This
DVD goes to prove - come what may - that
you cannot keep a good band down. In the
past fourteen years, although with a steady
lineup and consistent world wide touring,
Uriah Heep have only released three new
studio albums, which have actually been
critically well received, but only did
moderate sales, as opposed to six studio
albums in their first three formative
years, added to which was the groundbreaking
double live album. But live the boys can
still pack concert halls across the globe,
with their full-on stage shows and enthusiastic
performances.
The Magician's Birthday Party was recorded
at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London,
England on 7th December 2001 to celebrate
thirty two years of the monster on this
planet that Uriah Heep is. They went through
five drummers, six bassists, four keyboard
players, four lead vocalists, but only
one lead guitarist, quite an achievement.
(Making the "Spinal Tap" drum
stool look secure.) To be fair, the current
lineup of Uriah Heep has been together
(with barely a hick up) now since 1988.
The
event had been sold out weeks in advance
by the loyal Heep fans, and the band itself
has promised a special show. They delivered
in no uncertain terms, giving a powerful
performance that belied their mounting
years. (Watching the DVD Concert section
of the show one cannot help but make comparisons
between the appearance of the band and
their counter parts in the spoof band
"Strange Fruit" from the movie
'Still Crazy', with the resemblance between
drummer Lee Kerslake and his film double
Timothy Spall, keyboard player Phil Lanzon
and Stephen Rea, and especially lead vocalist
Bernie Shaw and the superbly over the
top Bill Nighy. It is quite hard to not
expect to glance sideways and expect Billy
Connelly to be part of the road crew.)
The band gives a very energetic performance,
playing songs from as far back as their
third album "Look at Yourself"
(1971). With the classic song "July
Morning" Mick Box delivers a superb
guitar solo to bring the song to a dramatic
climax, whilst Bernie Shaw mirrors the
exacting high falsetto vocals of sadly
departed original Heep vocalist David
Byron. Before that the band plays "Between
two Worlds" from their last studio
album, the wonderfully monickered "Sonic
Origami". (1998).
Uriah Heep had also promised surprises
during the show, and no die hard fan of
the band could possibly have been disappointed
by what they got. First up during "Between
Two Worlds" Thijs Van Leer, formally
of Dutch super group 'Focus', gets up
on stage to play the flute parts and as
a special treat gives a few of his customized
yodels. Then after a couple more songs
the crowd goes totally bananas as original
keyboardist/slide guitarist/vocalist/and
for a time chief songwriter. (For Heep;s
ninth album "High and Mighty"1976
he wrote all the songs.) Ken Hensley gets
up on stage to play with the band for
the first time in twenty one years. The
years roll back and Ken Hensley fits musically
back into the band like a velvet glove,
switching between vocals, keyboards, and
some wonderful slide guitar, especially
during the epic "Circle of Hands".
Now as a six piece Rock band (with the
edition of three beautiful back up singers,
who are certainly easier on the eye than
some of the aging Rock Stars on the stage)
they bring the set proper to a rousing
conclusion with a definitive version of
"The Magician's Birthday", which
gives each member of the band a solo opportunity.
Encore time brings the whole entourage
back on stage with the addition of Heep's
vocalist for three studio albums and three
years of live work, John Lawton (who had
miraculously grown his hair back for the
night), for two more rockers to send the
crowd home into the cold London night
deliriously happy. Of course you do not
have to do that as you can now watch it
at your leisure in the comfort of your
home - thanks to the wonders of DVD.
The extras are worth the price of the
DVD on their own with a filmed visit of
the band to the U. S. A, Rock vault of
other bands that have DVD on the Classic
Rock Label, a bonus track in studio form,
and a documentary of a Uriah Heep Fan
Convention with the band in attendance.
When you look at the set list and notice
which songs Uriah Heep could afford to
leave out, you get an idea of how strong
the Heep back catalogue is. How many other
bands could play a two hour set at a celebration
concert and still leave out such classics
as 'Gypsy', 'Lady in Black' and 'The Wizard'.
Most other bands would have to build their
whole set round them. It is thirty two
years on the road now for Uriah Heep,
and if this DVD is anything to go by,
there is plenty of life in the old Dog
for a few more years to come.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
