Czech tabloid Blesk is reporting that Radka Shaw — the wife of Uriah Heep frontman Bernie Shaw — passed away earlier this month after a “serious illness” at the age of 47.
As noted by Blabbermouth, Radka, who was of Czech descent and almost two decades Bernie’s junior, had been married to the longtime Uriah Heep frontman since 2005 and they were the parents of two children: a 17-year old daughter Madeleine and 12-year-old son Valentýn. Her funeral will be held this Saturday in her original hometown of Uherský Brod, Czech Republic.
In announcing Radka’s death, her family included the following quote from Abraham Lincoln:
“Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”
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Behind the Band Name: Uriah Heep
In Charles Dickens’ 1950 novel, David Copperfield, the antagonist, Uriah Heep, was a bonafide sycophant. Using his innate flatterer to his advantage, Heep blackmailed lawyer and businessman Mr. Wickfield in the story.
The name was often referenced as a byword for a “humble hypocrite,” and the most detestable fictional character it was based on, inspired the band name of the British rockers Uriah Heep.
Spice
Originally formed in London in 1969 by guitarist Mick Box, along with operatic vocalist David Garrick (who later changed his surname to Byron), drummer Alex Napier and bassist Paul Newton, the band initially called themselves Spice.
“Basically, we used the name Spice, because we didn’t want our music to be just any one genre,” said Box in 2021. “There’s lots of spices, and that was our train of thought with the name of the band. That mindset kind of rolled over to Uriah Heep.”
Between the songwriting duo of Box and Garrick, the band was soon signed to Vertigo Records and needed a new name as they entered their next chapter.
Uriah Heep
Spice just naturally bled into the name Uriah Heep for the band, according to Box.
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