Peter Bardens
| Peter Bardens | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 19th, 1945 |
| Origin | Westminster, Central London, England |
| Died | January 22nd, 2002 (age 56) Malibu, California |
| Genres | Progressive rock, New Age Music, Rhythm and Blues, Soul |
| Occupations | Keyboardist, Pianist, Songwriter, |
| Instruments | Organ, Piano, Keyboard, Synthesizer Mellotron |
| Years active | 1965–2002 |
| Associated acts | Camel, Them, Mirage, Van Morrison, Keats, Rod Stewart, Peter Green, Bobby Tench, Shotgun Express,Peter B's Looners,The Village,The Cheynes |
Peter Bardens (19 June 1945 in Westminster, London - 22 January 2002) was a keyboardist and a founding member of the British progressive rock group Camel. He played organ, piano, synthesizers and mellotron and wrote songs with Andrew Latimer. Bardens worked alongside Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Van Morrison and recorded solo albums.
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[edit] Career
In 1965 he spent a brief spell as the keyboard player with Them after leaving The Cheynes.[1] He moved on and formed Peter B’s Looners who eventually morphed into Shotgun Express, a band who played soul music and featured Rod Stewart, Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood.[2]
In 1970 he formed The Village and recorded The Answer (1970), an album featured Peter Green and Andy Gee. Bardens recorded an eponymous album in 1971 which was released in United States as Write My Name in the Dust before forming Camel in 1972.[2] During this period Bardens began exploring electronica and released albums such as Heart to Heart (1972). He left Camel in 1978 to join Them band-mate Van Morrison's band, recorded Wavelength (1978) and appeared on the album's promotional tour.
He co-wrote "Looking For A Good Time" which was co-written with Bobby Tench, which featured as the B side of the single "Chain Gang" (1982), which Tench had recorded as a tribute to Sam Cooke. In 1984 he became a member of Keats. Bardens released a number of solo electronic albums including Seen One Earth(1987), which found success in the United States.[2] His first single from this album was entitled "In Dreams" and enjoyed heavy airplay on FM album rock stations in the U.S. and Australia, most notably Brisbane's FM104, the most popular radio station in the Country at the time . In 1988 he followed this with Speed of Light (1988),[2] which featured Mick Fleetwood. "Gold" was released in the U.S. as a single, also enjoying some success on MTV.
Bardens released Water colours(1991)[2] and formed Pete Bardens' Mirage in 1994. This album featured his former Camel bandmate Andy Ward and Caravan's David Sinclair.[2] His last concert, subsequent to being diagnosed with a brain tumour, was in Los Angeles in the summer of 2001. Other performers who joined him at his concert included, John Mayall, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Sheila E and Ben Harper. Bardens died from lung cancer in Malibu January 2002, at the age of 56.[1] A double CD Write My Name in the Dust was released after his death and covered tracks recorded throughout his career.[2] He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, CA
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Salewicz, Chris (2002-01-31). "Peter Bardens Obituary". independent.co.uk. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-bardens-729711.html. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Peter Bardens short biog". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p54193. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
[edit] Records
- 1970 - The Answer
Peter Bardens: Organ, Piano, Vocals Andy Gee: Guitar Bruce Thomas: Bass (Courtesy of Head Records) Reg Isadore: Drums Rocky: Congas Alan Marshall: Vocals & Percussion Davis Wooley: Vocals & Antiques Linda Lewis: Vocals Steve Ellis: Vocals (Courtesy of CBC Records)
Recorded at Sounds Techniques, London Engineer: Gerry Boys Produced By: Peter Berdens Production Co-ordinator: John Whitehead Photography by Keits Morris Sleeve Design by Rainbow Birds by Annie Walker Mastering by George Peckham
- 1971 - Write My Name in the Dust
- 1973 - Camel (with Camel)
- 1974 - Mirage (with Camel)
- 1975 - The Snow Goose (with Camel)
- 1976 - Moonmadness (with Camel)
- 1976 - Vintage 69 (reissue of The Answer)
- 1977 - Rain Dances (with Camel)
- 1977 - A Live Record (with Camel)
- 1978 - Breathless (with Camel)
- 1978 - Wavelength (with Van Morrison)
- 1979 - Heart to Heart
- 1984 - Keats (with Keats)
- 1987 - Seen One Earth
- 1988 - Speed of Light
- 1989 - Pete Bardens (reissue of Write My Name in the Dust)
- 1989 - White Magic Soundtrack (to film by Warren Miller)
- 1991 - Water Colors
- 1993 - Further Than You Know
- 1995 - Big Sky
- 1995 - Mirage: Live 14.12.94
- 2000 - Speed of Light: Live (as Pete Bardens' Mirage)
- 2002 - The Art of Levitation
- 2002 - Live: Germany 1996
- 2005 - Write My Name in the Dust: Anthology
- 2008 - Wavelength with Van Morrison re-mastered + bonus tracks from promo album Live at the Roxy
[edit] Samples
- Sample of "No Jazz" (mp3) by Pete Bardens, from his final album, Art of Levitation.
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