Hallowed PDF-article Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm Hallowed PDF-article Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm subsequently became Vertigo. During the following months after beginning to work with Bron, the band changed the name to Uriah Heep (the ‘orrible little character from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens who was very much in fa- shion then because of the hundredth year since his death) on suggestion from Bron; they also started using the keyboards in their music. - We’d actually recorded half the first album when we decided that keyboards would be good for our sound, says Box who got this inspi- ration somewhat from being a fan of Vanilla Fudge with their hammond organs with guitars soaring on top. They decided to shape it like that along with David’s vibrato vocals. First they had session keyboardist Colin Woods who was brought in by Bron and it was when they started looking for a permanent keyboardist they found Ken Hensley who had been playing with Newton in The Gods and was now playing the gui- tar for Toe Fat. Hensley explains that he saw the potential to do something different with Uriah Heep which The history of Uriah Heep can Having higher ambitions that their though at first that made it difficult is why he joined the band. And it be dated all the way back to fellow band members Mick Box and getting gigs, eventually we built a was not only Hensley’s talents as a 1967, the year after the English David Byron quit their day jobs to little cult following because of that. keyboard player that would benefit World Cup of Football victory. focus on the music and started a In 1969 the band found a major the band, he could also write music It was then a young man called new band which was named Spice. break after slowly building more even though his contribution to the Mick Box started a band called Drummer Alex Napier was found and more support and reaching first album Very ‘eavy, Very ‘umble Stalker and played local clubs through an ad in a music paper, he higher levels. The man behind that was to re-record some of Woods’ and so on. This was in Walthamstow, got around the rule of no wife or girl- break was management/production keyboard lines and finishing the London, Great Britain. When the friend ties by saying that his wife was magnate Gerry Bron of Hit Records last couple of tracks. Box and By- singer of Stalker left, drummer Ro- his sister. The line up was completed Productions, he saw the band at the ron was the creative force behind ger Penlington suggested his cousing with bassist Paul Newton who came Blues Loft in High Wycombe and the first album, an album where David (Byron) to sing. David had from The Gods, maybe not literally was impressed with what he saw. He the band replaced drummer Na- been coming to see the band earlier from the gods but a band with that thought he could make something pier with Nigel “Ollie” Olsson th- and after a few pints also been sing- name. out of the band and signed them at ree quarters into the recordings. ing on stage with them according to - We were always striving to do that basis, his production company The album was released 19th of Mick Box. something original, Box recalls, and had a deal with Phillips record who June 1970. 5 Hallowed PDF-article Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm Despite the fact that the de- but album was diverse and this album. It was also still innovative while still in line an experimental time for minute long title track that with the times, it was pick- the band with the writing is a mix of orchestral things, ed on because of the hea- relationship between By- woodwinds, keyboards, viness. The critics reviews ron, Box and Hensley just in brass and what have you, it ranged from “interesting”, their early stages. is probably one of the most “skillful but not particular- Salisbury was the next al- ambitious things ever un- ly original”, “a veritable bum by Uriah Heep and for dertaken by the band. The pain to listen to”, to the now that drummer Ollie Olsson press however did not re- infamous Rolling Stone pro- had left the band to go back ally see this side of the coin, mise that “If this band ma- to Elton John because of his they were still preoccupied kes it I’ll commit suicide. success in the states. New with the heaviness of the They sound like a third rate drummer was Keith Baker. band and as Ken Hensley ‘July Morning’ they made Jethro Tull.” To the latter, Gerry Bron was once said: “all we knew in those The Early Years their first album that made Box just replied that none in again the producer but this days was that we wanted it into the charts at number Uriah Heep had ever played time in the songwriting the- to play loud rock and roll - I never quite knew what 39. the flute and that none of re was a lot of Ken Hensley music” it might not be that happened to him, Box members. The chemistry between them was capable of stan- who wrote half of the songs difficult to see why even replies to the question of And with that experience Box, Hensley and Byron ding on one leg. (I have not and co-wrote the other half though it is a very complex whether drummer Keith behind them the band re- was evolving so fast at this been able to find any info on of the songs on the album. and diverse album, maybe Baker spontaneously com- turned home to Britain to time and even if the music whether the reviewer com- Salisbury is an album in part due to the band still busted, a question that still start working on their third was becoming more consis- mitted suicide or not, but I known for more diversity looking to find their own remains unanswered. album, this was to be re- tent and finding the voice guess not.) and a musical identity. leased on Bron’s own label of the band, the same could You could say that this al- development CROSSING THE OCEANS Bronze since his deal with not be said for the ones out- bum baffled the reviewers from the debut It was now that the band Vertigo was now over. side the nucleus of these but it had impact, rather but also for it’s large impact musically with over sixteen was going for their first three mentioned. trip to the states, with new The recording of Look at Both Iain Clarke and Paul drummer Ian Clark in the Yourself was done during Newton was not very hap- band they were well recei- the summer of 1971, for the py in the band at this time ved when they got to the third time in Landsdowne and Newton was the first to states playing in front of which was becoming like a go in favour of Mark Clark 20’000 people supporting second home for the band. who should not be staying Three Dog Night and Step- This was also the album for long. Iain Clarke left the penwolf. where the band according band and allowed for Lee - Playing with Three Dog to Bron found their own Kerslake to join the band. 7 Night was all wrong musi- musical direction and with Also of The Gods, he was cally but it was invaluable songs like ‘Look At Your- approached earlier when experience for us, Box re- self’, ‘Tears In My Eyes’ and Keith Baker left, he had de- Hallowed PDF-article Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm why the next album was a had been the cornerstone band’s character and perso- live album, or maybe it was of their show for some time nality at the time. It was a clined that time but now he followed by Gary Thain, a tour. just a natural thing at the now, but it was also known double album lavi- was not going to miss the New Zealander who repla- With Kerslake and Thain for the inner sleeves with shly packaged opportunity. Kerslake was ced Clark halfway through in the band everything just loads of press clippings in a gatefold the american seemed to click into place, both good and bad. with an eight Following the release of page booklet this live album the band to accompa- went for another tour to ny it. Japan before it was time The album to work on the next stu- held the dio album which is called classic med- Sweet Freedom, an album ley of rock that deviated from esta- songs that blished routine. This time or as Hensley stated in the band and helped liner note for the album De- them establish a mons & Wizards: that the niche for them- band was now completed selves. time. With the imaginary and how excited they were title Uriah Heep Live this with the reorganisations THE MAGICIANS live album was recorded that had taken place. BIRTHDAY in January of 1973 and is For the uninitiated it The following said to be a testimony to the would seem that Demons album, The Ma- & Wizards was a step into gicians Birthday the magical and the fantasy cannot be said to ladies rubbed of on themed but it was not that have Established a niche for their stage personali- simple, sure there are some the band however, it was ties.