John Lawton was the vocalist for three years 1976 - 1979 and sang on three studio albums (plus one live album released afterwards). The group was in the middle of recording the fourth studio album when disagreements with the band leader Ken Hensley led to Lawton being fired. In 1995 Lawton returned briefly to Heep for one tour after the current line-up's vocalist Bernie Shaw was recovering from throath operation. This was just a temporary arrangement and Lawton never meant to join the band permanently. After that Lawton has appeared as guest on a couple of live albums & videos. In the Spring of 2013 he again substituted Shaw again on some European concerts. RECORDINGS LP FIREFLY 1977 LP INNOCENT VICTIM 1977 LP FALLEN ANGEL 1978 2-LP, CD LIVE IN EUROPE 1979 (released in 1986) CD THE MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY 2002 CD MAGIC NIGHT 2004 Before Heep Lawton was in Asterix, Lucifer's Friend & Les Humphries Singers. After leaving Heep he has recorded several albums as a solo artist and with his bands Gunhill & John Lawton Band and has been involved with many different projects and session work. In 2014 Lucifer's Friend was reactivated and released several albums. Lawton has also played with Ken Hensley in Hensley/Lawton Band and appeared on his solo albums. Lawton passed away 29th June 2021. More information on his career outside Uriah Heep at John Lawton discography