Druid were a 1970s progressive rock band from England, and initially came to public attention by winning the Melody Maker Rock and Folk talent contest in 1974.Paul Du Noyer: Deaf School: The Non-stop Pop Art Punk Rock Party, p. 50 (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2013 - accessed 30 May 2016 The band went on to record two albums signed to EMI - Toward the Sun (1975) and Fluid Druid (1976). The band performed "Voices" and "Theme", from Toward the Sun on The Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on 7th October 1975. Their sound was notably influenced by Yes and Genesis.
Following the demise of Druid in 1977, aborting the recording of their third record Newfoundland, Neil Brewer and Dane Stevens formed The Never Never Band with a more post-punk sound. The band ultimately split up in 1981 into two short lived groups - The Vetos, and Splash.
Former member Cedric Sharpley, who went on to back Gary Numan in Dramatis and Tubeway Army, died from a heart attack on 13 March 2012.Cedric Sharpley: Drummer Who Played With Tubeway Army. The Independent (UK) 23 March 2012 - accessed 30 May 2016 Keyboard player Andrew McCrorie-Shand later pursued a career composing for Ragdoll Productions, most notably their longest-running TV shows Rosie and Jim, while bass player Neil Brewer was the show's third and final presenter from 1997 to 2000.
Line-up Cedric Sharpley – drums (founding member; died 2012) Neil Brewer – bass (founding member) Dane Stevens – vocals, guitars (founding member) Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards (joined 1974) Pete Griffiths - keyboards (1971–73)
Discography
Studio albums
Toward the Sun (1975)
Side one "Voices" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane) – 8:13 "Remembering" (Brewer/Dane) – 5:24 "Theme" (Brewer/Dane/McCrorie-Shand/Sharpley) – 5:24 "Toward the Sun" (Dane) – 5:03 Side two "Red Carpet for an Autumn" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 3:10 "Dawn of Evening" (Brewer/McCrorie-Shand) – 10:02 "Shangri-La" (Brewer/Dane) – 10:11 Personnel Neil Brewer – Bass Guitar Cedric Sharpley – Drums, Percussion Dane – Guitars, Vocals Andrew McCrorie-Shand – Keyboards Bob Harris – Producer George Nicholson – Engineer Adrian Sadgrove – Artwork
Fluid Druid (1976)
Side one "Razor Truth" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:42 "Painters Clouds" (Dane/Brewer) – 5:00 "FM 145" (McCrorie-Shand) – 2:08 "Crusade" (McCrorie-Shand/Brewer) – 7:48 Side two "Nothing but Morning" (Dane/Brewer) – 4:09 "Barnaby" (Dane) – 3:12 "Kestrel" (McCrorie-Shand) – 3:35 "Left to Find" (McCrorie-Shand/Dane/Brewer) – 7:12 "The Fisherman's Friend" (McCrorie-Shand) – 0:46 Personnel Neil Brewer – Bass Guitar Cedric Sharpley – Drums, Percussion Dane – Guitars, Vocals Andrew McCrorie-Shand – Keyboards Druid, Paul "Rockette" Harman – Producer Ken "Superstar" Thomas – Assistant Engineer The Cream Group – Artwork
Singles Barnaby/Kestrel/Nothing But Morning (1976, EMI)
Compilations Toward the Sun / Fluid Druid (1995, BGO Records)
References
External links Neverneverband.co.uk Tinderfish.com