Oliver/Dawson Saxon

Oliver/Dawson Saxon are a British heavy metal group from Rotherham, United Kingdom. The band is formed around former Saxon members Graham Oliver on guitar and Steve Dawson on bass, and it operates as an active project from 2000 to 2021.

Formation and name

Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson reunite in 1994 under the name Son of a Bitch, releasing Victim You in 1996. After a period of inactivity, they adopt the name Oliver/Dawson Saxon in 2000. The name reflects legal restrictions around using “Saxon” on its own in the band title, so the Oliver/Dawson element remains prominent in its billing.

The Saxon name itself is originally chosen in the late 1970s after retail outlets refuse to stock the earlier Son of a Bitch name. The band continues to be identified closely with its Saxon connection and primarily performs Saxon songs in live sets, while also recording original material.

Line-up

Later members include John Ward, Nigel Durham, Haydn Conway, Paul Oliver, Brian Shaughnessy and Gavin Coulson. Brian Shaughnessy joins as vocalist in 2011, having fronted the group Seventh Son. Haydn Conway steps down as lead guitarist in 2016 and Gavin Coulson takes his place. The listed members include Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson, Haydn Conway, Steve Dawson, Graham Oliver, Paul Oliver, Brian Shaughnessy, Gavin Coulson and Nigel Durham, with Paul Oliver on drums and Brian Shaughnessy on vocals in the later line-up.

Recordings

The band’s releases include Victim You under the Son of a Bitch name, followed by live and video releases such as Re://Landed (Live), Rock Has Landed, It’s Alive, It’s Alive and Blood And Thunder – Live. It also releases The Second Wave: 25 Years of NWOBHM with Girlschool and Tygers of Pan Tang, and the studio album Motorbiker.

Musical identity

Oliver/Dawson Saxon work within heavy metal and traditional metal, with a strong emphasis on the repertoire associated with Saxon. Their activity links them to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene through both their members and their releases.