Steven "Dobby" Dawson (born 24 February 1952) is an English bass guitarist and a founder of the heavy metal band

Saxon The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...

. Dawson started out in 1970 in the band Blue Condition, which became SOB after a few shows only, together with Dave Bradley, Steve Firth and future

guitarist

Graham Oliver Graham Oliver (born 6 July 1952) is an English guitarist who was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire. He was a founding member in the heavy metal band Saxon from 1976 to 1996. Career Oliver was a budding guitarist while working in a factory i ...

. In 1975 Dawson, Oliver and new drummer John Walker joined forces with Coast members and Paul Quinn to form Son of a Bitch, which renamed itself Saxon in 1978. Dawson was a member of Saxon until 1986 when he was dismissed among conflict and arguments within the band. From 1996, Dawson and Oliver toured and recorded with

Oliver/Dawson Saxon Oliver/Dawson Saxon was an English heavy metal band formed in 1995 by former members of Saxon, guitarist Graham Oliver and bassist Steve Dawson. Following Steve Dawson's decision to retire from performing in October 2021, Graham Oliver, Gav ...

, at times featuring former Saxon drummers

Pete Gill Peter Gill (born 9 June 1951) is an English former heavy metal drummer, formerly a member of the Glitter Band, Saxon and Motörhead. Gill was one of the two drummers in the Glitter Band, then formed part of the original line-up of Saxon i ...

and Nigel Durham. In 2021, Dawson retired from music and stepped down from the group, after which the band renamed themselves Graham Oliver's Army. In 2002, Dawson released a solo album called "Pandemonium Circus" with Durham on drums. Dawson helped inspire '' This Is Spinal Tap''. "It was only a few years ago that the penny dropped about

Harry Shearer Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, musician, radio host, writer, and producer. Born in Los Angeles, California, Shearer began his career as a child actor. From 1969 to 1976, Shearer was a member of The ...

," he observed in 2014, "when he said he'd been on tour with Saxon and some of the character of

Derek Smalls Derek Albion Smalls is a fictional character played by Harry Shearer in the spoof rockumentary '' This Is Spinal Tap''. He is the bassist for mock British heavy metal group Spinal Tap, playing alongside guitarists Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Gues ...

had been based on me – pointing at the audience and all that malarkey. Harry's lovely... I'm proud to be an influence on Spinal Tap. They're taking the piss, but that's part of the game, isn't it?" On 21 March 2024, Dawson was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of four counts of indecent assault against a person under the age of 14. The offences took place in the early 1990s when the victim was six years old. In April of the same year, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the offences.

Discography

Saxon

*''

'' (1979) *''

Wheels of Steel ''Wheels of Steel'' is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon. Released in 1980 by Carrere Records, it was their first album to enter the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 5, and is their highest-charting album in the UK A ...

'' (1980) *''

Strong Arm of the Law ''Strong Arm of The Law'' is the third studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon. It was released in 1980, seven months after '' Wheels of Steel'', and debuted on the UK chart at #11. Background, music and lyrics According to '' Ultimat ...

'' (1980) *''

Denim and Leather ''Denim and Leather'' is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon released in 1981. The album was certified Gold status in the U.K. This was the last album with the classic line up of Saxon, as drummer Pete Gill would leave th ...

'' (1981) *'' The Eagle Has Landed'' (1982) *''

Power & the Glory ''Power & the Glory'' is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in March 1983 by Carrere Records. This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler and was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in the fall ...

'' (1983) *''

Crusader Crusader or Crusaders may refer to: Military * Crusader, a participant in one of the Crusades * Convair NB-36H Crusader, an experimental nuclear-powered bomber * Crusader tank, a British cruiser tank of World War II * Crusaders (guerrilla), a C ...

'' (1984) *''

Innocence Is No Excuse ''Innocence Is No Excuse'' is the seventh studio album by English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Saxon (band), Saxon, released in September 1985. It was the band's first album for EMI Records, EMI after a falling-out with their previous la ...

'' (1985) *''

Rock the Nations ''Rock the Nations'' is the eighth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in September 1986. Album notes The album is the first not to feature original bassist Steve Dawson, who was fired from the band earlier in 1986. For th ...

'' (1986) (songwriting) *'' BBC Sessions'' (1999) *''Live at Donnington 1980'' (2000)

Son of a Bitch

*''Victim You'' (1996)

Oliver/Dawson Saxon

*''Re://Landed'' (2000) *''It's Alive'' (2003) *''The Second Wave: 25 Years of NWOBHM'' (2003) *''Motorbiker'' (2012)

Steve Dawson

*''Pandemonium Circus'' (2002)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Steve 1952 births Living people English heavy metal bass guitarists English male bass guitarists Saxon (band) members Black Hen Music artists English people convicted of child sexual abuse English people convicted of indecent assault Prisoners and detainees of England and Wales English male criminals