Zeus Pendragon
Birth of the band Zeus Pendragon in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
Marquee Club, London
Greg Lines booked Marillion in Gloucester. Pendragon as supporting act.
1st Recording Live Session
They recorded a live session for Tommy Vance on the Friday Rock show (BBC Radio 1 UK).
The Jewel
1st full-length album
Kowtow
2nd full-length album.
The World
Pendragon reached Nirvana: 3rd album released by Toff’s Rec., acclaimed by much critical journalists and fans.
The Window Of Life
4th studio album released by Toff’s Rec. very much influenced by Marillion, Fish era.
Fallen Dreams and Angels
EP of four tracks released by Toff’s Rec.
The Masquerade Overture
5th full-length album courtesy of Toff’s Rec.
Nick’s Divorce
Not Of This World
6th full-length album courtesy of Toff’s Rec. Their best.
Believe
7th innovative not revolutionary full-length album released by Toff’s Rec.
Pure
8th full-length album released by Toff’s Rec. A new epoch, Spring again.
Passion
9th full-length album released by Toff’s Rec. Logical sequel to Pure. The album was voted 4th best album of the year in Prog Magazine.
Men Who Climb Mountains
10th full-length album released by Toff’s Rec. Logical sequel to Pure.
Craig Blundell quits
Craig found Jan-Vincent Velazco after he was offered the Steven Wilson gig.
Nick got married again
… with Rachel, a girl in the wilds of Norfol, who was 15 in 1985, an early fan of the band.
Love Over Fear
11th full-length album released by Toff’s Rec. Pendragon is returning to its pre-Believe style.
This article is not about re-writing the biography of the U.K. neo-prog band Pendragon. No! This one has already been written by the band itself and published on their official website.
This is about music. Their music. This is about reviews. Our reviews. We don’t claim to hold the truth. We are solely responsible for our own opinion. This article is about Pendragon chronological releases.
Ready? So, let’s go!
The rise and rise
In 1982 Greg Lines booked a new band called Marillion who were apparently gaining temendous recognition with their ‘unfashionable’ progressive rock to play in Gloucester, with Pendragon as support. The two bands hit it off right away like two long lost brothers and Mick Pointer [Marillion’s drummer, now with Arena] asked if Pendragon would like to support them at the famous Marquee club in London. This was THE break Pendragon really needed.
Playing the Marquee Club was electrifying and Pendragon went on to play with Marillion on many occasions whilst building on their own strong and loyal following.
1983 saw Pendragon play in front of a 30,000 strong audience at the Reading Festival and they recorded a live session for Tommy Vance on the Friday Rock show (BBC Radio 1 UK) Tommy Vance saw something special in Pendragon and was especially impressed with the song “The Black Knight” which of course became an anthem for the band for many years.
Despite the new exposure the band had enjoyed there was still no recording contract on the horizon and difficult decisions had to be made. Barney’s contribution to the band was huge and the Barrett/Barnfield writing team was very strong, however Barney decided to call it quits, it was too big a gamble to give up his day job and so during a break in touring he made the difficult decision to leave. How on earth could Barney be replaced?
My time with Pendragon was probably the happiest time of my life
Adding: « It’s great that I still enjoy a close friendship with Nick and I love being able to still get out the guitars and play together, my favourite Pendragon album without a doubt has to be Not Of This World. Rik Carter from Southend joined the band on keyboards and soon with some help from John Arnison (Marillion’s manager) Pendragon were in the studio to record a mini album Fly High Fall Far, and later the bands first full length album The Jewel.
The Jewel (1985)
Rick Carter (keyboards)
Nigel Harris (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyboards/backing vocals)
- We like:
- Marillion’s influence is both obvious and implicit. Be cautious not to become a caricature
- The luxurious compositions
- We dislike:
- Leviathan (6:13) for its plagiarism of Marillion with Fish
There was more touring with Marillion, and Pendragon’s first European gigs at the Muziek Centrum in Holland but still no sign of a ‘big’ record contract, these were frustrating times indeed. Eventually, due to lack of cash in pockets and a grueling tour schedule more line up changes were afoot. Nigel left and was replaced for a short time by a friend of Rik’s, Matt Anderson. He didn’t last long and was then followed by Rik leaving… So Pendragon were at this point just Nick and Peter!
Fudge Smith from the band La Host joined on drums and the ‘disco/soul influenced’ session keyboard player James Colah [Nick – “he had a Mini Moog , we thought he would be good!”] was drafted in to complete the 9.15 Live album tour.
During this time Nick, Peter & Greg were making trips to and from London chasing that elusive record deal. Nick called his old friend Clive Nolan who was now living in Egham, Surrey to see if they could stay with him whilst doing the rounds of the record companies. Clive Nolan and Nick had been friends since the age of 4 when they were at school together. Although Nick was aware that Clive played keyboards he thought he would be too busy with his band The Cast and his classical projects, so hadn’t asked Clive about joining Pendragon. On one of the trips to London they sat up late one night talking and Nick asked Clive if he knew any suitable keyboard players…
I’ll do it
He said in an instant and he has remained part of the institution ever since.
The struggle
A full length album demo was eventually commissioned by David Munns [responsible for signing Joss Stone etc] at EMI Records and things were certainly looking up. However, David suddenly left EMI and the demo did not go down well with his new A+R replacement Nick Gatfield. The frustration of this was to create a “make or break” feeling amongst the band, and it was then that Toff records was formed by Nick Barrett in 1987. The EMI demo plus a couple of extra songs made up Toff’s first release, the Kowtow album.
I’ll do it for you
Kowtow (1988)
Clive Nolan (keyboards/backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (backing vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Julian Siegal (saxophone)
- We like:
- The Haunting for the full potential of what will become this wonderful band.
- We dislike:
- Pretty much anything… The mix sounds particularly awkward. Low.
- They sound sometimes like old demos of Supertramp, OMD (The Mask), Saga & Propaganda reunited (Time for a Change). No personality at all.
- Who suggested that saxophone was a good fit for their music? Not everyone can play like Dick Parry (‘Money’, ‘Us and Them’, ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’,…). Not everyone can create music like Pink Floyd.
Nick felt however that the band did not have a distinctive enough image or any real visual impact until by chance he saw a classical CD in a motorway service station with some very impressive artwork by a Welshman called Simon Williams.
1991. All the planets align…
Toff Records was up and running, the line up was stable and with some unique and individual artwork from Simon Williams the Pendragon we know today had arrived. Many fans thought that Pendragon started with The World album and were unaware there was a history prior to this record. It was in fact their third full length studio album but definitely the beginning of a new era for the band.
Pendragon reach Nirvana
The World (1991)
Clive Nolan (keyboards/backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
- We like:
- The Voyager (12:15) because it’s pure happiness. An hymn for every fan.
Cause I know where my spirit’s free
I know where my destiny takes me
I know where my spirit’s free
Into the heart of America
Into the arms of a new world
Into the heart of a new world dream, and free
And Thursday’s child has got a long, long way to go - Queen of Hearts (21:46) because 21 min. and 46 sec. of Pendragon are unquestionably not denying anything. …A Man Could Die Out Here… (the Part.2) is for example much better than the Part.1. Anyway, it’s a damn great track, epic, lush with catchy instrumental parts.
- We dislike:
- And We’ll Go Hunting Deer (7:14) for the weakness of both its composition and vocals. They really sound like they had given up everything. Out of inspiration and breathe.
The World was to be the least commercial sounding album so far, yet was the biggest seller at that point. The album was met by much critical acclaim bringing a tidal wave of new fans, even the press were beginning to realise that Pendragon were a force to be reckoned with.
The Window Of Life (1993)
Clive Nolan (keyboards/backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
- We like:
-
The Walls Of Babylon (10:50) for its intro, a tribute to two monumental pieces of music: ‘Crazy Diamond’ by Pink Floyd and ‘Watcher of the Skies’ by Genesis. Ring a bell?
Babylon’s burning in my mind
Look sideways for the very first time
Struck by lightning for my crime
Acting strange and I don’t know why -
Breaking The Spell (9:18) for its live version. Some nice DX7 synth layer (Phil Collins, Berlin, A-Ha, Mr. Mister etc) in its intro. Then, Nick’s guitars + his warm voice tone: they promise to be an intense and fun track. Truth is: it’s one of their most beautiful songs. Pendragon in all their glory. Drums, ladies & gentlemen. Pay attention to the drums. Awesome. Barrett’s solo guitar is epic in every way. A fantastic trip. 5-stars, of course.
Through the wind and the rain and the snow
I’d follow you up mountains, round the moon and the stars and back again
And I’ll always be waiting for you
And when we cast that final spell
We’ll meet in our dreams, a place that no one else can go
Don’t ever let your love die
Don’t ever go breaking the spellS-U-B-L-I-ME
- We dislike:
- Ghosts (8:02) for we have no idea where they go. We don’t understand this track: we get most of their ideas, but not as a coherent whole. Those 8:02 have not been completed.
- The Last Man on Earth (14:46) is the most Marillionesque track ever (Fish era): its complexity brings many ideas go in all directions. Just analyze the structure of chapters and see how incoherent are the four breaks in this song:
- 5:00: a pretty well led one. Elegant bass, delightful keyboards in the style of Wish You Were Here: we feel good in this atmospheric suspended moment.
- 5:17: the unfathomable one
In this dense forest of neverending darkness
- 8:06: this break, as enigmatic and painful, introduces the chapter ‘Paradise Road’. The sole interest lies in its singular resemblance to Learning Curves released 12 years later (2005)
- 10:28: announcing the anthem of the (non-indispensable) following song.
- Nostradamus (Stargazing) (6:23) for we get bored. A pretty thing to please the audience at a concert. A bundle of follies.
We live and learn
We learn to live
The power and glory
When you go stargazing
Stargazing
Goundbreaking
Dream making
Breathtaking - No comment about Am I Really Loosing You (4:51) Don’t ask! Please, don’t! Yes, you are! I dislike both sound and melody of your guitar solo, Nick.
- We don’t get the light, the playful tone used to deal with the (sad) theme of the song The Third-World in the U.K. (7:15). It started pretty well. Then comes the solo guitar… and out of the blue, let’s get started with the party.
Released in June 1993, fans will notice its funny resemblance to As Good as Gold, which will be released four years later in 1997.
Followed by The Window Of Life, the now tight knit band with their incredible sound were on a roll, and the early years of line up changes and disillusionment melted away. Toff records was still a small, home run business and the avalanche of success with the next album, The Masquerade Overture, saw the lounge of Nick’s small cottage piled high with 35,000 cds ready to be exported all over the world. The family were all drafted in to help whilst Nick was immersed in interviews and promo work, it was a beautiful chaos. The Masquerade Overture sold 60,000 copies, an incredible feat. The partnership of Pendragon and Simon Williams along with the “5th member of the band” Karl Groom engineering the superb classic Pendragon sound was to make the band one of the highest selling prog-rock bands not signed to a major label.
Fallen Dreams and Angels (1994)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
The Fallen Dreams and Angels EP presents a collection of four pleasant charming pop songs in a much less complex vein than the material on The World or The Window of Life. Pendragon fans will be aware that some editions of The Window of Life include these songs as bonus tracks.
- The Third World In The U.K. (7:16)
- Dune (4:40)
- Sister Bluebird (7:47)
- Fallen Dreams And Angels (5:23)
- We like:
- Sister Bluebird (7:47) for the instrumental part of the song (3:50).
- At the very end, when the band sings « Sister » in unison and Nick alone replies « Bluebird ». Goosebumps.
- We dislike:
- Nothing. Nothing transcendental tho.
The Masquerade Overture (1996)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Tracy Hitchings (backing vocals)
- We like:
-
As Good As Gold (7:15)
He’s trying he’s fighting all the laws of gravity
No signs of achievement no responsibility
In a world of his own
Cos the right of the world pushed him oh too far
But his Mother always said he was good as gold -
Paintbox (8:38) for its beauty everywhere. We love every second of it. A diamond in the Pendragon discography. A 5-stars song.
And paintbox you are my only hope
Of covering the faded past and starting out once more
With a fortune in new colours new hopes to inspire
I paint the path I want to take and paint a life of fire4:05 Nick Barrett has the charisma of a bleached blond viking-faced truckdriver, the build of an Irish beerdrinker, he sill captures and electrifies audiences with his wonderful guitar playing and his unwavering love for music.
- Guardian Of My Soul (12:41) for the musical journey it gives us.
-
The Shadow (9:54) for its stunning guitars and bass lines. A definitely 5-stars track. We don’t love it. We adore it.
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I’ve travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled so follow me now - Masters of Illusion (12:51) for it’s one of the most intense musical pieces of music ever created by Pendragon. The closing part is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Another 5-stars track.
- We dislike:
- Overture, the choir singing in the Red Army style recalling us the worst moments of the former USSR. BTW, guys, the voices have been recorded far too loud.
- The Pursuit Of Excellence (2:36) for its particularly dumb lyrics… I mean
(…)
And I followed my dreams to the ends of the earth
In pursuit of excellence and this great thing of worth - Midnight Running (7:44) for its Mike Oldfield guitar. I know it’s a bonus track.
However a maelstrom of events were to come both personally for Nick and Pendragon. Nick says: “It was strange because when I was writing “The Shadow”, (Masquerade Overture) there was a line that started ‘there’s a man who’s followed me just about all of my life, being to you what I couldn’t be, I call him my insecurity’, I very clearly remember writing this and there was a slightly strange atmosphere in the studio that day, little did I know how prophetic those lyrics would become.”
A spiritual journey..man’s search for “meaning”
Not Of This World (2001)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Tina Riley (backing vocals)
Not Of This World is all about layers of sizzling synthesizers with oscillating arpeggios, dreamy atmospheres and droning sustain keeping the band high in the clouds for the 67 minute duration that includes three parts, two of which were multi-track suites. The opening If I Were The Wind (and Your Were The Rain) opens with an outa this world synthesizer run that makes you think you’ve died and gone to synthesizer paradise with wind sounds and chimes slowly ratcheting up the tension much like classic Pink Floyd along with reverberating guitar riffs that slowly drift away from the Floydian connections and take you into the world of Pendragon.
Excerpt from Metal Music Archives
Every musician in the band is on the quest for the Grail. The cinematic atmosphere of this outstanding album makes us want to follow them to the end of the world and beyond. Their best album ever.
- We like:
- If I Were The Wind (9:24) for its perfect construction, the layers of Nolan’s gliding keyboards, the Floydian choruses. Brilliant.
- Not Of This World, Part.1 (7:20) for its omg. For so many reasons. Just listen to it, guys. Just listen to it! Warning: you may cry with joyful tears.
-
A Man of Nomadic Traits (11:43) for it’s one of the best Pendragon compositions.
I am a man of nomadic traits
And Bedouin sisters are saving me
You reap what you sow
And in time don’t you know
When wisdom comes to call
If there’s nobody listening at all -
World’s End, Part.2 – And Finally… (7:13) for its grandiose final. And yes! There is alot alot alot of David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) in the final part: same patterns of both lead guitar + chorus, which convey the most emotional intensity. Stunning. In tears.
They’re flesh and blood
They were human beings - We dislike:
- Strictly nothing
Pink Floyd have their Dark Side. Genesis their Lamb. Pendragon have got Not Of This World. Now they’re in a mess: doing worse will be easy. We are blessed for this kindda mess.
There was to be a five year gap between Masquerade and the next studio album Not Of This World. During this time Nick went through a painful and messy divorce. Not Of This World was a cathartic body of work, perhaps the most personal and emotionally charged by the band, considered by many to be the finest work produced by Pendragon.
Financially crippled following the divorce, the next studio album had been a long time coming but as always Pendragon picked themselves up and headed back into the public eye once more.
Believe (2005)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Fudge Smith (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Just like in 1991 when The World was unleashed, there was a wind of change and a feeling of anticipation in the air. 2005 saw the release of Believe, the 7th studio album by Pendragon which reflected a renewed youthful exuberance and fresh approach both musically and visually for the band. Pendragon undertook the biggest tour they had ever done of Europe and followed it with a release of the brilliant And Now Everybody To The Stage DVD.
- We like:
- The Wishing Well: Sou’ By Sou’west (6:47) for its beautiful guitars solos. Nolan’s keyboard layers are absolutely lavish.
-
Learning Curves (6:38) for every second of it. BTW, would you bet any money on only one of the following concepts?
-
Pendragon doing some Isaac Hayes style and its so distinctive wah-wahs effect and funky bass. These guys are crazy. They dare everything.
-
Pendragon picking up some bass line from Sade. We could also have mentioned Hysteria (2003), or Wrathchild (1981).
-
Pendragon taking on board some phrasing by Sade on Nothing Can Come Between Us in 1988.
-
Pendragon sampling the famous Shakuhachi flute from the Emulator II sampler sound library, immortalized on Sledgehammer in 1986, and Deep Forest in 1992.
-
Last not least, Pendragon delivering some good ol’ « Yeah Yeah » Richard Page (Mr. Mister) or Sade (again!) wouldn’t deny.
Yeah yeah! Learning Curves got ’em all. Here, they’re like a jukebox full of musical memes from the 80s. As far as I’m concerned, Pendragon wasn’t my first pick about « Party music ». For sure, this band can literally play any style.
(..) It’s about life. It’s about love.
It’s about death. It’s about all you can feel,
And all that’s unseen.
Little white dots on the TV screen.
-
Pendragon doing some Isaac Hayes style and its so distinctive wah-wahs effect and funky bass. These guys are crazy. They dare everything.
- We dislike:
- The Edge of the World (8:15) for its lack of consistency.
2007 saw the 21st Anniversary of The Jewel DVD release called Past And Presence which included most of the musicians from those early days and goes to show how this tenacious band can still thrill, evolve and capitalise on its strengths over a 30 year period where so many others have failed.
If Believe was to herald a new beginning, then the new album Pure was about to completely blow away any preconceived ideas about Pendragon’s sound, attitude and presence in the music biz.
Pure – A new epoch, Spring again
Pure (2008)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Scott Higham (drums/backing vocals)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Pure sounds like an album made with the unbridled enthusiasm and energy of 20 year old musicians. It is powerful, melodic, fresh and gutsy , but still retains all the positive aspects that Pendragon have carefully built and woven into their music over the past 30 years.
With Pure, Pendragon introduced their new drummer Scott Higham, a young powerhouse player who has brought a tremendous new energy both in the studio and in the live arena.
2009 Started with Nick and Scott accepting the Classic Rock Society’s Album of the Year award for Pure and in March the album came top of the Dutch Progressive Rock Page’s annual poll. It was seated at the top of the IO Pages chart for nearly a year and also topped many other polls and charts and received brilliant reviews from all over the globe.
Concerto Maximo (2009)
Nick Barrett (vocals, guitars, keyb. programming)
Peter Gee (bass)
Clive Nolan (keyb., backing vocals)
Scott Higham (drums, backing vocals)
- Walls of Babylon
- A Man of Nomadic Traits
- Wishing Well
- Eraserhead
- Total Recall
- Nostradamus
- Learning Curve
- Breaking the Spell
- Sister Bluebird
- Shadow
- The Freak Show
- The Voyager
- It’s Only Me
- Masters of Illusion
- King of the Castle
- And We’ll Go Hunting Deer
- Queen of Hearts
- Interview
- Biography
- Discography
- Photo Gallery
Recorded in Katowice, Poland on October 13, 2008
DVD Metal Mind Prodcutions MMP DVD071 (2009, Poland)
DVD+2CD Metal Mind Prodcutions MMP DVD071 (2009, Poland, Limited Edition)
The Concerto Maximo DVD was also released to high acclaim featuring a 3 hour show from the Slaski Theater In Poland from the Pure tour. The year was topped off by key shows and festivals, including the famous Loreley Festival, the Fish Convention in the UK and supporting Dream Theater in Lisbon to 5,000 crazed fans plus 2 Sold Out Christmas shows in Holland and at home in the UK December 2009
2010 and beyond
2010 kicked off with Nick receiving the Classic Rock Society’s award for Best Guitarist, Scott receiving the award for Best Drummer, Clive scooping best Keyboard player and the band winning Best Gig, it was a great way to start the year.
In 2010 Pendragon reached out to new audiences from across the globe, with fantastic reactions in USA at RoSFest, London’s incredible new High Voltage festival and Sweden Rock Festival.
Passion (2011)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Scott Higham (drums/backing vocals)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
- We like:
- Empathy (11:20). Its chapter 2 is a must-have for every fan.
- This Green and Pleasant Land (13:13) for its unrelenting choruses
- We dislike:
- It’s Just A Matter Of Not Getting Caught (4:41)
- Skara Brae (7:31) for its extreme complexity. Not to mention its IKEA-style track name.
Spring 2011 saw Pendragon reach further heights with the release of Passion – an album that covers barrier pushing elements, but never moving too far away from their trademark melodies and emotive lyrics. The album reached #29 in the official UK Indie chart and received astonishing reviews in the press, even from some of the most hardened Pendragon-haters!
The album was voted 4th best album of the year in Prog Magazine [only beaten by big household name bands like Yes and Rush.] At the Classic Rock Society Awards Pendragon scooped Best Album, Best Song, Best Live show, Best Keyboard player and Best drummer. A new DVD from the Passion tour was released in 2012 along with the band’s first Blu Ray, ‘Out of Order Comes Chaos’ completes much of the band’s DVD/Video repertoire with much material from Pure and Passion.
The question now is – where on earth will Pendragon go next? Musically they have become unpredictable and welcome the world of change, it’s an anything can happen day out there!
Men Who Climb Mountains (2014)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Craig Blundell (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
« In short, a success », fans say about this record. Well, I wish I was as enthusiastic as them. Let’s make things clear: Men Who Climb Mountain is not a bad album. It doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece. The album is like its title: convoluted and lacking magic. We saw hills where they saw mountains.
- We like:
- Beautiful Soul (8:01) for Clive Nolan keyboards. So lush.
- Come Home Jack (10:50)
- Faces of Light (5:49) more for its guitars than for the naive choruses.
- Explorers Of The Infinite (11:14) for its powerful bass line.
- Netherworld (5:31) for its Rick Wright (Pink Floyd) influences. At this point, we could talk of a tribute.
- We dislike:
- Faces of Darkness (6:24) for its vocals. Dark. Indeed.
- …For When The Zombies Come (7:38) for it’s not enough. Like really not enough.
- Netherworld (5:31) for its numerous plagiarisms to The Dark Side Of The Moon. We smile at first, then we get tired of them.
Love Over Fear (2020)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Jan-Vincent Velazco (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
- We like:
- Truth and lies (8:26) for its instrumental part. From 5:04, the track is absolutely brilliant.
- Clive Nolan is the guarantor of the continuity in the spirit of the Pendragonian music.
- We dislike:
- Each time Pendragon makes Pendragon taking zero risk, like when Water has the same structure as Breaking the Spell
North Star (2023)
Clive Nolan (keyb./backing vocals)
Jan-Vincent Velazco (drums)
Nick Barrett (vocals/guitars)
Peter Gee (bass/keyb./backing vocals)
Johanna Stroud (violins/backing vocals)
Biography courtesy of Pendragon: Official | Music Waves
The ugly question
Nigel Harris (1978-?), Fudge Smith (1986-2006), Scott Higham (2008-2014), Craig Blundell (2014-2015), Jan-Vincent Velazco (2015). The ugly question has to be asked: what’s wrong with Pendragon and their drummers? Do they neglect to pay them? (Kidding) Is the trio Barrett-Nolan-Gee inscrutable? Although they may seem quite bonhomous, don’t they like artists who give them shade? Or, is there simply a curse on Pendragon drummers?
Foregrnd: Nick Barrett (left) and Clive Nolan. Backgrnd: Jan-Vincent Velazco and Peter Gee at NOTP 2024.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Wilce
As long as the founders feel like they have to be the guardians of something (justified or not), joining a band is like a long way to go. They know each other by heart. You’re the new guy. And the new guy needs some extra love and attentions to feel like fully connected to the band. Not sure this applied to Pendragon drummers since Fudge Smith left after 29 years, Scott Higham after 16 years of collaboration.
👉 Interesting musical conversations with Scott Higham | Nick Barrett
Nick Barrett’s earliest musical influences
Source: lazland.org
« Dark Side Of The Moon, one guitar note! That’s how vast and how small the universe is. We think success is playing at Wembley Stadium, or that a 25-minute sprawling epic song must be better than a 3-minute wonder. But that note bend in the solo of Pink Floyd Time at 4.29 is simply from God. »
« It changed everything for me. It still does it for me now, I’m in a world that words cannot describe. Then other stuff came from God! The guitar solo in Lunar Sea by Camel on Moonmadness, even now when I hear it, I am suddenly flying over the ocean on a moonlit night, the guitar in Ice sounded like someone was talking from the very deepest pit of their soul, I’d never experienced anything like that before. »
« Steve Hackett’s solo on Firth Of Fifth, at 7.13, heartbreakingly crushing to the point it makes you long for something other worldly that can only be described as a spiritual yearning from another place [our real home maybe?].
The Hands Of The Priestess Part 2 at 52 seconds in, where that guitar melody comes in is so incredibly beautiful. Hackett’s guitar playing in Mad Man Moon, it’s never really on anyone’s favourites list but the melodies he plays behind Tony Banks’ piano touches my soul beyond belief. »
Crossing the wastelands to carry me home
Holding the last breath of faith to the end
Rising from ashes my task is now done
I took the vows
My only bows
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled, so follow me now
Held by the raging and powerful sea
Never threw up my hands to accept the defeat
Long nights of questions, no answers to hold
A heart of gold
My kindred soul
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled, so follow me now
- Musicians: Nick Barrett (guitars, vocals), Clive Nolan (keyboards), Peter Gee (bass), Fudge Smith (drums)
- Lyrics © Pendragon ltd
- Source: Pendragon: Official
🎶 Pendragon – The King Of The Castle
from the album Not Of This World