East of Eden (band)

East of Eden
Origin Bristol, England
Genres Progressive rock, avant-prog, experimental rock
Years active 1967 (1967)–1978, 1996
Labels Deram, Harvest
Website www.eastofedentheband.com

East of Eden was a British progressive rock band, who had a Top 10 hit in the UK with the single, "Jig-a-Jig", in 1971.[1] The track was stylistically unlike any of their other work .[2] Although some might consider this group as being a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz oriented.[2] Combining flutes, violins and tape loops to folk, gypsy and psychedelic music, the East of Eden style was always heavily supported on a pure rock base; strong and experimental.

History

Their professional career began back in 1967 when they were formed in Bristol as Pictures of Dorian Gray, by Dave Arbus (born David Arbus, 8 October 1941, Leicester) (violin, flute, saxophone, trumpet), Ron Caines (born Ronald Arthur Caines, 13 December 1939, Bristol) (alto saxophone), Geoff Nicholson (born Geoffrey Nicholson, 27 June 1948, near Bristol, Somerset) (guitar, vocals), Mike Price bass, and Stuart Rossister drums. Price left in Spring 1968 and was replaced by Terry Brace (born Terrence Brace, 28 September 1943, in Bristol, Somerset). Vocalist Al Read (born Alan G Read, 26 March 1942, Chelsea, London) at the same time. In September 1968 Brace left and was replaced by Steve York (b. 24 April 1948, London) and Rossister also left and was replaced in September 1968 by Dave Dufort (born David Dufort, in 1947, in London). In 1968 they moved to London, and the group was signed to a recording contract with Deram Records.[2] In February 1969 Dufort left and in came Bryan Appleyard, who was replaced in June 1969 by Geoff Britton (born Geoffrey Britton, 1 August 1943, Lewisham, South East London) (drums), who later joined Wings.[2] York also left in June 1969 and in came bassist Andy Sneddon (born Andrew Sneddon, 8 May 1946, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland).

In 1969 they released the Mercator Projected album, followed shortly after by Snafu (1970), and Jig-a-Jig, a European only compilation, released in 1971. Snafu reached the Top 30 in Britain of the UK Albums Chart,[1] whilst a single, "Ramadhan," reached number two in France.[2] Caines and Nicholson left the band in the 1970s for an unsuccessful stint with Harvest Records.[2] Arbus also left around this time, and was replaced by Joe O'Donnell.[2] The band continued to record and tour in Europe.[2]

In May 1970 original guitarist Nicholson left. The band broke up in 1978 having undergone various changes in membership. Important members in late line-ups included vocalist Al Read; bassist Terence 'Terry' Brace; bassist Andy Sneddon; bassist/vocalist David 'Davy' Jack (born 24 January 1940, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland), drummer Jeff Allen (born Jeffrey Allen, 23 April 1946, Matlock, Derbyshire) (from June 1970); keyboardist Martin Fisher (born in 1947, in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey); and violinist Joe O'Donnell (born Joseph O'Donnell, 26 December 1948, in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland) (from March 1973); Alan 'Al' Perkes (born 26 May 1949, in Bow, East London); guitarist Garth Watt-Roy (born Garth Philip Watt-Roy, December 1947, in Bombay, India) (from February 1972).

The three core members (Arbus, Caines and Nicholson), reunited in 1996 and their album Kalipse was released the next year. Like most of their earlier work, it was only a cult hit.

Arbus was a guest musician on The Who's track "Baba O'Riley", playing the violin solo. He was a friend of the band's drummer Keith Moon, and was also later a member of Fiddler's Dram.

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 176. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Biography by Bruce Eder". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
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