Rob The Plant wrote: Uriah Heep are the greatest prog band in history. I challenge anyone to argue.

I argue.

I like them a lot but I don't think they're the greatest.

Uriah Heep are possibly my favourite band of all; I love all of their 70s albums, most of their 80s ones, and their mid to late 90s albums are easily as good as their esteemed 70s classics in my opinion.

However, they probably aren't the best prog band ever, as they aren't 100% progressive rock- they veer towards heavy rock/ AOR in most of their post 1975 catalogue.

salmacis wrote: I love all of their 70s albums, most of their 80s ones, and their mid to late 90s albums are easily as good as their esteemed 70s classics in my opinion.

Towards the end of the 1970's, with "Innocent Victim" and "Fallen Angel" they kind of lost their way a bit...totally getting lost with "Conquest" in 1980.  There 1980's stuff is hit or miss:  "Abominog" is pretty good, and I still like "Raging Silence."  There 1990's stuff is actually very good, especially "Sea Of Light" and "Sonic Origami."

Any chance we might see a NEW UH album ever??

Great rock/metal band - but prog???

Not really.

Maybe "July Morning" is a prog track - but "The Magician's Birthday" definitely isn't!!! It's pure Spinal Tap - classic stuff, but not prog.

Heep wrote some blinding tunes with superb, even definitive rock arrangements with classy touches, like the keyboards and the "Heep choir". But Queen, who adapted the "choir" to the next few levels were more progressive by far - particularly through their 1970's output - and you won't see them in the archives anytime soon

So if they're not really prog, they can't be the greatest prog band in history.

But they ARE the best band in history at what they did!

UH Rock!!!

Uriah Heep was a great band, not prog though!

Compared to Led Zep and Sabbath they are way behind.

Certif1ed wrote: UH Rock!!!

They sure do.

They don't prog, though...

Snow Dog wrote: I though that Uriah Heep were a joke band!

Snowdog this is most unlike you, your taste is usually very good but not today

Uriah Heep wre a great rock band Rob the Plant but not prog and I worshipped at the Heep altar from ' Very 'Eavy to Sweet Freedom.I saw them many times and in David Byron the possessed rock's finest vocalist.He and Hensley were great as were Mick Box and Gary Thain and Lee Kerslake and that was the components that made this English rock band even better than Deep Purple and that took some doing as I also worshipped them in my mid teens.Demons and Wizards is one awesome album.

Fragile wrote: Snow Dog wrote: I though that Uriah Heep were a joke band! Snowdog this is most unlike you, your taste is usually very good but not today Uriah Heep wre a great rock band Rob the Plant but not prog and I worshipped at the Heep altar from ' Very 'Eavy to Sweet Freedom.I saw them many times and in David Byron the possessed rock's finest vocalist.He and Hensley were great as were Mick Box and Gary Thain and Lee Kerslake and that was the components that made this English rock band even better than Deep Purple and that took some doing as I also worshipped them in my mid teens.Demons and Wizards is one awesome album.

I thought that they were Rock also-rans, and no one took them seriously!

Certif1ed wrote: Great rock/metal band - but prog??? Not really. Maybe "July Morning" is a prog track - but "The Magician's Birthday" definitely isn't!!! It's pure Spinal Tap - classic stuff, but not prog. Heep wrote some blinding tunes with superb, even definitive rock arrangements with classy touches, like the keyboards and the "Heep choir". But Queen, who adapted the "choir" to the next few levels were more progressive by far - particularly through their 1970's output - and you won't see them in the archives anytime soon So if they're not really prog, they can't be the greatest prog band in history. But they ARE the best band in history at what they did! UH Rock!!!

Certified - agree 100% about The Heep.Not so sure about Queen I have friends who are fanatical about them but would never consider listening to anything prog.What of theirs do you consider Prog?

Jim Garten wrote: Uriah Heep were one of those bands who could only have come from the UK in the late 1960s; always (unfairly, in my opinion) trailing in Deep Purple's wake, and with tongue firmly in cheek the whole time, they released some spectacular albums - my only regret is that I never saw them with Byron or Ken Hensley. Best prog band ever, though?

Jim that is a bummer like me missing Genesis with Gabriel 

I saw them at least six times once with Atomic Rooster as support;Carl Palmer and all, but live the Byron /Hensley era was unforgettable.Those were glory days.

Now where is Easy Livin' in all of this? He's back from his hols and a big Heep man.

Just imagine it Jim the lights dim, the dry ice consumes the stage and the opening chords of  Sunrise boom out and Byron's voice cuts the air with the opening line of that magnificent song ah such memories oh for a time machine.

Fragile wrote: Now where is Easy Livin' in all of this? He's back from his hols and a big Heep man. Just imagine it Jim the lights dim, the dry ice consumes the stage and the opening chords of  Sunrise boom out and Byron's voice cuts the air with the opening line of that magnificent song ah such memories oh for a time machine.

Yes we need a time machine to stop those guys meeting up!

Uriah Heep is truly a nice band!

Some usedy to descibe them as "the poor man's Deep Purple", but ofcourse it's vice versa, Deep Purple being "the infantile and untrue Uriah Heep".

IMO "Salisbury" is their best LP & song.

Thanks to Uriah Heep, I found prog music! I bought "Yesterdays" from Yes (my 1st "prog"), 'cause I liked "Magicians birthday", and they both had nice covers from R.Dean. That was the point of no return...

 URIAH HEEP WAS THE FIRST LIVE CONCERT I SAW IN MY TEEN (1972) AND FOR ME THEY

ARE WITH DEEP PURPLE THE BEST HARD ROCK PROG BAND.  POTS

Fragile wrote: Certified - agree 100% about The Heep.Not so sure about Queen I have friends who are fanatical about them but would never consider listening to anything prog.What of theirs do you consider Prog?

The main 3 problems with considering Queen as a prog band are;

1) That they also fitted other categories.

2) They went very strongly into a commerical direction - even the early material had commerical angle ("We are musical prostitutes, dear boy" - Freddie RIP).

3) They were strongly "No Synths".

BUT

The first two albums are, to my ears, more full-blown prog than many bands in the archives, and the same goes for "A Night At The Opera". There is hardly an album of Queen's that does not have some progressive aspects in a real prog sense, as opposed to a Led Zep or Deep Purple sense of progressive.

Queen, despite the overt and intentional sell-out, never stopped being true to their sound and a really creative approach to writing rock music.

Many balk at considering them prog - but I think they're just scared to admit it. Mercury's piano playing was light-years ahead of almost every prog band in the archives, and his voice was genuinely operatic - none of the quasi-operatic nonsense you keep hearing. May's guitar is superlative, and between the two, they wrote some magnificent works of art (as well as some insanely catchy pop rock).

I guess the problem with accepting them as prog, apart from the commercial thing, is that Deacon was only ever solid as a bass player, so there was a prog element missing there, and their overall approach was more of a glam rock band early on in their career.

But so what?

Prog is about diversity, for a very large part, and Queen's back catalogue is probably more diverse than, say, Marillion's. And it takes a lot for a devout Marillion fan such as myself to say that.

Prog is also about a unique sound that completely identifies the band, to a smaller degree. No-one could mistake Queen's sound.

Prog is also about complexity.

I present "Queen", "Queen II" and "A Night At The Opera" as exhibits A, B and C, yer honour...

Certif1ed wrote: Fragile wrote: Certified - agree 100% about The Heep.Not so sure about Queen I have friends who are fanatical about them but would never consider listening to anything prog.What of theirs do you consider Prog? The main 3 problems with considering Queen as a prog band are; 1) That they also fitted other categories. On more than one level, playing delibratly different musical styles on different albums (R&R, R&B, Classic Rock, Symphonic Rock, Disco etc.) but always maintaining a clear rock sound, that was a style on it's own 2) They went very strongly into a commerical direction - even the early material had commerical angle ("We are musical prostitutes, dear boy" - Freddie RIP). Commercialising is not a bad word, when done without selling-out, just to sell out, they made the best possible rock within a fairly commercialised genre 3) They were strongly "No Synths". Not entirely true, they had no need for synthesisers, since Brian May was able to play (with overdubs echo, and his ability to make his guitar sound like an orchestra) the needed effects. They mentioned the "nobody played synthesiser" to make sure people would understand that it was all guitar they heard. BUT The first two albums are, to my ears, more full-blown prog than many bands in the archives, and the same goes for "A Night At The Opera". There is hardly an album of Queen's that does not have some progressive aspects in a real prog sense, as opposed to a Led Zep or Deep Purple sense of progressive. I agree on that entirely Queen, despite the overt and intentional sell-out, never stopped being true to their sound and a really creative approach to writing rock music. So true, one of the reasons I like their 80's work, despite their moving with the trends they maintained their distinctive easily recognisable sound, and high quality of composing, I recognise a Queen composition (even if I don't know the song, which happened on a movie soundtrack once) within the first second Many balk at considering them prog - but I think they're just scared to admit it. Mercury's piano playing was light-years ahead of almost every prog band in the archives, and his voice was genuinely operatic - none of the quasi-operatic nonsense you keep hearing. May's guitar is superlative, and between the two, they wrote some magnificent works of art (as well as some insanely catchy pop rock). Don't agree on the first part of that statement, Mercury was a capable pianist, but not overly brilliant on it, that's why on Man On The Prowl, and the Barcelona album Mike Moran plays the piano. His voice indeed is the best I know of, and the combination Freddie's piano play, his vocals and Brian's guitar made a perfect mix (listen for excample to the live versions of Spread Your Wings and Don't Stop Me Now on Killers) I guess the problem with accepting them as prog, apart from the commercial thing, is that Deacon was only ever solid as a bass player, so there was a prog element missing there, and their overall approach was more of a glam rock band early on in their career. I think Deacon is one of the best bass players, not a show man like Squire, and hardly any solo's, but he made some really fancy bass-lines (again Spread Your Wings, You're My Best Friend, Tie you Mother Down etc. etc. etc.) I would agree on Taylor not being the best drummer, but he keeps it simple, and the songs benefit from that approach. But so what? Prog is about diversity, for a very large part, and Queen's back catalogue is probably more diverse than, say, Marillion's. And it takes a lot for a devout Marillion fan such as myself to say that. How diverse can one get, Queen I, Queen II, News Of The World, The Game, Hot Space, The Works, Innuendo Prog is also about a unique sound that completely identifies the band, to a smaller degree. No-one could mistake Queen's sound. totally recognisable Prog is also about complexity. I present "Queen", "Queen II" and "A Night At The Opera" as exhibits A, B and C, yer honour... dare I add Hot Space to that

And that's why Uriah Heep is progressive

I agree 100% with Certif1ed's claims about Queen- there's never been a more progressive Number 1 than 'Bohemian Rhapsody' or 'Innuendo'. I think we can disregard the fact that Queen took a commercial turn as I think most major prog bands either went AOR or plain pop.

I think the first Queen album to use synths was 'The Game' in 1980, which was their 8th studio album, which is a heck of a long time to hold out a tradition. However, the synths possibly became intrusive on their subsequent 80s work- it's ironic that a band that never used synths in the 1970s ended up with some of their biggest 80s hits like 'Radio Ga Ga' and 'I Want To Break Free' absolutely swamped with them!! Perhaps they were making up for lost time....

I have several UH albums and rate them highly. They started off as heavy rock but Salisbury is undeniably prog, as are Demons and Wizards and Magician's Birthday. After that, they went back to rock again.

Not the best prog (or any other form of) band though. Nor are they deserving of the vitriol some direct at them. They deserve respect.

Hey Fragile, I'm back!

I saw Heep in Edinburgh earlier this year, and they were truly superb. The gig was virtually a sell out too, with a very enthusiastic audience. While the Byron era band was of course their golden age, the current line up are doing a fine job of keeping the flame burning.

I'll skip the are they/aren't they prog debate this time, there's plenty of previous threads on it! 

Velvetclown wrote: I´m sorry.but I saw Uriah Heep support Deep Purple last year..and ........Jezus what a crappy band UH are

I'm gonna see them live the 11th of august in Venice...I hope they will perform not as crappy as you say! 

Certif1ed, will you take any opportunity to have a go at Keith Emerson?

To compare him at all to Mercury is to me puzzling.

and Fragile Robert Plaant is the much better singer, by a mile!

Fragile wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Certif1ed, will you take any opportunity to have a go at Keith Emerson? To compare him at all to Mercury is to me puzzling. and Fragile Robert Plaant is the much better singer, by a mile! In your own humble estimation Snow Dog certainly not in mine, Plant is way down on my singing list.Too screechy for me albeit I wouldn't simply dis' him out of hand.

Well I dont want to dis Uriah Heep, because you obviously like them. So do I actually, but for me its more a guilty pleasure! I don't know. They have always been derided it seems to me, with some justice. I find them a bit corny, and the singer...well ..way down the list for me, sorry.

Anyway...I'm off to listen to Very 'eavy, very 'umble now.....

Tony Fisher wrote: David Byron and Robert Plant are both very fine vocalists, but I rate Byron higher.

an octave or two

Tony Fisher wrote: David Byron and Robert Plant are both very fine vocalists, but I rate Byron higher.

Tony a man after my own heart and one who knows what he is talking about

Fragile wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Certif1ed, will you take any opportunity to have a go at Keith Emerson? To compare him at all to Mercury is to me puzzling. and Fragile Robert Plaant is the much better singer, by a mile! In your own humble estimation Snow Dog certainly not in mine, Plant is way down on my singing list.Too screechy for me albeit I wouldn't simply dis' him out of hand.

Fact- Fragile is a Yes Album
Fact- Jon Anderson was the vocalist for Yes during Fragile

uriah heep is probalby my favorite band. theres noone who had a voice as eautiful as byron. ken hensley wrote some of the best songs ever and is  a main reason im a musician, mick box is the best user of the wah-wah ever period. their first 6 albums are pretty much essential to any lover of classic rock. thats all i gotta say really. as for whether theyre prog or not im not really sure. id like to think they are but then again theres ppl who will say if heeps prog then why not zep sabbath or purple but all you have to do is listen to all their albums to see the differences. well i dunno just wanted to say something about one of my top 3 bands of all time. two things that make them prog- the use of the line "catch my soul" and the fact they have awesome roger dean covers. lol

Snow Dog wrote: Certif1ed, will you take any opportunity to have a go at Keith Emerson? To compare him at all to Mercury is to me puzzling. and Fragile Robert Plaant is the much better singer, by a mile!

I haven't had a pop at Keith for ages - I thought it was about time I did

Why is comparing one keyboard player to another puzzling - especially in terms of a specific attribute (ie accuracy). If I was making a more generic comparison it would get too complex and out of control, but at least on this, I'm only making an observation based on fact to back up my argument that Mercury was a good (not great!) pianist.

On Robert Plant, that is soooo subjective. You may prefer Plant's tone and more "natural" singing style, but to say he's a better singer than Mercury was requires a whole new thread - there are too many comparative attributes to boil it down into a nutshell.

But Mercury was better, by several leagues

My father has an album or two of theirs, and they're all right. Definitely not the best.

I saw some of their albums on the clearance rack at the record store a little while ago.

There I was on a July Morning  ......... Byron was simply incredible cheers Jim

Oh and a big thanks to Rob the prankster for giving us this brilliant thread about one of rock's treasures the mighty Uriah Heep

Don´t assess UH on the basis of Easy Livin´ and Lady In Black. (that was my fault - it took me years to get into this group because I only knew their "hits" and wasn´t too immpressed... - the same can be said about Kansas and Dust In The Wind / Carry On ...)

Other Songs:

Circle Of Hands
July Morning
Look At Yourself
Sunrise
Return To Fantasy
Wonderworld
Salisbury
...

Biggles wrote: I've only heard "Easy Livin'," and I wasn't too impressed with that. Any other songs I should listen to?

Not many are impressed Biggles.. oh you mean the song!

Johnny TF is right though, there are about 10 sogns which appear on every UH compliation, but they really only give a hint of the strength of the band. Listen to a Byron era album in full before coming to any conclusions. (Look at yourself or Demons and Wizards are good places to start)

Starette you are a star Byron had a terrific vocal range I loved him on ballad types as well such as ' Come away Melinda' and 'Rain' but it's still 'Demons' for me but 'Sweet Freedom' had some great tunes too 'Pilgrim' in particular.

Oh and thanks again Robbie Plant great thread

Don't think Heep are really prog but one of the finest rock bands ! I think Demons and Wizards is quite proggy. Their lyrics were mythical and coupled with Deans and Matthews art work made this band phenomenal IMO and one of my all time faves. Byrons voice is sensational as it could hit various notes/ranges..and it was powerful and had passion.His voice had so much feeling in it!. Hensley was brilliant in Heep what a bloody brilliant vocalist ... great on keyboards and organs aswell as the guitar...Heep are my fave rock band ...they truly are magnificent i love very 'eavy vey 'umble ...Look At Yourself...Demons and Wizards..Magicians Birthday and Return To Fantasy ...I really don't like that so called 'Heep' thats going bout the now

The opening cords of Gypsy are pounding as they tear through the song ...the lyrics of Rain are very touching and personal beuatiful and one to remember.

My dad had a hint of Byron like vocals when he was younger...pretty cool!

So in my opnion they aint prog but the best rock band ! then its Purple...

c'mon the Heep (byron era)!!!! Yass!!

Jim Garten wrote: Fragile wrote: Just imagine it Jim the lights dim, the dry ice consumes the stage and the opening chords of  Sunrise boom out and Byron's voice cuts the air with the opening line of that magnificent song ah such memories oh for a time machine. Then, 45 minutes later, the lights dim, Hensley sways into the opening arpeggio of 'July Morning'... and all's right with the world.

and blood slowly begins to run from the thousands spectator's ears, as screams of "Why you bastards, why!", and "Burn in hell Uriah Heep" begin to overpower the horrific sounds of the band's "music".

Rob The Plant wrote: Jim Garten wrote: Fragile wrote: Just imagine it Jim the lights dim, the dry ice consumes the stage and the opening chords of  Sunrise boom out and Byron's voice cuts the air with the opening line of that magnificent song ah such memories oh for a time machine. Then, 45 minutes later, the lights dim, Hensley sways into the opening arpeggio of 'July Morning'... and all's right with the world. and blood slowly begins to run from the thousands spectator's ears, as screams of "Why you bastards, why!", and "Burn in hell Uriah Heep" begin to overpower the horrific sounds of the band's "music".

Well hullooooooooooo Rob The Plank!

How's KPG?

Fragile wrote: Tony R wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: Jim Garten wrote: Fragile wrote: Just imagine it Jim the lights dim, the dry ice consumes the stage and the opening chords of  Sunrise boom out and Byron's voice cuts the air with the opening line of that magnificent song ah such memories oh for a time machine. Then, 45 minutes later, the lights dim, Hensley sways into the opening arpeggio of 'July Morning'... and all's right with the world. and blood slowly begins to run from the thousands spectator's ears, as screams of "Why you bastards, why!", and "Burn in hell Uriah Heep" begin to overpower the horrific sounds of the band's "music". Well hullooooooooooo Rob The Plank! How's KPG? You took the words right out of my mouth it must have been while I was pissing myself laughing at you Rob the Stank

But once again I find myself deeply indebted to your heavily veiled attempt at sarcasm that fired such a wonderful heart storming response from all the Uriahs on here - methinks I'm going for a cry 'Is that a dagger I see before me' oh no that was WS

I could understand someone who's 3rd or 4th language is English to be able to listen to Uriah Heep without bursting into laughter, but anyone who has a basic understanding of the English Language shouldn't be able to take those lyrics seriously. Byron might be a good singer, but he seemed to think it would be a good idea to make an ass out of himself for Heep, so overdone. I have Demons and Wizards, and their debut album, both make me laugh to tears, so I get an odd joy out of listening to them, but I also get that from GWAR.

Zargus wrote: Demons and Wizard are one of my all time favorite album, simply great. Pure musical magic

Zargus I've called back the heat seekers

[QUOTE=Jim Garten] [QUOTE=Rob The Plant (the famous tone-deaf Dutchman who considers Robert Plant's barely in-tune caterwaulings to be superior to those of Saint David)]

I'm a huge LZ fan, but you've hit the nail on the hammer with that comment Jim

I'm slightly embarassed for being a dutchman myself

[QUOTE=Jim Garten] [QUOTE=Rob The Plant (the famous tone-deaf Dutchman who considers Robert Plant's barely in-tune caterwaulings to be superior to those of Saint David)]

I'm a huge LZ fan, but you've hit the nail on the hammer with that comment Jim

I'm slightly embarassed for being a dutchman myself

[/QUOTE Hey Tuxon  don't be embarrassed every nation has their fools

              Jim Garten how did I miss that little maserati Do ya think Robbie's under the bed with his cadbury cookies

this is brilliant lol...The Comedy!!!  What a lot of wits and twits on here

But seriously Uriah were brilliant from the outset my fave song is Dreammare how I wish Byron was alive so the original line up could reform What a voice the Byron had

Listening to The Magician's Birthday at this moment.

Great voice! Forgot how good.....

Music sounds a tad dated and "poppy" whereas it used to sound fresh and heavy.

Listening to Gypsy, I'm back in the Electric Gardens and the beer is also very good

Fragile wrote: Tony, Shrinking isn't amused I've told her to get to bed instantly She says youv'e to shoosh!!

Dont get me wrong-I enjoyed the album,it justs lacks something......

ShrinkingViolet wrote: this is brilliant lol...The Comedy!!!  What a lot of wits and twits on here But seriously Uriah were brilliant from the outset my fave song is Dreammare how I wish Byron was alive so the original line up could reform What a voice the Byron had

Thankfully God killed him for his years in Uriah Heep, so that abonination could never be recreated.

The Rock wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: ShrinkingViolet wrote: this is brilliant lol...The Comedy!!!  What a lot of wits and twits on here But seriously Uriah were brilliant from the outset my fave song is Dreammare how I wish Byron was alive so the original line up could reform What a voice the Byron had Thankfully God killed him for his years in Uriah Heep, so that abonination could never be recreated. What a stupid post this is!God did not do nothing you dumb ass!It's one thing not to like Heep,but you should at least respect those who do and also show some respect to the departed ones.I never knew I 'd encounter such a narrow minded jerk among prog fans.

               God didn't kill him lame brain, drugs and booze did like so many others of his ilk in the music world.You started this thread as a serious wind up and face it,it has seriously bit you on your Dutch arse(no offence to all the other Netherlanders on here) You can clearly see how much the band was loved in it's early formation so accept you made a pig's ear of it.

Next time you employ your lone brain cell make it go to work on something you know about, Led Zep comes to mind or some other band that titilates you.

Rob, Pity you chose to post such a sick and ill-conceived comment, it does you no credit and shows a lack of respect for your fellow members.

Byorn wasn't really into the drugs Fragile (that was Thain and Hensley's curse), it was as you say the booze, and a weakness of mind which got to him.

    Apperently Byron was epileptic.He kept hiding it to the rest of the band while he was with them for fear of being ejected. Btw thanks Easy Livin and Fragile for your support,after all there's lot more intelligent proggers here than pea sized brains.

Never new Byron was epileptic you learn something new every day.Having seen him so often I could not have envisaged Byron as being so.Especially as he loved to use the strobe light so much during Gypsy.Welcome to the sight Rock there will be times when we won't see eye to eye

I stand, I sit, taught something new once more.I guess I just assumed it was the great rock killers that David fell to and of course his own personal weaknesses.Good to have you back Bob we couldn't have had a Heep gathering without ' Easy Livin'

Mick Box did try to get Byron to rejoin Heep at one stage after Hensley had left, but Byron wasn't interested. I think after that they just lost touch. Box is to this day still upset about Byron's death. The screen graphics in the Magician's Birthday party included many shots of Byorn, and of course the track "Between two worlds" on their lastest album "Sonic origami" is about Byron.

As soon as Hensley heard about Byorn's death, he immediatly left Blackfoot, the band he was in at the time, and returned to the UK, such was his distress. On the now deleted History of Heep video, Hensley talked about how if Byron and Thain were still alive, the classic line up would inevitably have reformed at some stage.

 I wouldn't read too much into the lack of band members at the funeral. By that time Byron was very much a recluse, his wife Gabby had left him, and he was living alone in a semi-detached in Berkshire in England.

My abiding memories of him will be on stage though, where he was supreme. We didn't know it at the time of course, but Fragile and I must have been at the same Heep gigs in Glasgow.

im not really familiar with their music,

but i have "the ultimate collection" and only gypsy is a song i like.

can you tell me what other albums have similar tracks??