Legendary hard rock group from UK. Over the course of their five decades long career, Uriah Heep have released more than twenty albums.

Interview with lead guitarist Mick Box

It’s nice to have you.

Mick Box: My pleasure!

Who were your major influences?

Musically guitarists like Django Reinhardt, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, then I moved on to Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran.

Your first band was formed in 1967. You were called The Stalkers which eventually transformed into Spice. The band recorded “What About the Music/In Love for United Artist”.

We were just touring up and down the country in a van, and putting the gig money into the petrol tank, to get to the next show. We were playing mostly Universities and clubs, and sleeping in the van, and as a band, we were seriously motivated and passionate about our career.

You eventually changed your name to Uriah Heep and signed to Vertigo Records. The release of Very ‘eavy…Very ‘umble followed.

One of our major influences was a band called Vanilla Fudge, who used a Hammond Organ, searing guitars and high vibrato vocals. We kind of applied that to our original songs, and that became the template for Heep’s sound. We added harmony, as we had five vocalists and used this almost as another instrument, plus there was my Wah Wah guitar.

“There were no restrictions.”

How about Salisbury and Look at Yourself. What are some of the strongest memories from recording these two albums?

It was a very creative time, and coming out of the 60’s where to get radio play, you were restricted to songs being 3 minutes long, we let the music develop to what is now known as progressive rock. There were no restrictions. It was a very exciting time indeed, where rules were broken.

Demons and Wizards and The Magician’s Birthday followed. Would it be possible to choose your favorite album?

Sorry but I never travel that path, and I let the fans do the choosing of favourite albums. There have been however some landmarks, and Demons and Wizards would be one as this took us on to the world stage.

Can you take a trip down the memory lane and remember some gigs?

They were wild and crazy days, and without us knowing we were writing the rock n’roll book along with, Purple, Zeppelin, Tull, Nazareth, and the rest of the 70’s bands. As for specific stories you will have to wait for the book to come out!

Uriah Heep in 1977 American Talent International, Inc

What kind of equipment did you use?

I can only remember that I had a Black Gibson Les Paul guitar, put through a Marshall 100 watt stack, and a Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Wah.

You released a new album. Into the Wild sound fairly similar to the ‘seventies Uriah Heep’.

That is a comment I have heard a lot regards Into the Wild. I guess it is inevitable to a degree, but it was not something we engineered or even thought about, while writing and recording it.

Can you share the concept behind the album and who took care about the recording and producing side?

There was no concept, just a bunch of songs that were brought to the table. Mike Paxman was the producer, and he was the one to suggest that we record as a band. He heard us in rehearsal, and said that it sounded so good in rehearsal, that was how he wanted to record us, playing as a band and not piecemeal. Mike is a great guy to be around, and quite inspirational. He is full of energy and ideas, and he managed to bring the best out of each person in the recording process.

Uriah Heep promotional photo by Art-Ist Agency

You are going on the tour in December.

Well we finish touring this year on a UK tour, which is really cool. We have been away from home almost 240 days this year, so the immediate future plans are to spend some quality time with my family, and have a great Xmas and New Year celebration with them. In part of January I will spend some time writing new songs, and coming up with ideas. We have another extensive run of dates in 2012, so I better get it done then, as it is hard to write fully on the road. These songs will be for a new CD, that we hope to record late 2012.

Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.

This is a message to all of our fans and readers of It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine: Have a great festive season, and we hope to see you out on the road in 2012, somewhere, somehow, sometime! Keep on Rockin’ and of course ‘Appy days!

– Klemen Breznikar

Uriah Heep Official Website