In January 2007, Uriah Heep announced that veteran drummer Lee Kerslake was leaving the band due to health problems.

"Uriah Heep regret to announce that, due to ongoing health problems, longstanding drummer Lee Kerslake is to leave the band with immediate effect.

During 2006, when Uriah Heep toured in some twenty territories ranging from Indonesia, India and Thailand through to Brazil, Peru, Russia and Bulgaria, concluding with a six week Acoustic Tour through Europe, Lee found the rigors of constant touring increasingly stressful and will now take the opportunity over the next few months to embark on a stringent campaign in order to resolve his health issues.

Comments Heep lead guitarist and founder member Mick Box: "All the band are fully behind Lee in his efforts to become fully match fit again.  For me, it is particularly devastating to lose not only someone who I have worked with for some thirty five years, but also one of my closest and oldest friends who I love like a brother.  It is, however, in the best interests of both Lee and the band that a change is made now.  This is an important time in the history of the band - We have just signed a new worldwide recording contract with Sanctuary Records and are about to commence recording our first new studio album in almost a decade and it is vital that there is consistency between both the recording and the forthcoming eighteen month long world tour to coincide with the album?s release in September".

The band will now start actively auditioning potential drummers and we will keep you informed as events unfold."

On March 14, 2007 this announcement was posted at
www.uriah-heep.com....

"URIAH HEEP are delighted to announce that the drummer RUSSELL GILBROOK has joined the band.  He replaces LEE KERSLAKE who left the band in January due to health reasons.
Russell is regarded as one of the UK?s finest drummers and clinician?s and has demonstrated specialist drum clinics all over Europe.  He has worked with such diverse artists as Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Van Morrison, John Farnham, Alan Price, Chris Barber and Lonnie Donnigan

On April 14th 2007 Russell Gilbrook appeared with th eband at his first gig,in Vuokatti, Finland
 

Talk to Mick Box (and if you get the opportunity then do so, because he'll certainly talk back) and he'll reflect back on the history of Heep with a glint in his eye and a smile on his face (after selling millions of records he's entitled to), and like any seasoned traveller who's just returned from a momentous journey he'll, along with Lee Kerslake, Trevor Bolder and indeed, Ken Hensley, recall the highs and lows, ups and downs, with genuine affection. And you know what? They won't have regretted a single minute of it. They've had their share of 'appy days alright, but they're not over yet, that's for sure.
 

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