Original article by
By Jeb Wright
And can be found on the excellent
Uriah Heep is trekking across the USA for the first time in nearly a decade. Added to their arsenal of hits are several new songs from their latest releases Wake the Sleeper and Celebration. The band are smart enough to base their set on the classics, yet savvy and proud enough to sprinkle in the new material. Heep, never forgetting their hardcore fan base, also throws in a few album cuts from yesteryear as well.
Band founder, and leader, Mick Box began the show with the intense title track from their critically acclaimed Wake the Sleeper album. Mick hit the wah-wah pedal like a madman driving a four-wheel drive up the Rockies. Next up was the classic Heep tune “Return to Fantasy.” Shaw is the lead singer for the band, not simply a replacement for the late David Byron. He deserves much more credit than he receives for both his vocal contributions and his ability to work a crowd. Imagining Uriah Heep without Shaw seems impossible. This says heaps [pun intended] about his abilities and personality.
Bass player Trevor Bolder plays the low-end four string like a lead guitarist. His contributions are essential to the bands’ sound. Keyboard player Phil Lanzon, on the other hand, is front and center to the Heep sound. He handles the pressure of replacing founding member, and rock icon, Ken Hensley with ease. Speaking of tough people to replace, drummer Russell Gilbrook has the daunting task of filling the drum seat of one of Heep’s most beloved members, Lee Kerslake. Russell goes about his business as if he has been playing with the band for decades. He brings a fresh energy to the band that is thrust onto the audience whether they want it or not.
The bands' newest release, Celebration, sees the band celebrating their 4th decade by re-recording their classics plus two new tracks, “Only Human” and “Corridors of Madness,” both of which fit in well with the older tunes. The classic “Bird of Prey” was sandwiched in between a couple of new tunes and led to a standing ovation from the Heep hungry crowd. Shaw did not have to coax the attendance to sing the “oohs” and “ahhs” to the classic “Stealin’.” This song stands the test of time and, like a fine wine, gets better with age.
The epic “Love in Silence” represented Sea of Light, an album highly praised by fans. After the song only Lanzon and Shaw remained on stage. They duo performed a touching rendition of the classic “Rain” from The Magician’s Birthday. The crowd was in awe of this unexpected performance. Between the last note of the song, and the applause, one could clearly hear a fan up front simply say “thank you,” a fitting response to a poignant song. “The Wizard” and “Sunrise” followed and were the pinnacle of the show. Both songs were performed with mastery and left all in attendance with jaws agape.
Heep not only kept the momentum going, they shifted the entire evening into overdrive with “Gypsy,” “July Morning” and “Easy Livin’” all being performed to end the show. Between “Gypsy” and “July Morning” was a song from Wake the Sleeper written by bassist Trevor Bolder titled “Angels Walk With You.” This may be the best Uriah Heep track written in the last twenty years. The band left the stage after “Easy Livin’” but returned with Box adorning his acoustic guitar. The crowd joined in for the chorus of “Lady In Black.” Shaw even warned the crowd when the high note was coming so they could be sure to hit it.
At the end of the day, Uriah Heep not only performed well, they enjoyed each other and the audience. The best thing one can say about Uriah Heep is that they are a true band. Their fans are simply a part of their extended family. After the show they met with all who wanted to stand in line and signed autographs and posed for pictures for two hours, even though they had not yet eaten dinner.
One can only hope it does not take them nine more years to do the next USA tour. This writer, for one, simply can’t wait that long. Long live Heep!
Track List CD 1
1 Wake the Sleeper
2 Return to Fantasy
3 Only Human
4 Book of Lies
5 Bird of Prey
6 Corridors of Madness
7 Stealin’
8 Love in Silence
9 Rain
Track List CD 2
10 The Wizard
11 Sunrise
12 Free & Easy
13 Gypsy
14 Angels Walk With You
15 July Morning
16 Easy Livin'
17 Lady in Black
Uriah Heep is trekking across the USA for the first time in nearly a decade. Added to their arsenal of hits are several new songs from their latest releases Wake the Sleeper and Celebration. The band are smart enough to base their set on the classics, yet savvy and proud enough to sprinkle in the new material. Heep, never forgetting their hardcore fan base, also throws in a few album cuts from yesteryear as well. 
Miller Anderson has been on the cutting-edge of rock for more than three decades. Although he's only released two solo albums -- Bright City in 1971 and Celtic Moon in 1988 -- the Scotland-born guitarist and vocalist has been involved with many influential musicians. Since cutting his musical teeth in bands with Ian Hunter (pre-Mott the Hoople) and Bill Bruford (pre-King Crimson and Yes), Anderson has been a member of such bands as the Keef Hartley Band, Savoy Brown, T. Rex, Mountain, the Spencer Davis Group, and in groups led by Yes vocalist Jon Lord and folk-rock balladeer Donovan. Anderson launched his career with the Royal Crests in 1964, continuing to play with the group as they evolved into Karl Stuart & the Profiles. Although he recorded one single with the Voice, "Train to Disaster" b/w "Truth," he left the band soon afterwards and was replaced by Mick Ronson. After meeting Ian Hunter during recording sessions at Regent Sound Studios, Anderson and Hunter formed a band, the Scenery, with drummer John Verson Smith. The group, which enlarged into a quartet with the addition of keyboardist Dante Smith, released an EP in Japan. In 1967, the group became the backup band for pianist/vocalist Freddie "Fingers" Lee as the Freddie "Fingers" Lee Band. While Anderson temporarily left the group to join the Paper Blitz Tissue, where he met Bill Bruford who replaced drummer Dave Dufort, he rejoined Hunter and Lee in March 1968 to form the oddly named group At Last the 1958 Rock 'n' Roll Show. After recording one single, "I Can't Drive" b/w "Workin' on the Railroad," the band changed their name to Charlie Woolfe. Upon leaving this group, Anderson and Hunter temporarily resurrected the Scenery. In late 1968, Anderson joined the Keef Hartley Band. Although they had begun to work on their debut album, the group had changed their lead singer twice before Anderson was recruited. In addition to playing with them at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969, Anderson recorded five albums with the band -- Halfbreed, The Battle of North West, The Time Is Near, Overdrive, and the live album Little Big Band. Leaving the group to start his solo career, Anderson formed the Miller Anderson Band.
