Uriah Heep’s Bolder sidelined over health

Sidelined: Bolder, second right, with Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep bassist Trevor Bolder will bow out of the band for several months while he recovers from upcoming surgery, it’s been announced.

The band will continue to work with John ‘JJ’ Jowitt of IQ, Ark, Arena, Jadis and Frost* renown. They’ll play as planned in Israel at the end of the month.

Heep mainman Mick Box explains former Spiders From Mars member Bolder wants the band to keep going in his absence. He says: “We all wish Trevor a speedy return to the fold. In the meantime we’re very pleased that JJ has agreed to step in and cover Trev’s unique bass panache, which is so crucial to Heep’s sound. JJ will also contribute to the signature five-part vocal operatics.”

Jowitt reports: “I have long been an admirer of Trevor’s iconic playing. It’s a huge honour to be asked to stand in for one of the all-time greats of the bass.

“I intend to bring due respect to the legend that is Uriah Heep, and I hope I can do justice to Trevor’s presence – both on and off stage.”

Bolder’s downtime won’t stop him working completely. He’ll be writing material for the band’s upcoming album, the follow-up to 2011′s Into The Wild, due towards the end of the year.

The bassist appeared on David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and Pin Ups in the early 70s. Afterwards he continued to work with guitarist Mick Ronson – with whom he’d played in The Rats in the 1960s – before joining Heep in 1976. He’s also played stints with Wishbone Ash and Ken Hensley.