East of Eden (British band)


East of Eden were a British progressive rock band, who had a Top 10 hit in the UK with the single "Jig-a-Jig" in 1970. The track was stylistically unlike any of their other work. Although some might consider them a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz-oriented.

History

Their professional career began back in 1967 when they were formed in Bristol as Picture of Dorian Gray, by Dave Arbus, Ron Caines, Geoff Nicholson, Mike Price, and Stuart Rossiter. Price left in spring 1968 and was replaced by Terry Brace. Vocalist and guitarist Al Read joined at the same time.
With this line-up the band released the now very-rare single, "King Of Siam", on 25 July 1968. They appeared in the film Laughter in the Dark.
Brace and Read left in September 1968; the band carried on with Nicholson as their main vocalist, with Ron Caines occasionally contributing. Brace was replaced by Steve York. Rossiter also left, and was replaced in September 1968 by Dave Dufort. In 1968 they moved to London, and were signed to a recording contract with Deram Records. In February 1969 Dufort left and in came Bryan Appleyard, who was replaced in June 1969 by Geoff Britton , who later joined Wings. York also left in June 1969, and in came bassist Andy Sneddon.
In 1969, they released the Mercator Projected album, featuring the line-up of Dave Arbus, Ron Caines, Geoff Nicholson, Steve York and Dave Dufort. This album was followed by Snafu featuring Nicholson, Britton, Arbus, Caines and Sneddon; and later by Jig-a-Jig, a European-only compilation, released in 1971. Snafu reached the Top 30 of the UK Albums Chart, while a single, "Ramadhan", reached number two in France. After the band had left Deram, the company released "Jig-a-Jig" as a single and it was a surprise Top-10 hit. Caines and Nicholson had left the band in 1970, and the band continued less successfully with Harvest Records releasing albums East Of Eden and New Leaf. The last original member, Arbus also left at the end of 1972, and was replaced by Joe O'Donnell. In the mid-1970s the band continued to record albums for the European market and tour in Europe.
Original guitarist Nicholson left in May 1970. The band broke up in 1978 having undergone various changes in membership. Important members in late line-ups included vocalist Al Read; bassist Terence 'Terry' Brace; bassist Andy Sneddon; bassist/vocalist David 'Davy' Jack ; drummer Jeff Allen ; bassist/vocalist Martin Fisher ; violinist Joe O'Donnell ; Alan 'Al' Perkes ; and guitarist Garth Watt-Roy.
The three core members reunited in 1996, and their album Kalipse was released the following year. Like most of their earlier work, it was a cult hit.
Arbus was a guest musician on The Who's track "Baba O'Riley", playing the violin solo. He was a friend of Who drummer, Keith Moon, and, later, became a member of Fiddler's Dram.

Personnel

Timeline

Discography

Albums
  • Mercator Projected
  • Snafu
  • Jig-a-Jig
  • East of Eden
  • New Leaf
  • Another Eden
  • Here We Go Again
  • It's the Climate
  • Silver Park
  • Kalipse
  • Armadillo
  • ''Graffito''