“We intend to play as many places as possible and see you all for the one last time”: Uriah Heep announce extensive farewell tour that could last up to 3 years
British rock icons Uriah Heep have announced their plans to hang up their instruments and close the curtain on their 55-year musical journey with a lengthy farewell tour.
In a statement from guitarist Mick Box, who founded the band in 1969 and stands as the only remaining original member, says they “intend to play as many places as possible” on the tour.
Expected to kickstart in February 2025, the tour could last up to three years as the band extends one last dance to its fanbases across the globe.
“Who can believe next year is 55 years since the band started, and that's just so amazing,” Box reminisces. “I know many of you have been with us since the beginning, and we do thank you for that. It means the world to us.
“Unfortunately, we have made the decision to wind down touring the whole world next year under the title of 'The Magician's Farewell.'”
Over the band’s lifespan, they’ve released 25 studio albums, with tracks like Lady In Black and Easy Livin’ serving as staples of the 1970s rock scene.
Box was 19 when he first started Uriah Heep. The band released what now appears to be their last record, Chaos & Colour, last year.
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Uriah Heep - Save Me Tonight (Official Video) - YouTube
“Over the next two to three years, we intend to play as many places as possible and see you all for the one last time,” Box continues. “On behalf of the band and myself, I wanna thank you all for the continued support you have always given us. It means the world to us, and it means so much to us, and I just wanna thank you for that.”
Box helped forge Uriah Heep's reputation primarily on a Fender Telecaster, but in his latter years he defected to a series of signature guitars that were built by Canadian luthier Mike Carparelli.
“I take them on the road because I got fed up with taking out all my old Gibsons and things like that because they were getting battered,” he once told Guitarist. “But these Carparellis are good – roadworthy, sound great, play great – so I use them and Furch acoustic guitars. They’re beautiful guitars.”
Tour dates are yet to be announced. Keep your eye on Uriah Heep for more details.
A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.
