Uriah Heep Family Tree
Metal Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Uriah Heep have had a long career. Their sound is not without evolution but generally they might be categorized as Progressive Hard Rock. In the early days they even dabbled in Early Heavy Metal along side some of the earliest of the genera. Although some members have had very long stints in the band, guitarist Mick Box is the only member to be in the band since the beginning. David Byron was the vocalist for the early albums. He was co-founder along with Mick and remained in the band till 1976; he shared in at least some writing credits on every album but his last. Ken Hensley with Uriah Heep through 1980. He played keyboard, guitar, did backing vocals and occasional lead. He was a primary contributor to the writing and on some albums wrote nearly everything. Lee Kerslake was on drums starting on their 4th album and remained one of the longest running members of the band with writing credits on most albums. In 1976 Trevor Bolder joined on bass and was a contributing member for his very long stay in the band.
At a time there was a big line-up shift in Urhia heep following the return of Lee after his stint with Ozzy. Lee and Mick were joined by Bob Daisley on bass, John Sinclair on keys, and Peter Goalby on vocals this line up would do two albums before it began to change again with Trevor returning for what would have been the third. This line up would all contribute to writing during that time.
Following that line up, vocalist Bernie Shaw and keyboardist Phil Lanzon joined for their 1989 album Raging Silence. They have remained in the band ever since. In that time Bernie only has two writing credits, but Lanzon became a prominent writer.
Phase one
Phase one of Uriah Heep is marked by the the time The time David Byron was on vocals
Django Reinhardt
Les Paul and Mary Ford
Tal Farlow
Barney Kessel
Bill Haley and His Comets
Eddie Cochran
Buddy Holly
Ray Charles
Billy “Crash” Craddock
Wes Montgomery
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
John McLaughlin
Paco de Lucía
Al Di Meola
Phase One 1/2
Phase 1/2 continues following Uriah Heep’s fourth album with the addition of drummer Lee Kerslake as well as two stints on bass from Gary Thain, and John Welton, both of who’s influences are unknown.
Buddy Rich
Aynsley Dunbar
Phase Two
Phase two of Uriah Heep is marked by the departure of David Byron replaced by Lucifer’s Friend vocalist John Lawton. It is also marked by the joining of Trevor Bolder on bass. It adds additional influence new to the mix.
Sonny Boy Williamson
Phase 3
This is phase is marked by the return of Lee on drums after his time with Ozzy and the addition of Bob Daisley on bass, John Sinclair on keys, and Peter Goalby on vocals. It adds additional influence new to the mix.
Tom Jones
The Walker Brothers
Phase 4
Phase 4 begins with the addition of Brian Shaw on vocals, and Phil Lanzon on keyboards.
Mick first guitar guitar teacher Allan Hodgkins played second to Django Reinhardt.
David says he liked 50’s and 60’s rock ‘n’ roll. He said he didn’t model himself after anyone in particular, but all things things he liked probably had subconscious influence.
Bassist Paul Newton was on the first few albums with writing credits on the first. I’m unsure of his influences.
Ken named Elvis as making him want to play music and named Cliff Richard as someone he listened to early on. He said in his first few bands he the guys he played with got him more into blues.
Mark Clarke was bassist for Demons and Wizards and had one co-writing credit. Otherwise he didn’t have significant influence on the sound of Uriah Heep, so I won’t include his influences here.
Gary Thain was on bass for four albums and had writing credits on 3 of the 4. I’m unsure of his influences.
John Wetton was on bass for two albums with co-writing credits on two songs. His influences are not noted here as his time and contributions to the band was minimal.
A musician named Jack Williams wrote some songs for and with Mick an a couple albums, but was never part of the band.
John Lawton formerly of Lucifer’s Friend fame, sung on three albums but has minimal writing credits. (his influences will be covered under Lucifer’s Friend if that tree is ever made)
Trevor Bolder started with brass instruments like trumpet and played in brass bands as a kid before discovering The Beatles. After that him and his brothers were inspired to start a rock band and he picked up bass guitar. His bass influence primarily didn’t come from The Beatles, but from blues players and mainly the of 30’s and 40’s. He notably played with David Bowie for several albums. Two of songs Trevor brought to the band were co-written with Pete McDonald whom was not a member of the band but a musical associate of Trevor.
Bob learned to play bass by playing along to his sister’s rock and roll albums from The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Ricky Nelson, and Elvis. Later there was The Beatles and Rolling Stones. (citation for Bob’s influences are linked on Ozzy’s family Tree)
John Sinclair played keyboard for three albums and has writing credits on each. He says he has a classical influence but doesn’t name specifics. He also named progressive rock in general with some more specific bands which are noted above.
Bernie Shaw has been on vocals since 1989, but has contributed little to writing. He mentions singing to The Beatles, Cream, and The Kinks as a kid.
Phil Lanzon began piano lessons at 8 years old. He says he had classical influence. He doesn’t name specifics. Phil studied harmony, counterpoint and composition at the Guildhall school of Music and Drama. He says he always draws influence from Uriah Heep when writing new material, but was not into Uriah Heep before joining.
Simon J. Pinto is a session musician who has writing credits on 2023’s Chaos and Colour. He did not perform on the album though, and I’m unsure in what capacity who wrote as he plays multiple instruments.
Bands influenced by Uriah Heep!
As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!
Sources:
https://www.musicradar.com/news/uriah-heeps-mick-box-i-try-to-stay-away-from-the-scales-and-just-go-with-my-heart
https://www.loudersound.com/features/uriah-heeps-mick-box-10-records-that-changed-my-life
https://defendersofthefaithmetal.com/mick-box-uriah-heep-interview/
https://houseontherock.avevita.net/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,print,0&cntnt01articleid=2&cntnt01showtemplate=false&cntnt01returnid=67
https://geirmykl.wordpress.com/tag/david-byron/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MCatj1h9jw
(A Ken Hensly 2016 radio interview was previously on youtube, but has since been removed)
https://bobdaisley.com/interview/the-fuze-lee-kerslake#:~:text=My%20major%20influence%20was%20John,really%20get%20on%20the%20beat.
https://dmme.net/interviews/bolder
https://vwmusicrocks.com/2021/11/22/an-interview-with-peter-goalby-of-trapeze-uriah-heep/#:~:text=Who%20were%20some%20of%20your,Walker%20Brothers%2C%20and%20The%20Beatles.
https://50gigsinaday.home.blog/interviews/interview-with-john-sinclair-uriah-heepozzy/
https://dmme.net/interviews/shaw
https://www.thegreatfroglondon.com/us/blog/interview-uriah-heeps-phil-lanzon/
https://www.phillanzonwordsandmusic.com/about#:~:text=Lanzon%20married%2C%20started%20a%20family,direction%20he%20would%20head%20towards.
https://bobdaisley.com/interview/the-fuze-lee-kerslake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRIPJYR6hSQ&t=249s