Druid (band)
Druid | |
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Origin | Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England |
Genres | Progressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock |
Years active | 1971–1977 |
Labels | EMI, BGO Records |
Past members |
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Druid were a 1970s progressive rock band from England, and initially came to public attention by winning the Melody Maker Rock and Folk talent contest in 1974.[1] The band went on to perform on to record two albums signed to EMI - Toward the Sun (1975) and Fluid Druid (1976). The band performed 'Voices' and 'Theme', from Toward the Sun on The Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on 7th October 1975.[2] Their sound was notably influenced by Yes and Genesis.[3]
Following the demise of Druid in 1977, aborting the recording of their third record Newfoundland, Neil Brewer and Dane Stevens formed The Never Never Band with a more post-punk sound. The band ultimately split up in 1981 into two short lived groups - The Vetos, and Splash.[4]
Former member Cedric Sharpley, who went on to back Gary Numan in the Dramatis and Tubeway Army, died from a heart attack on 13 March 2012.[5] Keyboard player Andrew McCrorie-Shand later pursued a career composing for Ragdoll Productions, most notably their longest-running TV shows Rosie and Jim, while bass player Neil Brewer was the show's third and final presenter from 1997 to 2000.
Line-up
- Cedric Sharpley – drums (founding member; died 2012)
- Neil Brewer – bass (founding member)
- Dane Stevens – vocals, guitars (founding member)
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards (joined 1974)
- Pete Griffiths - keyboards (1971–73)
Discography
Studio albums
Toward the Sun (1975)
Toward the Sun | ||||
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Studio album by Druid | ||||
Released | June 1975 | |||
Recorded | Morgan Studios, London, England | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock | |||
Length | 47:27 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer | Bob Harris | |||
Druid chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [6] |
Sputnikmusic | 3.7[7] |
- Side one
- "Voices" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane) – 8:13
- "Remembering" (Brewer/Dane) – 5:24
- "Theme" (Brewer/Dane/McCrorie-Shand/Sharpley) – 5:24
- "Toward the Sun" (Dane) – 5:03
- Side two
- "Red Carpet for an Autumn" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 3:10
- "Dawn of Evening" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 10:02
- "Shangri-La" (Brewer/Dane) – 10:11
- Personnel
- Neil Brewer – Bass Guitar
- Cedric Sharpley – Drums, Percussion
- Dane – Guitars, Vocals
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – Keyboards
- Bob Harris – Producer
- George Nicholson – Engineer
- Adrian Sadgrove – Artwork
Fluid Druid (1976)
Fluid Druid | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Druid | ||||
Released | May 1976 | |||
Recorded | Advision Studios, London, England | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock | |||
Length | 39:32 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer | Druid, Paul "Rockette" Hardiman | |||
Druid chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [8] |
Sputnikmusic | 3.6[9] |
- Side one
- "Razor Truth" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:42
- "Painters Clouds" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:00
- "FM 145" (McCrorie-Shand) – 2:08
- "Crusade" (McCrorie-Shand/Brewer) – 7:48
- Side two
- "Nothing but Morning" (Dane/Brewer) – 4:09
- "Barnaby" (Dane) – 3:12
- "Kestrel" (McCrorie-Shand) – 3:35
- "Left to Find" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane/Brewer) – 7:12
- "The Fisherman's Friend" (McCrorie-Shand) – 0:46
- Personnel
- Neil Brewer – Bass Guitar
- Cedric Sharpley – Drums, Percussion
- Dane – Guitars, Vocals
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – Keyboards
- Druid, Paul "Rockette" Harman – Producer
- Ken "Superstar" Thomas – Assistant Engineer
- The Cream Group – Artwork
Singles
- Barnaby/Kestrel/Nothing But Morning (1976, EMI)
Compilations
- Toward the Sun / Fluid Druid (1995, BGO Records)
References
- ^ Paul Du Noyer: Deaf School: The Non-stop Pop Art Punk Rock Party, p. 50 (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2013 - accessed 30 May 2016
- ^ Steve Dinsdale (18 April 2014). Druid OGWT 7th October 1975. Retrieved 19 October 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Druid". Discogs. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "The Never Never Band". 19 October 2024.
- ^ Cedric Sharpley: Drummer Who Played With Tubeway Army. The Independent (UK) 23 March 2012 - accessed 30 May 2016
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Sputnikmusic reviews
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Sputnikmusic reviews