Me, Tina and Sara are in front of the gate that will open to one of the most beatiful nights of our lives, with our precious ticket in our hands. It’s the third time I see the Heep, but I feel this time is going to be different, tonight I’m going to meet them: I can’t explain this feeling, but after being faithful to them for 30 years, I still feel like a guy who’s there to see a legend. The Heep are a legend, not just because they’ ve been on stage for 30 years, also because they’ ve always been there,next to their audience, without acting like superstars. They’ re there to let you see you’ re part of the legend. Maybe that’ s the feeling coming with me while I enter the Foro Italico tennis stadium. It’ s a strange night, I’ m excited, but I also know I’ m going to meet some friends, because the Heep are friends, too.

The stadium it’s an awesome view, the stage is very large, and behind the row of Marshalls I can see a huge writing (Uriah Heep), and a huge Wizard….that is an emotion. I take a look around, there’ s the bar, the service place and here’s Tina screaming: “that one looks Mick Box!”, “Yes, that’s him”, says Sara. They’re all there, between the 20 and 50 yrs old guys. I feel blocked for a moment…I was 20 when I saw them for the first time, in 1971, then I saw them again in 1997, in Naples….then I’ve been following them in CDs, LPs, by fan club, the internet, on the videos…..But now it’s different, I’ve got them in a metre of distance! Luckily there’s Tina, my wife, who jumps near to Mick and takes his hand….My wife is usually normal, but tonight I suspect she’s on drugs. Mick hugs me, we take some photos, he signs my ticket, but he doesn’t know 30 years ago, he signed my heart. All I manage to say is “Great, Great!” Suddenly I’m getting photographed next to Bernie Shaw. Always Tina who “takes” them and delivers them to me, after 30 years of love. Phil Lanzon, 2 metres tall, embraces Tina and Sara for a picture….I feel almost ashamed for not telling them what I’ve wanted for 30 years, I know just one thing: I met a legend! I will never forget Mick’s smile, his way of being both a young boy and a dad, the availability that only a “Great one” can have. I will never forget Bernie’s expression, so friendly, you seem to know him since ages. In their faces you can see the consciousness of being  myths, but also the consciousness of being great people. Maybe that is the myth of Uriah Heep! They leave thanking us….absurd, it’s us who should thank them eternally, for the sensations they give us.. We go and sit, watching Raff and King Prawn, but mind and heart are somewhere else. After Naples gig I said “now I can die”, but life reserved me this night.

We go near the stage after King Prawn, we’re on the front row, everyone’s waiting , I keep on thinking my wife’s on drugs and I even think she wants to jump on stage! Here the lights go out and here there are Mick, Lee, Bernie, Trevor’s shadows…..the start is “terrible”, Return to fantasy (critics said it was their best). Bernie is aggressive, a stage-machine. They go from Stealin’ to Gipsy, to Bird of prey. I see tonight’s playlist is going to be hard, with most of their 70s music. Magician’s birthday and Keep on trying are surprising: duets between Mick and Lee, Trevor and Lee make you understand how they get well together. Just some new tracks like Universal wheels…then, hard again, Look at yourself, with a Lee Kerslake who doesn’t make you regret the original version with Osibisa. He works like a metronome, he works with his wrists like no one else, listens to his case. He’s always there with his choruses. Trevor Bolder makes the difference, he’s tense, he “feels” his task, he’s the best bass player the Heep ever had, better than Wetton, he’s precise, uses the whole handle and prefers high notes. Phil Lanzon‘s a master, you see him organize in the shadow, he never uses “bad tasting “ sounds, and like every good keyboard player he’s got an Hammond. Bernie’s voice is unique in Heep’s background . Byron’s voice was too so subtle for a hard band. Bernie Shaw can go from sweetness of soft tracks (Dream on,When the war is over, Across the miles) to hard moments (Universal wheels, Gipsy, Red blood roses). He’s got a stage presence, his “ancestors” didn’t have , he’s on stage even when it’s not his turn. And he’s got the worth of not changing the tracks he sings, while Lawton used to do that. We’ve said everything about Mick, he’s the band’s soul and heart. He isn’t tied to his great past like most 70s bands do. He plays for the band, his solos are always coherent with every song. One thing is sure: There are no Byron-era Heep or last 16 years Heep, there were, there are, and there will be Heep. That’s all!

This is the best line-up, these musicians are better than the previous ones, these are Uriah Heep, their music goes from Blues to Metal, they’ve got much to say.

While I’m watching them, I see them laugh, joke, they’re relaxed and self-conscious, and so professional…they’re great although a little audience. Famous bands…follow the example, this is music. These are real musicians…these are Uriah Heep!

Sara, my daughter, makes me notice Tina is now delirious, screams like a coyote and we’re afraid some hunter may shoot her. So I think what those guys on stage have done. July morning (a myth), Sunrise, Easy living, and at the end “The land of Hope and Glory”. It’s the end, I applaud, scream and I see them take a bow, thank….but aren’t we the ones supposed to do that…aren’t we supposed to take a bow for such an amazing night!!?? Heep…it’s impossible not loving you!!!

Everyone’s looking around, everyone’s trying to catch each other’s eye, time flied. I’m lucky, it’s the third time I see them, Mario Musto saw them for the first time.An heepster from Rome known by e-mail, but now we meet, we try to discuss about the performance, but it’s useless, we think the same way. I say goodbye to the Heep, I say goodbye to Mario, now we know each other and we’ll meet again.

Sometimes you guess what’s happiness, while I leave the Foro Italico I feel good inside, I think of the night, to old friends (Heep) and new ones. So I give myself the answer.

Thanks Uriah Heep.