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Soft Machine

From Alfawiki
Soft Machine
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1966 in Canterbury, Kent, England
FounderMike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, Larry Nowlin
Headquarters
Canterbury
,
England
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Fred Thelonious Baker, Asaf Sirkis
ProductsAlbums, live performances

Soft Machine is a rock group from Canterbury, Kent, England, established in 1966 by Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, and Larry Nowlin. As a cornerstone of the Canterbury scene, they were among the earliest British bands to explore psychedelic rock and later became prominent figures in progressive and jazz rock genres. Over the years, the band’s roster has featured distinguished artists including Andy Summers, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, Roy Babbington, and Allan Holdsworth. By 2025, the ensemble consists of John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Fred Thelonious Baker, and Asaf Sirkis. Their name was inspired by William S. Burroughs' novel The Soft Machine.

Emerging from The Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine initially embraced psychedelic rock, launching their debut album titled Soft Machine in 1968. Their sophomore effort Volume Two (1969) displayed a progression towards progressive and jazz rock styles, which became fully developed in Third (1970) and Fourth (1971). By 1971, the band had adopted an exclusively instrumental jazz rock approach that continued throughout subsequent releases: Fifth (1972), Six and Seven (both 1973), Bundles (1975), Softs (1976), and Alive & Well (1978).

Although Soft Machine disbanded in 1978, they briefly regrouped in the 1980s to produce the album Land of Cockayne (1981) and performed live shows in 1984. The formation of Soft Machine Legacy in 2004 led to three studio albums: their self-titled debut (2006), Steam (2007), and Burden of Proof (2013). Removing "Legacy" from their name in 2015, they issued Hidden Details (2018) and Other Doors (2023). Despite limited commercial achievements, Soft Machine is widely recognized for its profound influence on the evolution of rock music.

Formation and early recordings: The Soft Machine era (1966–1968)

In mid-1966, Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Robert Wyatt (drums and vocals), Kevin Ayers (bass and vocals), Daevid Allen (guitar), and Larry Nowlin (guitar) came together to form Soft Machine, initially known as The Soft Machine until around 1969 or 1970. Allen and Wyatt had collaborated since 1963 in the Daevid Allen Trio with occasional contributions from Ratledge. Wyatt and Ayers, both formerly part of The Wilde Flowers, reunited with Allen in 1966 to create Mister Head alongside Nowlin before establishing Soft Machine. The band’s name was chosen by Ayers after William S. Burroughs's 1961 novel The Soft Machine. Following Nowlin’s departure in September 1966, the group continued as a four-piece.

By late 1966 into early 1967, Soft Machine had become a significant presence within the UK underground music scene, sharing stages with Pink Floyd at venues such as the UFO Club, Speakeasy, and Middle Earth. To mitigate adverse reactions outside these clubs, they favored extended compositions with seamless transitions to sustain audience interest. Their initial single "Love Makes Sweet Music" was released under Polydor Records in February 1967.

In April of that year, the band recorded nine demo tracks with producer Giorgio Gomelsky at De Lane Lea Studios; however, due to disagreements over expenses, these recordings remained unreleased until Polydor issued them as Jet Propelled Photographs in 1972. Touring extensively across continental Europe—particularly France—helped increase their following. After Allen was refused re-entry into the UK in August 1967, Soft Machine proceeded as a trio while he stayed in Paris to establish Gong.

Under joint management with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Soft Machine supported Hendrix during two North American tours in 1968. During this period they signed with Probe Records and recorded their debut album in New York City; it was released that December. London guitarist Andy Summers, who would later join the Police, briefly joined but was dismissed prior to Hendrix’s tour at Ayers' request. Following their final performance of 1968 at the Hollywood Bowl, Ayers departed amicably; Wyatt remained stateside to work on solo demos while Ratledge returned to London to focus on composition.

Shift toward jazz fusion; Volume Two, Third, and Fourth (1969–1971)

In December 1968, to meet contractual requirements, Wyatt and Ratledge reassembled Soft Machine, bringing in former road manager Hugh Hopper as bassist, replacing Ayers. Like Ayers and Wyatt, Hopper was an original member of The Wilde Flowers. The band recorded their second album, Volume Two, in 1969, which signaled a move toward jazz fusion. After fulfilling their contract with Probe, they signed with CBS Records by early 1970. In May 1969, Soft Machine anonymously provided backing instrumentation on two tracks of Syd Barrett’s debut solo album, The Madcap Laughs. Soon after, Brian Hopper—Hugh’s brother and also a Wilde Flowers co-founder—joined the group on saxophone. Additionally, they composed the soundtrack for the multimedia production Spaced, which ran in London for five days during mid-1969; this soundtrack saw a commercial release in 1996 through Cuneiform Records.

By October 1969, following Brian Hopper’s exit, Soft Machine expanded into a seven-piece ensemble: Wyatt, Ratledge, and Hugh Hopper were joined by a four-member horn section comprising saxophonists Elton Dean and Lyn Dobson, cornetist Mark Charig, and trombonist Nick Evans. Charig and Evans departed after two months.

The band continued as a quintet until March 1970 when Dobson left. The remaining four-piece recorded the double album Third (1970) and its successor single album Fourth (1971). Except for Wyatt’s "Moon in June," which was the last Soft Machine track featuring vocals, Third is predominantly instrumental. Each side of the double album contains one suite. Third became their best-selling record. Starting with Fourth, Soft Machine adopted a fully instrumental approach both in studio recordings and live performances after Wyatt’s departure shortly after its release. During this era, they achieved significant recognition across Europe and became the first rock group invited to perform at London's prestigious Proms concert in August 1970; this performance was broadcast live on national television in the UK.

From Fifth through Softs to dissolution (1972–1978)

Creative tensions led to Wyatt’s dismissal in August 1971; he subsequently founded Matching Mole. Australian drummer Phil Howard briefly replaced him, touring Europe and beginning work on Fifth. Howard was let go early in 1972 due to ongoing conflicts; his successor, John Stanley Marshall, completed the album. Released that year, Fifth features Howard on side one and Marshall on side two. Later in 1972, Dean left and was succeeded by Karl Jenkins, who contributed both keyboards and saxophone. Both Marshall and Jenkins had previously been part of Ian Carr’s Nucleus. The next double album, Six, combining live and studio tracks, was released in early 1973.

Following Six, Hopper departed and was replaced by Roy Babbington, another alumnus of Nucleus. Jenkins increasingly assumed the role of bandleader and principal composer. After releasing Seven in late 1973, Soft Machine transitioned from CBS to Harvest Records, an EMI subsidiary. At the end of 1973, former Nucleus guitarist Allan Holdsworth joined, becoming their first guitarist since Andy Summers left in 1968. Holdsworth appeared on Bundles (1975) before departing early that year. His replacement was John Etheridge, who arrived alongside saxophonist Alan Wakeman, cousin of Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, in early 1976. The album Softs (1976) marked the first release without Ratledge—the last original member—who exited in March 1976.

The late 1970s lineups featured saxophonist Ray Warleigh, violinist Ric Sanders, as well as bassists Percy Jones from Brand X and Steve Cook. In 1977, they recorded the live album Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris, released early in 1978. Soft Machine performed only once more that year at Dortmund’s Sound & Musik Festival on December 8 with Marshall, Jenkins, Cook, and Holdsworth. Shortly thereafter, the band disbanded.

Sporadic reunions (1980–81; 1984)

The Soft Machine moniker was brought back for the 1981 release Land of Cockayne. In mid-1984, the band briefly came together for a series of performances at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, featuring John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, Ray Warleigh, John Etheridge, bassist Paul Carmichael, and pianist Dave MacRae.

Soft Heap / Soft Head (1978–88)

In January 1978, Soft Heap was established by former Soft Machine members Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean, joined by Alan Gowen and Pip Pyle from National Health. The group's name is an acronym derived from their first names. During early 1978 tours, they performed as Soft Head, with Dave Sheen substituting for Pyle due to his commitments with National Health. The live album Rogue Element was recorded during this tour and released later that year.

The initial Soft Heap lineup reunited in October 1978 to record their self-titled studio album, which came out in 1979. Following two personnel changes between 1979 and 1981, the band toured intermittently throughout the 1980s, completing four European tours with a total of 25 concerts, culminating on 11 May 1988 at the "Jazz sous les pommiers" festival in Coutances, France.

Soft Ware (1999), Soft Works (2002–04), Soft Mountain (2003), and Soft Bounds (2004)

Formed in September 1999, Soft Ware consisted of Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, John Marshall, and Keith Tippett. This brief ensemble performed only once at the (Augustusburg Hunting Lodge, Germany). In 2002, with Tippett unavailable, guitarist Allan Holdsworth joined the other members who rebranded themselves as Soft Works to avoid confusion with Peter Mergener's Software project. Soft Works made their live debut on 17 August 2002 at the Progman Cometh Festival in Seattle; a live album followed in July 2003. Their sole studio album, Abracadabra, featuring newly composed material recorded in London in June 2002, was supported by tours in Japan (August 2003), Italy (early 2004), and Mexico (March 2004).

During the August 2003 tour in Japan, Elton Dean and Hugh Hopper collaborated with Japanese musicians Hoppy Kamiyama on keyboards and Yoshida Tatsuya of Ruins on drums to form Soft Mountain. The band's name references Kamiyama’s nickname meaning "God Mountain." They improvised two extended sessions that were recorded in Tokyo. In 2007, a year after Dean's passing, these recordings were released as a self-titled album highlighting these improvisations.

In June 2004, Dean and Hopper created Soft Bounds alongside keyboardist Sophia Domancich and drummer Simon Goubert; their appearance at Paris’s Festival "Les Tritonales" was partially issued as Live at Le Triton in 2005.

Soft Machine Legacy (2004–15)

In October 2004, members of Soft Works reunited with John Etheridge replacing Holdsworth and adopted the name "Soft Machine Legacy," performing two festival appearances in Turkey and the Czech Republic. Due to ligament problems, Liam Genockey temporarily substituted for John Marshall. This lineup featured Elton Dean, John Etheridge, Hugh Hopper, and Liam Genockey. Soft Machine Legacy produced three albums: Live in Zaandam (2005), the studio album Soft Machine Legacy (2006) containing new compositions, and Live at the New Morning (2006). After Elton Dean passed away in February 2006, British saxophonist and flautist Theo Travis joined the group.

In December 2006, this ensemble recorded Steam at Jon Hiseman's studio; it was released by Moonjune Records in August 2007 ahead of a European tour. Hopper departed in 2008 due to leukemia; Fred Thelonious Baker filled in for live performances. Following Hopper's death in 2009, Roy Babbington returned as bassist.

Their fifth album, Live Adventures, came out in October 2010 and was captured during a European tour in 2009. Founding Soft Machine bassist Kevin Ayers died in February 2013 at age 68, followed by Daevid Allen’s death in March 2015 after a short illness with cancer. On 18 March 2013, Soft Machine Legacy released the studio album Burden of Proof. Theo Travis remarked that although legally they could use the name Soft Machine, they preferred to maintain a degree of separation by remaining "one step removed."

Reformation and the Release of Hidden Details (2015–2018)

Towards the end of 2015, the ensemble previously known as Soft Machine Legacy—comprising drummer John Marshall, guitarist John Etheridge, bassist Roy Babbington, and saxophonist/keyboardist Theo Travis—began performing under the original name Soft Machine once again. Between December 2015 and April 2016, they appeared in concerts across the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. In December 2015, the group officially removed "Legacy" from their title, reinstating the Soft Machine identity for the first time since 1984.

Allan Holdsworth, who had been a guitarist with Soft Machine in earlier years, died in April 2017 at age 70. On 7 September 2018, Soft Machine unveiled Hidden Details through Dyad Records in the UK and Tonefloat Records in the US. This album marked their first studio release since 1981's Land of Cockayne. To commemorate their 50th anniversary and promote the album, they embarked on an international tour spanning late 2018 to February 2019. This included several European and North American legs—the latter representing their first tour across North America since 1974—and culminated in a residency performance at the Cruise to the Edge festival in early 2019.

Continued Touring and Other Doors (2019–Present)

On 20 March 2020, Soft Machine issued Live at The Baked Potato, their first original live recording since 1978’s Alive & Well. Captured on 1 February 2019 at The Baked Potato venue in Los Angeles, this album was initially released as a limited double vinyl LP with only 200 copies but was subsequently made available on CD. The recording documents their extensive world tour during 2018–2019. On 7 December 2021, the band announced that Roy Babbington had retired and was succeeded by Fred Thelonious Baker.

In June 2023, Soft Machine released their studio album Other Doors, which was recorded with John Marshall prior to his retirement; Marshall passed away on 16 September 2023. As of now, the lineup consists of John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Fred Thelonious Baker, and drummer Asaf Sirkis. They conducted a seven-date UK tour from February through May 2023 and resumed touring activities in November 2023 with plans extending into November 2024.

Co-founder Mike Ratledge passed away on 5 February 2025. Starting on 4 March 2025 in Manchester, Soft Machine launched an eight-date UK Spring tour concluding in London, celebrating John Etheridge’s five decades with the band. A subsequent ten-date European Spring tour took place from May onwards, visiting countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following a special tribute concert for Ratledge held in London on 1 September 2025, Soft Machine will commence an eight-date UK Fall tour beginning on 2 November in Cardiff and ending on 30 November in Southampton alongside Colosseum. Additional UK performances are scheduled for Market Harborough, Barnard Castle, Hull, Bristol, and various London venues. Furthermore, a concert is planned for 9 April 2026 in Kinross.

Musical style

Soft Machine’s sound encompasses a diverse mix of progressive rock, experimental rock, jazz rock, jazz, proto-prog, psychedelic rock, and art rock. They hold a significant role within the Canterbury scene of progressive music. Hugh Hopper observed that the band deliberately steered clear of conventional jazz rock patterns to cultivate a unique sonic identity that notably excluded guitar instrumentation at times.

Present lineup

Past members

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, organ, synthesizers, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Daevid Allen – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals

Larry Nowlin – guitar, backing vocals

Steve Cook – bass guitar

John Perry – vocals

Studio albums

Soft Machine Legacy studio releases

Soft Works studio album

  • Abracadabra (2003)

Filmography

Further reading

  • Bennett, Graham. Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous; London: SAF Publishing; 2005; ; Revised edition: 2014;

External links

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