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Druid (band)

Druid
OriginBerkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England
GenresProgressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock
Years active1971–1977
LabelsEMI, BGO Records
Past members

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
Studio album by
Druid
ReleasedJune 1975
RecordedMorgan Studios, London, England
GenreProgressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock
Length47:27
LabelEMI
ProducerBob Harris
Druid chronology
Toward the Sun
(1975)
Fluid Druid
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Sputnikmusic3.7[7]
Side one
  1. "Voices" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane) – 8:13
  2. "Remembering" (Brewer/Dane) – 5:24
  3. "Theme" (Brewer/Dane/McCrorie-Shand/Sharpley) – 5:24
  4. "Toward the Sun" (Dane) – 5:03
Side two
  1. "Red Carpet for an Autumn" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 3:10
  2. "Dawn of Evening" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 10:02
  3. "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
ReleasedMay 1976
RecordedAdvision Studios, London, England
GenreProgressive rock, symphonic rock, art rock
Length39:32
LabelEMI
ProducerDruid, Paul "Rockette" Hardiman
Druid chronology
Toward the Sun
(1975)
Fluid Druid
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]
Sputnikmusic3.6[9]
Side one
  1. "Razor Truth" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:42
  2. "Painters Clouds" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:00
  3. "FM 145" (McCrorie-Shand) – 2:08
  4. "Crusade" (McCrorie-Shand/Brewer) – 7:48
Side two
  1. "Nothing but Morning" (Dane/Brewer) – 4:09
  2. "Barnaby" (Dane) – 3:12
  3. "Kestrel" (McCrorie-Shand) – 3:35
  4. "Left to Find" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane/Brewer) – 7:12
  5. "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