The name of the singer, who gained popularity in several groups, is familiar to all fans of such areas as art rock, hard rock and progressive rock. It was in these genres that David Byron (photo attached) began his career as a musician and gained worldwide recognition. Over his career, he has released more than fifteen records, including three solo albums.
To musicians - from birth
David Garrick was born in 1947 in a family that had not the last relation to the world of music. His mother was a member of the jazz band. According to Byron, from a young age a similar atmosphere became familiar in a house where it was difficult to imagine at least one day without music. Byron began to dream about the scene at the same time - no matter how, but 5-year-old David already clearly saw himself in a future profession.
Probably fate favored him. And allowed to fulfill a childhood dream. In 1967, the team of The Stalkers was just looking for a new member. David Byron himself was a fan of the group and often visited her concerts. Having once talked with drummer Roger Penlington, he soon came to audition. According to the memoirs of the latter, it was worth Byron to play a couple of songs - and his “fate” in the team was a foregone conclusion. The team for a long time was not taken seriously. However, the first album lifted The Stalkers to the top of hard rock, putting it on a par with Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
First successes give rise to new forces
Another member of the band, guitarist Mick Box, became Byron a partner in a new band called Spice. With a single, she managed to tour extensively, gaining experience and the first recognition of fans.
The popularity of Spice allowed performing at local clubs that had heard about the new team. During this period, Jerry Bron begins to collaborate with the group. The first thing a famous music producer does is rename the band to Uriah Heep ("Jurai Hip"). David Byron is not only the author of most texts. For months, he turns into a charismatic frontman. The stage presentation of the material was fixed as its own “trick”, which the musician will actively use in his future career. Many hits were created “for him” in the hope that he would add expression and drive to concerts. Many critics have noted that Byron is a singer with an incredible range of nature. His vocals are recognized as outstanding and the closest to the opera.
Free Bird
Which artist does not want a solo career? The release of Take No Prisoners took place in 1975. The album was not created as part of Uriah Heep. David Byron draws on famous musicians for the record. The disk in many ways turned out to be similar to the style of the group, including elements of soul performance, but it turned out to be solid. Critics also spoke about the sequence with which the record is sustained. Unfortunately, in financial terms, she did not have the due success, despite the recognition of Byron fans.
David Byron maintains friendly relations with his Uriah Heep mates. Moreover, the single Man Full of Yesterday is dedicated to Gary Thane, a drug addict.
First failures: personal drama and label frivolity
Almost a year after the release of the solo album, Byron himself is addicted to alcohol, which is not the best way affects the work of Uriah Heep. During this period, the team released the album High and Mighty, recorded without a producer, which causes resentment in the musical environment. The singer is justified by a busy tour schedule, which does not allow to devote more time to recordings.
High and Mighty was recognized as the most “lightweight” of all the records of the group. Perhaps the reason for the failure lies not in her sound qualities, but rather because of the loyal attitude of her label Bronze Records. Trying to stay like Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep organizes a chic presentation - the place for this is the Swiss mountains, to which the press is delivered by special flights.
From the gate turn
Jerry Bron reportedly set the press up against the record. He gave Byron two months to tidy himself up. But it was in vain. As a result, with the return of the group from a tour of Spain, Byron received a message about his dismissal.
Officially, it was called "the inability to get out of the conflict within the team." The producers saw this as the beginning of a new life for Uriah Heep, but later admitted that Byron’s departure led to the breakup of the group and the loss of its “own magic,” which defines a particular style.
At that time, the musician was addicted to alcoholism and often frustrated rehearsals, which jeopardized the entire team.
Still pet
The life of the beloved singer was followed by the whole musical world. How did David Byron himself look at breaking the contract? The artist’s biography includes new teams, the creation of which he began almost immediately. The Rough Diamond group consisted of former members of Humble Pie and Wings, but after the debut album in 1977, decided to cease its activities. A year later, Byron released his second solo album, Baby Faced Killer, which critics have noted as masterfully arranged, full of new disco and pop elements. In 1981, the public met another group of David Byron, which received the laconic name - The Byron Band. The band released several singles and a single album.
There will be no return
After Uriah Heep began to fall apart, managers tried to do everything possible to repeat their former success. One option would be the return of Byron and other musicians who left the Jurai Hip shortly after. But the singer refused.
Failures in the career exacerbated the already deplorable state of Byron. His health was shaken. The reason was alcohol. At one of the concerts, David Byron felt unwell, which led to the fact that he was forced to cancel the performance.
The musician was found dead in his own apartment in England, where he lived his whole life. According to the doctors, it was not alcoholism that caused death, but the related disorders in the work of the heart. In recent years, Byron tried to get into a drink. A search of the house revealed the absence of any alcoholic beverages.
The main creative legacy of Byron was not the released records, but the voice. This is a symbol of the 70s, the era of development and formation of the rock direction. The most famous composition - July Morning - serves as a standard thanks to the singer's strong mesmerizing vocals. This track is recognizable in many countries of the world; his sound palette was diverse, which predetermined such an obvious success of the composition and the entire album.
What did David Byron remember? The singer’s discography includes several albums, which, in the absence of financial gain, won huge success among admirers of his talent. The most striking of them are Demons and Wizards (1972), Wonderworld (1974), Return To Fantasy (1975), Take No Prisoners (1975), High and Mighty (1976), Rough Diamond (1977).
It is noteworthy that the records of Lost And Found, That Was Only Yesterday, One Minute More were recorded in the first half of the 80s as part of various groups, but were not released by Byron. To present to the fans unfinished albums of the musician, they were processed after his death. The release took place in 2003 and 2008.