Catapilla

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Catapilla
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genre(s)	Progressive Rock Jazz
Label(s)	Vertigo
Former members
Malcolm Frith (drums) Dave Taylor (bass) Graham Wilson (guitar) Joe Meek (vocals) Hugh Eaglestone (saxophone) Robert Calvert (saxophone) Thierry Rheinhart (woodwind) Anna Meek (vocals) Bryan Hanson (drums) Ralph Rawlinson (keyboards) Carl Wassard (bass)

Catapilla was an english progressive rock band and was active since late 60's till the first half of 70's. Lead members were vocalist Anna Meek and saxophonist Robert Calvert. It created very innovative music in the early '70, but disbanded shortly after release of their second album. Yet, group had a great influence on music of that time.

[edit] History

Catapilla was gathered in the lately 60's in the west London, with early members Malcolm Frith on drums, Dave Taylor on bass, Graham Wilson playing guitar and a wind section (Hugh Eaglestone, Robert Calvert, Thierry Rheinhart). Joe Meek (singer) was the first lead vocalist.

Black Sabbath manager Patrick Meehan produced band's first album, recorded with Anna Meek. Cover of Catapilla reminds Beatles' apple, but being eat by caterpillar. That resembles the idea of destroying the utopic perfection of british psychedelia and opposing self to mainstream psychedelic and progressive rock of that time.

After the record group took a tour, and Eaglestone, Frith, Rheinhard and Taylor were substituted by Bryan Hanson (drums), Ralph Rawlinson (keyboards) and Carl Wassard (bass). With this new line-up band recorded their second album, Changes. That album is supposed to be group's great achievement, and it's got a great influence on other musicians of that time, though it hadn't got much popularity. Soon after the record Catapilla had disbanded.