Peter Goalby was the lead singer of Uriah Heep during the band’s classic ‘Abominog’ era and also wrote their 1980s hit ‘Blood Red Roses’. He sang on the band’s albums ‘Head First’ and ‘Equator’ plus he’s also known for his time in Trapeze.

After leaving the band, Peter Goalby recorded a number of solo songs, however, they were left unreleased until now. There has been constant speculation from fans on when they might hear the songs, given it was business reasons that precluded the release of the album at the time, but the way has now been cleared for the music to finally be heard. The new artwork has been overseen and approved by Peter Goalby and its release has come about thanks to fans persistently pushing to hear these legendary lost recordings.

Peter Goalby said: “Finally, my best songs will be heard. Thirty years on. Never say never. I am so thrilled with my album release. I know I have a lot of friends out there who have wanted this day to arrive for many years. Thank you for sticking with me for all this time. I hope you love ‘Easy With The Heartaches’ as much as I do. Thank you”. All the tracks were written by Goalby, except for three tracks co-written with Robin George. The vocal led style will appeal to Uriah Heep and Trapeze fans who have never stopped loving his voice.

“It’s like a picture in your ears”

It’s really nice to have you. You have a brand new album out, ‘Easy with the Heartaches’. If I understand correctly, this album was recorded after you left Uriah Heep?

Peter Goalby: Firstly, thank you for supporting my new album. All the songs on this album I wrote after I left Uriah Heep. I found writing became easier for me because I could spend more time on the songs. It was as though I had walked through a door and the songs just got better and better. Mick Box asked me to write something for the Heep’s ‘Raging Silence’ album . I wrote a great song for them. It was called ‘Blood Red Roses’, after that song it all felt really great. I was in the zone, it felt wonderful. I was really happy creating new music.

“I loved the music but hated the music business”

Why did you wait for so long to release it? After all, the material is really well recorded. Where were the tapes stored and what was the condition of the tapes?

I quit music in 1992. I walked away from it all. I loved the music but hated the music business. I felt that I had done my very best but I was waiting for the big break but could not wait any longer. So I closed the door for good. Over the years those songs have been bootlegged twice and the sound quality was terrible. It made me very angry to think I had done all that work and the songs ended up doing nothing. In the last few years we have lost Trevor Bolder, Lee Kerslake, Ken Hensley and John Lawton so I thought I might be next and then there would be yet another bootleg of my songs out there. So I decided to re-master the songs and release the album. This would ensure the songs would sound the best I could present them. I have to say that the reaction has been incredible. Thank you everyone. It is already a great success all over the world. Incredible, I love it , it’s a wonderful gift to me now I am 71 years old.

All the tracks were written by you, except for three tracks co-written with Robin George. How do you usually approach songwriting and what in your opinion makes a great song?

I do not write anymore. I have not picked up a guitar since 1992. The only way I could walk away was to stop completely. I was in denial until the release of ‘Easy with The Heartaches’. Now I am alive again. It feels very good. When I was writing I would normally have the title first. Example: ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’. It already sounds important so when you get to the chorus it takes off (if you have a good melody of course). Another example would be ‘Blood Red Roses’. I wrote down the title first then built the song around it. Movie titles are great to work with. I am not going to give any more of my secrets for now but what makes a great song is easy. It has to touch people. Words are very important and emotion is important and simply the whole feel and vibe. It’s like a picture in your ears.

Can you share some further details on how the songs were recorded? Maybe you can share a bit more about individual tracks and which in particular do you like the most?

You may be surprised to know these tracks were only demos. They cost very little money to record. My very dear friend Paul Hodson had a massive input in the recording. He did drums, bass, and keyboards. I did all the guitars. I did not play any guitar solos, they were done by a great player Eddy Morton. I love all the songs, every one of them. I think they fit together really well and it sounds like an album. I can hear a thread going through all of the album. The title track, ‘Easy with The Heartaches’ and the last track, ‘The Last Time’, I wrote both of those songs for Tina Turner. I am sure you can hear her singing them both. She probably never got to hear them. I don’t know. I do have a very favourite track: ‘They’ll Never Find Us’. I think I sang that song really well. I have told Mick Box that Heep should record it. They would make great versions of it. I hope Mick reads this article. I have to mention the three co-writers with Robin, we had great fun writing and recording those songs. Robin played all the instruments. I just did the vocals in his kitchen at his home studio.

What would you say is the main difference in being a solo artist?

I think the advantage is you get to make the record sound just as you want it to sound. When it’s a band it is always a compromise to keep all members happy. Sometimes that works and sometimes it does not.

Are there any remaining unreleased tunes?

Great question. You will have to wait and see. At this moment I am just enjoying this album and everyone’s reaction to its release.

Would you mind talking about the early days? What do you recall from the 1973 Fable album?

We were very young and just learning. We were actually a cover band and we played all the current songs. Then I started writing songs. Then we all started writing songs. No real direction, but we were doing our best. It was a great band. Everyone sang and we did harmonies. I loved all that. I have to thank Paul Robbins, he was a keyboard player and is a great friend. He would arrange songs in a good key for me to sing.

The band also released several singles. Did you get a lot of airplay back then?

No. Not much at all. People would rather listen to Mud or Sweet or Suzy Quatro.

How about the gigs? What were some groups that you shared stages with?

There were lots of really… ELO, Gary Glitter.+, Hot Chocolate. All of the bands of the day really.

Then you became the lead singer and second guitarist in Trapeze on the studio recording ‘Hold On’ (1978). What do you recall from playing in Trapeze?

Trapeze was my first really big challenge. I replaced Glen Hughes. He left to join Deep Purple. Wow! Big shoes to fill! Actually Glen was my friend. I remember one time we played golf together he picked me up in an open top Bentley, his hair was so long it reached his bum.

We looked really stupid on a golf course, crazy days. I did two albums with Trapeze. I wrote three songs on the ‘Hold On’ album. I was so proud that all three were on the first side of that album. Then we did ‘Live In Texas’, a live album. Great stuff. I remember the great audience that night, as always.

Even before joining Trapeze you were active as a solo artist, releasing two 45’s. Tell us about it…

Yes I did have two singles, first one was called ‘Ain’t It Funny’, a ballad and then a song which I did not write called ‘You Are Day You Are Night’, this was like a Walker Brothers type ballad.

They both flopped, never mind I did my best.

And what led you to join Uriah Heep?

I was just about to start a U.S tour with Trapeze and I got a call from Ashley Howe, who produced ‘Abominog’ and ‘Head First’. He asked if I would be interested in joining Mick Box in Heep. I said I was going away for 6 weeks with Trapeze to America. I said I was very interested. When I got back Ashley phoned me and said Peter do you want this job or not ? Whilst I was in the U.S they auditioned 84 singers but they waited for me. Yea. This was about to be my best time. GREAT band. Mick, John, Lee, and Bob. We were a great team, invincible. I loved it. Later Bob left then we got Trevor Bolder, another wonderful bass player. In all I did three albums. ‘Abominog’, ‘Head First’ and ‘Equator’. We were so successful. We travelled the world many times over. In fact too many times for me.

What were some of the bands that you shared stages with and is there a particular story that you would like to share?

Mostly we were the headline band which I loved, but we shared with many bands… Def Leppard, Gary Moore, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Status Quo, Ian Gillan. Too many to mention really plus lots of U.S bands too.

So what else currently occupies your life beside promoting your wonderful new release?

Horses. We love horses. My wife rides and I look after my wife. We have lots of friends who have horses. None of them knew that I have been in bands as I do not talk about it. Now I have a new record. It’s great seeing their faces. They had no idea I was a singer and a writer of songs.

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

I want to thank everyone for supporting my record. I am so proud that after 30 years they still remember me and that they like my songs. Thank you Klemen. Stay safe and thank you to all my friends.

Klemen Breznikar

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