Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson - OLIVER DAWSON SAXON

Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson founded Saxon in Nov 1975, the pair playing the pub circuit since 1970 when they left school in a band called "Sob", so named after the "Tons of Sobs" album by rock icons "Free".

When the Oliver, Dawson, Ward, Byford, Quinn line up was finalised in 1976, whilst playing at "the Nashville" in London, they met Sheffield musician Alan Bown, who suggested as punk was "happening", "Sob" should mean "Son of a Bitch". The band used the new name until 1978, whereupon signing a record Deal with Carrere records, changed it to "Saxon".

Oliver's style complimented Quinn"s and he wrote some of the most memorable riffs in the legendary rock anthems "Power & the Glory", "Never Surrender", "See the Light Shining", "Wheels of Steel" and "Dallas 1pm" to name but a few. It is said by many with some conviction, that the riff in "Princess of the Night" inspired "Metallica" to write "Seek & Destroy". The "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" (NWOBHM) was emerging in 1980 and this 2 guitar melody genre, demonstrating that heavy metal was not just thrash and noise was spearheaded by "Iron Maiden", "Saxon", Praying Mantis", Judas Priest etc. And as they say, the rest is history.

Oliver and Dawson played on every "Saxon" album up to "Rock the Nations" in 1986, when Dawson left the band. Oliver however, continued to contribute heavily, tour and record with "Saxon" until 1995 and the "Dogs of War" album. It was during a tour in 1983 that Harry Shearer, the co-creator, co-writer and co-star of cult movie "This is Spinal Tap", spent one week with the band researching the characters Michael McKean and Greg Smalls, based on Oliver and Dawson respectively. It was during the Hammersmith gig that Oliver tripped and fell during the intro to "Motorcycle Man". Saxon "roadie" Rob Price picked him up while he was still playing and the "incident" and Oliver are forever immortalised in the movie. We have it on good authority that Oliver didn"t miss a note, even when on the floor! Rob the "roadie" went on to work for Iron Maiden for many years.
In 1995, Oliver and Dawson, together with ex Saxon drummer Pete Gill, reunited under the name "Son of a Bitch" and released the album "Victim You".
In 2000 the Band was renamed "Oliver Dawson Saxon" and subsequently recorded and released "Re Landed" (live) 2000, "Rock Has Landed, It"s Alive" (DVD) 2002, The Second Wave: 25 Years of NWOBHM (with "Girlschool" and "Tygers of Pan Tang") 2003 and "It's Alive" (live) 2003

Oliver has been involved in "Guitar Legends" shows with Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions), Kee Marcello and Mike Terrana (Rage) plus numerous guest appearances in Germany, Italy and the USA .
Oliver Dawson Saxon have, for the last few years, gained a reputation for causing a furore at biker fests and was asked by Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Rainbow) to be the guest band on the UK leg of the "Killing the Dragon" tour and Oliver joined Dio on stage on the last show to duet with Doug Aldritch (Whitesnake) on Rainbow in The Dark. Oliver"s guitar playing career was nearly cut short when, in 1976, wind blew a door shut on his left hand, severing the top joint of his first finger.
With sheer dedication and time he overcame this disability and Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) and the late great Randy Rhoades (Ozzy Osbourne) complimented Oliver saying they could not hear any difference in his playing.
Oliver and Dawson just like Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath will always deliver 100 % original sounding tunes and together with the songs from the new and recent albums are ready to give "Aero Rock Starz", Bulgaria a show to remember.

NWOBHM NEW CD OUT SOON - Oliver Dawson Saxon "MOTORBIKER" out soon!