Samson were an English heavy metal band from London. Formed in summer 1977, the group originally featured vocalist and guitarist Paul Samson, bassist Chris Aylmer and drummer Clive Burr. The group were active until the eponymous frontman's death in 2002, at which point their lineup included lead vocalist Nicky Moore, bassist Ian Ellis and drummer Billy Fleming.

History 1977–1985 Samson were formed by Paul Samson, Chris Aylmer and Clive Burr in the summer of 1977. In March 1978, the group briefly experimented with a four-piece lineup featuring Stewart Cochrane on bass and Aylmer on rhythm guitar, however this was abandoned after one performance. The band released their first single "Telephone" in September, before Mark Newman briefly took over on lead vocals for a run of shows. Burr was replaced by Barry "Thunderstick" Purkis in early 1979, after which the group recorded their first album Survivors with Samson's former bandmate John McCoy producing.

Shortly after the release of Survivors, Samson brought in Bruce Dickinson as their new frontman, who took on the stage name "Bruce Bruce". Head On and Shock Tactics followed over the next two years, before Purkis left to form his own band Thunderstick in July 1981. He was replaced by Mel Gaynor in time for Reading Festival the following month, which proved to be Dickinson's final show with Samson when he accepted an offer to join Iron Maiden in September. He was soon replaced by Nicky Moore. Gaynor stepped back from the band in January 1982 and Pete Jupp took his place.

The lineup of Moore, Samson, Aylmer and Jupp released Before the Storm and Don't Get Mad, Get Even, before Aylmer was replaced by Merv Goldsworthy and Dave "Bucket" Colwell joined on rhythm guitar in 1984. In 1985, the group disbanded and released a final live album called Thank You and Goodnight..., with Samson and Colwell later forming Paul Sampson's Empire.

1987–2002 In 1987, Samson reformed his eponymous band with Empire vocalist Mick White, adding bassist Dave Boyce, drummer Charlie Mack and keyboardist Toby Sadler. The group released the EP And There It Is... the following year, before White was replaced by Peter Scallan in February 1989. A new album called Look to the Future was recorded later in the year, but after being rejected by a number of record labels was remixed with new bass and extra guitar parts from Samson; the result, Refugee, was released the following year, before Samson was injured and the group became inactive.

After two years performing under the moniker Paul Samson's Rogues, the eponymous frontman formed a new lineup of Samson in 1992, with drummer Tony Tuohy and returning bassist Chris Aylmer. The group continued to tour and released Samson in 1993. Tuohy left in early 1994 and the band broke up again.

In the summer of 1999, Samson reunited with Aylmer and Thunderstick for a series of anniversary shows; the reunion was originally slated to include vocalist Bruce Dickinson, however he ultimately rejoined Iron Maiden and Samson remained a trio. In 2000, Nicky Moore returned as the band's frontman for a series of shows. The following year, Samson and Moore began work on a new studio album tentatively titled Brand New Day, adding new members Ian Ellis on bass and Billy Fleming on drums. However, before the album could be finished, Paul Samson died of cancer on 9 August 2002.

Producer John McCoy continued to work on the recordings after Samson's death, releasing them as P.S. in 2006.

Members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPaul Samsonall Samson releasesChris Aylmerall Samson releases from Head On (1980) to Don't Get Mad, Get Even (1984), and from Live at Reading '81 (1990) onwardsClive Burr1977–1978 drumsStewart Cochrane1978bassnone Mark Newmanlead vocalsnone ThunderstickJohn McCoyBruce Bruce1979–1981lead vocalsMel Gaynor1981–1982drumsLive at Reading '81 (1990)Nicky Moorelead vocalsPete Jupp1982–1984drumsDave "Bucket" Colwell1984Thank You and Goodnight (1985)Merv GoldsworthybassEdgar PatrikCharlie Mack1987–1989Toby SadlerDave BoycebassAnd There It Is... (1988)Mick White1987–1989lead vocalsPeter Scallan1989–1990Refugee (1990)Tony Tuohy1992–1994drumsSamson (1993)Rik Anthony1990lead vocalsnone Ian Ellis2001–2002P.S.... (2006)Billy Fleming

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesSummer 1977 – March 1978Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Clive Burr – drumsTelephone (1978) Mr Rock & Roll (1978)March 1978Paul Samson – lead guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Stewart Cochrane – bass Clive Burr – drumsnoneMarch – October 1978Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Clive Burr – drumsTelephone (1978)October 1978Mark Newman – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Clive Burr – drumsnoneOctober – December 1978Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Clive Burr – drumsMr Rock & Roll (1978)January – July 1979Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals John McCoy – bass, backing vocals Thunderstick – drums, backing vocalsSurvivors (1979)June 1979 – July 1981Bruce Bruce – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Thunderstick – drums, backing vocalsHead On (1980) Biceps of Steel (1980) Shock Tactics (1981) August – September 1981Bruce Bruce – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Mel Gaynor – drumsLive at Reading '81 (1990)September 1981 – January 1982Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Mel Gaynor – drumsnoneJanuary 1982 – early 1984Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Pete Jupp – drumsBefore the Storm (1982) Don't Get Mad, Get Even (1984) February 1984 – May 1984Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – lead guitar, backing vocals Dave Colwell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Merv Goldsworthy – bass Pete Jupp – drums Thank You and Goodnight (1985)1985–1986Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – lead guitar, backing vocals John McCoy – bass Edgar Patrik – drumsJoint Forces (1986)Band inactive 1986–1987March 1987 – February 1989Mick White – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Dave Boyce – bass Charlie Mack – drums Toby Sadler – keyboards, backing vocalsAnd There It Is... (EP, 1988) 1988 (1993)February 1989 – August 1989Peter Scallan – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Dave Boyce – bass Charlie Mack – drums Toby Sadler – keyboards, backing vocalsLook to the Future (2018) Refugee (1990) Band inactive 1990–19921990Rik Anthony – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Thunderstick – drums, backing vocalsPast Present & Future (1999)Spring 1992 – early 1994Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Tony Tuohy – drums, backing vocalsSamson (1993)Band inactive 1994–1999Summer 1999 – early 2000Paul Samson – guitar, lead vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Thunderstick – drums, backing vocalsMetal Crusade '99 (1999)2000–2001Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Chris Aylmer – bass, backing vocals Thunderstick – drums, backing vocalsLive in London 2000 (2000)2001–2002Nicky Moore – lead vocals Paul Samson – guitar, backing vocals Ian Ellis – bass, backing vocals Billy Fleming – drums, percussionP.S.... (2006)

References

Footnotes

External links Paul Samson official website