Druid (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Druid was an English progressive rock group from the 1970s that first came into the spotlight after winning the Melody Maker Rock and Folk talent competition in 1974. They produced two albums with EMI: Toward the Sun (1975) and Fluid Druid (1976). On 7 October 1975, the band showcased the songs "Voices" and "Theme" from Toward the Sun on the television program The Old Grey Whistle Test. Their musical style drew significant inspiration from Yes and Genesis.
Following their split in 1977, which also resulted in the cancellation of their third album titled Newfoundland, members Neil Brewer and Dane Stevens established The Never Never Band, adopting a post-punk musical direction. This ensemble disbanded in 1981, subsequently leading to two brief ventures: The Vetos and Splash.
Drummer Cedric Sharpley, who later collaborated with Gary Numan in Dramatis and Tubeway Army, passed away due to a heart attack on 13 March 2012. Keyboardist Andrew McCrorie-Shand moved into composing for Ragdoll Productions, contributing notably to television programs such as Rosie and Jim. Meanwhile, bassist Neil Brewer took on the role of the show's final host between 1997 and 2000.
Line-up
- Cedric Sharpley – drums (original member; deceased 2012)
- Neil Brewer – bass guitar (original member)
- Dane Stevens – vocals, guitar (original member)
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards (joined in 1974)
- Pete Griffiths – keyboards (1971–1973)
Toward the Sun (1975)
- Side one
- "Voices" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane) – 8:13
- "Remembering" (Brewer/Dane) – 5:24
- "Theme" (Brewer/Dane/McCrorie-Shand/Sharpley) – 5:24
- "Toward the Sun" (Dane) – 5:03
- Side two
- "Red Carpet for an Autumn" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 3:10
- "Dawn of Evening" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 10:02
- "Shangri-La" (Brewer/Dane) – 10:11
- Personnel
- Neil Brewer – bass guitar
- Cedric Sharpley – drums and percussion
- Dane Stevens – guitars and vocals
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards
- Bob Harris – producer
- George Nicholson – engineer
- Adrian Sadgrove – artwork
Fluid Druid (1976)
- Side one
- "Razor Truth" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:42
- "Painters Clouds" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:00
- "FM 145" (McCrorie-Shand) – 2:08
- "Crusade" (McCrorie-Shand/Brewer) – 7:48
- Side two
- "Nothing but Morning" (Dane/Brewer) – 4:09
- "Barnaby" (Dane) – 3:12
- "Kestrel" (McCrorie-Shand) – 3:35
- "Left to Find" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane/Brewer) – 7:12
- "The Fisherman's Friend" (McCrorie-Shand) – 0:46
- Personnel
- Neil Brewer – bass guitar
- Cedric Sharpley – drums and percussion
- Dane Stevens – guitars and vocals
- Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards
- Druid, Paul "Rockette" Hardiman – producers
- Ken "Superstar" Thomas – assistant engineer
- The Cream Group – artwork
Singles
- Barnaby / Kestrel / Nothing But Morning (EMI, 1976)
Compilation Albums
- Toward the Sun / Fluid Druid (BGO Records, 1995)