MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. British rockers Uriah Heep have returned to Russia following a three-year hiatus. The band will play concerts at Crocus City Hall in Moscow on December 9 and at the DK Lensoveta in St. Petersburg on December 10.
"Happy to play Russia again. We always wanted to come back to Russia since 2015, but again this depends on local promoters to invite bands to play, we are happy to be invited to play Russia in 2018," Uriah Heep’s bassist Davey Rimmer said in an interview with TASS ahead of the Russian shows.
Currently, the quintet is on tour to promote their latest album titled "Living the Dream."
"As we have a new album 'Living the Dream' we will play new songs and also classic Heep songs from the past. We have a few different set lists," Rimmer said.
Some new tunes
"Living The Dream," which was released in September 2018, has already been named by many fans and critics one of Uriah Heep’s best records in many years and even one of the best albums over the band’s entire career.
Talking to TASS, Rimmer said that this album (first studio effort in four years) was recorded as fast as possible.
"We recorded the album in just over 2 weeks, before that we rehearsed the songs for about a week," he said.
According to Rimmer, the band’s veterans - guitarist Mick Box and keyboardist Phil Lanzon remain the chief songwriters.
"Songs/ideas are brought in mainly by Mick and Phil, some are finished, some are not finished. We go into a room and work on them as a band so we are all happy with the songs," the bassist explained.
Rimmer who joined Uriah Heep six years ago also contributed a song to the new record. As a songwriter, he worked together with one of the most famous vocalists in the world, American Jeff Scott Soto, who became famous thanks to his collaboration with the Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen.
"I wrote the first track - single 'Grazed by Heaven' on 'Living the Dream' with Jeff Scott Soto. He is the singer with the band Sons of Apollo," Rimmer said adding that Soto wrote the lyrics.
"'Grazed by Heaven' lyrics written by Jeff Scott Soto. Bernie (Shaw - the band’s singer) wrote the lyrics to 'Goodbye to Innocence'," Rimmer said adding that Phil or Mick composed both the music and the lyrics for the rest of the songs.
Live concerts will never die
When asked about his solo projects Davey said has no such plans in the near future.
"I am very busy with Uriah Heep so I don't have time to play other bands. Maybe one day I will record an album but at the moment my focus is on Uriah Heep 100%. Coming up for 6 years in Uriah Heep I am 'Living the Dream'. It's fantastic to be part of Uriah Heep," he told TASS.
"2018 has been a very successful year for Uriah Heep, lots of touring and the new 'Living the Dream' album is keeping us very busy and happy," he went on.
Rimmer believes that rock music will never die.
"Also live concerts will never die, it's a great relationship between musicians and fans that will never die," he concluded.
"We hope our Russian fans will continue to Live the Dream with us in the future! See you all soon," he said.
About the band
Uriah Heep was founded in 1969. At that time, Great Britain was going to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens (1812-70), and the name of the great writer was everywhere around.
One day, Jerry Bron, manager of an unknown rock band Spice suggested that the musicians could change the name of their band after of Uriah Heep, a villain-like character of the novel "David Copperfield." At first, the musicians unanimously rejected it, but, ironically, it was that very name that the musicians eventually gave the band.
Uriah Heep recorded 25 studio albums that sold over 40 mln copies.
Through the years, more than 20 musicians played in the ranks of Uriah Heep.
The band’s current line-up includes Mick Box on guitar, Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Phil Lanzon on keyboards, Russell Gilbrook on drums and Davey Rimmer on bass.
Uriah Heep became the first Western world-class band that performed in the Soviet Union. In late 1987, the band played 10 concerts in Moscow, which brought together a total of 180,000 spectators at the Olimpiisky sports complex. Nine years later, the British rockers returned to Russia making their first tour around the country. Since then, Uriah Heep tours in Russia on a regular basis.