David Byron

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Biography

David Byron (29 January 1947 & ndash; 28 February 1985, born as David Garrick ), was a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist with the rock band Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep in the early 70s.

Early Life 1967-1969

From mid-60's to early 70's David Byron did a lot of session work for a company called Avenue Recordings singing lead and backing vocals (occasionally along with Mick Box on guitar and Paul Newton on bass). These were cover versions of Top20 hits and were released on numerous EP's & LP's at the time. There are literarily hundreds of tracks recorded during these sessions featuring David Byron on lead vocals but these records are extremely rare to find these days. There have been rumours lately that some of these would be released on CD.
Those tracks that have surfaced so far with Byron on vocals are (original performer in parenthesis):
All Right Now (Free)
American Woman (The Guess Who)
Baby I Know
Baby Come Back (The Equals)
Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Behind A Painted Smile (The Isley Brothers)
Bet Yer Life I Do (Herman's Hermits)
Bring It On Home To Me (Sam Cooke/The Animals)
Cold Turkey (John Lennon)
Curly (The Move)
Give Peace A Chance (John Lennon)
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (The Hollies)
Hello Susie (Amen Corner)
Hush, Not A Word To Mary (John Rowles)
I Hear You Knocking (Smiley Lewis/Dave Edmunds)
I'm Gonna Make You Mine (Lou Christie)
It Don't Come Easy (Ringo Starr)
It Mek (Desmond Dekker And The Aces)
It's All In The Game (The Four Tops)
Just Like A Baby (Sly & the Family Stone)
Keep On (Bruce Channel)
Lady D'Arbanville (Cat Stevens)
Let It Be (The Beatles)
Let's Work Together (Canned Heat)
Montego Bay (Bobby Bloom)
Mony Mony (Tommy James)
Natural Born Boogie (Humble Pie)
Need Your Love So Bad (Fleetwood Mac)
Question (The Moody Blues)
Race With The Devil (Gun)
Rainbow (Marmalade)
Rollin' And Tumblin' (trad.)
Sittin' Here Wonderin' (Louisiana Red)
Son Of Hickory Holler’s Tramp (O. C. Smith)
Stop Her On Sight (Edwin Starr)
Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
The Last Walz (Engelbert Humperdinck)
Tell Me What I Say (Ray Charles)
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (Marvin Gaye)
United We Stand (Brotherhood Of Man)
Viva Bobby Joe (The Equals)
What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) (Junior Walker & The All Stars)
Yellow River (Christie)
Yesterday Has Gone (P. J. Proby)
You Can Get It If You Really Want (Desmond Dekker And The Aces)
Yummy Yummy Yummy (Ohio Express).Byron's voice can be heard on the following tracks:
25 Or 6 To 4, Spinning Wheel, You've Made Me So Very Happy (You've Made Me So Very Happy), Back In The USSR (original performer The Beatles), The Bird Has Flown, Wanna Thank You Girl & Witchi Tai To (Witchi Tai To)

A double cd compilation called Soul Coaxing - The Many Moods Of John Schroeder was released in 2005 and it includes all tracks with David Byron from these two LP's except 'Wanna Thank You Girl'. These were all just for money making while Uriah Heep was starting their career. After Look At Yourself became the first successful album he quit the session work and concentrated only on Uriah Heep.
His first venture into professional music was with a Epping based semi-pro band called The Stalkers who also featured guitarist Mick Box. Byron and Box worked well together and teamed up to form the band Spice which also featured Paul Newton on bass and Alex Napier on drums. The band gigged extensively locally under the management of Paul Newton's father and they secured a recording deal with United Artists who issued the bands one and only single "What About The Music/In Love" (UP 2246), copies of which now fetch around $50 to $100 on the collectors market.
He was the lead singer|lead vocalist for Spice (band)|Spice (1967 & ndash; 1969).
Although Spice regularly played venues like the Marquee it wasn't until they met up with manager Gerry Bron that things began to happen. Deciding that the Spice sound would require keyboards they recruited keyboardist/guitarist/singer/songwriter Ken Hensley who was Paul Newton's bandmate in The Gods. The band rehearsed and played diligently and during this time Bron redubbed the band Uriah Heep from the Charles Dickens classic David Copperfield. Shortly afterward the band's career really took off, first in Germany, Britain and finally the States. In 1971 David also appeared on two LP's by John Schroeder.

With Uriah Heep 1969-1976

He became most famous as the original singer of the England|English rock band Uriah Heep (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.Uriah Sack Byron - New Musical Express july 1976

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. They will also be recording a new album for release early next year.

Founder member and keyboards player Ken Hensley said; "Frankly, I welcome this opportunity to clear the air and make a fresh start with members who are united in their aims. In no way do I see this as a setback, it's more of new beginning.

Byron will have complete freedom to pursue his own career, and it seems likely that he will now branch out as a solo attraction, possibly with his own band. The exact nature of the difference between Byron and the other Heep members has not been revealed, but sources close to the band suggest that the introduction of John Wetton into the line up helped to spark the dissent. Also of note, the song "Man Full Of Yesterdays" from David's solo album, was supposed to be about Uriah Heep's bass player Gary Thain, who was to die shortly afterwards, but ironically came to describe Byron himself in later years. Anyway, it's safe to say that after this neither David Byron nor Uriah Heep were ever the same. The magic of Box, Byron and Hensley was broken. After leaving Uriah Heep David sang backing vocals on several albums in the late 70's such as Ian Lloyd's 'Goosebumps' and Peter Bliss' self-titled album. He also produced Denny And The Jets' single Shoo-Be-Doo.

July Morning 1971

" This is one the best known Uriah Heep song.The song is still being the best ballad of the band, and one of the best songs which have been recorded with David Byron.

Solo Career 1975-1984

Byron has recorded three solo albums: The first was "Take No Prisoners" in 1975, the second was "Baby Faced Killer" in 1978 and the last was "That Was Only Yesterday", recorded in 1984, one year before his death.

With Rough Diamond 1977

Determined to get his career going again Byron teamed up with former Humble Pie guitarist Clem Clempson and former Wings drummer Geoff Britton to form Rough Diamond. They recorded one self titled LP for Island Records (ILPS 9490) in March 1977. Unfortunately the album sold poorly and Byron split.

The Byron Band 1980-1982

Next Byron got together with wonderkid guitarist Robin George and formed The Byron Band. They were signed to Creole Records and debuted with the single "Every Inch Of The Way/Routine" (CR 8). This was followed by the single "Never Say Die/Tired Eyes" (CR 12) before the release of the 1981 LP "On The Rocks" (CRX 2). But like his previous band Rough Diamond, neither critical nor commercial acclaim was forthcoming.On the Rocks is an album by the Byron Band, taking its name from their singer, British rock vocalist David Byron.David used to work with a guy called Pete Green, he was also known as Daniel Boon - he had written several hits that went to number one in the Sixties. I was working with Pete Green, too, he was co-writing with David at the time, and he recommended me as a producer and a guitar player. So I met up with David, we talked and we liked each other, so we eventually formed the band. The first time we met we wrote “Bad Girl” which is on the "Lost And Found" album. The first session with Pino Paladino playing bass and Pete Thompson on drums was a live session, which was great& #33; We did "Bad Girl" which later was on the album "On The Rocks". It was around then that we formed THE BYRON BAND, and the rest is history. While I was re-mastering the tapes I realized, I will never know why on earth the band didn't get signed for the second album, because the songs are really good, there's a real quality to it.
Despite featuring Byron and lauded guitarist Robin George the album didn't achieve commercial success.
The original UK vinyl release, on Creole Records, came with a poster of the sleeve's artwork.
Currently, it has become available on CD on the German specialist label Repertoire (Repertoire REP 431), with bonus tracks as detailed below. For completists, this release has had a cream inlay tray.Lost And Found is a 2-Disc album that includes demos and live recordings by the Byron Band which spans two years from 1980-1982. It also includes a Robin George solo track.

Interviews

David interviewed by Dutch Magazine 'Muziek Express', October 1973

"I started singing 22 years ago at the age of 5. My mother was singing in a Jazz band, my whole family was into music. Everybody played a instrument or was tap dancing. Around that time I tried to get famous by a childrens TV show. My first band had no name, did no gig's and lasted exactly 2 weeks. When I was 16 a local band offered me a job. I did one gig with them and joined the band of Mick Box, which then was called The Stalkers. They had fired their vocalist and at the audition I had to sing Johnny B. Goode. I was hired right away."

Interviewed by Dutch Magazine 'Muziek Parade', October 1976.

"The fact that we would produce ourselves was because of bad sales of 'Return to Fantasy' in the USA. With 'High & Mighty' we wanted to go in a new direction. The problem was we used just one source. And we had just little time to be in the studio because of the extensive touring. We decided to put all Ken's songs on the album, and hoped it worked out the right way. I think though we should have used everyone's songwriting. That's why 'High & Mighty' is a bummer to me. For example, Mick Box played just a few parts on the album."

Letters

A excerpt of a private letter Dave wrote to a Mr. Trosley around the time he started up the Byron Band ( 1981):
"I don't really know much about Lawton and Sloman, cause when I got out of Heep I wanted to remember the good parts and f***k the rest. Everybody over the years has got fired or whatever only Mick is left and even I don't know whether he is going to try again. I'm very good friends with all of them now but it took a while".......

Background

Despite his human voice|vocal range (paired with a sense of dynamics), and a charismatic stage presence, Byron was dismissed from Uriah Heep in 1976, at the demand of keyboardist Ken Hensley (the band's primary songwriter), who gave the ultimatum "it's him or me" to band manager Gerry Bron , citing Byron's increasingly erratic behavior due to alcohol abuse.

The Last Years And Death 1981-1985

Mick Box and Trevor Bolder , of Uriah Heep, invited Byron to re-join the band in 1981, after Ken Hensley left, but Byron refused. He died of alcoholic beverage|alcohol related complications, including liver disease and seizures, at his home in Reading, Berkshire|Reading , on Thursday, February 28, 1985. He was 38 years and 30 days old. http://www.enotes.com/topic/Uriah_Heep_(band) His death was barely reported in the music press.

On BBC Radio's The Friday Rock Show Tommy Vance played "July Morning" in tribute.

On the Equator (Uriah Heep album)|Equator tour, around the time of Byron's passing, Uriah Heep would dedicate "The Wizard" to him.

Discography

Solo albums

Take No Prisoners (David Byron album)|Take No Prisoners - 1975

Baby Faced Killer - 1978

That Was Only Yesterday - The Last EP - Recorded 1984, released 2008

with the Byron Band

On the Rocks (album)|On the Rocks - 1981

Lost and Found (David Byron album)|Lost and Found - Recorded 1980-82, released 2003

with Uriah Heep

'' Very 'eavy... Very 'umble - 1970

Salisbury (album)|Salisbury - 1971

Look at Yourself - 1971

Demons and Wizards (album)|Demons and Wizards - 1972

'' The Magician's Birthday - 1972

Uriah Heep Live - 1973

Sweet Freedom - 1973

Wonderworld (album)|Wonderworld - 1974

Return to Fantasy - 1975

High and Mighty (album)|High and Mighty - 1976

'' Live at Shepperton '74 - Recorded 1974, released 1986

The Lansdowne Tapes - Recorded 1969-71, released 1993

with Rough Diamond

Rough Diamond (album)|Rough Diamond - 1977

Copyright Citations

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1. Baby Face 2. Ken Hensley

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