Camel (band)
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Camel is a British progressive rock band formed in 1971.
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History
Camel was formed in 1971 when Peter Bardens joined Andrew Latimer, Andy Ward and Doug Ferguson in a band called The Brew. Changing their name to Camel, they played their first gig at Waltham Forest Technical College supporting Wishbone Ash on 4 December.
In August 1972 Camel signed with MCA Records and released their eponymous debut album. The record was not a success and the band moved to Decca Records.
In 1974 they released their second album Mirage, then in 1975 the instrumental concept album The Snow Goose inspired by the book by Paul Gallico. They released the album Moonmadness in 1976.
Camel's line-up has changed many times in their history, starting in 1976 when Mel Collins saxophone joined as the fifth member. Following this, Doug Ferguson left the band in 1977.
Richard Sinclair joined the band and this line-up released Rain Dances and Breathless. Bardens departed before the supporting tour, replaced by two keyboard players: Dave Sinclair (cousin of Richard) and Jan Schelhaas. The Sinclair brothers both left the band after the tour, replaced by Kit Watkins and Colin Bass.
This line-up released I Can See Your House From Here, an album which caused problems for the advertisers due to its "poor taste". Watkins left after this one album. The band then released another concept album, Nude, about a Japanese soldier found on an island many years after World War II, not realising the war was over. Watkins returned for the tour but left the band again after its completion.
In mid-1981, Ward stopped playing drums due to alcohol and drug abuse and Camel briefly disbanded. It reformed the following year with Latimer, Watkins, Andy Dalby, Chris Rainbow, Stuart Tosh and David Paton. The resultant album, The Single Factor, was a break away from the band's progressive roots looking for a hit album. At the end of 1983 Watkins left the band again. Legal wranglings then began with their former manager which took five years to resolve.
Ton Scherpenzeel (formerly of Dutch prog-rock band Kayak) replaced Watkins. Bass rejoined the band together with newcomer Paul Burgess for Stationary Traveller. Richie Close joined the tour at the on backup keyboards. (Close died a few years later from Legionnaire's disease.)
Latimer moved to America in the 1990s after the lawsuit ended and reformed Camel with Mickey Simmonds, Bass and Burgess. The album Dust and Dreams, a musical evocation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, was released under Latimer's own label Camel Productions.
In 1993 a compilation, Never Let Go, was released. Latimer now worked alone and recorded Harbour of Tears (nickname for a harbor in Ireland from which many sailed off to the USA during the Potato Famine) under the Camel name.
In 1997 Camel toured again with Latimer supported by Bass, Foss Patterson and Dave Stewart. The tour resulted in Coming of Age, a live album.
In 1999 Latimer, Stewart and Bass recorded the last Camel album Rajaz. Set in ancient times, Rajaz was a spontaneous composition inspired by the rhythm of the camel's footsteps to help the weary travelers reach their destination. Latimer was smitten with the idea that the rhythm of the camel would help people reach their journey's end.
In 2003 Camel played their farewell tour and hope to release an album and DVD of the tour.
Personnel
- Andrew Latimer - guitar, vocals, flute, recorder
- Andy Ward - drums
- Peter Bardens - keyboards
- Doug Ferguson - bass
Discography
- 1973 Camel
- 1974 Mirage
- 1975 The Snow Goose
- 1976 Moonmadness
- 1977 Rain Dances
- 1978 Breathless
- 1978 A Live Record
- 1979 I Can See Your House from Here
- 1981 Nude
- 1982 The Single Factor
- 1984 Pressure Points - Live in Concert
- 1984 Stationary Traveller
- 1991 Dust and Dreams
- 1992 On The Road 1972 (Live)
- 1993 Never Let Go (live)
- 1993 Echoes
- 1994 On The Road 1982 (Live)
- 1996 Harbour of Tears
- 1997 On The Road 1981 (Live)
- 1999 Rajaz
- 1999 Coming of Age (live)
- 2002 A Nod And A Wink
Samples
"Rhayader" by Camel, from www.progarchives.com (Mp3) (http://www2.progarchives.com/mp3/Camel%20-%20The%20Snow%20Goose%20-%20Rhayader.mp3)
External links
- Camel Productions (http://www.camelproductions.com/), the official Camel web site
- Camel Discography (http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/camel/)
- Moonmadness (http://www.snim.no/moonmadness/)de:Camel (Band)