Camel | |
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 Camel performing in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Guildford,Surrey, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1971 (1971)–1984, 1991–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members | |
| Website | camelproductions |
Camel are an Englishprogressive rock band formed inGuildford, Surrey, in 1971. Led by guitaristAndrew Latimer, they have released fourteen studio albums and fourteen singles, plus numerous live albums and DVDs. Without achieving mass popularity, the band gained a cult following in the 1970s with albums such asMirage (1974) andThe Snow Goose (1975). They moved into a jazzier, more commercial direction in the early 1980s, but then went on an extended hiatus. Since 1991 the band has been independent, releasing albums on their own label.
Despite no new studio releases since 2002, the band performed on tour as recently as 2018. Their music has influenced artists includingMarillion,Opeth andSteven Wilson.[1][2][3] Music journalistMark Blake described Camel as "the great unsung heroes of 70s prog rock".[1]
The band was formed inGuildford, Surrey, in 1971 by guitaristAndrew Latimer, drummerAndy Ward, bassist Doug Ferguson and keyboardistPeter Bardens. Latimer, Ward, and Ferguson had performed in the Guildford area as a trio named Brew, and in 1971 they auditioned to be the backing band for singer-songwriterPhillip Goodhand-Tait. The three went on to appear on latter's albumI Think I'll Write a Song, released in September 1971.[4][5] After splitting with Goodhand-Tait, the trio decided that a keyboardist would expand their sound and advertised for one in theMelody Maker. Bardens responded and successfully auditioned with aHammond organ that belonged to a mutual friend of the group. The four travelled to Ireland to fulfil outstanding contractual obligations Bardens had with his previous outfit On, after which they renamed themselves Camel.[5] Their live debut with the name followed atWaltham Forest Technical College in London in December 1971, supportingWishbone Ash.[5]
The group began regular touring in January 1972, establishing themselves as a proficient live act. They soon signed with Geoff Jukes of the Buffalo Agency as their manager.[5] By August 1972, Camel signed withMCA Records and their eponymous debut albumCamel was released in early 1973. The record was not a success and the band moved to theDeram Records division ofDecca Records (UK).[6] In 1974 they released their second album, the critically acclaimedMirage, on which Latimer showed he was also adept on flute. Although failing to chart at home, it gained success in the United States, prompting a three-month tour there.[6]
Released in 1975, the instrumentalconcept albumThe Snow Goose, inspired by thePaul Gallicoshort story of the same name, was the breakthrough album that brought Camel wider attention and success. However, the album attracted a lawsuit from Gallico.[7] It is often reported that Gallico brought the suit because he "loathed smoking" and thought the band were related tothe cigarette brand.[8] In reality Gallico described himself as "an addict of the vice in all its blackest forms"[9] and his objection was simply on the grounds of copyright infringement.[8] Camel accordingly added the prefixMusic inspired by... to the album's front cover and removed the story notes from the back cover.[7] The album's success led to a prestigious appearance atRoyal Albert Hall with theLondon Symphony Orchestra in October 1975.
The band's fourth album,Moonmadness (1976), was the last to feature the original lineup.Mel Collins was added to the band on saxophone and flute for the subsequent tour. Drummer Ward was pushing for a move into jazz, which caused bassist Ferguson to quit the band in early 1977.[6][10] Ferguson formed the band Headwaiter and later became aproperty developer.[11]
Richard Sinclair (formerly ofCaravan) replaced Ferguson, and Mel Collins joined the band in an official capacity. This lineup releasedRain Dances (1977) andBreathless (1978). The latter was the last album to feature Bardens, who announced his departure before the supporting tour.[12] He was replaced by two keyboard players both recruited from Caravan:Dave Sinclair (cousin of Richard) andJan Schelhaas. The Sinclair cousins both left the band after the tour, replaced by keyboardistKit Watkins and bassistColin Bass.[6] This lineup recorded the more commercialI Can See Your House from Here (1979); the album's cover, photographed and designed byGered Mankowitz, is a manipulated photographic image of a crucified astronaut looking at Earth.
The 1981 releaseNude was a concept album based on a true story of Japanese soldierHiroo Onoda.[13]Duncan Mackay provided most of the keyboards in lieu of Watkins and Schelhaas, who were involved in other projects but returned for the tour. This was the first album to feature lyrics by Latimer's future wife Susan Hoover.[14] In mid-1981, Ward stopped playing drums due toalcohol anddrug abuse and Camel quietly disbanded.[15]
Without a band, but with a contract to fulfill and pressure from Decca for a hit song, Latimer was joined by an array of guest and session musicians atAbbey Road Studios in early 1982. The albumThe Single Factor was released later that year, reaching no. 57 in the UK.[16] Another lineup featuring keyboardistTon Scherpenzeel (of Dutch prog-rock bandKayak) and drummerPaul Burgess (ex-10cc) released the albumStationary Traveller in 1984.[17] Camel's contract with Decca expired in late 1984, while Latimer prevailed in a legal dispute with a former manager. Latimer moved to the United States and disbanded the group again.[18]
After a seven-year hiatus, Latimer revived the Camel name in 1991 and released the albumDust and Dreams under his own independent label Camel Productions. The album featured several players who had appeared on the group's two previous albums in the early 1980s.[citation needed] KeyboardistMickey Simmonds, who had previously backedMike Oldfield andFish, joined in 1992.[19]
In the meantime, Latimer and Hoover wroteHarbour of Tears (a nickname forCobh Harbour in Ireland from which many sailed to the United States during theGreat Famine) under the Camel name, which was released in 1996. In 1999 Latimer, drummer Dave Stewart, bassist Colin Bass, and keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel recordedRajaz, a record inspired by an ancient Arabicpoetic metre of the same name that reflects the rhythm of camel footsteps in the desert.[20]
In 2001, Latimer assembled another new lineup with Bass, drummer Denis Clement, and keyboardistGuy LeBlanc. The band released the albumA Nod and a Wink in 2002. The album was dedicated to former member Peter Bardens, who had died early that year,[21] The group was inactive for much of the following decade as Latimer received treatment formyelofibrosis.[22]
After Latimer's recovery, Camel returned to touring in 2013, including full performances ofThe Snow Goose.[23] A new and extended version of that album was released in November 2013. LeBlanc withdrew from touring in 2014 due to illness and died in 2015;[24] he was replaced by a returning Ton Scherpenzeel.[25]
Latimer was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award atOrange Amplification's 2014 Progressive Music Awards, and the 2013–14Snow Goose tour was nominated in the category of Live Event.[26] The band continued to tour throughout the decade, and a live DVD recorded atRoyal Albert Hall was released in early 2020.[27] Latimer continues to write new music, though the band has not released a studio album since 2002.[28]
Camel have been described as a "symphonic prog rock band".[29] Predominantly instrumental, Camel's music combines elements fromrock,pop,jazz,blues,folk,classical andelectronica. Though they are not from Canterbury, they have long been associated with theCanterbury scene due to their many historical connections withCaravan[30] and other Canterbury progressive rock musicians.[29]
Camel have been acknowledged as one of the principal influences on theneo-prog subgenre which emerged in the 1980s and producedMarillion as its most successful band.[31] Former Marillion lead singerFish said of his first impression of the band: "I thought they were a lot like Camel."[32]
Current members
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