Camel

Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in Guildford, Surrey, in 1971. Led by guitarist Andrew Latimer, they have released fourteen studio albums and fourteen singles, plus numerous live albums and DVDs. Without achieving mass popularity, the band gained a cult following in the 1970s with albums such as Mirage (1974), The Snow Goose (1975) and Moonmadness (1976). They moved into a jazzier, more commercial direction in the early 1980s, but then went on an extended hiatus. Since 1991 the band has been independent, releasing albums on their own label.Despite no new studio releases since 2002, the band are still (as of 2025) occasionally performing live. Their music has influenced artists including Marillion, Opeth and Steven Wilson. Music journalist Mark Blake described Camel as "the great unsung heroes of 70s prog rock".The band was formed in Guildford, Surrey, in 1971 by guitarist Andrew Latimer, drummer Andy Ward, bassist Doug Ferguson and keyboardist Peter Bardens. Latimer, Ward, and Ferguson had performed in the Guildford area as a trio named Brew, and in 1971 they auditioned to be the backing band for singer-songwriter Phillip Goodhand-Tait. The three went on to appear on latter's album I Think I'll Write a Song, released in September 1971. After splitting with Goodhand-Tait, the trio decided that a keyboardist would expand their sound and advertised for one in the Melody Maker. Bardens responded and successfully auditioned with a Hammond organ that belonged to a mutual friend of the group. The four travelled to Ireland to fulfil outstanding contractual obligations Bardens had with his previous outfit On, after which they renamed themselves Camel. Their live debut with the name followed at Waltham Forest Technical College in London in December 1971, supporting Wishbone Ash.The group began regular touring in January 1972, establishing themselves as a proficient live act. They soon signed with Geoff Jukes of the Buffalo Agency as their manager. By August 1972, Camel signed with MCA Records and their eponymous debut album Camel was released in early 1973. The record was not a success and the band moved to the Deram Records division of Decca Records (UK). In 1974 they released their second album, the critically acclaimed Mirage, on which Latimer showed he was also adept on flute. Although failing to chart at home, it gained success in the United States, prompting a three-month tour there.Released in 1975, the instrumental concept album The Snow Goose, inspired by the Paul Gallico short story of the same name, was the breakthrough album that brought Camel wider attention and success. However, the album attracted a lawsuit from Gallico. It is often reported that Gallico brought the suit because he "loathed smoking" and thought the band were related to the cigarette brand. In reality Gallico described himself as "an addict of the vice in all its blackest forms" and his objection was simply on the grounds of copyright infringement. Camel accordingly added the prefix Music inspired by... to the album's front cover and removed the story notes from the back cover. The album's success led to a prestigious appearance at Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra in October 1975. By the end of the year, the band were voted Britain's Brightest Hope in the annual Melody Maker readers' poll.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.