Bram
van Belsen ( left ) & his
friend Johan Marteijn
from the Netherlands. Bram made the pictures. He went to the
UK by boat in the early morning, came back the other day and
drove miles and miles to bring me the pictures. Thanks to him
you can see them this fast! Thanks so much Bram
Louis
Rentrop |
Dave
Owen the Merchoman!! Meet him at
every gig. At
the Astoria
we will be
there:
Heep.com's Dave
White, Louis
Rentrop
& Peter
Jovanovic.
We like to meet you! |
By Arthur Hornby.
I had the good fortune before Christmas to go to
the Acoustically Driven show at the Mermaid (My thoughts on such a brilliant
evening have appeared in the Uriah Heep Journal No.2). Such a success was
the evening that I bought future echoes of the past. A great album that
showed how good a live recoding can be. The day before the Leas gig, my
Acoustically Driven CD turned up. What an excellent work it is.
I had bought my Leas tickets in January, and as
the date drew nearer, my anticipation heightened. Come the night I was
surprised at how many friends that I haven't seen for years were there.
Every body was really geared up for the show..... I have only just read the
revues.
Can it be that I was at a different venue?
Nazareth were really loud, as expected, but come on, did the guy on the
mixing desk just go home after putting all the volume controls on max when
the Heep came on!
The band put heart and soul into their
performance as usual, but when the words to a classic like 'Come away
Melinda' can't be heard over the background hiss of the speakers, there is
something very wrong. This isn't just my opinion, but seemed to be a feeling
shared by many others. As I said, the guys themselves were great. I hope
they have a whale of a time on tour in Europe, hopefully with a better sound
crew. All the best, despite my whinging, I'm still a reborn Heepster.
Arthur Hornby.
By Bram van Belzen
14 march 2001, Folkestone We saw the first gig
in 2000 (Rijssen, Holland). And now we were in Folkestone: the first gig in
2001.
After 14 month of being Heepless but not hopeless we were looking
forward for months. In de weeks before our excitement grew.
And finally there was THE DAY. In the afternoon we went to the Leas Cliff
Hall, and lucky we were, we saw the band and the crew, as friendly as always
they shook hands, there above Trevor noticed that we must been traveled a
long time. How can they do that: remembering so much faces. In the evening I
realized that they are able to make progress (in my opinion of course) ,
Phil and Trevor impressed me in more perfection, the rest , Mick, Bernie and
Lee, such a quality in making music and show.
Big surprise was Return to Fantasy, I love that
song witch I never heard live. On other moment that makes me shivering was
Came Away Mellinda, my thoat was dry; my eyes were wet; what a voice, what
an emotion, what a great musicians, what a lucky man was I to be there.
There was an other thing that proofs to me that they always progressing:
Bernie sat down on a speaker just in front of the audience when they song
July Mornin': a little change, it creates a certain atmosphere. Nobody can
keep this day out of my brains.
Bram van Belzen Holland
My first ever live band experience was in March
(12th I think) 1972 at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall..... and it was Uriah
Heep. I went along this week to relive an evening of my youth; I remember
being blown away on the night and indeed, bought Heep's albums up to the
Magician's Birthday but I kind of drifted away after that. I really expected
an evening of cutesy-fantasy stuff - not that I am knocking that, in small
doses anyway! What I got was a knockout performance. One of the things that
always set Heep apart from the crowd for me were the vocal harmonies and
granted, Dave Byron was a tad strange (!) but the boy could sing. No
regrets, however, watching Bernie Shaw on Wednesday made the back of my neck
prickle, and I had forgotten what Mick Box can do with a guitar. What an
excellent performance from the whole band.
Mick
Box
I thought I had 'grown out' of Uriah Heep, it
seems they have grown up with me. 'July Morning' is how old? It sounded as
fresh as the first time I heard it and the newer material is superb. I am
pleased to say I am back in the fold and will be following Heep with renewed
interest - and catching up with a few albums! Please excuse the ramblings of
an old rock fan, but pass on my salute to the guys for a cracking evening's
entertainment, and say thanks for remembering one of the more intimate
theatres around the country - indeed, I would not have travelled too far on
a weekday without knowing it would be something special, and would never
have known that I had missed one of the best (and enduring) rock bands I
have seen in many a long year. Cheers, Stephanie.
From Philip Wilson:
Welcome back guys! Great gig last night. First
night sound jitters from Mrs Front of House, but then the Leas is a shitty
room, and once sorted no probs. Good to hear the classics. I'd gone along
with two friends in nostalgic mood. We three first saw Heep in December
1974,on the Return to Fantasy tour as the first ever "travel to London
rock gig."
Bernie Shaw, Mick Box, Lee
Kerslake & Phil Lanzon
A smile was had when the opening number last night was
Return to Fantasy. Spooky! It was Lee who inspired me to take up drums and
I'd spend hours nicking his licks. My band back in the late 70s played a
couple of Heep numbers and I adopted Lee's no nonsense meat and potatoes
solid approach. I'm still playing fairly frequently and gigs last year
included Wembley Arena and the NEC, as well as many trips overseas. (Thanks
Lee!) I hope to make the Astoria.
Enjoy the rest of the
tour. Philip Wilson
Mick
Box, Lee Kerslake, Bernie Shaw, Phil Lanzon, Trevor Bolder
From: Neil Thatcher
I saw heep last night for the first time sence 1976 I have to say the band
still kick it. it was great to see Mick again
In fine form Kent heepsters would like to say thanks for all and more
Neil:-)
Trevor Bolder, Lee Kerslake & Phil Lanzon
From: Graham M Cale
Witnessed Heep's first 2001 gig last night. What can I say? Excellent show.
Loads of old favourites, kicking off with "Return To Fantasy";
"Gypsy"/"July Morning"; "Stealin'"; "Traveller
In Time" - Hell! they even threw in "Come Away Melinda"!
Bernie's stage presence is awesome as he prowled around with an ever-present
grin. One of my highlights was to hear "Bird of Prey" live.
Now I just wanna see them again...
Graham Cale...(still on a high 24hrs later!)
