Mick Box interview by Frank of Evil Rocks Hard

Lets start with his personal top 10

1.) Dear Mick! Uriah Heep have been very busy during the last few years!
What do you feel when you look back on time since "Sonic Origami"?
It has been a very busy time with lots of live concerts and festivals all
over the world. We love being on tour and it is such a big part of our year.

2.) "Acoustically Driven" was a project full of ambition. There are some
parallels to "MGP", e.g. you revitalised lots of songs that have been rarely
played live before, something I asked from you during an interview we had on
the phone during the "Sea Of Light" tour. But where are the differences to
last years "Magician's Birthday Party" project?
The difference is on the CD loud and clear. With the AD project we used a
string quartet, a pedal steel guitarist and a guest appearance from Ian
Anderson of Jethro Tull. All the songs were given an acoustic approach. On
the MB project we invited Ken Hensley , John Lawton and Thijs Van Leer from
Focus. It was much more of a rock show.

3.) The reunion with Ken Hensley was an event Heep fans have been praying
for for more than 20 years now. Could there be a chance for a complete tour
with a "Uriah Heep & Friends" project e.g. featuring Ken Hensley & John
Lawton (a way of touring that Deep Purple tried last year(with Ronnie James
Dio and others))?
We can never discount the possibility but it is not in our plans to do so.
It is time for Ken,John and Heep to move into a phase of new music rather
than keep visiting the back catalogue.

4.) What was it like to work with Ken & John again after all these years?
Did you always stay in contact with John as well? I heard about some gigs
you played with him in 1995 when Bernie was unable to sing!
Yes we have always loosely stayed in touch usually by e-mail. I have had
dinner at John and Iris's house. He is a good cook too !  Yes John was
gracious enough to help us out on a South African tour because Bernie had to
have an operation on his throat at the time. It was a fun thing to do and
John was a true professional as it was all at short notice and little
rehearsal time.

5.) I heard about plans from Bernie and John to record an album together.
Are they concrete by now?
Not that I know of as we are pretty busy with Heep right now.

6.) Most reviewers liked all of your latest releases. But is it enough for a
rock band that's really alive to release five live albums and one
compilation album of re-recordings in just six years with only one new
studio album thrown in? Are there plans to record some new ass kicking hard
rock songs?
We are in the process of doing that right now. We are writing new songs and
hopefully go into the studio soon.
The live CD's were simply because we were out on the road and it was good to
document things like AD & MB.

7.) What do you think was the most important Heep album a) of all times and
b) with the current line up?
It will always be the next one. There have been milestones along the way but
you keep on moving forward as much as you can. That way you look to the next
project with creative vigour.

8.) It's about 30 years now that "Demons & Wizards" has been released. Are
there any plans for a special anniversary party for that landmark album?
None that I know of...!!

9.) What do you think of all the projects that search in the vaults for more
and more unreleased Heep stuff? Do you see a chance to release e.g. a live
album with John Sloman stuff (the only Heep singer featured on an album
without an official live release (Peter Goalby proved his skills on a
video!))?
These are done usually by Sanctuary  who own our back catalogue. We have
little say in any of it.

10.) There are only a few German dates fixed for this year by now. Are there
more to follow?
I sure hope so. We have organised the year to be working in spurts so that
we will have enough time to write new material for the CD and of course
rehearse and record it.

11.) One of your German tour dates is at the "Trifels Festival" in
Annweiler. Did you know that Richard Lionheart was imprisoned there?
I had no idea.
12.) What is your main reason to record albums and go on tours after more
than 32 years of Heep?
It is for the love of what we do. We are all the best of mates.  We enjoy
making music together , touring and recording. It is the best job in the
world.

13.) Is there a special message for all the headbanging readers of "Evil
Rocks Hard" magazine?Sure. Keep on Heepin' On and we hope to see you out
there on the road.'Appy Days !!

Thank you very much for the interview. I hope to see you on tour!


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