Mirage (band)

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Mirage was a progressive rock offshoot from Camel in the 1990s.

The band was formed by drummer Andy Ward and keyboardist Peter Bardens, both former members of Camel, having last been together in the band in 1977. Also in the original line-up were guitarist Steve Adams (who had been working previously with Bardens) and bassist Rick Biddulph (who had been in Caravan of Dreams with Ward). Richard Sinclair, former Camel and Caravan member was originally asked to join on bass, but declined.

Camel had historical links with the band Caravan, notably in that Richard Sinclair and his cousin David Sinclair had both been in Caravan and then later Camel. The decision was taken to expand Mirage into a Camel/Caravan supergroup with the addition of David Sinclair and Jimmy Hastings (another former Caravan member, he had also guested on Camel's album Mirage). A tour was planned with Caravan lead vocalist Pye Hastings to join the band for old Caravan numbers only. Rehearsals started in November 1994 and touring continued to the end of the year, but David Sinclair, Jimmy Hastings and Pye Hastings then left. A live double album, Mirage Live 14.12.94, was released in 1995 (mainly including old Camel and Caravan numbers and several post-Camel pieces by Bardens), but plans for a studio album never materialised and the remaining quartet dissolved.

Bardens and Adams re-launched the band in the US in 1995 as Pete Bardens' Mirage. With Desha Dunnahoe (bass, keyboards, flute, vocals) and Nick D'Virgilio (drums), the band recorded a piece for a Genesis tribute album, Supper's Ready (Magna Carta Records). The band toured in late 1995 and early 1996, but with a new drummer, Dave Cohen (who had previously worked with Richard Sinclair). The band's set mixed Camel numbers and material from Bardens' solo career. Another live double album, Speed of Light - Live, was released in 1997, but again plans for a studio album never materialised and the band broke up that year. Biddulph, Dunnahoe and Cohen briefly continued under the name Hush.

[edit] Other Mirage bands

There have been several other bands by the same name. The French progressive rock band Mirage were also influenced by Camel. They released two albums, A Secret Place and Tales From the Green Sofa.

There is also a band called Mirage based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Another Mirage band comes from Jordan. They had at least two hit songs, "Tegoul Ahwak" ("You Say I Love You") and "Magdar Agulak" ("I Can't Tell You"). The band's married couple then migrated to another country because of a sex tape scandal.