Uriah Heep Line Up Sheet

For nearly five decades, Uriah Heep have been recording music and touring around the world. In their long career, the band has been through many line ups- with guitarist Mick Box as the band's lone consistent member. While not worldwide famous, Heep have an immense cult following- with fans proudly calling themselves Heepsters. This sheet is a little different from the other ones I've posted as there are notes that go with each line up.

Uriah Heep I (Autumn 1969-January 1970)

David Bryon- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Paul Newton- bass

Alex Napier- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Very ‘Eavy…Very ‘Umble (1970) *titled Uriah Heep in the US

Notes: Uriah Heep formed in 1969. Byron and Box, along with Newton and Napier, were in a band called Spice. When former Toe Fat keyboardist Ken Hensley joined, the band’s manager suggested they change their name to Uriah Heep. The name came from the character of the same name in Charles Dickens’ classic novel David Copperfield. Prior to the release of their debut, Napier left the band.

Uriah Heep II (January-February 1970)

David Bryon- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Paul Newton- bass

Nigel Olsson- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Notes: Byron’s friend, Elton John, suggested they hire his drummer Nigel Olsson. Olsson was able to complete the work Napier left unfinished. With that, the Very ‘Eavy…Very ‘Umble was released. However, Olsson wouldn’t last for long. He left a month later to rejoin Elton John.

Uriah Heep III (February-October 1970)

David Bryon- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Paul Newton- bass

Keith Baker- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Salisbury (1971)

Notes: Keith Baker replaced Olsson and joined in time for the recording of Salisbury. The album would feature songs such as “Lady in Black” (which later became a huge hit in Germany in 1977) and the sixteen minute epic self-titled track, complete with strings and horns. Baker left the band soon after.

Uriah Heep IV (October 1970-November 1971)

David Bryon- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Paul Newton- bass

Iain Clarke- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Look At Yourself (1971)

Notes: Iain Clarke joined the band to replace Baker. With their fourth drummer, the band recorded Look at Yourself. Compared to the first two albums, it seemed as if Heep had found their sound with this album. Songs like the self-titled track, “July Morning”, “Tears in My Eyes”, and “Love Machine” are highly regarded as some of the band’s best material. Like the drummers before him, Clarke left the band. Not only did Clarke leave but original member Newton left as well.

Uriah Heep V (November 1971-February 1972)

David Byron- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Mark Clark- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Notes: Mark Clark replaced Newton on bass and Hensley’s Toe Fat/The Gods former band mate Lee Kerslake joined as the new drummer. The line up ends after Clark left the band.

Uriah Heep VI (February 1972- February 1975)

David Byron- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Gary Thain- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Demons and Wizards (1972)

The Magician’s Birthday (1972)

Sweet Freedom (1973)

Wonderworld (1974)

Notes: When New Zealand born bassist Gary Thain joined in 1972, the band was set. Many Heepsters alike would agree that this was the band’s classic line-up, as they were at their peak during this period. Demons and Wizards is sometimes called the band’s best album. It had hits such as “The Wizard” and “Easy Livin’.” The latter managed to crack the US charts. The band would appear again on the US charts with 1973’s “Stealin’.” The line-up ended when the band fired Thain due to his drug addiction.

Gary Thain would later die in December 1977 from a heroin overdose.

Uriah Heep VII (March 1975-August 1976)

David Byron- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

John Wetton- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Return To Fantasy (1975)

High And Mighty (1976)

Notes: Bassist John Wetton, fresh out of King Crimson, took Gary Thain’s place. Return to Fantasy was a “return to form” type of album for the band. However, High and Mighty wasn’t so lucky: it flopped badly. At the same time, Byron’s behavior was becoming difficult to put up with. In 1976, David Byron was fired. John Wetton announced this departure from the band soon after.

David Byron later died in February 1985 from a heart attack due to his drinking problem.

John Wetton would go on to form two super groups: UK and Asia. It was with Asia that Wetton was able to achieve commercial success. Wetton would continue to perform until his death in January 2017 to cancer.

Uriah Heep VIII (September 1976-October 1979)

John Lawton- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Firefly (1977)

Innocent Victim (1977)

Fallen Angel (1978)

Notes: Lucifer’s Friend singer John Lawton became the band’s new lead singer while former David Bowie bassist Trevor Bolder became the new bassist. This line-up released three studio albums, all of which were mildly successful. A fourth album was also recorded but remains unreleased since the band were unhappy with it. The recordings, however, are widely bootlegged (Ten Miles High). The band found hits with “Wise Man” and “Free Me.” Lawton was fired either due to tensions between him and Hensley. Kerslake also left the band after disagreements with the band’s management.

Uriah Heep IX (November 1979-May 1980)

John Sloman- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Chris Slade- drums

Ken Hensley- keyboards

Albums

Conquest (1980)

Notes: John Sloman replaced Lawton and Chris Slade replaced Kerslake. The line-up released Conquest in 1980 to poor reviews. With Conquest, some of the songs were written before Sloman joined the band. With the songs originally written for John Lawton to sing, Sloman’s vocal performance on the album is weak. During the tour, Hensley wasn’t too happy with Sloman. He had nothing against Sloman but Hensley had opposed to hire him in the first place- most likely due to Sloman’s vocals style. With bad management at the same time, Ken Hensley left Uriah Heep. This left Mick Box as the only original member.

Uriah Heep X (July 1980-April 1981)

John Sloman- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Chris Slade- drums

Gregg Dechert- keyboards

Notes: Gregg Dechert had the very difficult task in replacing Hensley. This line-up only released a single called “Think It Over” (which was later re-recorded by a different line-up in 1982). The line-up came to an end after Sloman announced his departure from the band. Slade and Dechert soon followed. Box and Bolder tried to see if David Byron was interested in rejoining the band but Byron declined. Bolder left and joined Wishbone Ash. With Mick Box the last man standing, the band were left in limbo.

Hiatus (April 1981-January 1982)

Uriah Heep XI (January 1982-April 1983)

Peter Goalby- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Bob Daisley- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

John Sinclair- keyboards

Albums

Abominog (1982)

Head First (1983)

Notes: Box was able to recruit Kerslake, who had just been fired from Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band with bassist Daisley. With Sinclair and former Trapeze singer Goalby, Heep was reborn. Abominog was released in 1982 and renewed interest in the band thanks to the MTV friendly video for “That’s The Way That it Is.” After Head First in 1983, Daisley left.

Uriah Heep XII (May 1983-November 1985)

Peter Goalby- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

John Sinclair- keyboards

Albums

Equator (1984)

Notes: Bolder rejoined the band in 1983. The line-up ends after both Goalby and Sinclair leave the band.

Uriah Heep XIII (July-September 1986)

Steff Fontain- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Phil Lanzon- keyboards

Notes: Phil Lanzon joined as the new keyboardist while Steff Fontain became Heep’s new lead singer. Things didn’t work out with Fontain and after only months in the band, he was dismissed.

Uriah Heep XIV (July 1986- January 2007)

Bernie Shaw- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Phil Lanzon- keyboards

Albums

Raging Silence (1989)

Different World (1991)

Sea Of Light (1995)

Sonic Origami (1998)

Notes: Bernie Shaw joined as the band’s sixth lead singer. To date, this is the longest lasting line-up in Uriah Heep’s career. The band released a number of studio albums and toured frequently. In 2007, Kerslake left due to his health.

Uriah Heep XV (January 2007-June 2013)

Bernie Shaw- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Trevor Bolder- bass

Russell Gilbrook- drums

Phil Lanzon- keyboards

Albums

Wake The Sleeper (2008)

Celebration (2009, an album of re-recordings)

Into the Wild (2011)

Notes: Drummer Russell Gilbrook replaced Kerslake in 2007. The following year, the band released Wake the Sleeper- their first album in ten years. In late 2012, Trevor Bolder stepped out of the band. It was later revealed Bolder had been diagnosed with cancer, which forced him to take leave from the band. The band continued with temporary players filling in for Bolder.

Sadly on May 21, 2013, Trevor Bolder passed away.

Uriah Heep XVI (June 2013-present)

Bernie Shaw- vocals

Mick Box- guitar

Davey Rimmer- bass

Russell Gilbrook- drums

Phil Lanzon- keyboards

Albums

Outsider (2014)

Living the Dream (2018)

Notes: Bolder’s then fill-in, Davey Rimmer, was officially named the new bassist for Uriah Heep shortly after Bolder’s passing. As of 2018, this is the current line-up of the band.