East of Eden (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 in Bristol, England |
| Founder | Dave Arbus, Ron Caines, Geoff Nicholson, Mike Price, Stuart Rossiter |
| Defunct | 1978 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded (multiple reformations and disbandments until 2011) |
| Headquarters | Bristol , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe |
Key people | Dave Arbus, Ron Caines, Geoff Nicholson, Al Read, Joe O'Donnell, Jeff Allen |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | Various band members over time |
East of Eden was a British progressive rock ensemble that secured a UK Top 10 single with "Jig-a-Jig" in 1970. This particular track diverged stylistically from their usual output. Although occasionally labeled as symphonic progressive rock, their sound predominantly incorporated elements of jazz.
History
The band originated in 1967 in Bristol under the name Picture of Dorian Gray. The founding members were Dave Arbus (violin, flute, saxophone, trumpet), Ron Caines (alto saxophone), Geoff Nicholson (guitar, vocals), Mike Price (bass), and Stuart Rossiter (drums). In 1968, Price left and was succeeded by Terry Brace; additionally, Al Read joined as vocalist and guitarist. This lineup produced the rare single "King Of Siam" and featured in the movie Laughter in the Dark.
By late 1968, both Brace and Read had departed. Nicholson assumed lead vocal duties with occasional contributions from Caines. Steve York replaced Brace on bass, while Dave Dufort took over drumming responsibilities from Rossiter. The group then moved to London and signed a contract with Deram Records. After Dufort's early 1969 exit, Bryan Appleyard briefly filled the drummer position before Geoff Britton became permanent. Andy Sneddon succeeded York on bass.
In 1969, they released Mercator Projected, featuring Arbus, Caines, Nicholson, York, and Dufort. This was followed by Snafu in 1970, which included Nicholson, Britton, Arbus, Caines, and Sneddon; as well as the Europe-exclusive compilation Jig-a-Jig in 1971. Snafu reached the UK Top 30 charts, while the single "Ramadhan" climbed to number two in France. After parting ways with Deram Records, the label issued "Jig-a-Jig" as a single that unexpectedly became a Top-10 hit.
Following the departures of Caines and Nicholson in 1970, the band continued as a four-piece consisting of Arbus, Davy Jack, Jeff Allen, and Jim Roche. During this time, Harvest Records released the albums East Of Eden and New Leaf. Arbus exited in 1972 and was replaced by Joe O'Donnell. Throughout the mid-1970s, East of Eden concentrated on recording for European audiences and engaged in extensive touring.
Nicholson’s exit in May 1970 led to additional lineup shifts until the group disbanded in 1978. Significant later members included vocalists Al Read and Martin Fisher; bassists Terry Brace, Andy Sneddon, and Davy Jack; drummer Jeff Allen; violinist Joe O'Donnell; and guitarist Garth Watt-Roy.
The original core trio—Arbus, Caines, and Nicholson—reunited in 1996 to produce Kalipse (1997), which developed a devoted following akin to their earlier releases.
Notably, Arbus performed the violin solo on The Who's "Baba O'Riley" and maintained close ties with drummer Keith Moon before joining Fiddler's Dram.
Personnel
| Late 1967 – Early 1968 | Early 1968 – July 1968 | July 1968 – September 1968 | September 1968 – March 1969 |
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| March 1969 - July 1969 | July 1969 – February 1970 | February 1970 – July 1970 | July 1970 – August 1971 |
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| August 1971 - April 1972 | April 1972 – February 1973 | February 1973 – 1975 | 1975 |
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| 1975-1976 | 1976-1978 | 1997-2005 | September 2011 |
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Discography
Studio and Compilation Albums
- Mercator Projected (Deram, April 1969)
- Snafu (Deram, February 1970)
- Jig-a-Jig (Deram, 1971; compilation released exclusively in Europe)
- East of Eden (Harvest, June 1971)
- New Leaf (Harvest, November 1971)
- Another Eden (Harvest, 1975; European-exclusive release)
- Here We Go Again (EMI, 1976; available only in Europe)
- It's the Climate (EMI, 1977; European-only release)
- Silver Park (EMI, 1978; released solely in Europe)
- Kalipse (Transatlantic, 1997)
- Armadillo (Blueprint/Voiceprint, 2001)
- Graffito (Eclectic, 2005)
See also
External links
- Rock music groups from Bristol
- English progressive rock groups
- English experimental rock groups
- Avant-prog groups
- English jazz fusion ensembles
- Deram Records artists
- Harvest Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1967
- Musical groups disbanded in 1978
- Musical groups reformed in 1992
- Musical groups disbanded in 2005
- Musical groups reformed in 2011
- Musical groups disbanded in 2011
- 1967 establishments in England
- 1978 disestablishments in England
- 2005 disestablishments in England
- 2011 disestablishments in England
- Musical groups disestablished in 1978