Camel  

Formed: London, England . . . 1972 by R&B veteran PETE BARDENS, plus ex-backing band of PHILIP GOODHAND-TAIT; DOUG FERGUSON, ANDY WARD and ANDY LATIMER. Their first recording, 'GOD OF LIGHT REVISITED - PARTS ONE, TWO, THREE', featured on one side of a various double album, 'Greasy Truckers - Live At Dingwalls'. The following year, they issued their eponymous debut on 'M.C.A.', before moving to 'Deram' for the follow-up, 'MIRAGE' (1974). CAMEL really came into their own with their conceptual interpretation of Paul Gallico's 'THE SNOW 
GOOSE'. A Top 30 breakthrough, it was dominated by excellent instrumental pieces which perfectly translated Gallico's children's story into a prog-rock framework. However, Gallico served a writ against the group for copyright infringement. Unbowed, CAMEL came up with yet another successful album, 'MOONMADNESS', this time utilising vocals which took them a stage further
in their musical development. Another Top 20 album followed in 1977, 'RAIN DANCES', a softer, more conventional affair, as was the 1978 studio follow-up, 'BREATHLESS'. Although they retained a loyal fan-base within the college fraternity, the onset of more hip sounds (i.e. punk & new wave) effectively swept them under the carpet. They disbanded in '84, but re-formed seven years later. Their comeback album, 'DUST AND DREAMS' (1992), was inspired by John Steinbeck's book, 'The Grapes Of Wrath', while camel's (virtually down to friends of LATIMER and COLIN BASS - a member since '79) 1996 effort, 'HARBOUR OF KINGS', was Irish folk inspired.