Procol Harum were an English progressive rock band from Southend-on-Sea. Formed in April 1967, the group originally consisted of vocalist and pianist Gary Brooker, guitarist Ray Royer, bassist David Knights, keyboardist Matthew Fisher, drummer Bobby Harrison and lyricist Keith Reid. The band went through a number of lineup changes over the next ten years, before disbanding in 1977. They reformed in 1991 and remained active until Brooker’s death in early 2022. The final lineup of Procol Harum consisted of Brooker, guitarist Geoff Whitehorn (from 1991), bassist Matt Pegg (from 1993), keyboardist Josh Phillips (in 1993, and from 2004) and drummer Geoff Dunn (from 2006).

History

1967–1977 Procol Harum were formed in April 1967 by former Paramounts pianist and vocalist Gary Brooker and his songwriting partner Keith Reid, who enlisted Ray Royer, David Knights, Matthew Fisher and Bobby Harrison for the group's initial incarnation. For the recording of the band's debut single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", producer Denny Cordell brought in session drummer Bill Eyden in place of Harrison. Shortly after the single was released, Royer and Harrison left Procol Harum to form Freedom, with Brooker's former Paramounts bandmates Robin Trower and Barrie James "B.J." Wilson taking their respective positions. The new lineup released Procol Harum, Shine On Brightly and A Salty Dog, before Fisher and Knights left in late 1969. They were replaced by another former Paramounts member, Chris Copping.

As a four-piece, Procol Harum released Home and Broken Barricades, before Trower left in July 1971 to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Dave Ball, while Alan Cartwright (a former bandmate of Wilson's in Freddie Mack's band) took over bass from Copping, who remained on organ. This lineup's only release was Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, as Ball left in September 1972 during sessions for their next studio album and was replaced by Mick Grabham. Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds and Fruit and Procol's Ninth followed over the next three years, before Cartwright left in June 1976; Copping subsequently reverted to bass, as Peter Solley joined as the band's new organ player. The new lineup debuted on Something Magic, the band's last studio album for 14 years.

In April 1977, during the promotional tour for Something Magic, Copping joined Frankie Miller's band and was replaced in Procol Harum by Elton John's former bassist Dee Murray. The tour ended in May, and the following month Grabham announced that he had left the band, claiming that he had been "generally dissatisfied with my role ... for some months". The band played one final show in October when "A Whiter Shade of Pale" co-won the Single of the Year award at the 1977 Brit Awards, with Brooker, Wilson and returning members Cartwright and Copping joined by guitarist Tim Renwick.

1991–2006

In 1991, Brooker reformed Procol Harum with guitarist Robin Trower and organist Matthew Fisher, plus new members Dave Bronze on bass and Mark Brzezicki on drums. It was originally planned that B. J. Wilson would return on drums, however he died in 1990 after three years in a persistent vegetative state following a drug overdose. Trower left again after recording The Prodigal Stranger, with Tim Renwick returning for the subsequent tour. Renwick was replaced later in the year by Geoff Whitehorn. After a tour which spawned One More Time: Live in Utrecht 1992, Fisher briefly stepped away from the band to focus on studying for a degree, with Don Snow temporarily taking over for a summer tour. Laurence Cottle substituted for Bronze, who was performing with the Hamsters, at a show in August.

After nearly a year of inactivity, Procol Harum performed a handful of shows in May and June 1993, with former Diamond Head keyboardist Josh Phillips filling in for Fisher and former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace in place of Brzezicki, who had rejoined Big Country. Fisher returned for shows starting in July, and Matt Pegg replaced Bronze the following month. Touring continued sporadically throughout the rest of the decade – Graham Broad performed drums for a run of shows in July and August 1995, and Henry Spinetti took over for shows in 1996. In 1997, the band played a one-off show in celebration of the 30th anniversary of "A Whiter Shade of Pale", with the regular lineup joined on several songs by former members Mick Grabham, Peter Solley, Alan Cartwright, Dave Bronze and Chris Copping.

Three years passed before Procol Harum performed again, in September 2000 with returning drummer Mark Brzezicki. They returned on a full-time basis the following year, touring regularly and releasing their first studio album in more than ten years, The Well's on Fire, in 2003. Long-time organist Matthew Fisher left the band in June 2004 due to "unresolved matters", with former stand-in Josh Phillips taking his place again. These matters were later revealed to have been a lawsuit filed by Fisher against Brooker and the band for songwriting credits and a share of royalties on "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which he won in December 2006.

2006–2022 In the autumn of 2006, Geoff Dunn replaced Mark Brzezicki on drums. The band's lineup remained constant after Dunn's arrival. However, the group's 2017 studio album Novum was their first not to feature lyrics by Keith Reid (most were written by Pete Brown).

Brooker died on 19 February 2022 with all following concerts being cancelled before and after his death, implying the band had disbanded.

Members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGary Brookerall Procol Harum releasesKeith Reid lyricsall Procol Harum releases from "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967) to MMX (2012)Matthew FisherDavid Knights1967–1969 bassall Procol Harum releases from "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967) to A Salty Dog (1969)Ray Royer1967"A Whiter Shade of Pale"/"Lime Street Blues" (1967)Bobby Harrison1967 "Lime Street Blues" (B-side of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 1967)Barrie "B. J." Wilson1967–1977 Robin TrowerChris CoppingAlan Cartwright Dave Ball1971–1972 guitarLive: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1972)Mick Grabham1972–1977Peter Solley1976–1977 Something Magic (1977)Tim Renwickguitarnone Dee Murray1977 bassDave Bronze1991–1993Mark BrzezickiGeoff Whitehorn1991–2022all Procol Harum releases from One More Time: Live in Utrecht 1992 (1999) to Novum (2017)Josh Phillipsall Procol Harum releases from One Eye to the Future: Live in Italy 2007 (2008) to Novum (2017)Matt Pegg1993–2022all Procol Harum releases from Live (2002) onwardsIan Wallace1993 drumsnone Graham BroadHenry Spinetti1996Geoff Dunn2006–2022

Additional musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsDon Snow1992 organSnow temporarily substituted for Matthew Fisher, who was studying, for tour dates in May and June 1992.Laurence CottlebassCottle filled in for Dave Bronze for shows in August 1992, as Bronze had prior commitments with the Hamsters.Dave ColquhounColquhoun stood in at short notice for the hospitalised Geoff Whitehorn for the live show and BBC recording at the Dominion Theatre, London, 24 November 2014. He also played in two shows in Finland in December 2015.Pete Brown2016 lyricsBrown, best known for his work with Cream,Colin Larkin, Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music, (Muze UK Ltd, 1997), , p. 80 contributed lyrics to the bands last album Novum (2017) in 2016.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesApril – July 1967Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Ray Royer – guitar, backing vocals David Knights – bass Matthew Fisher – organ, guitar, backing vocals Bobby Harrison – drums, backing vocals Keith Reid – lyrics"A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967)July 1967 – September 1969Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Robin Trower – guitar, backing vocals David Knights – bass Matthew Fisher – organ, guitar, backing vocals B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsProcol Harum (1967) "Homburg" (1967) Shine On Brightly (1968) A Salty Dog (1969)September 1969 – July 1971Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Robin Trower – guitar, backing vocals Chris Copping – bass, organ, live guitar B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsHome (1970) Broken Barricades (1971)July 1971 – September 1972Gary Brooker – vocals, piano Dave Ball – guitar Alan Cartwright – bass Chris Copping – organ B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsLive: In Concert with the EdmontonSymphony Orchestra (1972)September 1972 – June 1976Gary Brooker – vocals, piano Mick Grabham – guitar Alan Cartwright – bass Chris Copping – organ B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsGrand Hotel (1973) Exotic Birds and Fruit (1974) Procol's Ninth (1975) Live at the BBC (1999)June 1976 – April 1977Gary Brooker – vocals, piano Mick Grabham – guitar Chris Copping – bass Peter Solley – organ, synthesisers B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsSomething Magic (1977)April – May 1977Gary Brooker – vocals, piano Mick Grabham – guitar Dee Murray – bass Peter Solley – organ, synthesisers B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsnone October 1977Gary Brooker – vocals, piano Tim Renwick – guitar Alan Cartwright – bass Chris Copping – organ B. J. Wilson – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsBand inactive October 1977 – early 1991Early – mid-1991Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Robin Trower – guitar Dave Bronze – bass Matthew Fisher – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsThe Prodigal Stranger (1991)August – October 1991Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Tim Renwick – guitar Dave Bronze – bass Matthew Fisher – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsnone December 1991 – April 1992Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Dave Bronze – bass Matthew Fisher – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsOne More Time: Live in Utrecht 1992 (1999)May – June 1992Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Dave Bronze – bass Don Snow – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsnone August 1992Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Laurence Cottle – bass Matthew Fisher – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsBand inactive August 1992 – May 1993May – June 1993Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Dave Bronze – bass Josh Phillips – organ Ian Wallace – drums Keith Reid – lyricsnone July – August 1993Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Dave Bronze – bass Matthew Fisher – organ Ian Wallace – drums Keith Reid – lyricsAugust – September 1993Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ Ian Wallace – drums Keith Reid – lyricsBand inactive September 1993 – July 1995July – August 1995Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ Graham Broad – drums Keith Reid – lyricsnone Band inactive August 1995 – February 1996February – April 1996Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ Henry Spinetti – drums Keith Reid – lyricsnone Band inactive April 1996 – July 1997July 1997Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ Graham Broad – drums Keith Reid – lyricsnone Band inactive July 1997 – September 2000September 2000Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion Keith Reid – lyricsnone Band inactive September 2000 – May 2001May 2001 – June 2004Gary Brooker – lead vocals, piano Geoff Whitehorn – guitar, backing vocals Matt Pegg – bass, backing vocals Matthew Fisher – organ