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 As a founding member of Saxon, and more recently one of the namesakes of Oliver/Dawson Saxon, Steve "Dobby" Dawson has toured the world, played to some of the biggest crowds in the world, and reportedly in part been responsible for Harry Shearer's portrayal of Derek Smalls in the hit movie Spinal Tap.
Komodo Rock took the opportunity to catch up with Dobby and find out more.
Komodo Rock: For those that are unaware, how did the Oliver/Dawson Saxon come into being?
Steve Dawson: Graham rang me in 1996 and said did I want some money. Probably the best thing to say cos I had not spoken to him in over 10 years. So I said yes, but within two weeks of getting the cheque, [Biff] Byfords solicitors had said that they would take action against me. So I sent the cheque back. But after a few days I thought fuck you, and spoke to Graham about putting a band together. So i asked Haydn Conway and Pete Gill if they were in, and Graham asked Ted Bullitt. Every body said yes. So we started writing songs and recorded the album "VICTIM YOU" as "SON OF A BITCH"
Pete Gill did not want to do much live work, so i asked Nigel Durham if he wanted the drum gig, he said yes.
We would turn up to gigs and we would be billed as OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON so we though if ya cant beat em, join em. So we went with "ODS".
We parted company with Ted Bullitt after a tour of South America.
I put an advert in "KERRANG" for a singer, and we ended up with "WARDI" who had just returned to England after a long stint with "SLASH" and that's the line up now. Steve Dawson, Graham Oliver, Nigel Durham, Haydn Conway, Wardi.
The preface to the name came as the result of a lawsuit with Biff Byford?
Yes
Did you ever worry about how fans would react to two different versions of Saxon?
No, because we are a great band playing songs Graham and me wrote and we have never ever tried to be the original band. Saxon fans that have seen us love it!
How different are things with this incarnation of Saxon compared to the one you left in 1986?
Very different. I did not leave i was "SACKED", it was a very low time members were not getting on with each other, and we had lots of arguments over petty things. But now "ODS" are very happy we just have a laugh drink loads of beer and fuck as many birds as we can! That's what rock bands do right?!
Having last released a split album with Tygers of Pan Tang and Girlschool back in 2003, are there any plans to hit the studio to record in the near future?
Yes, we are half way through a new CD but we are a bit short of money. So we'll finish it in Jan 2008, so get ready dude its gonna blow yer balls off.
 Talking of the Split Album, how did it come about?
Plastic Head Records made us an offer we couldn't refuse?
Is there a possibility of a future collaboration between the three bands?
No i don't think so but money talks.
The proposed tour that was booked at the time with the three of you never came off. Is it something you'd like to see happen in the future?
Yes i think a package tour with two other bands is fab.
Back in 2002 you opened for Dio on his UK Tour. How did that come about, and how was it?
We just asked them. Graham is a mate of Dug Aldridge, and Wardi is a big big mate of Ronnie James Dio. It went brill, wish we could do it again! We had so much fun, we all got on so well.
Your out gigging a up and down the country all the time, often in smaller venues. Do you prefer playing more low key gigs?
No, we will play any place, any time. 10,000 or 100 we do the same show. If some one is paying to see you, you owe it to them to give it your best.
Recently most of the gigs have been mostly stand alone affairs. Is a full scale tour something you can see on the horizon for the band?
Yes. We have just signed a deal with an agent and management company so we will be global in 2008.
How is your relationship with Biff Byford and his current incarnation of Saxon, and do you think there will come a time when the two Saxon's would come together again?
 I don't have one. I have not spoken to Byford since 1985. Never say never but their would have to be a lots of zero's on the cheque!
When it comes to Saxon material you've been involved with, can you tell us about your favourite tracks, and what they mean to you?
Well I like them all, some more than others but "BROKEN HEROES" is my fave, because whats the point of war? People killing each other for what? "ODS" will include this track in the new set list.
Can you tell us about a couple of your favourite shows? What made them special?
The first time we did "TOP OF THE POPS" with Wheels of Steel cos my mum finally stopped telling me to get a proper job! And the first time we played at the "MONSTERS OF ROCK" at Donnington with rainbow "WOW" makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up , just thinking about it.
Over your career you've seen the record industry change quite dramatically. How has that affected you?
It hasn't really because I only recently started getting royalties from song writing. Thanks to our now dead ex manager "Nigel Thomas" we are still in debt to "EMI" and will never recoup in my life time. We try to do all that stuff ourselves now so we don't get ripped off.
You've got an official profile on Myspace. Is that something that you've found really helps the band reach new and old fans alike?
Myspace rocks! It's brill, you can put up new songs and videos and the whole world can hear and see them.
As a bass player, who has been your biggest inspiration and why?
The first was Paul McCartney and The Beatles. Then I got into Cream and was blown away by Jack Bruce, but probably "ANDY FRASER" and Free was the biggest inspiration. Why? Cos he put the bass up front, the bass solo on "Fire and Water" is some thing else. I like lots of great bass players, Geddy Lee. Roger Waters and the late great "PHIL LYNOTT"
Going all the way back to the beginning, how did you meet Graham Oliver and form Blue Condition, the band that would evolve into Saxon?
Stringer the guitarist before Graham asked him to come down cos Graham could play "LEAD". We did our first gig at the Canal Tavern in Swinton South Yorkshire. Line up was, me, Graham Oliver, drummer David Bradley and Steve Firth on guitar and vocals. That was "BLUE CONDITION"
Blue Condition became S.O.B. and then Son Of A Bitch, before record label pressure forced the change to Saxon. Do you regret the change?
 No we were just happy to have a recording contract. The record company was going to call us "SPITFIRE", but changed their minds and called us "SAXON".
How proud are you that Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls from Spinal Tap and the voice of many Simpsons characters) credits you as the inspiration for his one hand on the strings and one hand in the air bass playing technique in the Tap? Were you aware back then that you were an influence on this five star rated affectionate comedy on the world of hard rock?
What can i say? I'm not worthy! I do what I do and if Harry made it funny than that's great. I met Harry in London about 6 weeks ago and we had a good laugh about it. Derek Smalls is just out of rehab!
Lots of, let's say "older bands" are reforming for projects nowadays - for example Black Sabbath Mk II reformed recently as Heaven and Hell, Judas Priest invited back Rob Halford and there's even talk of a Zeppelin reunion. Is there something about growing older and wiser that makes it easier for bands to forget their differences and come back together - or do you think that there's a cynical reason for these reformations?
Yes I think you can look back and say "It was not all bad, and we had some good times when we were all mates. so lets do it again, and make some money this time!"
Is there anything you wish you could go back and change?
Yes missing the birth of my second son "TOMMY DAWSON" cos I was on tour in America.
Who do you rate as the best up and coming rock band out there today?
There is a band from Mexborough South Yorks called "DISARM" and one from Grimsby called "THE BREW"
Could you pass on any relevant Oliver/Dawson Saxon related web links?
We will have a new web site in December, but check out the brilliant "ODS" on Myspace or "youtube"
A big thank you to Steve for taking the time to talk with us.
You can check out photos of Oliver/Dawson Saxon's recent gig at the Patriot Games Festival in Monmouth, Wales here , and we'll bring you news of the bands new album and touring plans as soon as we hear about them.
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