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A very special evening with Nektar Friday, September 10, 7:30pm
Nektar “Take a trip back in time – Evolution”
Determined to live life to the full, Roye Albrighton resurrects the band that made him a household name in Germany and America. That band is Nektar and a new album; “The Prodigal Son” is released by Bellaphon records. So opened a new chapter for Albrighton and also for the Nektar legacy. It is a chapter that has led to the triumphant reformation of the original line-up of this legendary band with Roye Albrighton joining once more with Mo Moore, Taff Freeman and Ron Howden, accompanied by Mick Brockett’s light show. The story of Nektar is a remarkable one. A British rock band that found stardom and success in Germany and the USA, yet failed to make the significant breakthrough in their own country. With three gold albums under their belt (“Remember the Future”, “Down to Earth” and “Recycled”), Nektar produced some of the most original work of the seventies. In virtuoso guitarist Roye Albrighton Nektar had a charismatic front man who had shared a stage with Jimi Hendrix, in Allan “Taff” Freeman a unique keyboard player, in Derek “Mo” Moore a bass playing powerhouse and in Ron Howden a fluidity rarely found in a drummer. Fifth member Mick Brockett was not a musician, but was responsible for one of the most stunning light and visual shows ever to grace the rock stage. The roots of Nektar lay in Hamburg in 1970. The band Prophecy, (featuring Freeman, Moore and Howden), were performing in the legendary Star Club. It was here that Prophecy met an extremely talented guitarist Roye Albrighton, also playing the German club circuit. Disillusioned with his own outfit, Albrighton was approached by Prophecy to join them as a guitar player. Light technician Mick Brockett (who had worked with Pink Floyd in the late sixties), had been providing visual backdrops for Prophecy in Germany and was invited to become a permanent fixture in the new band. Opting for a name change, Nektar was born. Signing to German label Bellaphon later
that year, Nektar quickly made an impact with their space rock classic
“Journey to the Centre of the Eye”. This was followed in 1972
by the conceptual album, “A Tab in the Ocean” which featured
the songs “Desolation Valley” and “King of Twilight”,
(later covered in 1984 by Iron Maiden), all of which were to become staples
of Nektar’s live show over the next few years. 1973 saw the release
of the double album “Sounds Like This”. Recorded “live”
in the recording studio, (and described by Elton John as “an extraordinary
album”), the set became the bands first release in Britain and resulted
in two appearances on “The Old Grey Whistle Test” TV show.
It was with “Remember the Future” that Nektar’s real
breakthrough came. Another concept, the album became Nektar’s first
American release and entered the Billboard album chart, attaining Gold
status without the band having ever visiting the USA. An American tour
was swiftly booked, with Nektar becoming a major concert attraction. For
1974’s “Down to Earth” the band enlisted the services
of Hawkwind poet Robert Calvert to provide humorous links between songs
for their Circus-style concept, earning another Gold disc. By now Nektar concentrated on America, undertaking a rigorous touring schedule, with the most impressive show yet staged, necessitating in the hiring of a Jumbo jet to transport the bands lighting and sound equipment. Touring took its toll, leading to the departure of Roye Albrighton in December 1976. He was replaced by American Dave Nelson, who recorded “Magic is a Child” (featuring a young Brooke Shields on the sleeve), with the band in 1977. This line-up soon disintegrated leaving
a gap of two years before Nektar regrouped with Roye Albrighton and Taff
Freeman at the helm. With musicians Carmine Rojas and David Prater the
superb “Man in the Moon” (soon to be released on CD for the
first time by Voiceprint Records) was released in Europe only, with the
band touring to great acclaim. In 1999, following a potentially fatal liver infection, guitarist and Nektar front man Roye Albrighton was given only weeks to live. At the last minute he is given the precious gift of life when a suitable liver donor is found. The situation was touch and go for a while, but thanks to the expertise of medical staff he pulls through. Determined to live life to the full, Roye Albrighton resurrects the band that made him a household name in Germany and America. That band is Nektar and a new album; “The Prodigal Son” is released by Bellaphon records. So opened a new chapter for Albrighton and also for the Nektar legacy. It is a chapter that led to the triumphant reformation of this legendary band with Roye Albrighton. In 2000, following Albrighton’s health scare, Bellaphon records approached Albrighton to record a new Nektar album. Enlisting the services of Taff Freeman and drummer Ray Hardwick, “The Prodigal Son” (Bellaphon 9729520) was recorded in a matter of weeks. A worthy successor to the previous Nektar catalogue, TPS has received five star reviews in German and American magazines and heralds a new dawn for Nektar. 2002 saw the remastering of the Nektar classic album “Remember the Future” and the release of the entire London Roundhouse Concert from 1973 with previously unreleased bonus material, and amazingly, a full reunion of Albrighton, Freeman, Moore and Howden, along with Mick Brockett’s light show for a concert at the annual NearFest event at The Patriot’s Theater, Trenton, New Jersey on June 29th with guest musician Larry Fast, and a further triumphant live show at The Town Hall in New York City in October 2002 and two US shows in late May and early June 2003. This was followed in July 2003 by the first Nektar concert in London since 1976 and two German concerts (at the Herzberg Festival and at The Centralstation in Darmstadt). These European concerts were unqualified successes. In October 2003 Nektar negotiated full rights for their back catalogue outside of Germany and have begun a full remastering campaign on their entire catalogue. April 2004 will see the release of the classic albums “Journey to the Centre of the Eye”, “A Tab in the Ocean”, and “Recycled” (all with previously unreleased bonus material). Also released that month will be a special remixed CD Boxed set of the bands entire concert at The Academy of Music in New York City recorded in August 1974 on the bands own “Dream Nebula” imprint, part of UK label Eclectic Discs. All releases will include previously unreleased bonus material and will be remastered to the highest standard from the original tapes. Also in October, original bass player Derek “Mo” Moore announced his intention to leave Nektar. Citing other commitments, unable to tour on a large scale and generously not wishing to impede a revitalised Nektar, Mo stepped aside for his replacement, fellow Rickenbacker user Randy Dembo. A fan of Nektar since the 70’s, Randy has proved a worthy successor to Mo Moore. His joining the ranks of Nektar was an amicable affair and is approved by all, including Mo Moore. |
