineup changes and commercial ups and downs, Uriah Heep has remained active and popular over the decades, releasing a steady stream of albums and touring regularly. They have influenced many other rock bands with their distinctive sound and have continued to evolve and experiment with new styles and approaches.

From London, England.  Named after a character in Charles Dicken's "David Copperfield". - GSH


The Stalkers (1964 - ? )
  • Mick Box - guitar - b. June 8, 1947, London, England.
  • David Byron - vocals - b. David Garrick, January 29, 1947, Essex, England; d. February 28, 1985 (heart attack).
  • Roger Penlington - drums

Spice ( ? - December 1969)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Paul Newton - bass - formerly with The Gods.
  • Alex Napier - drums

Uriah Heep I (December 1969 - January 1970)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Paul Newton - bass
  • Alex Napier - drums
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards - b. August 24, 1945, England - formerly with Kit and the Saracens, The Jimmy Brown Sound, The Gods, and Toe Fat.

Uriah Heep II (January 1970 - February 1970)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Paul Newton - bass
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Nigel "Ollie" Ollson - drums - formerly with Elton John.
Album:
  1. "Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble" (aka, "Uriah Heep") (1970)
Nigel "Ollie" Ollson rejoins Elton John.

Uriah Heep III (February 1970 - October 1970)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Paul Newton - bass
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Keith Baker - drums
Album:
  1. "Salisbury" (1970) - Single: "Lady in Black"

Uriah Heep IV (October 1970 - November 1971)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Paul Newton - bass
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Ian Clarke - drums - formerly with Cressida.
Album:
  1. "Look At Yourself" (1971)

Uriah Heep V (November 1971 - February 1972)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Mark Clarke - bass
  • Lee Kerslake - drums - formerly with The Gods and National Head Band.

Uriah Heep VI (February 1972 - February 1975)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Gary Thain - bass - b. New Zealand; d. December 8, 1975 (heroin overdose) - formerly with Keef Hartley.
Albums:
  1. "Demons and Wizards" (1972) - Singles: "The Wizard", "Easy Livin'"
  2. "The Magician's Birthday" (1972) - Single: "Sweet Lorraine"
  3. "Live '73" (1973)
  4. "Sweet Freedom" (1973)
  5. "Wonderworld" (1974)
  6. "Live at Shepperton '74" (1986)

Uriah Heep VII (March 1975 - August 1976)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • David Byron - vocals
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • John Wetton - bass - b. July 12, 1949, Derby, England - formerly with Family, King Crimson, and Roxy Music (guest musician).
Albums:
  1. "Return to Fantasy" (1975)
  2. "High and Mighty" (1976)
David Byron forms Rough DiamondJohn Wetton joins Bryan Ferry, and later joins Asia.

Uriah Heep VIII (September 1976 - October 1979)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Trevor Bolder - bass - formerly with David Bowie, Mick Ronson, and The Spiders From Mars.
  • John Lawton - vocals - formerly with Lucifer's Friend.
Albums:
  1. "Firefly" (1977) - Single: "Wise Man"
  2. "Innocent Victim" (1978) - Single: "Free Me"
  3. "Fallen Angel" (1979)
  4. "Live in Europe 1979" (1986)
Lee Kerslake forms Blizzard of Ozz (with Ozzy Osbourne).

Uriah Heep IX (November 1979 - May 1980)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Ken Hensley - keyboards
  • Trevor Bolder - bass
  • John Sloman - vocals/keyboards/guitar - formerly with Pulsar and Lone Star.
  • Chris Slade - drums - b. October 30, 1946 - formerly with Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
Album:
  1. "Conquest" (1980)
Ken Hensley joins Blackfoot.

Uriah Heep X (July 1980 - September 1980)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Trevor Bolder - bass
  • John Sloman - vocals/keyboards/guitar
  • Chris Slade - drums
  • Gregg Dechert - keyboards - b. Canada - formerly with Pulsar.
Group disbands.  Trevor Bolder joins Wishbone Ash. Chris Slade joins AC/DC.

Uriah Heep XI (April 1982 - April 1983)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Pete Goalby - vocals - formerly with Trapeze.
  • Bob Daisley - bass - formerly with Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz.
  • John Sinclair - keyboards - formerly with The Heavy Metal Kids and Lion.
Albums:
  1. "Abominog" (1982) - Singles: "The Way That It Is", "Think It Over"
  2. "Head First" (1983)
Bob Daisley rejoins Ozzy Osbourne.

Uriah Heep XII (May 1983 - November 1985)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Trevor Bolder - bass- returned from Wishbone Ash.
  • Pete Goalby - vocals
  • John Sinclair - keyboards
Album:
  1. "Equator" (1984)

Uriah Heep XIII (July 1986 - September 1986)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Trevor Bolder - bass
  • Phil Lanzon - keyboards - formerly with Grand Prix, Sad Cafe, and The Sweet.
  • Steff Fontaine - vocals

Uriah Heep XIV (1986 - Present)
  • Mick Box - guitar
  • Lee Kerslake - drums
  • Trevor Bolder - bass
  • Phil Lanzon - keyboards
  • Bernie Shaw - vocals - formerly with Cold Sweat, Grand Prix, Praying Mantis, and Stratus.
Albums:
  1. "Live In Moscow" (1988)
  2. "Raging Silence" (1989)
  3. "Different World" (1991)
  4. "Sea of Light" (1995)
  5. "Spellbinder" (live) (1996)
  6. "Sonic Origami" (1998)

Compilations:
  1. "The Best of Uriah Heep" (1976)
  2. "Power to the Rockers" (1988)
  3. "Legacy" (1988)
  4. "Two Decades In Rock" (3-CD box set) (1990)
  5. "Still 'Eavy, Still Proud" (1990)
  6. "Rarities from the Bronze Age" (1994)
  7. "Time of Revelation - 25 Years On" (box set) (1996)
  8. "King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents...Uriah Heep" (live) (1997)
  9. "Classic Heep - An Anthology" (2-CDs) (1998)
  10. "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Uriah Heep" (2001)

Ken Hensley solo:
  1. "Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf" (1973)
  2. "Eager to Please" (1975)
  3. "Free Spirit"
  4. "From Time to Time"

David Byron solo:
  1. "Take No Prisoners" (1975)
  2. "Baby Faced Killer"
  3. "On the Rocks"

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Last Revised:  February 6, 2005
© 2000, 2005 by Gary S. Hartman.  All rights reserved.
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