Billy K. Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Kind of interesting that I heard this song on the radio.....it was a 70s tune, obviously, and done really well....thought it was an odd/obscure Grand Funk album track....As it turns out, it was Uriah Heep....and the DJ says "happy birthday to lead singer David Byron, who turns 60 today".....I'm thinking, "didn't Byron die from a drug overdose over 10 years ago?"Anyway, my curiousity is getting to me.....I don't know a heck of a lot about Heep....just that they are still around, and mostly non-original members.Got a few Heep questions:(1) Any chart hits, other than "Easy Livin'"?(not the song I heard a couple of days ago)(2) Byron and bassist Gary Thain were New Zealanders--all the rest were Brits, right? (both Byron and Thain were drug casualties?)(3) I know the name came from some fantasy/magicbook(pre-Harry Potter)....which one?(4) Any recommended tracks/albums? Greatest hits/compliations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 While I know very little about the band, and never cared about their music, I do know that Uriah Heep was a character in Dickens' "David Copperfield," not a fantasy/magic book..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I was a big fan of this band back in the day. "Sunrise" is another track worth checking out along with the aforementioned "Easy Livin'." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallytosa Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Stealin' was another big Uriah Heep song. I still hear it on the radio. Our band back in the 70s did both Easy Livin' and Stealin' - Great songs. I don't know much about the band anymore except that they went through many changes throughout their run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 JohnO, I couldn't help but think that connotation with magic....I remember one of their albums being called "Demons and Wizards"....so I presumed the name came from Tolkien or someone like that. Thanks for straightening it out for me.Rod Stewart would be disappointed that I don't know any Dickens or Keats WallyTosa, yes, "Stealin'" was the song I heard a few days ago....first time I heard it. But then again, growing up in San Francisco, radio had, for better or for worse, slightly different playlists than the rest of the country..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzza Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Billy, whilst Thain was a New Zealander I think you'll find that David Byron was also EnglishMuzza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew C. Clark Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 "The Wizard" is one of my favorites (from "Demons And Wizards"). Critic John Swenson did NOT like David Byron though. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny S. Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 OMG Heep fans! I love it!!!The "new" Heep (Guitarist Mick Box is the only original member)sound great...But nothing like that raw stuff from the '70s. I love July Morning, Sweet Lorraine, Sunrise, Gypsy..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Benfer Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Love them and own every album. Other than 'Easy Livin' and 'Stealin' I don't think I have ever heard another Heep song on the radio. I agree with Matt....The Wizard is a great song. As far as Byron turning 60??? I'm sure he died too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I play Easy Livin' on my morning show from time to time...It still sounds good on the air...The Wiki says that David Byron "died of an epileptic fit and liver disease on February 28th 1985, at the age of 38."...So the jock who wished him happy birthday was about 22 years late for his last birthday alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 I took a look at Heep's website, and it has an interesting and detailed look at the band's history. Kind of looks like a Spinal Tap-like story...except it's real. Former members included Lee Kerslake(who also played for Ozzy Osbourne)--in fact, did two tours of duty with the band...... Nigel Olsson(Elton John's drummer)also played with the Heep for a brief period......and John Wetton, who later on was with UK, Buggles, and Asia.Gary Thain's electric shock at a show in Texas was much worse than the one Ace Frehley got onstage. In fact, Thain was out of action for a while..... only to die of a heroin overdose.And one of the most original album titles, "Sonic Origami".Quite an interesting read, even if you are not into their music..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimvriezen Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 They were just a few weeks ago in the Swiss charts again with "Lady In Black", which was a number 1 single in the German charts in the seventies...In Holland they hit the Top 40 with "Easy Living" and "Return To Fantasy"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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