Legendary 70s UK rock band announces their farewell tour

UK rock legends Uriah Heep have announced plans for their final world tour, marking the end of an era for the iconic band.

The farewell tour, titled The Magician’s Farewell, was revealed by founding member Mick Box in a heartfelt video shared on social media.

‘Hello there. It’s Mick from the mighty Heep,’ Box begins in the video. ‘Who can believe next year marks 55 years since the band started? That’s just amazing. I know many of you have been with us since the beginning, and we thank you for that from the bottom of our hearts.’

The tour will officially begin in February 2025, with plans to visit as many cities and countries as possible over the next two to three years.

After this final tour, the band will scale back its performances to festivals and special events.

‘We will continue to play shows, but these will be limited to festivals and weekends,’ said Box, adding that the tour will be the last chance for fans to see Uriah Heep on the road.

Founded in London in 1969, Uriah Heep originally formed under the name Spice before adopting their current moniker in early 1970, inspired by the character from Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield.

The band’s debut performance as Uriah Heep took place at Salisbury Technical College in Wiltshire on March 20, 1970, marking the start of what would become atruly enduring career.

Throughout their tenure, Uriah Heep became synonymous with powerful, theatrical live shows and a distinctive blend of progressive rock, heavy metal, and hard rock.

They quickly gained a devoted following with albums such as Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble (1970), Look at Yourself (1971), and Demons and Wizards (1972). Hits like Easy Livin’, Lady in Black, and The Wizard became anthems for rock fans.

Despite lineup changes over the years, with Mick Box being the only remaining original member, Uriah Heep has maintained an enormous fan base.

The band’s relentless touring schedule, having played more than 3,600 shows across the globe, has made them one of the most consistently performing bands ever. Even in 2023, they performed 65 shows around the world.

Uriah Heep’s contribution to rock music is often credited with helping to lay the foundation for the heavy metal and progressive rock movements of the 1970s and 1980s.

They also hold the distinction of being one of the first rock bands to perform in the Soviet Union, playing to hundreds of thousands of fans in Moscow in 1987 – a historic moment during the Cold War era.

In addition to their success on stage, Uriah Heep has released 25 studio albums, with their most recent, Chaos & Colour, arriving in 2023.Throughout their career, they’ve sold over 40 million albums worldwide.

On behalf of the band, Box closed his video message with a heartfelt thank you to their fans: ‘We hope to see you all out there one last time. Your continued support has meant the world to us, and we couldn’t have done this without you.’

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