PART 1: When I started buying records in 1972, I came across Look At Yourself, recommended by my brother-in-law. At first I wasn’t real excited about it, but then it grew on me. I bought Demons and Wizards on 8-track and I was hooked. Heep quickly became my favorite band. I went on to collect all of their other releases. When an album was released, I anxiously bought it (starting with the awesome Sweet Freedom). After Fallen Angel, I lost interest and lost track of Heep. Never thought I’d see them in concert.

PART 2: I was out of touch with Heep (except for listening to CD’s of classic stuff) until 1998, when I found Heep info on the internet. Thanks to the websites, I discovered they were still rockin’ and I got reacquainted. I read somewhere they released a CD in the 90’s similar to early material. I wasn’t sure of the name of the CD, so I bought Different World, I was pleased to hear “new” material with that classic Heep sound. Later, I found out Sea of Light was the CD with the great reviews, so I bought it. Once again, I was hooked, Uriah Heep went back to number one on my chart. With excitement and eager anticipation I bought Sonic Origami. These two rate with the best of Heep from ’72 thru ’77 (including Firefly - one of my top ten Heep albums). I went on to collect everything I had missed, along with Heep related material.

PART 3: I got a chance to buy tickets to a concert in Deerfield, Ohio in 1999, only to have it cancelled (big disappointment). Patience paid off when in June 2001, my wife and I sat in the center of the front row watching Heep in concert in the middle of farm fields in Deerfield, Ohio. There was actually a farmer with a tractor working in his field across the road during the concert, how surreal. It took 30 years, but here we were at a Heep concert. I couldn’t believe it when, before the concert, all the band members were mingling with the crowd. As you all know, these guys are unbelievably fan friendly. What a great evening, met all of the band and got pictures and autographs.

In 2002 for my birthday, my wife bought me a ticket to the CRP concert in Trenton. A friend and I attended the Heepvention, had a great time talking with the band, listening to ‘well played’ Heep music, even got to give Lee a ride back to the motel. What a great weekend – seen Heep play 3 nights in a row and as an added bonus, was introduced to Mostly Autumn’s great music and met lots of friendly Heepsters.

Looking forward to lots more of Uriah Heep. Thanks Mick, Bernie, Trevor, Phil and Lee.

Stan the Heepfan