Egg (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 1968 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Progressive rock music |
Egg was a progressive rock group from England that formed in July 1968.[1] Renowned for their avant-garde approach to music, they released three studio albums before disbanding in 1974.[2]
Career
The band was originally composed of Dave Stewart on organ, Mont Campbell handling bass and vocals, and drummer Clive Brooks.[1] This trio emerged from the group Uriel after guitarist Steve Hillage left in 1968.[1] Acting on managerial advice, they adopted the new name Egg and secured a contract with Deram, the progressive division of Decca Records. Their self-titled debut album was released in March 1970.[1] Although it did not achieve commercial success, the positive critical response enabled funding for a second album. Initially withheld by Deram, the follow-up was eventually released as The Polite Force in February 1971 thanks to producer Neil Slaven's intervention.[1] Under the management of The Groundhogs, Egg increased their live performances but faced difficulties obtaining a new recording contract despite having material ready for a third album. This led to their breakup in July 1972.
In 1974, Stewart—then affiliated with Virgin Records through his involvement with Hatfield and the North—facilitated the recording of Egg’s previously unreleased compositions. This effort produced their final album, The Civil Surface, which featured a guest appearance by Steve Hillage.[1]
A collection of live tracks recorded between 1969 and 1972 was issued as The Metronomical Society in December 2007.
Background and song structure
Egg is frequently associated with the Canterbury scene, a progressive and psychedelic music movement, largely due to Stewart’s subsequent participation in bands like Hatfield and the North and National Health, despite no direct links to the Canterbury area itself. Their musical style merges elements of progressive rock, psychedelia, and chamber rock, foreshadowing the later Rock In Opposition movement. They were distinguished by their use of complex time signatures, exemplified by tracks such as "Seven Is A Jolly Good Time," and often infused their work with humor. Principal composer Mont Campbell acknowledged Igor Stravinsky as a significant influence, inspiring elaborate multi-movement pieces like "Symphony n°2" and "Long Piece n°3."
Arzachel
In 1969, Stewart, Campbell, and Brooks participated in the studio-based project Arzachel, aimed at exploring psychedelic rock trends. This lineup also featured Steve Hillage from their prior band Uriel. Due to contractual constraints with Decca Records, they adopted pseudonyms for this release.
A comprehensive 60-page booklet titled Copious Notes, written by Dave Stewart, Mont Campbell, and Antony Vinall, documents the history of Uriel, Egg, Arzachel, and the Ottawa Company spanning from 1968 through Egg’s final album The Civil Surface in 1974. It includes personal recollections, stories, musical commentary, lyrics, and archival photographs contributed by Terry Yetton and members of the bands.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Egg |
| 1971 | The Polite Force |
| 1974 | The Civil Surface |
| 1985 | Seven Is a Jolly Good Time (compilation) |
| 2007 | The Metronomical Society (archival live material) |
| 2015 | BBC Sessions And More 1968-1972 (archival live material) |
Singles
- "Seven Is a Jolly Good Time" / "You Are All Princes" (UK release, 29 August 1969)
Filmography
- 2015: Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales (DVD format)