Uriah Heep Kicks Off Scandinavian ‘Magician’s Farewell’ Tour in Tampere—Because Even Legends Need a Nap 😴🎸
In a move that surprises absolutely no one who remembers that 1969 was over half a century ago, British progressive rock dinosaurs (affectionately speaking, of course) URIAH HEEP have officially launched the Scandinavian leg of their “The Magician’s Farewell” tour in Tampere, Finland. The January 22nd show at Tempere-Talo marked the beginning of the end for the band that refuses to die, even if their tour bus prices have. Joining the usual suspects—vocalist Bernie Shaw, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer—was a fresh face named Sam Wood. For those keeping score, Wood is the six-string wizard for THIN LIZZY spinoff BLACK STAR RIDERS and WAYWARD SONS, proving that in the world of classic rock, everyone eventually plays in everyone else’s band (it’s a very incestuous family reunion out there 🎭).
Why is Sam Wood holding a guitar instead of founding member Mick Box? Because the latter decided to catch a nasty bug, forcing him to miss dates for the first time since the band formed in 1969. Yes, Mick Box, the human metronome of progressive rock, finally caught a cold that couldn’t be willed away by sheer determination and a Hammond organ. The band announced the news on social media, likely with a heavy heart and a bottle of cough syrup. While Mick is at home recuperating, Wood has been thrust into the spotlight with the “very last minute” gig, tasked with replicating the sound of a band that has been around since the Nixon administration. No pressure, Sam! 😅
It’s all part of “The Magician’s Farewell,” a tour title that sounds like a D&D campaign but is actually the band’s way of saying, “We’re too tired to keep doing this forever, but we’ll stick around for a couple more years.” The tour kicked off with a UK run in February 2025, and now the Scandis are getting their turn. As Box told Classic Rock magazine last year, the post-Brexit, post-COVID touring landscape is a nightmare. “Tour bus prices have tripled,” he lamented, probably while looking at a spreadsheet that costs more than your car. “The government only allows us 90 days outside of the country.” Imagine being a rock legend and needing to ask the UK government for permission to leave the island. Rock and roll isn’t dead, it’s just stuck in customs 🇪🇺🛂.
Following the Tampere show, the Heep machine is rolling through Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark for 14 more shows. The band released a heartfelt statement about Mick’s absence, noting that he sends his “sincere apologies” and best wishes. “We have been very lucky to have Sam Wood stand in,” the statement read, which is PR speak for “Sam, please save our asses until Mick’s immune system stops throwing a tantrum.” The band asked fans to welcome Wood in this “less than easy task,” which is the understatement of the century considering he has to play “Gypsy” and “Easy Livin'” to thousands of Finns who probably know the solos better than he does 🎸❄️.
In a slightly less grim interview from December 2024 with Planet Rock, Mick Box revealed what the “Farewell” actually means. Spoiler alert: they aren’t actually retiring. “We’ll do [some] writing and go in the recording studio,” Box said. “We’re still gonna be touring, still gonna be playing. It’s just that we’re not doing the really long stuff. We’ll do it in sections rather than a whole long splurge.” So, it’s less of a “farewell” and more of a “we’re going to take frequent naps between continents.” He also insists that their newer songs are “soon to be classic.” He’s not wrong—if you play a song for 50 years, eventually it becomes a classic by default, right? 🤔
The band is currently supporting their 25th studio album, “Chaos & Colour,” released in 2023. Yes, 25 albums. That’s more albums than most bands have hot meals. The record was produced by Jay Ruston, who has worked with ANTHRAX and COREY TAYLOR, proving that the Heep can still hang with the metal kids despite being old enough to collect pensions. Since their 1970 debut “Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble,” the band has sold 40 million albums and played up to 125 shows a year. That’s roughly 125 shows too many if you ask their roadies. The current setlist promises a journey from the 70s to the present day, which is a fancy way of saying you’ll hear the hits you love and tolerate the new tracks you’ve never heard 🎵👴.
So, grab your earplugs and your best vintage denim jacket. The “Magician’s Farewell” is happening, Mick Box is healing, and Sam Wood is shredding. If you’re in Scandinavia, check the fan-filmed videos below (shot vertically, naturally) and witness the endurance of a band that simply doesn’t know how to quit. Rock and roll is a marathon, not a sprint, and URIAH HEEP is currently in the “walking briskly” phase of the race 🏃♂️🎸.
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