1977 to 1988

A cult Blues based Hard Rock band built around the talents of guitarist Paul Samson. SAMSON proved one of the lynchpins of the renowned NWoBHM movement, but have so often been sadly overlooked in the light of the global success of their contemporaries. Samson had cut his teeth beginning with REFUGEE in 1973. Joining a further act KELLY put the young guitarist onto the London club circuit and eventually he was manoeuvred in as replacement for guitarist BERNIE TORME in a band that was to become McCOY. Led by bassist John McCoy this act was to come to a halt when the mainman was enticed away to join GILLAN in 1977. Samson persevered, retaining drummer Roger Hunt and retitled the band SAMSON.

The band cut two singles for indie Lightning before releasing a third on Lazer Records as efforts were channeled into intensive gigging. A succession of club shows built up a large fan base and rewards with supports to GILLAN and RAINBOW. The debut album, 1979's 'Survivors', featured a line up of Samson, vocalist Bruce Bruce, bassist Chris Aylmer and drummer Thunderstick (real name Barry Graham Purkis). The latter had replaced original drummer Clive Burr, who later found fame with IRON MAIDEN. The album, produced by John McCoy, comprised many of the Samson / McCoy compositions laid down with McCOY.

During 1979 SAMSON continued to tour heavily headlining and alongside such acts as IRON MAIDEN and ANGEL WITCH with further exposure being gained by the band's inclusion on the now fabled EMI Records compilation album 'Metal For Muthas' in February 1980. Further dates promoting the 'Survivors' album saw SAMSON guesting for GILLAN. A British headline club tour, supported by THE NICKY MOORE BAND, followed and the momentum landed them a deal with RCA / Gem Records to record the second album 'Head On'. This outing included the track 'Thunderburst' , actually rooted in an earlier track from Thunderstick's brief term with IRON MAIDEN. By coincidence, IRON MAIDEN's parallel release 'Killers' also sported the same track - entitled 'Ides Of March'.

SAMSON found themselves at the sticky end of some bad press from various feminist movements focused on drummer Thunderstick's stage mask. The 'Cambridge rapist' was a current news story and the drummer's black balaclava understandably created an adverse reaction.

In mid 1981 drummer Thunderstick finally quit. Following a brief union lasting two gigs with McCOY/TORME/THUNDERSTICK lasting two London gigs he formed his own band, aptly titled THUNDERSTICK.

SAMSON found a replacement in former LIGHT OF THE WORLD man Mel Gaynor. A bigger shock to the band was to come when shortly after SAMSON lost their vocalist to IRON MAIDEN, now opting to go under his real name of BRUCE DICKINSON.

SAMSON debuted their new vocalist Nicky Moore (ex HACKENSACK and TIGER) on 1982's 'Before The Storm' album, their first for new label Polydor. The album also saw original bassist Chris Aylmer back in the fold together with drummer Pete Jupp, who had replaced Gaynor (bound for SIMPLE MINDS) for SAMSON's British support slot to BLACKFOOT in April 1982. 'Before The Storm' received strong press reviews and seemingly heralded a new era for the band.

Prior to recording 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' Aylmer left once more to join ROGUE MALE and SIMPLE MINDS and be replaced by ex DIAMOND HEAD bassist Merv Goldsworthy and in addition SAMSON added a second guitarist Dave Colwell who had previously played with MICK RALPHS. SAMSON supported GARY MOORE on his 1984 European tour but Polydor dropped SAMSON after 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even'.

The band split in late 1984 after a brace of Irish shows, with Samson going on to work with ex GILLAN bassist John McCoy for his debut McCOY recordings before illness forced a halt. The guitarist also busied himself with production work, putting his name to the third ROCK GODDESS album 'Young And Free', as well as assisting Capitol Records in remixing early SAMSON material in the form of the 'Head Tactics' album.

Goldsworthy, Colwell and Jupp formed a new act with former RAGE vocalist Dave Lloyd and ex 720 guitarist Dave Marshall, but it was short-lived as both Goldsworthy and Jupp later formed FM. Colwell later turned up in BAD COMPANY. Moore departed to work with German guitar guru ULI JON ROTH then formed the bizarre fat man band MAMMOTH.

Samson set about recording a solo album, 'Joint Forces', which included the talents of McCoy and Moore before forming EMPIRE in January 1986. The band's line up was Samson, vocalist Sam Bluitt, a returning Dave Colwell on guitar, ex TYTAN bassist Kev Riddles and former TANK drummer Mark Brabbs.

The new band cut another BBC radio session but Bluitt quit shortly after for YA YA and was supplanted by Mick White.

PAUL SAMSON'S EMPIRE supported old sparring partners IRON MAIDEN on their 1987 British tour following which the band name reverted back to SAMSON. The new band saw a line up of White, keyboardist Toby Sadler (ex WHITE SPIRIT, LISA DOMINIQUE and AIRRACE), bassist Dave Boyce and former ANVIL and BLACK ROSE drummer Charlie Mackenzie.

The name SAMSON was resurrected once more for a European tour in late 1987 and recorded the '1988' album.