The Life & Tragic Death of Uriah Heep's DAVID BYRON

Explore the remarkable life and tragic demise of David Byron, the legendary frontman of Uriah Heep. From his humble beginnings to international fame, witness his journey through triumphs, struggles, and the highs and lows of rock 'n' roll stardom. Delve into his ground breaking music, his struggles, and the enduring legacy he left behind.

[@DeanClarke-e7w]

I met David in the mid eighties , my best mates brother was friendly with him . One day he came around to my mates house in slough looking the worse for wear (drink) but he belted out wizard ! A fantastic voice and came over as a gentle soul . A tragedy that he passed so early, a very gifted man RIP David.

[@23igna]

Must have been amazing to meet Byron! A real legend!

[@pegazuseloy1575]

Great Singer, Amazing Voice...May His Soul R.I.P

[@laurencelevene4333]

David Byron was a fantastic singer. I remember hearing them on the Saturday rock show on radio 2, and instantly became a fan.

[@alanwallace5342]

Nothing captures heartbreak quite like David singing Rain. No over emoting (something Freddie Mercury never quite mastered). Just beautiful phrasing and tone. So authentic. No wonder Ken would later say he often wrote his material specifically for David to sing as only David could.

[@marytygett4189]

Yes !! Hauntingly beautiful ❤️‍🔥🕊️

[@waynetraube4853]

I knew Ken Hensley when he was a consultant for St. Louis music company on Ferguson Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Great keyboard artist great guitar player. Very easy-going guy met him several times back in the late 80s

[@williammoody6600]

WISH I COULD SAY THAT ! LUCK YOU.

[@hardysandstrom]

Saw Heep in Virginia '70s GREAT LIVE BAND,!!!

[@ministerofdarkness]

Man dude the Heep should've been huge in America! They had a huge following in the mid-west in the 70s but never really took off from there. Nevertheless their records kick A$$ . PLAY LOUD

[@seansweeney2875]

Makes me so happy to read all the amazing beautiful comments about David 🙏bless you all...he truly was a magnificent singer and front man ❤️💤🎶🎹🎵🎸🥁RIP David. Your voice is your legacy 🎶🎵❤we heep and rock fans will never forget you. Good night sweet prince

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

What a beautiful comment 💖 David himself would be touched by it I'm sure 🤗 Thank you 💕

[@seansweeney2875]

Thank you ❤️ nice of you to reply..yeah im a massive david and heep fan. 1970 till 1980. Saw david and gary and john Wetton many times in 70s. Met him a few times...once with his wife gabby at Hammersmith odeon. After the show..david let us come in behind him he had a black leather jacket with white scarf. He looked the bollocks. His wife seemed a bit shy...i first saw david in 1970. Or 71 in South east London. Oval house..supported by thin lizzy..with Eric Bell. Davids voice was magnificent. Before he played 10 000.concerts..so powerful and crystal clear. His tone and dynamic beautiful...then i followed heep right up to Davids last uk gig empire pool Wembley. Supported by widow maker and the heavy metal kids..I saw many bands with great singers..many..but for me it was david byron..his voice and stage presents. Was awesome..so it sounds like you knew david..Aka the killer...wish i really got to know him. But seeing him live and singing was and still is my favourite memories of the 70s..heaven sent and god blessed....he was the biggest jewel in heeps crown....

[@seansweeney2875]

Ps not sure if gabby was his wife ie finance. She was very beautiful. My mates all said that. We would go to many gigs to see other bands. Purple sabbath UFO with MS. AC-DC with bonn . scorpions. Thin lizzy zeppelin. Some really liked those band's and others..I did as well. But heep were my band..just loved David's vocals and heeps harmonies. Block and step 🎵🎶🎹🎸🥁 i wonder what happened to gabby....do you know that John Wetton was the only heep member to go to David's funeral...so it says in jeff perkins book about David..born to perform. In the book John Wetton said he really loved david..he left a fortnight after david was sacked...RIP David and John..🙏❤️

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

@@seansweeney2875 Wow your knowledge on David and the band is absolutely awesome Sean! I could only wish to have seen them live, and to meet them as you have, if only I could turn back time. David was a very classy guy and had that regal stance about him if you know what I mean 🥰 I checked out his ex wife Gabriele Liehmann on google and looks like shes still alive and on Linkedin. I really appreciate your comments, as Im sure others do. David sounded like an amazing guy!❤ Thanks again so very much 🤗💯🙏

[@danielmacdonald8349]

Without a doubt one of the top 5 vocalists of all time - in my opinion. And it was even better with Ken Hensley’s harmonizing vocals. Right up there with Lennon/McCarthy - Anderson/Squire from Yes - and of course all of the Moody Blues.

[@susannepotens5895]

You are so damn right, Kens Voice could do a falcetto too, and singing backingvocals with him, made Byron to " Lord Byron"..I know that Daves Last Name was Garrick and he choosed Lord Byrons Name to describe his Way of beeing a Prima Donna of Rock'n Roll. Ken sang a little harder and rougher than David. Listen to " Rain" as they both sang it ...I love Kens singing, but David had a lot more feeling and a Silk and Velvet - Voice. ❤❤❤

[@GregThomson-nb2tr]

What a great talent, sang with so much emotion and passion, one of the best

[@vescara6911]

Ya lor

[@davidkarecki9044]

Absolutely yes...!

[@seansweeney2875]

Thanks .that's really nice of you to say .yes I was lucky to have been honoured to see David and heep way back in the 70s,..and yes David was special. Myself and my mate's used to say about his eye's on stage ie when he looked at you ...like he knew you..sometimes he would sit on the speakers. When he was singing july morning...and have the lights on the audiences. So he could see everything and everyone .as young lad's it was special...he really was a rock star....unlike most of today's wankers with some exceptions LOL 😂 so gabby is still around..wow .. not sure if David had any children..??.. maybe not ..I wonder if she gets anyone contact her about David..or how loved he was..and admired by many especially heep fan's. I hope she's happy and doing okay 👌...you sound like you are a big fan as well..bless you..i love talking about David and heep..sorry if I go on a bit LOL..I have young adult children..they know loads of heep tunes....from me playing them in my cars ..LOL..over the year's...where are you from ie country or town...I've met some amazing people through David and heeps music. Heeps fans are the best in the world ..all over the world...from every country....

[@jember2001]

July Morning is my lifetime favorite.love from the Philippines

[@philmartin7474]

He had an amazing voice and charisma.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

David Byron the best vocalist. He easily mastered various styles with pure class, from operatic heavy metal, blues, jazz, rock'n'roll, soul, ballads, soft rock, slick pop, bubble gum etcetera. His forte was low vibrato. And as a front man he was one of the kind. The most charismatic rock performer in the business in my opinion.

[@DiBiasehere]

The way he sang Hensley's words with such passion like he wrote it was remarkable.

[@seansweeney2875]

Saw David and gary many times in 70s and john Wetton..then John lawton and Trevor...great band live..only mick box and Paul. I think from original line up? .i like a lot of bands from 60s and 70s..purple sabbath UFO scorpions priest rainbow 🌈 magun lizzy etc etc..but heep were unique and my favourite band..love them and there fans...RIP lad's your music is immortal and we will always play your magnificent music and songs ❤heep forever..

[@markeyhendrix]

The brightest stars burn out the quickest

[@dondon98]

These bands were before my time but this was when bands had to play LIVE not like today with their stuff ran through laptops & mixers... Those vocalists and musicians were AMAZING... I STILL LISTEN TO THEM TODAY...

[@ramonapetermann9585]

David was a fantastic singer with an oustanding voice and such a lot of charisma. I will love him all my life. BtW: You forgot to mention, that his so-called wife abandoned him, and that he was found by his brother-in-law, lying dead on the floor in his appartment. I think, he had lost the will to live at that time. RIP David. God bless you.

[@seansweeney2875]

I didn't know about his wife...i met her with david at Hammersmith odeon, after show party..david didn't get the support he needed ie as he would today..he was and is my favourite rock singer and front man. Magnificent, god bless you david 🙏heep and rock fans will never ever forget you ❤RIP good night sweet prince ❤🎶🎵🎹🥁🎸

[@susannepotens5895]

I would never say something bad about David. But I have to say, that his german wife Gabriele Liehmann, was younger than him. And if someone knows about living with an alcoholic , who does not want to quit drinking, then he/ she knows that there is only one Thing to do: ask yourself if you will be able to go down with him/ her or leave her/him. So she did not leave him because she was a coldhearded Person ...she had to make her hard Choice. I wish them both all the Best. R.I.P. David. She still goes on to be talented and doing her Best for her Life...and I bet she is sad thinking about her lost Love.❤ ❤❤❤

[@mpgabriel819]

David rustheid in vrede ster in hemelrijk sterren pracht hemelrijk 🇮🇱🇳🇱🇵🇬⚓️🏴‍☠️🔮🕯🇬🇧🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌

[@antrygis1]

There bass player then was killer. One of the best ever. But he fell into heroin. So many tragedies yet their music lives on.

[@stlrockn]

Saw Heep in Nashville on 9-18-73. Great show. Had a drink with David Byron at the bar of their hotel after the show. He talked music with me and some friends for a few minutes. Really nice guy. I think about that every time I pass by that place.

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

What a wonderful memory to cherish! Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@roccodifranco7866]

One of the most underrated singers in rock

[@petercook2787]

Just came across this video by accident. We lived next door to David in Raymond Rd, Maidenhead during his last few months. We were at 12 and David's house was No 10, semi detached to ours. He was a really nice guy but obviously very messed up by booze and drugs. It was an entertaining time with very loud music playing at all hours and various run ins with neighbours. On one occassion when David got miffed with a complaining neighbour he went out and smashed the headlights of the neighbour's Land Rover. He had a puppy for a short while but really didn't know how to look after it. Sadly he overdid the refreshments one day and didn't wake up...we wondered why it had gone quiet. I rather liked the guy.

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Wow what an awesome memory of David to have ❤️ Thank you for sharing! 🥰

[@BeeLineEast]

Saw Uriah Heep in concert in March of 1973 Great band I can still picture David out front singing Easy Living. What a memory that was .

[@joannp5806]

I saw them in Providence about 1968😊

[@BeeLineEast]

@@joannp5806 Wow That was their early years

[@joannp5806]

@@BeeLineEast yup,also saw Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin,she was at Rocky Point Park in Warwick R.I it was about maybe 1969,was about 3ft away from her as she sang,it was the coolest thing to be that close to her and Big Brother,those were great times,sadly gone forever,I still have Jimi Hendrix ticket stub from 68,I believe the price was like,$2.98 ! Wanted to also see Jim Morrison and the Doors,but never got to make it to his shows.

[@BeeLineEast]

@@joannp5806 Those were the good old days when we had real musicians. Cool you were able to see both of them. I saw Deep Purple in 1972 on their Machine Head tour. They were awesome.

[@Heathcoatman]

I was too young to have seen them live, I was 8 in 1973. However, as I came into my teens I was drawn to prog and psychedelic rock bands like Rush, Yes, Floyd, etc. It was inevitable that I came across UH and became a huge fan. In an interview from the late 70s Alex Lifeson is asked what he listens to. He gave several examples of guys I already knew but mentioned UH and this album particularly. Bought it the next day. You can see the influences of UH in much of Rush's work, particularly the early stuff.

[@kevinowen4824]

The two greatest rock singers ever with the most captivating voices were Dave Byron and Ian Gilian of Deep Purple period

[@alberta1st]

He was the Wizard RIP

[@colinleatham9143]

1972..16yr old,i bought Demons n Wizards..like was yesterday.Music has such power.Calendar of all my ups and downs in life..granddad now..is music.

[@seansweeney2875]

Ps if you want to know more about David..a book called born to perform...by jeff perkins..all about the greatest singer and front man who ever lived..only a few come close to David...🎵🎶👌

[@heimomoilanen9654]

Born to perform, the title says it all. Indeed great book tells David's story.

[@susannepotens5895]

Yes and stuff about him, their history you can read in the Book" On the Record"...forgot who wrote it..sorry

[@kc0lif]

he did easy livin.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Stealin was my Favorite ! Stealin when you should of been buying !

[@DDLEE76]

To earn a living before Uriah Heep, David Byron was a session singer for Avenue Records from 1968 to 1970. As an incredibly talented and versatile vocalist, David was much in demand and became Avenue's leading male session singer. He recorded countless cover versions of chart hits, which were better than the originals in my opinion. Many of those performances can be heard here: kzbin.info/aero/PLOTpOawEqJ563ah8MMOYFRcEvt0mZ2Xbh&si=AvDrFL08tRupe_j- ❤

[@heimomoilanen9654]

My favourite cover is Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky. David was a spirit... and a wizard.

[@DDLEE76]

@@heimomoilanen9654 I find it very difficult to choose just one favourite cover, so many great tracks to enjoy! David's masterful vocals place him at the pinnacle of male session singers; Avenue Records was never the same without him.

[@williammoody6600]

WOW, THANK YOU BRO, BLESS YOU!!!

[@marceloaraujo8728]

Byron, ícone de uma geração

[@seansweeney2875]

Ps again haha 😂 just to say from all heep fans thanks for posting 🤟👍🎵🎶🎹🎸🥁

[@smitbar11]

I would put him up against Ian Gillan, Roger Daltry and Robert Plant any day of the week, a great vocalist

[@SuperAnimelover100]

David Byron was the most charismatic member in Uriah Heep. He had great Stage presence and a wonderful singer. Shame he didn't take care of himself properly. RIP DAVID BYRON ! Thanks for this post !!! Loved it . :) :) :)

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Thank you, so happy you enjoyed it 🥰

[@SuperAnimelover100]

@@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv It’s thank you. )))

[@farideldiwany8043]

Saw Byron in 1976 at Wembley Arena with Heep. He was simply the GREATEST.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

@@farideldiwany8043 Lucky you ! :)

[@kkwok9]

My favorite Uriah Heep was when David sang lead

[@DrHurtYou]

Sweet Freedom... I guess it was me!

[@susannepotens5895]

yes...I always wonder about the lyrics in their Songs. Just listen to "So tired - from the LP Wonderland"...😢

[@SandorVitez]

Thain's bass line before that was great, when I used to get buzzed like Byron I loved to sing this

[@patrickneylan]

He didn't "pass away". He died. Is that so hard to say?

[@Mike-rk8px]

The last song he recorded in February 1984 was called “That Was Only Yesterday” is more pop than rock, but his voice sounded fantastic. You can find that song on youtube.

[@mrdemocracy7106]

Born in St Margarets Hospital Epping, Essex England and lived in nearby Chingford in his childhood

[@husq48]

Just saw Heep last Friday here in Cleveland, they're still killing it!

[@smitbar11]

Bernie Shaw does a remarkable job on vocals, a nice guy too

[@seansweeney2875]

He was born to perform, 👍the greatest in my umble opinion

[@aminahmed2220]

What a awesome video have a wonderful day ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Thank you! Enjoy your day also 🌞💕

[@sanjaypatil2265]

Incredible vocals.... 🎤👌

[@seansweeney2875]

The book all about heep is called wizards and demon's..👍

[@GWEUberAlles]

Uriah Heep only had one (ONE) great singer. And this is David Byron!

[@joannp5806]

I still lisen to their music,one of my favorite songs was,Lady in Black❤

[@joannp5806]

I still have a lot of their Albums, I didnt realize David was only 38yrs old when he died😢 Such a great talent.

[@antrygis1]

Where I grew up as a teen it was Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep and Deep Purple ad Nauseum. Then there was this album cover where David's head was spun around and it wasn't too good. Sadly, I had read he drank himself to death, basically. The video of the Wizard where he sings most of it is a "classic" great. Great voice. Sad ending.

[@stetomlinson3146]

I spent time with him at a gig in Manchester in the mid 70’s. He introduced me to Southern Comfort! A brilliant singer and nice guy. What a sad ending to his vocal gift.

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Would have love to have met him, lucky you! Thank you for sharing 🥰❤️

[@mrduffin1663]

David was up there with the very best Front Men imo a certain Mr Mercury learnt his Stage craft from him🎤🎶👌

[@hughjass1044]

At his peak, there were few in his league and none better.

[@ppanzer7243]

There are alot of good singer in the rock business Freddy Mercury, Ian Gillan, Marc Storage and so on. But there is only one David Byron topping them all. R.I.P.

[@Marios198079]

Look at yourself album is fire

[@SandorVitez]

That's'when I believe when they first toured the U.S. unfortunately I was only 10 then, I had always modeled my vocals after his F-sharp cynical style when I sing rock, his mellower side comes out when I sing progressive with a hint of Greg Lake, Byron will always be one of my favs, like my female fav Sandy Denny, shame they both drank too much and both died in their 30s, they both had great vocal talent, they are missed

[@wmkennard]

I saw them in 1974 in Ft. Worth where the Bass player got electrocuted. They came back a year later as they promised. But sadly with a New Bass player that was a horrible ordeal to watch from the 5 th row the Bass player getting electrocuted in front of us. He died within the year and they came back with a new Bass player. What a tragic ordeal.

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Oh wow I can't believe you were there, how awful! Gary Thain went down hill after that happened apparently and his drug habit amplified to the point he was sacked from the band. Eventually the habit ended his life 😭 I have a video on Gary if interested. He was an amazing bassist it's so heartbreaking 💔

[@carolramsey6287]

I saw the Spice in Chelmsford before Ken Hensley joined on keyboards and they became Uriah Heep. It was an awesome gig. Mick box brilliant on guitar and David Byron really had a charismatic stage presence. They overran and kept going until the theatre manager got snotty and turned the power off. Best gig I ever went to and I've seen a lot of the greats from the 60s and 70s.

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Sounds amazing! Lucky you ❤️

I loved High and Mighty

[@threadnugent]

Amazing singer…

[@robertmurphy440]

When,elton john and freddy Mercury's are fans of you ,like they were to david....what else can be said

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

💯🥰

[@edsoncoronato3836]

David Byron foi o maior vocalista do rock.

[@RoryLynott]

Very 'Eavy. What a beast.

[@tyskerbarn5171]

r.i.p. David

[@Sweet--Richard.4981]

Pop eye

[@visualverbs]

Heep was far and away the BEST BAND of the 1970's. They had more range and scope than all the other "rock bands" put together.

[@janetcampbell5457]

Still the best band for me 😊❤

[@davidwainwright2816]

Great band up to 75. We always called him Lord Byron… first band i saw live…🎉🎉

[@evileyes4070]

Another great one 😎😍

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

Thank you so much for your ongoing support

[@cochisechops9834]

😥😢😥

[@КирилМарков-ц5л]

Юридически

[@КирилМарков-ц5л]

Юрая Хиип е любимата ми група. Музиката,която създадоха е невероятна. Слушам и до днес с удоволствие песните им. Срещата ми с Кен Хенсли в София, е събитие за мен,което ще нося завинаги в сърцето си. Невероятно красивият глас на Дейвид Байрън ще звучи винаги,защото той изпя песните,които остават във вечността. Изсвиреното от Гари Тейн на бас китарата е неповторимо и невероятно. Солата на Мик Бокс са невероятни,дълбочината ,с която звучат трябва да усетиш и да рразбереш. Поклон и благодарност за музиката, която ни оставиха.

[@dbsound882]

First show I ever saw at eleven years old with (John Wetton) hmm he has my name too.

[@carolepickett5944]

Such a trqgic end to a brilliant singer and performer. Loved UH in the 70s still have their vinyl.

[@seansweeney2875]

Ps what's your name ....

[@TomKarpinski-sh6ct]

Na ja so gut war er auch wieder nicht..

[@susannepotens5895]

Er hatte vielleicht nicht die ausgefeilteste Gesangs- Technik, und war leider bei Auftritten oft / immer angetrunken, aber er hatte eine wunderschöne samtig , weiche gefühlvolle Stimme. Die immer noch einen extrem hohen Wiedererkennungswert hat..und er machte die Songs😊 überzeugend zu " seinen"...das wusste auch Ken, und schrieb Lieder, die bezüglich der Tonlage und inhaltlich von David geliebt und gerne gesungen wurden

[@sharokrokni5317]

Fools who don't value life, selfish, addicts,leave nothing but sadness and misery for their loved ones

[@thunderdeed1]

Wow!!! I just asked for this.

[@sharokrokni5317]

Good band, but again and again stupidity and arrogance kills young people, no one should ignore it and condemn their behaviour

[@tonycoker6523]

They never mentioned Bass player Gary Thain in this clip ....well at the end maybe.😮

[@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv]

I have done a video on Gary Thain also if interested 😁👍

[@tonycoker6523]

@@HarmonyHeartsLifestyle-ul5yv Well being a Kiwi of course im intrested.

[@Aristotelezz]

I was a huge Heep fan at the time of Byron and lost my interest when he was gone. His successor John Lawton probably was a much better singer but the music they made was IMO lesser. Looking back I see them as the poor men's Deep Purple. I saw Heep a few years ago live here in the Netherlands, and they preformed as if it were their last concert ever. Really powerful but somehow I've lost my interest...

[@heimomoilanen9654]

I totally lost interest after when David left and never looked back in 1976. Like Jon Anderson of Yes these guys can't be replaced. Period.

[@Aristotelezz]

@@heimomoilanen9654 I tried the first few records after David Byron left and noticed a change. Once saw them live in a program on German TV and their audience were fat ladies with thick glasses singing and clapping along with their latest songs. At least I tried but this sure was time to say goodby.

[@katprince5528]

Best singer to ever hold a microphone,David Byron.It's a shame he had a habit he couldn't control,he had a lot more to give the fans,myself included.