Spice (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 or 1968 |
| Defunct | 1970-02-21 |
| Successor | Uriah Heep |
Key people | David Byron, Mick Box, Paul Newton, Alex Napier, Colin Wood, Ken Hensley |
| Products | Music recordings, singles |
Spice was a British ensemble known for their pop rock and rhythm and blues styles, comprising David Byron on vocals, Mick Box handling guitar duties, Paul Newton on bass, Alex Napier playing drums, and Colin Wood on keyboards. Napier took over the drummer position from Nigel Pegrum, who subsequently became a member of the folk rock group Steeleye Span.
Towards the end of 1969, organist Ken Hensley, previously associated with The Gods and Toe Fat, joined the lineup. Spice’s final performance occurred on 21 February 1970 at St Mary's College in Twickenham, where they opened for Deep Purple. Not long after this event, the band adopted the name Uriah Heep, making their debut under the new moniker on 20 March at Salisbury Technical College. The decision to change the name had been underway since December 1969.
Discography
In 1968, Spice issued a single titled "What About The Music" backed with "In Love" before transitioning into Uriah Heep during sessions for their debut album. Recordings credited to Spice can be found on:
- The Lansdowne Tapes – a collection featuring Spice tracks alongside early Uriah Heep outtakes recorded between 1968 and 1971, released in 1994
- A Time of Revelation – a comprehensive four-disc set spanning Uriah Heep's material, including Spice recordings from 1968 to 1995, released in 1996
Among the Spice songs included are "Astranaza", both vocal and instrumental versions of "Born in a Trunk", "Celebrate", "I Want You Babe", "In Love", "Magic Lantern", "Schoolgirl", and "What About The Music". Additionally, two tracks from Uriah Heep’s first album—"Come Away Melinda" and "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)"—were laid down by the Spice lineup prior to Ken Hensley’s arrival, featuring Colin Wood on keyboards.
The composition "Astranaza" originally consisted of three parts; however, only parts one and two are present on compilations since part three is a repetition of part one.