The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Uriah Heep enthralls fans in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 09, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Uriah Heep enthralls fans in city

Anand Sankar

The band's brand of hard, progressive rock sways audience at Palace Grounds

RECREATING MAGIC: Uriah Heep performing at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: "We will try to cover 35 years," was Uriah Heep's promise to all Heepsters who turned up on a chilly Bangalore evening to listen to them live after a gap of 22 years. In 1984, 300 people turned up for the concert but this time around it was ten times that number and included many that were born after 1984.

The band began with "So Tired" but showed no hint of fatigue with energy that they sustained throughout the performance. Formed in 1969, the only surviving member of the original band today is Mick Box, the lead guitarist. He was assisted by Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Lee Kerslake on drums, Trevor Bolder on bass guitar and Phil Lanzon on the keyboard.

Playing hard and progressive rock genres, Heep had the crowd "Falling in Love" early. The band's music is not easily available in India but the number of fans who could chorus their lyrics was truly a sight to see and hear.

Fans of Deep Purple and Whitesnake didn't find it hard to place Heep's music because they are a more or less a blend of the two iconic bands. There were the numbers like "Bird of Prey", "Easy Livin'", and "Gypsy" which were all about speed guitar and powerful riffs, while "If I Had Time", a ballad with just vocals and the keyboard was more of the melodic tunes the band is famous for.

The energy of Shaw on the vocals and the absolute ease with which Box handled the lead and the acoustic guitar was the highlight of the show.

Knowing the audience may find it difficult to follow newer numbers, the band stuck to classics like "Sweet Lorraine", "July Morning", "Stealin'" and "Look At Yourself".

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