# List of Uriah Heep members

Uriah Heep are an English rock band from London. Formed in late 1969, the group originally featured vocalist David Byron, guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist Ken Hensley, bassist Paul Newton, and drummer Alex Napier. The current line-up consists of Box, alongside keyboardist Phil Lanzon and vocalist Bernie Shaw (both since 1986), Russell Gilbrook (since 2007) and bassist Dave Rimmer (since 2013).

## History

Nigel Olsson replaced Napier in early 1970, with both drummers contributing to the band's debut album ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble. Olsson was replaced by Keith Baker and then Iain Clark, before Lee Kerslake joined as the group's first long-term drummer in late 1971, when Mark Clarke also replaced Newton. Clarke was later replaced by Gary Thain, who first appeared on 1972's Demons and Wizards. Thain was fired from the band in early 1975 due to an "increasing drug problem", which eventually led to his death from a heroin overdose on 8 December that year; he was replaced by John Wetton.
Byron was fired from Uriah Heep in 1976 due to his growing alcohol abuse, which led to his death from liver failure in 1985. He was replaced by John Lawton, as bassist Trevor Bolder also joined during the same period, following Wetton's departure. After tensions arose between Lawton and Hensley, the vocalist left and was replaced by John Sloman, while Kerslake was replaced by Chris Slade shortly after his arrival. Due to disagreements with the addition of Sloman and the band's musical direction, Hensley left the band in 1980 and was briefly replaced by Gregg Dechert. By April 1981, only Box remained in Uriah Heep, rebuilding the band with the addition of bassist Bob Daisley, returning drummer Kerslake (both recently departed from Ozzy Osbourne's band), keyboardist John Sinclair (later of Ozzy Osbourne's band with Daisley) and new vocalist Peter Goalby (recently of Trapeze).
After the release of Abominog and Head First, Bolder returned to Uriah Heep in 1983. Goalby and Sinclair left in 1986, with Andy Scott's Sweet keyboardist Phil Lanzon and, briefly, Steff Fontaine taking over on vocals before Bernie Shaw was brought in a few months later. Uriah Heep's lineup remained stable until January 2007, when Kerslake was forced to leave the band due to "ongoing health problems". He was replaced by Russell Gilbrook in March. On 21 May 2013, Bolder died of cancer, having taken a touring hiatus due to an operation earlier that year with John Jowitt covering. He was later replaced by Dave Rimmer.

## Members
### Current members

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Mick Box | 1969–present | guitarbacking vocals | all Uriah Heep releases |
| Phil Lanzon | 1986–present | keyboardsbacking and occasional lead vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Live in Moscow (1988) onwards, except Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997) |
| Bernie Shaw | 1986–present | lead vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Live in Moscow (1988) onwards, except Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997) |
| Russell Gilbrook | 2007–present | drumspercussionbacking vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Wake the Sleeper (2008) onwards |
| Dave Rimmer | 2013–present | bassbacking vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Outsider (2014) onwards |

### Former members

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Ken Hensley | 1969–1980 (plus live guest in 2001 and 2015) (died 2020) | keyboardsguitarbacking and lead vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) to Conquest (1980)Live in Europe 1979 (1986)Live at Shepperton '74 (1986)Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997)The Magician's Birthday Party (2002) |
| David Byron | 1969–1976 (died 1985) | lead and backing vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) to High and Mighty (1976)Live at Shepperton '74 (1986)Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997) |
| Paul Newton | 1969–1971 (plus live guest in 2019) | bassbacking vocals | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970)Salisbury (1971)Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Alex Napier | 1969–1970 (died 2023) | drums | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) (all but two tracks) |
| Nigel Olsson | 1970 | drumspercussion | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) (two tracks) |
| Keith Baker | 1970 | drums | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) (one track on US version)Salisbury (1971) |
| Iain Clark | 1970–1971 | drums | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Lee Kerslake | 1971–19791981–2007 (plus live guest in 2015 and 2018) (died 2020) | drumspercussionbacking vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Demons and Wizards (1972) to Fallen Angel (1978), and from Abominog (1982) to Magic Night (2004) |
| Mark Clarke | 1971–1972 | bassbacking and lead vocals | Demons and Wizards (1972) (one track only)"Why" (1972) |
| Gary Thain | 1972–1975 (died 1975) | bassoccasional backing vocals | all Uriah Heep releases from Demons and Wizards (1972) to Wonderworld (1974)Live at Shepperton '74 (1986)Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (1997) |
| John Wetton | 1975–1976 (died 2017) | bassbacking and occasional lead vocalspianomellotron | Return to Fantasy (1975)High and Mighty (1976) |
| Trevor Bolder | 1976–19811983–2013 (until his death) | bassbacking and occasional lead vocals | Firefly (1977)Innocent Victim (1977)Fallen Angel (1978)Conquest (1980)Equator (1985)Live in Europe 1979 (1986)all Uriah Heep releases from Live in Moscow (1988) to Spellbinder (1996), and from Sonic Origami (1998) to Official Bootleg Volume Six: Live at the Rock of Ages Festival Germany 2008 (2013) |
| John Lawton | 1976–1979 (plus live substitute in 1995 and 2013; live guest in 2001 and 2019) (died 2021) | lead and backing vocalsoccasional acoustic guitar | Firefly (1977)Innocent Victim (1977)Fallen Angel (1978)Live in Europe 1979 (1986)The Magician's Birthday Party (2002) |
| Chris Slade | 1979–1981 | drumspercussion | Conquest (1980) |
| John Sloman | 1979–1981 | lead vocalspianopercussionkeyboards | Conquest (1980) |
| Gregg Dechert | 1980–1981 | keyboardsbacking vocals | "Love Stealer" (1980)"Think It Over" (1981) |
| John Sinclair | 1981–1985 | keyboardsbacking vocals | Abominog (1982)Head First (1983)Equator (1985) |
| Peter Goalby | 1981–1985 | lead vocalsoccasional acoustic guitar | Abominog (1982)Head First (1983)Equator (1985) |
| Bob Daisley | 1981–1983 | bassbacking vocals | Abominog (1982)Head First (1983) |
| Steff Fontaine | 1986 | lead vocals | Does not appear on any recordings |

### Substitute musicians

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| John Jowitt | 2013 | bass | Jowitt toured with the band in early 2013, while Bolder underwent an undisclosed operation. |
| Stefan Berggren | 2016 | vocals | Berggren substituted for Shaw on two occasions in 2016, due to family commitments. |
| Don Airey | 2020 | keyboards | Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey stood in for Lanzon at two shows in January 2020 after the keyboardist's son died. |

### Session musicians

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Colin Wood | 1969 | keyboards | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) |
| John Fiddy | 1970 | brass and woodwind arrangement | Salisbury (1971) |
| Manfred Mann | 1971 | moog synthesizer | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Ted Osei | 1971 | percussion | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Mac Tontoh | 1971 (died 2010) | percussion | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Loughty Amao | 1971 (died 1988) | percussion | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| Brian Cole | 1972 | pedal steel guitar | The Magician's Birthday (1972) |
| Jose Gabriel | 1974 | synthesizers | Wonderworld (1974) |
| Michael Gibbs | 1974 | orchestral arrangements | Wonderworld (1974) |
| Chris Mercer | 1978 | saxophone | Fallen Angel (1978) |
| Gerry Bron | 1979 (died 2012) | timpani | Conquest (1980) |
| Frank Ricotti | 19831988–1989 | percussion | Head First (1983)Raging Silence (1989) |
| Maria Zackojiva | 1988–1989 | Russian spoken words | Raging Silence (1989) |
| Brett Morgan | 1988–19891990 | drums | Raging Silence (1989)Different World (1991) |
| Danny Wood | 1990 | accordion | Different World (1991) |
| Benny Marshall | 1990 | harmonica | Different World (1991) |
| Steve Piggott | 1990 | keyboard programming | Different World (1991) |
| Children of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford (as "All God's Children choir") | 1990 | choir | Different World (1991) |
| Andrew Willoughby | 1990 | choir conductor | Different World (1991) |
| Piet Sielck | 1994–1995 | additional keyboards | Sea of Light (1995) |
| Pete Beckett | 1994–1995 | additional backing vocalsstring arrangements | Sea of Light (1995) |
| Rolf Köhler | 1994–1995 (died 2007) | additional backing vocals | Sea of Light (1995) |

## Lineups

Dates are taken from the band's official website.
| Period | Members | Studio albums |
| Autumn 1969 – January 1970 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Alex Napier – drums | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) (except "Lucy Blues" and "Dreammare") |
| January – February 1970 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Nigel Olsson – drums | ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble (1970) ("Lucy Blues" and "Dreammare") |
| February – October 1970 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Keith Baker – drums | Salisbury (1971) |
| October 1970 – November 1971 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Paul Newton – bass, backing vocals Iain Clarke – drums | Look at Yourself (1971) |
| November 1971 – February 1972 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Mark Clarke – bass, backing and lead vocals | Demons and Wizards (1972) ("The Wizard") |
| February 1972 – February 1975 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Gary Thain – bass, occasional backing vocals | Demons and Wizards (1972) (remaining tracks) The Magician's Birthday (1972) Sweet Freedom (1973) Wonderworld (1974) |
| March 1975 – August 1976 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals David Byron – lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals John Wetton – bass, backing and lead vocals, keyboards | Return to Fantasy (1975) High and Mighty (1976) |
| September 1976 – October 1979 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals John Lawton – lead vocals | Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Fallen Angel (1978) |
| November 1979 – May 1980 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Chris Slade – drums John Sloman – lead vocals, piano, keyboards | Conquest (1980) |
| July 1980 – April 1981 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Chris Slade – drums John Sloman – lead vocals, piano, keyboards Gregg Dechert – keyboards, backing vocals | "Love Stealer" (1980) "Think It Over" (1981) |
| April 1981 – April 1983 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Peter Goalby – lead vocals John Sinclair – keyboards, backing vocals Bob Daisley – bass, backing vocals | Abominog (1982) Head First (1983) |
| May 1983 – November 1985 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Peter Goalby – lead vocals, occasional acoustic guitar John Sinclair – keyboards, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals | Equator (1985) |
| July – September 1986 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Steff Fontaine – lead vocals | none |
| September 1986 – January 2007 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocals | Raging Silence (1989) Different World (1991) Sea of Light (1995) Sonic Origami (1998) |
| March 2007 – May 2013 | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocals Russell Gilbrook – drums, backing vocals | Wake the Sleeper (2008) Into the Wild (2011) |
| May 2013 – present | Mick Box – guitar, backing vocals Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals Bernie Shaw – lead vocals Russell Gilbrook – drums, percussion, backing vocals Dave Rimmer – bass, backing vocals | Outsider (2014) Living the Dream (2018) Chaos & Colour (2023) |