- Mirage (band)
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For other uses, see Mirage (disambiguation).
Mirage were 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 (Brother of Pye Hastings and 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 U.S. 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.
Contents
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 two hit songs, "Tegoul Ahwak" ("You Say I Love You") and "Sarkha" ("A Scream").
There were also a British band called Mirage who were a medley band who, between 1987 and 1988 released a medley of other artists hits such as Alexander O'Neal, Pepsi & Shirlie, Taffy, Bananarama, Rick Astley, Krush, Two Men, a Drum Machine and a Trumpet, Bomb The Bass, Taja Sevelle, Eurythmics, Eighth Wonder, Pet Shop Boys, Aswad, Kylie Minogue, Pat and Mick, Hazell Dean, Mel & Kim, Spagna and Sabrina. They released three albums, in 1987, 1988, and 1989.[1]
There are a British band called Mirage, founded in 2005 by Cathy Williams (vocals, harmonium, tampura) (formerly of the Feminist Improvising Group with Maggie Nicols, Lindsay Cooper and others)[2] and Geoff Leigh (flutes, soprano sax, shenai, zithers). Playing together within several bands before since the 1970s (Henry Cow, Radar Favourites, Rag, Red Balune), Mirage's music is influenced by avant-garde rock and Indian ragas. As Mirage, they have released two albums (Mirage and Child's Play)[3] to date.
Two Camel tribute bands have also take the name Mirage: In 2010, a Norwegian progressive band is including Camel songs amongst a set of Yes, Jethro Tull, and King Crimson.[4]
About the same time, an Italian band has released several pieces from the Snowgoose suite.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 370. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Profile.myspace.com
- ^ Radiocittafujiko.it
- ^ Camel "Never Let Go" cover by Mirage on YouTube
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9S7g3C8WyQ
External links
Categories:- Canterbury scene
- English progressive rock groups
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