Uriah Heep - Magician's Farewell

Uriah Heep + April Wine + Tyketto @ Gateshead; Glass House 22/2/25

So here's one for the nostalgia hounds, three bands with 150+ years of history between them, celebrating Uriah Heep's stepping back from full tours, like you can see these guys tending allotments... Still, a Sold Out Glass House and what an amazing night; best £50 I've spent in ages...

First up then Tyketto, "the bairns" of the night, even though they've been around 35 years.  Still, Danny and the band have racked up the airmiles with constant visits to Newcastle down the years, though I have to admit, I haven't seen them since they supported [Mike Tramp's] White Lion at the Mayfair back in 1991. So despite being familiar with the likes of The Riverside, The Cluny & Trillains, they certainly had plenty of friends in the big hall, and they took their 40 minute opener's slot and owned every moment with a great set of radio friendly hard rock. Might very well keep an eye out for their next visit...

If Tyketto got a warm welcome, then Canada's April Wine's was more "polite". despite a history as long as Uriah Heep's, these canny Cannucks are more for the cognoscenti due to their rare sightings. Long-serving member Brian Greenway reckoned it was 41 years since they last played Newcastle City Hall;  I make it nearer 45. I'll give them though, they were down and almost out with only 2 albums between 1986 and 2000. Sound-wise, they occupied that 1970s American phenomenon of Mid-West Rock, but didn't make any headway over here until they signed with Capitol. Despite never having caught them before, at least I did have a couple of their Capitol albums from back in the day, so numbers like Just Between You & Me and Gyspy Queen were familiar, but the former 3 guitar sound was missing. The guys had a 45 minute slot, and to be honest, for me, they were only just winning me over; maybe if they had the hour: instead, this vintage was an acquired taste.

And then, the main event, pull the curtain back for the decorated stage and full back-drop. Okay, so it wasn't an all-singing and dancing optic screen, but then, do Heep really need that sort of distraction? They may not have been the band to fill arenas or stadia, but you had to be there last night to feel the love and affection for the band. Always a sort of underdog among the Sabs & Purps etc, but they can throw it down with the best of them, and unlike several of their contemporaries, never had a hiatus or reformation; Mick Box kept the name and the band chugging away, through more highs than lows. The biggest challenge of the evening was how to cram 55 years into 90 minutes. I'm not going to spoil the set list if you haven't caught the tour> Several songs, yes you can guess, several you'll wonder why they were missing, one or two eyebrow raisers and since they are a current band, several newbies.

As for the band, well, Mick Box may be a little frayed around the edges, but he can still riff like that Iommi guy. Coming up on celebrating almost 40 years with the band, singer Bernie Shaw can still match Maiden's Bruce for range and power and keyboard whiz Phil Lanzon is an equal to his peers. And then there's the "new boys", Russell Gilbrook is a storm behind the drums, a worthy successor to Lee Kerslake and finishing the backline, there was sone great bass lines from Dave Rimmer, joining the ranks of former bassists like Trevor Boulder and Bob Daisley.

So, the band being in such fine form, equal, if not better than last time I saw them back in 2013 (when VATA supported at O2 Academy), it's a shame that they are pulling back from touring, but Bernie did drop a hint that it's not necessarily the end of recording....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahW3PdZ0zfE