Illusion (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums |
Illusion was a progressive rock ensemble from the United Kingdom, established in 1977. They produced two albums, Out of the Mist (1977) and Illusion (1978), both released through Island Records, before dissolving in 1979. In 1990, a third collection titled Enchanted Caress emerged, containing demo tracks intended for a third studio album from the late 1970s.
The formation of the band was conceived as a reunion of the original members of Renaissance—notably, their second album from 1971 bore the name Illusion. However, the death of vocalist and guitarist Keith Relf occurred prior to the project's start. Consequently, the lineup featured Louis Cennamo on bass, John Hawken handling keyboards, Jim McCarty transitioning from drums to acoustic guitar and vocals alongside Jane Relf, with Eddie McNeill on drums and John Knightsbridge as lead guitarist.
In 2001, McCarty, Cennamo, Hawken, and Jane Relf reunited to create Through the Fire, a new album released under the moniker Renaissance Illusion.
Members
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – guitars
- John Hawken – keyboards
- Louis Cennamo – bass
- Eddie McNeill – drums
Out of the Mist (1977)
- Lineup
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitars
- John Hawken – piano, synthesizers, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar
- Eddie McNeil – drums, percussion
- Details
- "Face of Yesterday" is a reimagined track originally from Renaissance's 1971 album Illusion
Illusion (1978)
- Lineup
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitars
- John Hawken – piano, synthesizers, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar
- Eddie McNeil – drums, percussion
Enchanted Caress (1979)
- Lineup
- Jane Relf – vocals, percussion
- Jim McCarty – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- John Knightsbridge – electric and acoustic guitars
- John Hawken – piano, analogue synthesizers (Moog/ARP), original Mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, harpsichord
- Louis Cennamo – bass guitar (tracks 1–5 and 7–10)
- Eddie McNeil – drums and percussion (tracks 1–5 and 7–9)
- Keith Relf – vocals and acoustic guitar (track 10)
- Guest musicians
- Chas Cronk – bass (track 6)
- Tony Fernandez – drums (track 6)
- Notes
- Recorded in 1979 but issued in 1990. This release features demos for an intended third album alongside a 1976 Keith Relf demo and an instrumental by John Knightsbridge.
- "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" showcases Knightsbridge with Cronk on bass and Fernandez on drums.
- "All the Falling Angels" represents Keith Relf's final recording before his passing in May 1976.
Through the Fire (2001)
Lineup
- Jane Relf – vocals
- Jim McCarty – lead vocals, drums, percussion
- John Idan – acoustic guitar
- John Hawken – piano and keyboards
- Louis Cennamo – bass
- Ravi – percussion
- Jackie Rawe – vocals
Additional contributors:
- Mandy Bell – vocals
- Emily Burridge – cello
- Dzal Martin – acoustic guitar
- Gary Le Port – acoustic guitar
- Jonathan Digby – acoustic guitar
- Danny Relf – synthesizer programming
- Ron Korb – flute and vocals
External links
- Northern Lights Renaissance official site; features Illusion discography
- John Hawken official page
- [ Comprehensive Illusion biography, discography, reviews & credits] at AllMusic
- Complete Illusion discography & credits at Discogs
- Stream Illusion albums on Spotify