Quick Facts
Biography
Graham Oliver (born 6 July 1952) is an English guitarist who was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire. Oliver is notable for having been a guitarist in the heavy metal band Saxon.
Career
Oliver was originally a member of the band Sob, named after the Free song Tons of Sobs along with future Saxon bassist Steve Dawson, Steve Firth on vocals and drummers David Bradley, John Hart, Cowley and John Walker. He played with Saxon from 1976 to 1995. After leaving the band, he initially reformed his old band Son of a Bitch with former Saxon bassist Steve Dawson and drummer Pete Gill. Son of a Bitch released the album Victim You with Thunderhead singer Ted Bullet.
Bullet and Gill left the band after the release of the album. They were replaced by the vocalist John Ward, and another former member of Saxon, Nigel Durham on drums. Oliver and Dawson changed the name of the band to Oliver/Dawson Saxon, and undertook a British tour with Ronnie James Dio. Graham also duetted with Doug Aldrich on "Rainbow in the Dark" on the last gig at Plymouth. They initially performed under the Saxon name before being halted by legal action taken by the version of Saxon featuring Biff Byford.
Oliver has also released the solo album End of an Era. Five of the tracks were written and performed by the rock indie band Bullrush, with whom Graham Oliver's son Paul played drums, along Steve Tudberry and Scott Howitt. Also appearing on the album were Pete Gill, Steve Dawson, Kev Moore, Paul Johnson, Phil Hendriks, Richard Spencer and Chris Archer.
Since 2003, Oliver sometimes plays with former Marc Bolan session musician Paul Fenton, touring under the banner "Mickey Finn's T-Rex" and formerly "T. Rex (A Celebration of Marc and Mickey)". This opportunity materialised after Oliver played "Get It On" with Rolan Bolan at a show in Bradford. Oliver also gained an endorsement from the British guitar company Indie.
As of 2005, Oliver was again playing in Oliver/Dawson Saxon in the United States.
In 2012 guitar manufacturer "Vintage" collaborated with Graham to produce two signature guitars based on his famous Gibson SG and Flying-V guitars. The 'SG' model Vintage VS6GO and the 'V' model Vintage V60GO.
Oliver and Steve Dawson are currently writing the book, "Saxon Drugs and Rock and Roll - The Real Spinal Tap". The book will tell the story of how Oliver and Dawson were the inspirations for the film This is Spinal Tap, and will include stories that never made it into the film.
Discography
Saxon
Studio albums
- (1979) Saxon
- (1980) Wheels of Steel
- (1980) Strong Arm of the Law
- (1981) Denim and Leather
- (1983) Power & the Glory
- (1984) Crusader
- (1985) Innocence Is No Excuse
- (1986) Rock the Nations
- (1988) Destiny
- (1990) Solid Ball of Rock
- (1992) Forever Free
- (1995) Dogs of War
Live albums
- (1982) The Eagle Has Landed
- (1989) Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies
- (1990) Greatest Hits Live
- (1999) BBC Sessions
- (2000) Live at Buxted Lodge 1980
Son of a Bitch
- (1996) Victim You
Oliver/Dawson Saxon
- (2000) Re://Landed
- (2003) It's Alive
- (2003) The Second Wave: 25 Years of NWOBHM
- (2012) Motorbiker
Solo
- (2001) End of an Era