Uriah Heep! The Heep! Heepsters! 'Appy Days! I've been to many concerts and backstage with many big name artist but, Uriah Heep and Uriah Heep fans are the best I' ve been with! Since I started photographing concerts as a profession since 1994 I have not met a band that treated me and its fans with so much respect and sincerity. I've been photographing Uriah Heep since 1997 and have so far photographed them 10 times. I' ve toured with them, partied with them, dined with them, helped them when in Italy, slept in the same hotels as they have, laughed and cried with them. In short I have a first hand esperience with Uriah Heep.

Ever since I was invited back stage by Bernie Shaw to meet Mick Box and the rest of the Heep back in May of 1998 after the Venice concert my relationship with the Heep has been continuos and always superb. I owe a lot to Uriah Heep for giving me my first opportunity to be exclusivly published in their Sonic Origami album. They appreciated my work and believed in me. In fact, they immediately invited me to tour with them to Pula, Croatia. They gave me my first professional concert photography break and made me believe in what I was doing, in myself and my work. And, by the way, as opposed to many other groups out there, they payed for my services!

As stated by many journalists and fans, meeting Mick Box and the Heep is a humbling experience. Those that have met Mick Box know what I am talking about. He is one of the few rock stars that does not have an inflared ego and really treats others as his equal. When I shook his hand for the first time and talked for the first 30-60 seconds I just melted and was put at my ease. So goes for the rest of the band and the crew that works with the band. The Heep is special and always will be special in my heart as well as in the hearts of all Heep fans. In all fairness I do want to add that the only other group that gave me such a warm reception was Nazareth with whom Uriah Heep was touring during the Double Trouble Tour. There is so much more I can narrate about the Heep and its members but, there is not enough time to do so here.

As I mentioned before, I have photographed the band 10 times and I know I will photograph them again. What amazes me is that each concert I have been to of Uriah Heep is always great. I will go as far as to say that they are the best band around to see live! The Heep ALWAYS give 100% and then some at EVERY concert they play. Be it a concert that does not get a great turn out due to poor promoting or a packed stadium, the Heep makes it their pint to play their hearts out for every fan that shows up. If one person showed up at their concert I'm sure they would still play their hearts out because that is how much they value their fans. I always look forward to seeing their concerts and still get goose bumps even though I've seen them so many times. In fact, the Heep allowed me to take my family to their 2005 Venice concert which was the first time my sons (10 & 12 years old and listeners to "todays" music") saw the Heep. Michael and Nicholas were overwhelmed not only by the treatment they received but of course by the music. When we returned home all the kids wanted to do was hear my CD's of the Heep. My younger son, Michael, keeps a copy of the Magicians Birthday in his room and plays at least once a week. If you can get young kids to like your music then your music has something special.

Uriah Heep is special and special fo many reasons. Sure, many people make comments like "are they still playing?" but that is how the industry has ruined the business. If you haven't seen the Heep live yet please, take my advice, GO! Keep On Heep'n!