Text by Marcelo Gomes
Uriah Heep is about to perform in Brazil in December. The shows will take place in Curitiba on the 9th, at CWB Hall – tickets here – and in São Paulo on the 10th, at Tokio Marine Hall – tickets here.
With over 50 years of career and countless rock classics in their catalog, Uriah Heep's South American tour has confirmed dates in Peru (December 5th) and Chile (December 7th), in addition to Brazil.
Formed in the late 1960s, Uriah Heep conquered the world with classic albums such as Look At Yourself (1971) and Demons and Wizards (1972). Currently, the group consists of original member Mick Box (guitar), vocalist Bernie Shaw , keyboardist Phil Lanzon , bassist Davey Rimmer , and drummer Russell Gilbrook .
The tour coming to Brazil celebrates more than five decades on the road and an extensive discography with 25 studio albums, the most recent being Chaos & Colour , released in January 2023.
Uriah Heep's last visit to Brazil was almost 10 years ago.
Just before his visit to Brazil, guitarist Mick Box spoke with Wikimetal about the trip, the new album, and more. Check out the full interview below.
Wikimetal: With shows scheduled in Brazil in December, how is the band preparing?
Mick Box : Hello, first of all I'd like to apologize for the delay. We've been around for many years. But of course, whenever we have a tour, we get together to prepare.
WM: Without revealing too much, are there any surprises in the setlist that fans can expect during the shows in Brazil? Congratulations on your latest album, Chaos & Colour , which is excellent! How does the band balance performing established classics with showcasing new songs during live performances?
MB : What I can say is that we're going to put together a setlist with a lot of classics. We're still celebrating the band's 50th anniversary and we'll be covering our entire repertoire up to our penultimate album, Living The Dream (2019). Therefore, we won't have any Chaos & Colour that we plan to perform on a tour after these celebrations.
WM: How important are Brazilian fans to Uriah Heep?
MB Brazilian fans are very special, every time we visit Brazil, we are very well received, everyone is very loving towards us. I remember we played for 30,000 people in the street (referring to the Virada Cultural in 2014), that day was fantastic.
WM: What are your early musical influences and how have they shaped your guitar style?
MB : When I started out, I took lessons with a teacher who introduced me to the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt . I started listening to him and that certainly helped a lot in developing my own style.
WM: What were the main challenges in Uriah Heep's early days? And what were the most memorable achievements?
MB: There are many challenges, but once you get a record label, things get a little easier. In the beginning, we had many places to play across Europe. Today, practically all of those venues are closed.
WM: Uriah Heep is known for its longevity and consistent success. What do you believe is the secret to this enduring career? Are you still living the dream? [referring to the title of their penultimate album, Living The Dream ].
MB : Passion! You have to really love what you do. To this day, I still enjoy recording and touring. I'm definitely still living that dream.
WM: One thing I've always wondered is why England was such a breeding ground for influential bands like Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, etc.—bands that shaped everything that came after. Do you have any explanation for this?
MB: Before us, the music was beautiful, pleasant, and that was fine. But our rebellious spirit contributed a lot to this change; we let our hair grow, and most importantly, each of us has our own style. My sound is different from Tony Iommi's ( Black Sabbath ) and Ritchie Blackmore's (ex- Deep Purple ). We tried to do unique things, to let our individual side emerge, and with all due respect, today young people go to music schools, play brilliantly, but they all sound alike. That wasn't what we had in mind; we forged our own paths.
WM: Speaking of current bands, do you have any that represent that rebellious spirit and are a reference point today? Recently, Mick Jagger [Rolling Stones] said that Maneskin is the greatest rock band in the world. Are you familiar with them? Another question: with all the platforms bands can use to promote themselves, why do we feel like we don't have bands as influential as those in the 70s and 80s?
MB: I don't know Maneskin. Nowadays there are all these platforms that don't pay anything, so musicians can't survive. Maybe that's why there are fewer relevant bands. The truth is that in current times, we release new work to do tours. That's where the money comes from.
WM: Nowadays there are many rumors that bands use pre-recorded tracks in live performances, have you heard anything like that?
MB: Yes, unfortunately many bands deceive their audience. We are not that kind of band. I have great musicians accompanying me who make both the new and older songs sound good. Our show is 100% live. I hope you can see our show to be sure of that.
WM: Regarding the album title Chaos & Colour , is there a concept behind it? I've read several positive comments saying it's a return to their roots.
MB : I'm glad to hear that. I created the concept. Seeing the world go through the pandemic, the word chaos came to mind, and the colors represent music and hope. I saw many people going through very difficult situations during this period, a lot of suffering and depression. I think music has the power to heal everything and give hope.
I think the album turned out well because we played and rehearsed together. We didn't exchange media files; in fact, I think that's wrong. The music comes from the drum beat; there has to be an exchange between the musicians. We were so prepared that we recorded in two weeks in the United States.
WM: Are you happy with the level the band has reached, or do you still think the band has something more to achieve?
MB: No, I think we're where we should be. I'm very happy with everything we've done so far. Things are as they are, I wouldn't change anything, I have nothing to complain about.
WM: Is there any specific Uriah Heep song that is particularly special to you in terms of composition or performance?
MB: You know, that changes from time to time. I tend to like it more if I can improvise on solos or jam with the band live. I'd say Lady In Black now.
WM: Share a specific message for Brazilian Uriah Heep fans in anticipation of the December shows.
MB: Once again, I would like to apologize for the delay and thank our Brazilian fans for their support throughout all these years. We hope to see you all at our show in São Paulo in December. We're preparing a great performance and you can be sure it will be unforgettable. See you soon!
