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Discography
Journey To The Centre Of The Eye 1971 |
A Tab in the Ocean
1972 |
Sounds Like This - 1973 |
Remember the Future - 1974 |
Down to Earth - 1974 |
Recycled - 1975 |
Magic is a Child - 1977 |
Man in the Moon - 1980 |
The Prodigal Son - 2001 |
Evolution - 2004 |
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Book Of Days - 2007 |
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NEKTAR Live Albums (9)
Sunday Night at London Roundhouse - 1974 |
Nektar - Live in New York
1977 |
More Live Nektar in New York
1977 |
Unidentified Flying Abstract - Live At Chipping Norton -
1974 |
Nearfest 2002 |
Greatest Hits Live - 2002 |
Sunday Night At The London Roundhouse (1974) 2002 |
Door To The Future
2005 |
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2004 Tour Live |
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NEKTAR DVD & Videos (2)
2002
Live |
2005
Pure: Live In Germany 2005 |
NEKTAR Boxset & Compilations
(4)
1976
Nektar |
1978
Thru The Ears |
1994
Highlights - The Best Of Nektar
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1998
The Dream Nebula: The Best Of 1971-1975 |
NEKTAR official website
http://www.nektarsmusic.com
MySpace URL:
http://www.myspace.com/nektar1970onwards
 MP3
" Desolation
Valley " -
A Tab In The Ocean -
1972 |
Roye Albrighton: Lead Vocals - Electric
& Acoustic Guitars
Ron Howden: Vocals - Drums & Percussion
Klaus Henatsch: Keyboards - Vocals
Peter Pichl: Bass - Vocals
Early Years
1970 to 1973..................
The story of Nektar is a remarkable one. A British rock band that
found stardom and success in Germany and the USA, yet failed to make
the significant breakthrough in their own country. With three gold
albums under their belt (“Remember the Future”, “Down to Earth” and
“Recycled”), Nektar produced some of the most original work of the
seventies.
In virtuoso guitarist Roye Albrighton Nektar had a charismatic front
man who had shared a stage with Jimi Hendrix, in Allan “Taff”
Freeman a unique keyboard player, in Derek “Mo” Moore a bass playing
powerhouse and in Ron Howden a fluidity rarely found in a drummer.
Fifth member Mick Brockett was not a musician, but was responsible
for one of the most stunning light and visual shows ever to grace
the rock stage.
The roots of Nektar lay in Hamburg in 1970. The band Prophecy,
(featuring Freeman, Moore and Howden), were performing in the
legendary Star Club. It was here that Prophecy met an extremely
talented guitarist Roye Albrighton, also playing the German club
circuit. Disillusioned with his own outfit, Albrighton was
approached by Prophecy to join them as a guitar player. Light
technician Mick Brockett (who had worked with Pink Floyd in the late
sixties), had been providing visual backdrops for Prophecy in
Germany and was invited to become a permanent fixture in the new
band. Opting for a name change, Nektar was born.
Signing to German label Bellaphon later that year, Nektar quickly
made an impact with their space rock classic “Journey to the Centre
of the Eye”. This was followed in 1972 by the conceptual album, “A
Tab in the Ocean” which featured the songs “Desolation Valley” and
“King of Twilight”, (later covered in 1984 by Iron Maiden), all of
which were to become staples of Nektar’s live show over the next few
years. 1973 saw the release of the double album “Sounds Like This”.
Recorded “live” in the recording studio, (and described by Elton
John as “an extraordinary album”), the set became the bands first
release in Britain and resulted in two appearances on “The Old Grey
Whistle Test” TV show.
Remember The Future 1973 to 1980..................
It was with the 1973 album “Remember the Future” that Nektar’s real
breakthrough came. Another concept, the album became Nektar’s first
American release and entered the Billboard album chart in 1974,
attaining Gold status without the band ever having visited the USA!
An American tour was swiftly booked, with Nektar becoming a major
concert attraction.
For 1974’s “Down to Earth” the band enlisted the services of
Hawkwind poet Robert Calvert to provide humorous links between songs
for their Circus-style concept, earning another Gold disc.
“Recycled”, released in 1975, was recorded in France and London and
was engineered by ex-Beatles technician Geoff Emerick. The album
featured a full choir and the guest appearance of American
synthesiser whizz-kid Larry Fast, (from the group Synergy and later
a member of Peter Gabriel’s band), and earned yet another Gold disc
in Germany and the USA. By now Nektar were firmly established in
America, undertaking a rigorous touring schedule, with the most
impressive show yet-staged necessitating the hire of a Jumbo jet to
transport the band's lighting and sound equipment.
Hectic touring and an increasingly busy schedule eventually took its
toll however, leading to the departure of Roye Albrighton in
December 1976. He was replaced briefly by American Dave Nelson, the
new line up recording “Magic is a Child” (featuring a young Brooke
Shields on the sleeve), in 1977.
This line-up was short lived, leaving a gap of two years before
Nektar regrouped with Roye Albrighton and Taff Freeman at the helm.
With musicians Carmine Rojas and David Prater the superb “Man in the
Moon” (released on CD for the first time by Voiceprint Records) was
released in Europe, with the band touring to great acclaim. By now
though, Freeman had opted to remain in the USA and Albrighton went
on to form the band Grand Alliance with ex-Climax Blues Band member
Derek Holt.
The Nektar story finally appeared to be over by the birth of the
1980's.
Nektar Recycled 2000 to . . .
In 1999, following a potentially fatal liver infection, guitarist
and Nektar front man Roye Albrighton was given only weeks to live.
At the last minute he is given the precious gift of life when a
suitable liver donor is found. The situation was touch and go for a
while, but thanks to the expertise of medical staff he pulls
through. Determined to live life to the full, Roye Albrighton
resurrects the band that made him a household name in Germany and
America. That band is Nektar and a new album; “The Prodigal Son” is
released by Bellaphon records. So opened a new chapter for
Albrighton and also for the Nektar legacy - a chapter that led to
the triumphant reformation of this legendary band.
In 2000, following his health scare, Bellaphon records approached
Albrighton to record a new Nektar album. Enlisting the services of
Taff Freeman and drummer Ray Hardwick, “The Prodigal Son” (Bellaphon
9729520) was recorded in a matter of weeks. A worthy successor to
the previous Nektar catalogue, TPS has received five star reviews in
German and American magazines and heralds a new dawn for Nektar.
2002 saw the remastering of the Nektar classic album “Remember the
Future” and the release of the entire London Roundhouse Concert from
1973 with previously unreleased bonus material, and amazingly, a
full reunion of Albrighton, Freeman, Moore and Howden, along with
Mick Brockett’s light show for a concert at the annual NearFest
event at The Patriot’s Theater, Trenton, New Jersey on June 29th
with guest musician Larry Fast, and a further triumphant live show
at The Town Hall in New York City in October 2002 and two US shows
in late May and early June 2003. This was followed in July 2003 by
the first Nektar concert in London since 1976 and two German
concerts (at the Herzberg Festival and at The Centralstation in
Darmstadt). These European concerts were unqualified successes.
In October 2003 Nektar negotiated full rights for their back
catalogue outside of Germany and have begun a full remastering
campaign on their entire catalogue. April 2004 saw the release of
the classic albums “Journey to the Centre of the Eye”, “A Tab in the
Ocean”, and “Recycled” (all with previously unreleased bonus
material). Also released that month was a special remixed CD Boxed
set of the bands entire concert at The Academy of Music in New York
City recorded in August 1974 on the bands own “Dream Nebula”
imprint, part of UK label Eclectic Discs. All these, and future
releases include remastering to the highest standard from the
original tapes.
In October 2004, original bass player Derek “Mo” Moore announced his
intention to leave Nektar. Citing other commitments, unable to tour
on a large scale and generously not wishing to impede a revitalised
Nektar, Mo stepped aside to welcome fellow Rickenbacker user Randy
Dembo. A fan of Nektar since the 70’s, Randy has proved a worthy
successor to Mo Moore. 2004 saw an extensive European tour including
concerts in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands -
equally importantly it saw the release of a superb new studio album
from the band, the magnificent “Evolution”. With stand out tracks
such as “Camouflage to White”, “Phased by the Storm”, “Always” and
“Child of Mine”, the album is regarded as a true return to form by
critics in both Europe and the USA.
An American tour in September 2004 saw Taff Freeman depart the band
for personal reasons with his successor, Hammond virtuoso Tom
Hughes, instantly earning a place in the hearts of the Nektar
faithful. With continued concert dates, along with the remastering
of the remainder of the Nektar back catalogue on CD, this legendary
band has become once more a proud force to be reckoned with in the
world of Progressive music.
2005 saw management changes for NEKTAR and a shift towards the band
taking greater control of its output - product and careers. Entering
into uncharted territory the band toured Brazil to incredible
audiences and critical acclaim. A DVD of the event entitled Concerto
being planed for early 2007 release from the Niteroi concert.
They took to the stage headlining the superb BajaProg festival in
Mexicali in March 2006.
Nektar wanted to embark on major global touring in 2006 as well as
make significent product releases, but due to circumstances beyond
the bands control (it was entirely in the hands of their then
management) they nearly went under finanially. The loyalty of the
fans was realised in late 2007 when Nektar truly took over their own
management, procured their website (www.nektarsmusic.com) as their
own, entirely under thier control and went on tour (22 nights) of
Germany. Joining Roye & Ron was Peter Pichl on 5 string bass and
Klaus Henatsch on keys, these two new members from the Rock city of
Hanover, Germany, seemed to gel from the outset and now Nektar looks
set to make its mark once again.
Remember the Future.
 
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