URIAH HEEP
32 years in Rock.
Uriah Heep just keep on going .
Uriah Heep have been a major part of my life for 32years and this year has been the best thus far.
How it Started.
In 1972 I sat every night listening to Radio Luxembourg. Every week they had a powerplay which was played on the hour, every hour.
One week it was a group called Uriah Heep and their 1st Worldwide Single.....LOOK AT YOURSELF. This prompted me to buy my first vinyl album.(Actually ..I bought 2,the other was John Kongos...remember,He's gonna step on you again and Tokoloshe Man?...Maybe not) So...I bought Look at Yourself.
Then by mail order (Cob records in Wales) I got Very 'eavy very 'umble and Salisbury. I loved them both but I still have fond memories of Look at Yourself. (My first!!!)Love Machine, July Morning ,and Look at Yourself stand out from that album.I can remember being excited by Look at Yourself but the first 2 albums just filled the gap. A terrible thing to say with Gypsy on the first album. But my favourites were Real Turned on and Keep on Trying...Yeah ,. Gypsy was ok.!!!!On the 2nd album, Salisbury was the ace track.
At school I looked forward to the next one, Demons and Wizards. I saw the tour advert in Melody Maker. I almost got to see them in Glasgow but circumstances got the better of me and I failed. Easy Livin' and The Wizard were superb.I even saw them perform Wizard on tv with the boiling kettle!
Magicians Birthday arrived and I loved it....Sunrise and Magicians Birthday in particular. AND.................I finally saw them live . They were intoxicating and appeared with Peter Frampton.
And on it goes...Sweet Freedom was a good album as was Return to Fantasy.I have loved every Heep album and bought every Heep album (with a few exceptions....no best of and few compilations).
Mid Term.
I saw the Lawton line up...I missed them in Edinburgh as John had a sore throat and they cancelled.!!! (March 1977)
I saw Chris Slade on drums and John Sloman on vocals.
I saw Peter Goalby, Sinclair and Daisley.
I saw Gunshot and Ken Hensley in Workington after he left Heep and remember Day Tripper as one of the encores!!! I spoke to the whole band and they seemed so up for it but folded after the tour.
Up to Date
Heepvention 2000 saw Jim play guitar on..Stealin (with Michael Keuter), Come Back to Me (with Dale Fredericks and how we enjoyed it), and Rainbow Demon where Jim on guitar decided he wanted to play Gypsy instead of Rainbow Demon. (Thanks guys, sincere apologies from me)`
....Future Echoes Of The Past.
I went down to the Astoria for the recording along with a horde of other Heep fans. What a day!
and went to the first public showing of it. Is it good? It is awesome. Awesome beyond believe. See my review on the official Heep web page. What a night at Planet Hollywood. I had to go to a wedding in Kendal, The Lake District the next day. How I suffered in the passenger seat that day. ( ohhhh my head!)
.....Acoustically Driven.
The Aoelian pipes at the end. A defining moment. Your heart soars and beats faster. How absolutely wonderful.
Blind eye is so good too. I didn't attend the recording but my spouse says I should have. Wise after the event. (I kick myself.)
.........Astoria...Electrically Driven (the official Bootleg)
I only bought it 'cause I was there. BUT ...This is a superb live album whether you were there or not. I was amazed at how much I liked it. I didn't expect to. (I have the same opinion of re-masters. It IS good..buy it)
......NEXT?
Magicians Birthday Party.
With Thijs Van Leer, John Lawton AND Ken Hensley.
Sublime. Wonderful. At the Empire in London. Heep were truly awesome. How weird to see Ken there too. Beyond description...AND I was there. (with a few friends).
Again...................see photos and review at uriah-heep.com
Uriah Heep.
They have been important to me throughout my life, and they still rock on today.2002 sees an impetus gathering for Mick and the guys. Give them a listen....They are varied, loud and proud...........GIVE THEM A LISTEN!
Studio album this year???? YES.
There is no sleep with Uriah Heep.
They are LOUD.
Jim Ferrie..2002
See links to Uriah Heep here.