1)It’s been a great honor to interview a so important group. When was it really, when you realize that you wanted to involve in music?
* I was interested in playing music at school and then when I left school I got a job for an Export Company in the City of London to pay off my guitar payments. When I paid off the last payment I handed in my notice and became a professional musician for life.
2)What were your first your first music impacts and favorite artists?
* I liked jazz guitarists like, Django Rheinhardt, Tal Farlowe, Les Paul and Mary Ford. I then liked Buddy Holly & Eddie Cochrane, then I heard the Beatles & the Rolling Stones, before hearing Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group/ Jeff beck still remains to this day my favourite guitarist.
3)Groups name came from a Charles Dickens classic novel “David Copperfild” character. How did it happen?
* We went into the studio as a band called “Spice” to record our first album which became “Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble.” And on hearing our original songs back I felt we should augment some keyboards with our music to give it some colour. I was a big fan of the Vanilla Fudge who used the Hammond to great effect. As our music had changed we felt we needed a new name. Our manager took his two sons to see a Charles Dickens film adaptation of one of his books called “David Copperfield. When he came back he suggested the name Uriah Heep who was one of the characters in the film. We liked it and used it!
4)In the album Salisbury in 1971 a big orchestra participated, a really pioneer thing for the time. What did you wanted to pass to your audience with that?
* It was a creative time and record companies supported you in that regard. It was a 20 minute number that felt like it needed orchestration. We suggested this and the next thing we were in the studio recording it under the leadership of John Fiddy.
If you asked that today of a record company, you would spend the next 6 months with accountants and lawyers to see if you could afford it.
5)Listening to songs such as Sympathy Easy Livin' Gypsy July Morning Lady in Black Firefly Free Me Return to Fantasy and many more, somebody understands the grace of eternity in music. What do you believe was that, that make so many songs imperishable in time?
* I think there is an honesty there, and those songs were played for real in the studio and this comes through. They are also good songs that have stood the test of time. So much of music is locked in the time that it was recorded, and it becomes part of people’s lives which is wonderful.
6)How would you characterized your sound?
* Our sound is both powerful and gentle. We use to great affect the Hammond Organ and my wah wah guitar playing. Plus we have five vocalists, so our harmonies are a very important part of our sound. We use these vocals almost as an instrument.
7)Is there something that you keep in your memory from the concerts you gave in Hellas ?
* We have been quite vocal about this before and the audiences in Greece are some of the best in the world. They are as passionate about their music as we are playing and creating it.
8)You have been collaborated with great artists. Are there any special ones you would like to repeat?
* Not really! I think you can only really do this once to great effect εννοει special effects
9)How much has the music change from the 70ies to now?
* I think it has changed a lot as technology has in some way been responsible for these changes. Lots of bands record in different parts of the world in their homes and on their computer. This is not something that we agree with, as we have to be all playing in the studio at the same time, and capture the band playing as a band, on one pulse
10)What do you believe is the role of the internet in music development more positive or negative?
* To be honest there is always going to be good and bad come out of it! However the immediacy of the internet, and the connection with your fans is wonderful. It is very important in this day and age to integrate with all of this technology to get something positive out of it.
11)Recently you celebrated your 40iest birthday as band. Do Uriah Heep feel strong to continue for many more years?
* We have just finished recording a new CD “Into The Wild,” which is now in the mixing stage. We feel both strong and positive and we will continue to tour the 53 countries that we play concerts in.
* I was interested in playing music at school and then when I left school I got a job for an Export Company in the City of London to pay off my guitar payments. When I paid off the last payment I handed in my notice and became a professional musician for life.
2)What were your first your first music impacts and favorite artists?
* I liked jazz guitarists like, Django Rheinhardt, Tal Farlowe, Les Paul and Mary Ford. I then liked Buddy Holly & Eddie Cochrane, then I heard the Beatles & the Rolling Stones, before hearing Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group/ Jeff beck still remains to this day my favourite guitarist.
3)Groups name came from a Charles Dickens classic novel “David Copperfild” character. How did it happen?
* We went into the studio as a band called “Spice” to record our first album which became “Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble.” And on hearing our original songs back I felt we should augment some keyboards with our music to give it some colour. I was a big fan of the Vanilla Fudge who used the Hammond to great effect. As our music had changed we felt we needed a new name. Our manager took his two sons to see a Charles Dickens film adaptation of one of his books called “David Copperfield. When he came back he suggested the name Uriah Heep who was one of the characters in the film. We liked it and used it!
4)In the album Salisbury in 1971 a big orchestra participated, a really pioneer thing for the time. What did you wanted to pass to your audience with that?
* It was a creative time and record companies supported you in that regard. It was a 20 minute number that felt like it needed orchestration. We suggested this and the next thing we were in the studio recording it under the leadership of John Fiddy.
If you asked that today of a record company, you would spend the next 6 months with accountants and lawyers to see if you could afford it.
5)Listening to songs such as Sympathy Easy Livin' Gypsy July Morning Lady in Black Firefly Free Me Return to Fantasy and many more, somebody understands the grace of eternity in music. What do you believe was that, that make so many songs imperishable in time?
* I think there is an honesty there, and those songs were played for real in the studio and this comes through. They are also good songs that have stood the test of time. So much of music is locked in the time that it was recorded, and it becomes part of people’s lives which is wonderful.
6)How would you characterized your sound?
* Our sound is both powerful and gentle. We use to great affect the Hammond Organ and my wah wah guitar playing. Plus we have five vocalists, so our harmonies are a very important part of our sound. We use these vocals almost as an instrument.
7)Is there something that you keep in your memory from the concerts you gave in Hellas ?
* We have been quite vocal about this before and the audiences in Greece are some of the best in the world. They are as passionate about their music as we are playing and creating it.
8)You have been collaborated with great artists. Are there any special ones you would like to repeat?
* Not really! I think you can only really do this once to great effect εννοει special effects
9)How much has the music change from the 70ies to now?
* I think it has changed a lot as technology has in some way been responsible for these changes. Lots of bands record in different parts of the world in their homes and on their computer. This is not something that we agree with, as we have to be all playing in the studio at the same time, and capture the band playing as a band, on one pulse
10)What do you believe is the role of the internet in music development more positive or negative?
* To be honest there is always going to be good and bad come out of it! However the immediacy of the internet, and the connection with your fans is wonderful. It is very important in this day and age to integrate with all of this technology to get something positive out of it.
11)Recently you celebrated your 40iest birthday as band. Do Uriah Heep feel strong to continue for many more years?
* We have just finished recording a new CD “Into The Wild,” which is now in the mixing stage. We feel both strong and positive and we will continue to tour the 53 countries that we play concerts in.
* Our future plans are quite simple, and that is to release the new CD and tour as many places as we can as we are at our happiest on the road.
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