URIAH HEEP on “Bang your Head!!! Festival - The Best of” - 2 DVD Edition !

The “Bang Your Head Festival” belongs to one of the biggest and most important Heavy Metal/Hard Rock events in Germany.

 Thanks to Renate !

RECREATING MAGIC: Uriah Heep performing at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: "We will try to cover 35 years," was Uriah Heep's promise to all Heepsters who turned up on a chilly Bangalore evening to listen to them live after a gap of 22 years. In 1984, 300 people turned up for the concert but this time around it was ten times that number and included many that were born after 1984.

The band began with "So Tired" but showed no hint of fatigue with energy that they sustained throughout the performance. Formed in 1969, the only surviving member of the original band today is Mick Box, the lead guitarist. He was assisted by Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Lee Kerslake on drums, Trevor Bolder on bass guitar and Phil Lanzon on the keyboard.

Playing hard and progressive rock genres, Heep had the crowd "Falling in Love" early. The band's music is not easily available in India but the number of fans who could chorus their lyrics was truly a sight to see and hear.

Fans of Deep Purple and Whitesnake didn't find it hard to place Heep's music because they are a more or less a blend of the two iconic bands. There were the numbers like "Bird of Prey", "Easy Livin'", and "Gypsy" which were all about speed guitar and powerful riffs, while "If I Had Time", a ballad with just vocals and the keyboard was more of the melodic tunes the band is famous for.

The energy of Shaw on the vocals and the absolute ease with which Box handled the lead and the acoustic guitar was the highlight of the show.

Knowing the audience may find it difficult to follow newer numbers, the band stuck to classics like "Sweet Lorraine", "July Morning", "Stealin'" and "Look At Yourself"

Feb 10, 2006

RECREATING MAGIC: Uriah Heep performing at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: "We will try to cover 35 years," was Uriah Heep's promise to all Heepsters who turned up on a chilly Bangalore evening to listen to them live after a gap of 22 years. In 1984, 300 people turned up for the concert but this time around it was ten times that number and included many that were born after 1984.

The band began with "So Tired" but showed no hint of fatigue with energy that they sustained throughout the performance. Formed in 1969, the only surviving member of the original band today is Mick Box, the lead guitarist. He was assisted by Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Lee Kerslake on drums, Trevor Bolder on bass guitar and Phil Lanzon on the keyboard.

Playing hard and progressive rock genres, Heep had the crowd "Falling in Love" early. The band's music is not easily available in India but the number of fans who could chorus their lyrics was truly a sight to see and hear.

Fans of Deep Purple and Whitesnake didn't find it hard to place Heep's music because they are a more or less a blend of the two iconic bands. There were the numbers like "Bird of Prey", "Easy Livin'", and "Gypsy" which were all about speed guitar and powerful riffs, while "If I Had Time", a ballad with just vocals and the keyboard was more of the melodic tunes the band is famous for.

The energy of Shaw on the vocals and the absolute ease with which Box handled the lead and the acoustic guitar was the highlight of the show.

Knowing the audience may find it difficult to follow newer numbers, the band stuck to classics like "Sweet Lorraine", "July Morning", "Stealin'" and "Look At Yourself".

 

Feb 9, 2006 from Hua Hin Today

Friday 17 February 2006 at BEC-Tero Hall I, Suanlum Night Bazaar. Door open 7 pm, show time 8 pm.

For when Mick Box decided to offer the vacant position to ex-Grand Prix, Praying Mantis and Stratus vocalist Bernie Shaw, it was a move that was to pay the highest dividends. Box had checked Shaw out at Stratus' farewell performance at the Marquee, on the advice of Heep and former Grand Prix tour manager Howard Menzies.

And so there was a new found optimism during 1987. Once again there was a definite feeling within the camp that here was a line-up that had a certain something about it. Things had taken an about turn behind the scenes too, as Heep had severed their old management connections the year before, linking up with the Miracle Group of Companies for business management. "I'd known the band for several years," says boss Steve Parker, "and had always been impressed by their tenacity. When the opportunity arose, I didn't need to think twice."

The history making concerts at Moscow's Olympic Stadium, where the band played to a total of 180,000 people across ten consecutive nights (following a welcoming reception that Bernie remembers as being "something like Beatlemania"), represented not just an achievement for Uriah Heep but a major breakthrough for western music in general, opening the door for the likes of the Scorpions, Bon Jovi, Status Quo and Motley Crue.

Different world, then the search for a different label
Work began on a new album in 1990 but with tours in North and South America and several festivals in Europe, the band were constantly in and out of the studio and consequently the album release was delayed. Richard Dodd (producer of Raging Silence) was unavailable, so Trevor Bolder assumed the production responsibilities. Released early in 1991, Different World.

The present line up of Mick Box, Trevor Bolder, Bernie Shaw, Phil Lanzon and Lee Kerslake spans over a third of their history and is the longest lasting of all. Mick Box may be the only ever present member but Lee Kerslake has been around for all but a couple of years, Trevor Bolder has played bass in Uriah Heep for almost three quarters of the band’s career, Shaw has been the longest serving of all the vocalists and Lanzon’s time on keyboards will by 1996 be equal to Ken Hensley’s time in the band. They work better together today than any of the previous line ups and their latest album, Sea of Light.

September 14 of 1998 "Sonic Origami" is released, a brand new album produced by Pip Wiliams. The band did a very successful tour in Europe, 45 countries were visited by the king of the road. A planned US tour in the autumn of 1999 was cancelled. Heep just carries on and in November of 1999 a new tour in Europe was done.

A reunion gig took place in London on December 7, 2001 with Ken Hensley & John Lawton. The Magicians Birthday Party was the first celebration of Heepmusic that now has turned into a Heeptradition. Heepfans come to London every year to enjoy the band and guests. In 2004 the event was held at the Astoria. November 6th 2004 the Magicians Birthday Party takes place at the Shepherds Bush. In the meantime the band looks at an extensive touring schedule, to places all over the world.


The future looks brighter than ever

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.

Feb 8 2006
Thanks to the Uriah Heep Yahoo Group


http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1011847


They are taking music to people by heeps and bounds

Riddhi Parekh
Tuesday, February 07, 2006 23:34 IST


Until this British band was formed, the name Uriah Heep was more famous as a character from the Charles Dickens classic David Copperfield. Today, the name instantly brings to mind images of classic rock - long hair, torn jeans, guitar riffs et al.

The band, slated to hit Mumbai on the first day of the One Tree Music Festival on February 10, is celebrating 20 years of playing with the current line up that includes Mick Box, Lee Kerslake, Trevor Bolder and Bernie Shaw.

This isn't Uriah Heep's first show in Mumbai - they performed here in 1984. Mick Box, the only member to have been with the band, says, "There was only one bass drum in the whole of Mumbai at that time! There are many bands that might have refused to play, but we made the most of it anyway."

According to Box, what sets Uriah Heep apart from other bands of that era is that unlike Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, they have five vocalists, not one. Uriah Heep is proud of its history, "We didn't just tour the safe countries like US and Europe. I couldn't believe we were the first band to play in Russia in December 1983. We have never hesitated doing shows in non-commercial regions like the Czech Republic."

He feels that music is a very powerful medium and Heep's policy is that if people cannot come to the music, they take the music to people, hence the 48 countries of touring.

Having toured since the 1970's, Box explains how different things are today. "There have been instances of our on stage pictures being posted online even before we reach home from the venue," he says.

He also explains that Uriah Heep isn't the kind of band that simply comes and plays to an audience. "We try to make the audience a part of our show. At the end of the day, it's all about the people," he says.

Box says that it is important to not have "tunnel audio vision" and as things have moved on by leaps and bounds, he listens to all kinds of music today, ranging from Canada's Tea Party to the rock songs by the Stereophonics, and System of a Down!

So what should this generation of rockers expect this Friday? They will surely be playing the classic songs that people have loved over the years, including songs from albums like Raging Silence, Sea of Light and Sonic Origami. "Hopefully everyone will leave with a big smile on their face, we certainly will," he concludes.

 

February 5 2006
 

January 28 2006

Mick Box on www.planetrock.com today from 7 PM. Listen from the website.

january 20th 2006

Just to let you know I have put up an interview with Mick and Bernie on the Progarchives.com site.

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17407

Click on the banner for the Mick / Bernie Interview 06/01
 

january 4th 2006

Mick Box remarks on Roger Waters in
Classic Rock Magazine

Click to Enlarge

Heep in Classic Rock Magazine again !
Thanks to Mike Taylor for the info - Click to enlarge

 

October 14th GOLDMINE

Magicians Birthday Party 2004

Mick Box Interview Prior to the shows here !
Provided by Martin Kramer and François
Part I   Part II
 Visit Martin's Heepsite here