Mick Box

Mick Box
Box performing in 2017
Box performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameMichael Frederick Box
Born (1947-06-09) 9 June 1947 (age 77)
Walthamstow, East London, England
GenresHard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1964–present
Websitemick-box.net

Michael Frederick Box (born 9 June 1947) is an English musician who is the lead guitarist of rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron.[1] He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is still active with the group, and – following the deaths of Lee Kerslake and Ken Hensley in 2020 – is also the last surviving member of the group's classic line-up.[2]

Mick Box in Norway, 1977

Biography

Early influences

In 2018 Mick Box said that he was influenced by Les Paul and Mary Ford, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow and Barney Kessel. He attributes some of these influences to his first guitar instructor because he was the second guitarist for Django Reinhardt, as well as coming from a jazz background.[3]

When he started performing with Uriah Heep, other new bands included Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.[3]

Spice

Before establishing Uriah Heep, Box's band was called Spice. The band performed from 1968 to 1969 with David Byron and Nigel Pegrum.[4] Box said they chose that name because they didn't want to get categorised into a narrow genre. "There's lots of spices, and that was our train of thought with the name of the band" said Box in a 2021 interview. After Ken Hensley joined the members of Spice, they became Uriah Heep.[5]

Recent activities

According to Box, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented a 50th Anniversary Celebration, but he said that he was planning on a 52 year Celebration. He said he felt strange being in quarantine, because he was accustomed to being "on the road," and interacting with fans at concerts. He used the time to compose songs and produced some videos for the Lockdown Diaries.[5]

Box has used his talent to promote the Nightingale Cancer Support Centre.[5][6]

Discography

With David Byron

With Uriah Heep

With Iris

With Spearfish

  • Back for the Future – 2003[8]

References

  1. ^ Larkin, Colin (2002) The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music, Virgin Books, ISBN 1-85227-947-8, p. 468
  2. ^ Parnell, Joel (4 February 2015). "MICK BOX – URIAH HEEP Interview". Desert Highways. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Sharma, Amit (7 September 2018). "Uriah Heep's Mick Box: "I try to stay away from the scales and just go with my heart"". Musicradar.
  4. ^ Ceriotti, Bruno (6 January 2011). "The British Sound: URIAH HEEP FAMILY TREE". Thebritishsound.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c O'Brien, Joe (12 September 2021). "An Interview with Mick Box of Uriah Heep". Vwmusicrocks.
  6. ^ "Mick Box Uriah Heep 50th Anniversary". Mick-box.net. 2002–2021.
  7. ^ Guarisco, Donald A. (2023). "David Byron – Take No Prisoners Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. ALLMUSIC, NETAKTION LLC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  8. ^ "SPEARFISH – All-Star Cover Album Featuring PAUL DI'ANNO, MICK BOX, MATS LEVEN and More Now Available on Spotify". bravewords.com. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
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