Origin: England  
Genres: NWOBHM
DISBANDED
Official Site
Last update/review: November 1, 2002

Samson

Guitarist Paul Samson was one of those blue-collar guitarists who toil in semi-obscurity, releasing albums and gigging in his homeland without really making a major worldwide impact. However, from a metal history standpoint, Samson the band is important for two related reasons. One, this is the band where Bruce Dickinson first cut his teeth, before going on to fame and fortune in Iron Maiden (one of several Samson/Maiden connections, as the bands were very close in their infancy). Two, the two albums that Dickinson sang on (Head On and Shock Tactics), are bonafide NWOBHM classics, sounding little like Maiden apart from the vocals but nonetheless featuring standout songs and fine musicianship from guitarist Samson and hyperactive enigmatic drummer Thunderstick. Following the departures of Dickinson and Thunderstick (and later, bassist Chris Aylmer), the band first transitioned to a bluesy metal band with new vocalist Nicky Moore, and then to an on-again, off-again solo band that sporadically recorded up until Paul's unfortunate passing in 2002.

Last Lineup

Nicky Moore

vocals RIP: August 3, 2022, Parkinson's disease, age 75

Paul Samson

guitars/vocals RIP: August 9, 2002, cancer, age 49

John McCoy

bass/rhythm guitar (ex-Gillan, ex-Rogue Male)

Ian Ellis

bass

Brian Fleming

drums

Former Members/Guests

Bruce Dickinson

vocals (Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden)

Mick White

vocals

Peter Scallan

vocals

Sam Blue

vocals

Dave Colwell

guitars

Chris Aylmer

bass RIP: January 9, 2007, throat cancer, age 58

Dave Boyce

bass

Toby Sadler

keyboards

Mervyn Goldsworthy

bass (ex-Diamond Head)

Kevin Riddles

bass (ex-Angel Witch, Tytan)

Thunderstick (Barry Purkis)

drums (Thunderstick)

Pete Jupp

drums

Charlie Mack

drums

Mel Gaynor

drums (ex-Voodoo Circle)

Tony Tuohy

drums

Mark Brabbs

drums (ex-Tank)


Discography



Survivors  
1979 Thunderbolt
  1. It's Not As Easy As It Seems
  2. I Wish I Was The Saddle Of A Schoolgirl's Bike
  3. Big Brother
  4. Tomorrow Or Yesterday
  5. Koz
  6. Six Feet Under
  7. Inside Out
  8. Wrong Side Of Time
  • Paul Samson
  • John McCoy
  • Thunderstick


Head On  
1980 RCA
  1. Hard Times
  2. Take It Like A Man
  3. Vice Versa
  4. Manwatcher
  5. Too Close To Rock
  6. Thunderburst
  7. Hammerhead
  8. Hunted
  9. Take Me To Your Leader
  10. Waking Out On You
  • Bruce Dickinson
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Thunderstick
1980 BNR Top Ten Album



Shock Tactics  
1981 RCA
  1. Riding With The Angels
  2. Earth Mother
  3. Nice Girl
  4. Blood Lust
  5. Go To Hell
  6. Bright Lights
  7. Once Bitten
  8. Grime Crime
  9. Communion
  • Bruce Dickinson
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Thunderstick


Before The Storm  
1982 Polydor
  1. Danger Zone
  2. Stealing Away
  3. Red Skies
  4. I'll Be Round
  5. Test Of Time
  6. Life On The Run
  7. Turn Out The Lights
  8. Losing My Grip
  9. Young Idea
  • Nicky Moore
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Pete Jupp


Don't Get Mad Get Even  
1984 Polydor
  1. Are You Ready
  2. Love Hungry
  3. Burning Up
  4. The Fight Gose On
  5. Don't Get Mad - Get Even
  6. Into The Valley
  7. Bite On The Bullet
  8. Doctor Ice
  9. Front Page News
  10. Leaving Love (Behind)
  • Nicky Moore
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Pete Jupp


Last Rites  COMPILATION
1984 Thunderbolt
  1. Mr. Rock and Roll
  2. Big Brother
  3. Koz
  4. Leavin' You
  5. It's Not as Easy as It Seems
  6. Side B
  7. Telephone
  8. Wrong Side of Time
  9. Primrose Shuffle
  10. I Wish I Was the Saddle of a Schoolgirl's Bike
  11. Inside Out


Thank You And Goodnight  LIVE
1985
  1. Bite On The Bullet
  2. Into The Valley
  3. Losing My Grip
  4. Vice Vearse
  5. Love Hungry
  6. Tomorrow Or Yesterday
  7. Mr Rock And Roll
  8. Don't Get Mad - Get Even
  9. Test Of Time
  10. Are You Ready
  • Nicky Moore
  • Paul Samson
  • Dave Colwell
  • Mervyn Goldsworthy
  • Pete Jupp


Head Tactics  COMPILATION
1986 Capitol


And There It Is  EP
1988 Metal Masters
  • Mick White
  • Paul Samson
  • Dave Boyce
  • Toby Sadler
  • Charlie Mack


Refugee  
1990 Maze
  1. Good to See You
  2. Can't Live Without Your Love
  3. Turn On the Light
  4. Love This Time
  5. Room 109
  6. State of Emergency
  7. Look to the Future
  8. Someone to Turn To
  9. Too Late
  10. Samurai Sunset
  11. The Silver Screen
  • Peter Scallan
  • Paul Samson
  • Toby Sadler
  • Charlie Mack


Pillars Of Rock  COMPILATION
1990
  1. Danger Zone
  2. Stealing Away
  3. Red Skies
  4. Losing My Grip
  5. Running out of Time
  6. Drivin' with ZZ
  7. Young Idea
  8. Test of Time
  9. Leaving Love Behind
  10. The Fight Goes On
  11. Don't Get Mad, Get Even
  12. Doctor Ice
  13. Front Page News
  14. Bite on the Bullet (live)
  15. Into the Valley (live)
  16. Tomorrow or Yesterday (live)
  17. Mr. Rock and Roll (live)
  18. Love Hungry (live)
  19. Vice Versa
  20. Earth Mother
  21. Losing My Grip
  22. Take It like a Man
  23. Once Bitten
  24. Go to Hell
  25. Hard Times
  26. Nice Girl
  27. Too Close to Rock
  28. Walking out on You


Live At Reading '81  LIVE
1990 Grand Slamm
  1. Big Brother
  2. Take It Like a Man
  3. Nice Girl
  4. Earth Mother
  5. Vice Versa
  6. Bright Lights
  7. Walking Out on You
  8. Hammerhead
  9. Riding with the Angels
  10. Gravy Train
  • Bruce Dickinson
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Mel Gaynor


Samson  
1993 Progressive
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Tony Tuohy


1988  COMPILATION
1990
  1. Too Late
  2. The Silver Screen
  3. I Must Be Crazy
  4. Don't Turn Away
  5. Good to See You
  6. Stranger
  7. I'm Never Gonna Loose Control
  8. Don't Tell Me It's Over
  9. Who Do You Think You're Foolin'
  10. Tomorrow
  11. One Day Heroes


Live At The Marquee  LIVE
1994 Thunderbolt
  1. Burning Emotion
  2. Stranger
  3. Vice Versa
  4. Fighting Man
  5. A Matter of Time
  6. Afraid of the Light
  7. Tell Me
  8. Turn Out the Lights
  9. Earth Mother
  10. Tomorrow
  11. Don't Turn Away
  12. Stranger
  • Sam Blue
  • Paul Samson
  • Dave Colwell
  • Kevin Riddles
  • Mark Brabbs


Burning Emotion - The Best Of 1985-1990  COMPILATION
1995
  1. Burning Emotion
  2. Tramp
  3. Tell Me
  4. No Turning Back
  5. Stranger
  6. Don't Turn Away
  7. Tomorrow
  8. The Silver Screen
  9. Too Late
  10. Don't Close Your Eyes
  11. Fight for Your Life
  12. Good to See You
  13. Room 109
  14. Don't Tell Me It's Over
  15. Can't Live Without Your Love


The BBC Sessions  COMPILATION
1997
  1. Big Brother
  2. Six Foot Under
  3. Take It like a Man
  4. Hammerhead
  5. Doctor Ice
  6. Love Hungry
  7. Are You Ready
  8. Don't Get Mad Get Even
  9. Tomorrow
  10. One Day Heroes
  11. Turn on the Lights
  12. A Matter of Time
  13. State of Emergency
  14. Someone to Turn To
  15. Love This Time
  16. Look to the Future


The Masters  COMPILATION
1998
  1. Tramp
  2. No Turning Back
  3. Burning Emotion
  4. Reach out to Love
  5. Tales of the Fury
  6. Don't Turn Away
  7. The Silver Screen
  8. Can't Live Without Your Love
  9. Don't Tell Me It's Over
  10. Room 109
  11. Back to You
  12. Slip Away
  13. It Ain't Fair
  14. Bite on the Bullet
  15. Into the Valley
  16. Losing My Grip
  17. Vice Versa
  18. Love Hugnry
  19. Someone to Turn To
  20. Love This Time
  21. Samurai Sunset
  22. Matter of Time
  23. Earth Mother


Live In London 2000  LIVE
2001 Zoom Club
  1. Test of Time
  2. Vice Versa
  3. Room 109
  4. Turn out the Lights
  5. Brand New Day
  6. Don't Get Mad, Get Even
  7. Red Skies
  8. Earth Mother
  9. Riding with the Angels
  10. Tomorrow or Yesterday
  11. Mr. Rock N Roll
  • Nicky Moore
  • Paul Samson
  • Chris Aylmer
  • Thunderstick


P.S....  
2006
  1. No Way Out
  2. Brand New Day
  3. Mean Woman
  4. Do Right
  5. It's Going Wrong
  6. Broken Heart
  7. When Tomorrow Comes
  8. Murder
  9. Gettin' Ready
  10. Precious Time
  11. Shooting for the Moon
  • Nicky Moore
  • Paul Samson
  • John McCoy
  • Ian Ellis
  • Brian Fleming



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