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Uriah Heep music biography continued...

responsible for much of the group's groundbreaking work consisted of Mick Box (guitar), David Byron (vocals), Ken Hensley (keyboards), Gary Thain (bass) and Lee Kerslake (drums). Their first album, released in 1970, Very 'eavy, Very'urnble was a cross between psychedelia, the dominant trend of the time, and heavy metal. In 1971, Uriah Heep released Salisbury, considered by many to a classic album of this genre with a title track a fifteen-minute, highly orchestrated piece featuring multi-part harmonies and the overdubbing of orchestral music. Also released that year was Look at Yourself, a less orchestrated work, but according to music critics still brimming with psychedelic romanticism and heavy guitar-keyboard work. The band followed in 1972 with Demons and Wizards, a less orchestrated album which represented their most critically and commercially applauded effort, reaching number 20 on the British charts and number 23 on the U.S. In 1973, the band released Sweet Freedom which included one of their most recognizable songs, "Stealin'." The song, in fact, became something of a trademark in later years and can still be heard on classic rock stations. Also released in 1973 was Uriah Heep Live which featured a medley of early rock songs which became a staple of FM radio play at the time, and raised the band's profile even higher.



In 1974, the band released Wonderworld, which, although it sold pretty well, was panned by the critics. By this time drug abuse amongst band members and an unstable line-up further contributed to Uriah Heep's decline. The next year saw the beginning of the end for the band as David Byron, one of the core members and the lead vocalist, left to pursue a solo career. Their audience declined by the 1980s, to the point where they became essentially a cult band in the US and UK, though They continued to record and perform throughout the 90's mainly in Europe for audiences that had become known as "Heepsters." The band is still pleasing "Heepsters" to this day with albums like Wake the Sleeper and Celebration.