With Uriah Heep 1969-1976
He became most famous as the original singer of the English rock band Uriah Heep between 1969 and 1976. David Byron sang on ten Uriah Heep albums. Their first (which had originally been slated as a Spice release which becomes apparent after listening to "The Lansdowne Tapes"), "Very 'eavy Very 'Umble", "Salisbury", "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday", "Live" (also known amongst fans as "Friday Night In Birmingham"), "Sweet Freedom", "Wonderworld", "Return To Fantasy", "High And Mighty". During these six years David Byron gained a reputation with his operatic vocals and harmonies as one of the best rock vocalists and frontmen in the world. In 1975 Byron released his first solo album, "Take No Prisoners" (Bronze Records ILPS 9824) which also featured fellow heep members Mick Box, Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake. But unfortunately for Byron, he'd also gained a reputation for hard drinking which eventually led to him being sacked from Uriah Heep at the end of a Spanish tour in July 1976. Ken Hensley said at that time, "David was one of those classic people who couldn't face up to the fact that things were wrong and he looked for solace in a bottle". Uriah Heep's manager at the time Gerry Bron said Byron had been dismissed in "the best interest of the group", having already secured a replacement singer. Bron explained that Byron and the other Heep members had been in disagreement for some time over fundamental issues of group policy, and that the differences had been finally brought to a head following the band's recent tour of Britain and Europe. "It was felt by the rest of the group that they could no longer reconcile David's attitude with their own", commented Bron.
Heep started rehearsals almost immediately with their new vocalist, with a view to fulfilling existing commitments in America in the late summer, and in Yugoslavia and Australia in the autumn.
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