40th Anniversary : Saxon, Eventim Apollo, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (GB) - 29 janv. 2022

3 years in the making, including when I booked the tickets on 24th January 2019. First scheduled for 19th October 2019 and delayed due to Biff Byford’s heart attack. Then 3 further postponements due to CoVid 19. Originally, Krokus were on the bill, but when the gig was finally played, Krokus were out of the line up and replaced by rock royalty in the shape of Uriah Heep and they didn’t disappoint with a short but blistering set! The proceedings started with Diamond Head, whom I know little about, apart from ‘Am I evil?’ Musically, they were ok, but apart from the aforementioned track (of which the Metallica cover was far superior), I heard nothing that made me want to ever listen to them again. Girlschool, whom I saw in Dublin supporting Rose Tattoo, came next. As usual, they were entertaining enough, but like Diamond Head, you can see why they’ve never really been headliners. Then it was Heep and you immediately saw the difference between the pub quality acts that were lower down the bill and a truly world class act! I’ve always regarded them as a Deep Purple lite, mainly because of the thick keyboard sounds in the background, which if anything, they use much more than Purple, but seeing them live, you realise how much body the keyboards give Heeps sound. I’m now hungry to see Heep again, with a full set list. Saxon? Well what can you say? Hard and heavy as usual and just as loud as you’d expect from a British Heavy Metal giant! And the stage set up was mesmerising! A truly great night of rocking!