Uriah Heep

Formed in London in 1969 out of the group Spice, Uriah Heep established itself in the British hard rock scene of the early 1970s by blending elements of progressive rock, heavy rock and a strong melodic sensibility characterized by keyboards and vocal harmonies. Around guitarist Mick Box, the only member remaining from the start, Uriah Heep first drew attention with Very ’eavy... Very ’umble (1970), then honed its identity on Salisbury (1971), Demons and Wizards (1972) and The Magician’s Birthday (1972), albums where heavy riffs, prominent organ, epic formats and acoustic passages coexist. The era featuring David Byron on vocals and Ken Hensley on keyboards and songwriting remains central to the band’s development, before numerous lineup changes over the decades. In the 1980s Uriah Heep continued its course with an occasionally more direct approach, notably on Abominog (1982), without abandoning its taste for contrasts and choral choruses. Still active on stage, Uriah Heep continues to maintain a repertoire tied to the history of British hard rock, up to Chaos & Colour (2023).