Artist · EveryDisc catalogue

Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep is a British rock band formed in 1969 in London, England, which borrowed its name from a character in Charles Dickens’s novel "David Copperfield." The band’s first lineup was formed when producer Gerry Bron invited keyboardist Ken Hensley (who had previously played in The Gods and Toe Fat) to join the members of Spice; world fame was brought to the band in 1971–1973 by the albums Look at Yourself, Demons and Wizards, and The Magician's Birthday, which are considered hard rock classics. Uriah Heep created their own original version of hard rock, saturating it with elements of prog, art, jazz rock, and heavy metal. A trademark of their style was the spectacular backing vocal parts with complex multi-part harmonies and the dramatic vocals of David Byron. Uriah Heep’s stylistic experiments were of significant importance for the development of rock music. Twelve of the band’s albums entered the UK Albums Chart; the greatest success there was Return to Fantasy (#1, 1975). In the USA, 15 albums entered the Billboard 200, of which Demons and Wizards climbed higher than others (#23, 1972). Furthermore, four Uriah Heep singles entered the Billboard Hot 100. In the mid-1970s, the band had significant success in Germany, where the single "Lady in Black" became a hit. In the 1970s alone, the band sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and to date, more than 40 million albums have been sold. Uriah Heep’s lineup has changed repeatedly, but the quintet of Mick Box, David Byron, Ken Hensley, Gary Thain, and Lee Kerslake is considered "classic."