Uriah Heep is a character in the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.
"probably the most consummate villain that has ever existed..." It was first published in 1850.
1969 was the year of Delbert Mann's TV Movie of David Copperfield in which Uriah Heep was brilliantly portrayed by Ron Moody, however the 1935 Hollywood movie version in which Roland Young plays Heep won a Oscar Nomination for best Film.

Uriah Heep's by-the-books progressive heavy metal made the British band one of the most popular hard rock groups of the early '70s. Formed by vocalist David Byron and guitarist Mick Box in the late '60s, the group went through an astonishing number of members over the next two decades -- nearly 30 different musicians passed through the band over the years. Byron and Box were members of the mid-'60s rock band called the Stalkers; once that band broke up, the duo formed another group called Spice. Spice would eventually turn into Uriah Heep in the late '60s.

Their best years were between 1972 and 1975, releasing 5 albums in this period and touring with the best lineup of their history. After 1975, the band's popularity began to slip, yet Uriah Heep soldiered on until today.

Their discography includes 20 studio albums, 20 live albums, 24 compilations, several special releases, singles and videos.
Sources: All Music Guide, The Definitive Guide to Popular Music, 4th edition; Uriah Heep's official website.