To this day I still remember seeing Uriah Heep's first album in the window of my local record shop when it first came out. Over the years that followed there was a handful of albums that I bought purely because of the cover but 'Very eavy, Very umble' was the first. I became a fan just on the strength of the opening track, Gipsy. Salisbury came next and I still adore every moment of the title track. And Lady in Black remains one of Ken Hensley's finest compositions.
I saw Heep live six times in their first few years. In the summer of 1973 I turned 20 years of age and saw them for the last time at the week long London Music Festival at the Alexandra Palace when they headlined the final night. The Heavy Metal Kids opened the show and I remember their singer, Gary Holton introducing one of their numbers thus; "This next song is for all those people who don't like us, It's called We Won't Talk To You" - which still ranks as one of the best song announcements I've ever heard! The Alex Harvey Band were next. It's the only time I ever saw them but I remember Alex getting a bit annoyed at the (unfair) heckling from people who were only there to see Uriah Heep and I think they cut their set short because of the heckling. And then Heep were there, probably one of the biggest gigs they'd done in Europe up till that time. Though I can't remember much about it, I know it was a great show with David Byron resplendent in a matching shiny short jacket and loon pants - can't remember the colour!
I kind of lost track of the band around the mid 70's. I was into so many bands and artists by then I simply couldn't afford to follow everyone so some had to give way and Heep was one of them. I was very saddened upon reading of David Byron's passing. Though he's no longer with the band, Ken Hensley, as well as being a fine musician, is, I think, one of the great and most underrated songwriters of all time, in any genre.
In recent years I've wished I'd kept up with Heep but their still going strong due entirely to Mick Box, bless him. So despite damaged hearing, caused almost entirely by loud music, I may still one day get to see the Heep live!
To this day I still remember seeing Uriah Heep's first album in the window of my local record shop when it first came out. Over the years that followed there was a handful of albums that I bought purely because of the cover but 'Very eavy, Very umble' was the first. I became a fan just on the strength of the opening track, Gipsy. Salisbury came next and I still adore every moment of the title track. And Lady in Black remains one of Ken Hensley's finest compositions.
I saw Heep live six times in their first few years. In the summer of 1973 I turned 20 years of age and saw them for the last time at the week long London Music Festival at the Alexandra Palace when they headlined the final night. The Heavy Metal Kids opened the show and I remember their singer, Gary Holton introducing one of their numbers thus; "This next song is for all those people who don't like us, It's called We Won't Talk To You" - which still ranks as one of the best song announcements I've ever heard! The Alex Harvey Band were next. It's the only time I ever saw them but I remember Alex getting a bit annoyed at the (unfair) heckling from people who were only there to see Uriah Heep and I think they cut their set short because of the heckling. And then Heep were there, probably one of the biggest gigs they'd done in Europe up till that time. Though I can't remember much about it, I know it was a great show with David Byron resplendent in a matching shiny short jacket and loon pants - can't remember the colour!
I kind of lost track of the band around the mid 70's. I was into so many bands and artists by then I simply couldn't afford to follow everyone so some had to give way and Heep was one of them. I was very saddened upon reading of David Byron's passing. Though he's no longer with the band, Ken Hensley, as well as being a fine musician, is, I think, one of the great and most underrated songwriters of all time, in any genre.
In recent years I've wished I'd kept up with Heep but their still going strong due entirely to Mick Box, bless him. So despite damaged hearing, caused almost entirely by loud music, I may still one day get to see the Heep live!
Love and best wishes to all.