Uriah Heep are an English rock band from London. Formed in late 1969, the group originally featured vocalist David Byron, guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist Ken Hensley, bassist Paul Newton, and drummer Alex Napier. The current line-up consists of Box, alongside keyboardist Phil Lanzon and vocalist Bernie Shaw (both since 1986), Russell Gilbrook (since 2007) and bassist Dave Rimmer (since 2013).

History Nigel Olsson replaced Napier in early 1970, with both drummers contributing to the band's debut album ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble. Olsson was replaced by Keith Baker and then Iain Clark, before Lee Kerslake joined as the group's first long-term drummer in late 1971, when Mark Clarke also replaced Newton. Clarke was later replaced by Gary Thain, who first appeared on 1972's Demons and Wizards. Thain was fired from the band in early 1975 due to an "increasing drug problem", which eventually led to his death from a heroin overdose on 8 December that year; he was replaced by John Wetton.

Byron was fired from Uriah Heep in 1976 due to his growing alcohol abuse, which led to his death from liver failure in 1985. He was replaced by John Lawton, as bassist Trevor Bolder also joined during the same period, following Wetton's departure. After tensions arose between Lawton and Hensley, the vocalist left and was replaced by John Sloman, while Kerslake was replaced by Chris Slade shortly after his arrival. Due to disagreements with the addition of Sloman and the band's musical direction, Hensley left the band in 1980 and was briefly replaced by Gregg Dechert. By April 1981, only Box remained in Uriah Heep, rebuilding the band with the addition of bassist Bob Daisley, returning drummer Kerslake (both recently departed from Ozzy Osbourne's band), keyboardist John Sinclair (later of Ozzy Osbourne's band with Daisley) and new vocalist Peter Goalby (recently of Trapeze).

After the release of Abominog and Head First, Bolder returned to Uriah Heep in 1983. Goalby and Sinclair left in 1986, with Andy Scott's Sweet keyboardist Phil Lanzon and, briefly, Steff Fontaine taking over on vocals before Bernie Shaw was brought in a few months later. Uriah Heep's lineup remained stable until January 2007, when Kerslake was forced to leave the band due to "ongoing health problems". He was replaced by Russell Gilbrook in March. On 21 May 2013, Bolder died of cancer, having taken a touring hiatus due to an operation earlier that year with John Jowitt covering. He was later replaced by Dave Rimmer.

Members

Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMick Box1969–presentall Uriah Heep releasesPhil Lanzon1986–presentall Uriah Heep releases from Live in Moscow (1988) onwards, except Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997)Bernie Shawlead vocalsRussell Gilbrook2007–presentall Uriah Heep releases from Wake the Sleeper (2008) onwardsDave Rimmer2013–presentall Uriah Heep releases from Outsider (2014) onwards

Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKen Hensley1969–1980 David Byron1969–1976 lead and backing vocalsPaul Newton1969–1971 Alex Napier1969–1970 drums...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) Nigel Olsson1970...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) Keith BakerdrumsIain Clark1970–1971Look at Yourself (1971)Lee Kerslakeall Uriah Heep releases from Demons and Wizards (1972) to Fallen Angel (1978), and from Abominog (1982) to Magic Night (2004)Mark Clarke1971–1972Demons and Wizards (1972), Gary Thain1972–1975 John Wetton1975–1976 Trevor BolderJohn Lawton1976–1979 Chris Slade1979–1981Conquest (1980)John SlomanGregg Dechert1980–1981John Sinclair1981–1985Peter GoalbyBob Daisley1981–1983Steff Fontaine1986 (died 2026)lead vocalsnone

Substitute musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Jowitt2013bassJowitt toured with the band in early 2013, while Bolder underwent an undisclosed operation.Stefan Berggren2016vocalsBerggren substituted for Shaw on two occasions in 2016, due to family commitments.Don Airey2020keyboardsDeep Purple keyboardist Don Airey stood in for Lanzon at two shows in January 2020 after the keyboardist's son died.Sam Wood2026–present During some European shows in early 2026, Box was sidelined from the group due to health issues.

Session musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsColin Wood1969keyboards...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970)John Fiddy1970brass and woodwind arrangementSalisbury (1971)Manfred Mann 1971moog synthesizerLook at Yourself (1971)Ted Osei 1971 percussionMac Tontoh1971 Loughty Amao1971 Brian Cole1972pedal steel guitarThe Magician's Birthday (1972)Jose Gabriel1974synthesizersWonderworld (1974)Michael Gibbsorchestral arrangements Chris Mercer1978saxophone Fallen Angel (1978)Gerry Bron1979 timpani Conquest (1980)Frank RicottipercussionMaria Zackojiva1988–1989Russian spoken wordsRaging Silence (1989)Brett MorgandrumsDanny Wood1990accordionDifferent World (1991)Benny Marshall harmonicaSteve Piggottkeyboard programmingChildren of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford (as "All God's Children choir") choirAndrew Willoughbychoir conductorPiet Sielck1994–1995additional keyboardsSea of Light (1995)Pete Beckett Rolf Köhler 1994–1995 additional backing vocals

Timeline

Lineups Dates are taken from the band's official website. PeriodMembersStudio albumsAutumn 1969 – January 1970Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Alex Napier – drums...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) January – February 1970Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Nigel Olsson – drums...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) February – October 1970Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Keith Baker – drumsSalisbury (1971)October 1970 – November 1971Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Iain Clarke – drumsLook at Yourself (1971)November 1971 – February 1972Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Mark Clarke – bass, backing and lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocalsDemons and Wizards (1972) February 1972 – February 1975Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Gary Thain – bass, backing vocalsDemons and Wizards (1972) The Magician's Birthday (1972) Sweet Freedom (1973) Wonderworld (1974)March 1975 – August 1976Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals John Wetton – bass, backing and lead vocalsReturn to Fantasy (1975) High and Mighty (1976)September 1976 – October 1979Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals John Lawton – lead vocalsFirefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Fallen Angel (1978)November 1979 – May 1980Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals John Sloman – lead vocals, piano, keyboards Chris Slade – drumsConquest (1980)July 1980 – April 1981Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals John Sloman – lead vocals, piano, keyboards Chris Slade – drums Gregg Dechert – keyboards, backing vocals "Love Stealer" (1980) "Think It Over" (1981)April 1981 – April 1983Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals John Sinclair – keyboards, backing vocals Bob Daisley – bass, backing vocals Peter Goalby – lead vocalsAbominog (1982) Head First (1983)May 1983 – November 1985Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals John Sinclair – keyboards, backing vocals Peter Goalby – lead vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocalsEquator (1985)July – September 1986Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Steff Fontaine – lead vocalsnoneSeptember 1986 – January 2007Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocalsRaging Silence (1989) Different World (1991) Sea of Light (1995) Sonic Origami (1998)March 2007 – May 2013Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocals Russell Gilbrook – drums, backing vocalsWake the Sleeper (2008) Into the Wild (2011)May 2013 – presentMick Box – guitar, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocals Russell Gilbrook – drums, backing vocals Dave Rimmer – bass, backing vocalsOutsider (2014) Living the Dream (2018) Chaos & Colour (2023)

References

External links Uriah Heep official website