Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep were formed in 1970 by keyboard player Ken Hensley,
guitarist Mick Box and vocalist David Byron. Byron and Box had
previously been with Essex-based band Spice, who had recorded a
single for United Artists in 1968. Hensley had previously played
with The Gods, who recorded two notable psychedelic albums for EMI's
Columbia label in 1969.
Taking their inspiration from heavy rock bands such as Deep
Purple and Led Zeppelin, Heep
signed to Gerry Bron's Bronze organisation, who had a deal with the
newly established Vertigo label.
In 1970 the band recorded their debut album, Very 'Eavy, Very
'Umble which immediately gained favourable reaction from fans,
if not from the critics. Various drummers were enlisted during the
band's first year of touring (shades of Spinal Tap), but following
the release of 1971's orchestrated Salisbury, Lee Kerslake
was recruited as permanent skinsman.
Despite various line-up changes, critical derision and the
departure of singer David Byron in the mid-70s, Uriah Heep became a
major concert attraction throughout the world, particularly in the
USA, selling millions of records in the process.
Uriah Heep probably pioneered the concept of the organ solo (and
6th form lads everywhere have never been the same since!) . . . and
for my money, David Byron just always seemed to try too hard with
all his screams and his "aaah"s. And when they weren't
giving it the art school mega pomp they were wallowing in naff
acoustic ballads with crap lyrics. Ok, so I'm not a big fan. . .
My mate Tony will no doubt disagree and tell me that ver Heep
helped change the shape of music (and what was wrong with the shape
it was in, I ask you?).
 Still, along with Black Sabbath
they probably helped pioneer Heavy Metal
(except it was called Hard Rock or "Progressive"
Rock back then). How progressive? Well check out Lady in
Black . . . It's only got two chords all the way through for
Christ's sake! Moving from the sublime to the ridiculous, have a
listen to Salisbury - the most over orchestrated song in the
history of western music!
On the positive side, the cover of Look at Yourself
(pictured at right) had a
mirror on it which probably came in dead handy for the sixth formers
and art school lads to cut up some lines of go-fast before they
slapped on the album and went very very slow!
And I did quite like Free Me from the 1977 Innocent
Victim LP (even though it sounded more like The
Eagles).
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