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Progressive |
Camel never achieved the mass popularity of fellow British progressive rock bands like the Alan Parsons Project, but they
cultivated a dedicated cult following. Over the course of their career, Camel experienced numerous changes, but throughout
the years, Andrew Latimer remained the leader of the band.
Formed in 1972 in Surrey, Camel originally consisted of Latimer (guitar, flute, vocals), Andy Ward (drums), Doug Ferguson
(bass), and keyboardist Peter Bardens, previously of Them. By the end of 1973, the group signed with MCA and released their
eponymous debut. In 1974, the b ...read more
Camel never achieved the mass popularity of fellow British progressive rock bands like the Alan Parsons Project, but they
cultivated a dedicated cult following. Over the course of their career, Camel experienced numerous changes, but throughout
the years, Andrew Latimer remained the leader of the band.
Formed in 1972 in Surrey, Camel originally consisted of Latimer (guitar, flute, vocals), Andy Ward (drums), Doug Ferguson
(bass), and keyboardist Peter Bardens, previously of Them. By the end of 1973, the group signed with MCA and released their
eponymous debut. In 1974, the band switched record labels, signing with Decca's Gama subsidiary, and released Mirage. In
1975, Camel released their breakthrough album The Snow Goose, which climbed into the British Top 30. The band's English
audience declined with 1976's Moonmadness, but the album was more successful in America, reaching number 118 -- the
highest chart position the band ever attained in the U.S. Following the release of Moonmadness, Ferguson left the band and
was replaced by Richard Sinclair (ex-Caravan); at the same time, the group added saxophonist Mel Collins. Latimer and
Bardens conflicted during the recording of 1977's Rain Dances and those tensions would come to a head during the making of
1978's Breathless. After Breathless was completed, Bardens left the band. Before recording their next album, Camel replaced
Bardens with two keyboardists -- Kit Watkins (Happy the Man) and Jim Schelhaas (Caravan) -- and replaced Sinclair with
Colin Bass.
By the time Camel released their 1979 album, I Can See Your House From Here, rock & roll had been changed by the
emergence of punk rock, which resulted in less press coverage for progressive rock, as well as decreased record sales. Camel
suffered from this shift in popular taste -- I Can See Your House From Here received less attention than any of the band's
releases since their debut. Latimer returned to writing concept albums with 1981's Nude. In 1982, drummer Andy Ward was
forced to leave the band after suffering a severe hand injury. Camel's 1982 album, The Single Factor, was a slicker, more
accessible affair than previous Camel records, but it failed to chart. Stationary Traveller (1984) was another concept album.
After the release of the 1984 live album, Pressure Points, Camel entered a long period of hibernation that lasted until the
early '90s. In 1985, Decca dropped Camel from its roster. Latimer wasn't able to find a new label because he was embroiled in
a difficult legal battle with Camel's former manager Geoff Jukes; Camel eventually won the lawsuit in the late '80s. Throughout
this period, Camel produced no new music. In 1988, Latimer sold his home in England and moved to California, where he
founded the independent label Camel Productions. By the time Camel recorded their follow-up to Stationary Traveller in the
early '90s, the band was, for most intents and purposes, simply Andrew Latimer and a handful of session musicians. Dust and
Dreams (1991) was the first release on Camel Productions. In 1993, PolyGram released a double-disc Camel retrospective,
Echoes. In early 1996, Camel released Harbour of Tears. « hide |
Similar Bands: Genesis, Yes, Nektar, Eloy, King Crimson
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