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East of Eden

 
Artist: East of Eden
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Group Members:

Ron Gaines, Geoff Nicholson, Geoff Britton, Dave Arbus, Jeff Allen

Similar Artists:

Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Free Spirits, Dreams, Soft Machine, The Moody Blues, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Procol Harum, King Crimson

Influenced By:

Frank Zappa
  • Formed: 1967
  • Disbanded: 1978
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Mercator Projected," "Snafu," "Graffito"

Biography

East of Eden is a perfect illustration of the futility that Decca Records in England faced in cultivating progressive rock (apart from the Moody Blues). A critically acclaimed jazz-fusion band with a strong Eastern music influence, they were a natural for stardom during the late '60s; indeed, they might've taken the wind out of the sails of the Mahavishnu Orchestra very fast, but they never became more than a cult act in England, with a strong local following in London, especially on the underground scene, even as they attracted serious audiences in continental Europe. The band was formed in Bristol, during 1967, by Dave Arbus (flute, sax, trumpet), Ron Caines (alto sax), and Geoff Nicholson (guitar, vocals). Caines and Nicholson had previously played together in an r&b-based band, and the Caines and Arbus had been playing together for a couple of years. Future Wings member Geoff Britton was their original drummer, although the group's rhythm section was never an essential focus of their work, and went through quite a few musicians. Arbus had been trained in the violin, but it wasn't until he saw Jean Luc-Ponty playing on stage in Paris that he realized the possibilities that the amplified instrument offered. He add the electric violin to his repertory, greatly broadening the band's range and sound, and the following year they moved to London. The group was signed to Decca's progressive rock imprint Deram label in 1968, and cut two LPs, Mercator Projected and Snafu, of which the latter made it into the British top 30, while a single, "Ramadhan," got to number two in France. Their one big hit in England, "Jig-a-Jig," made the Top Ten there and became something of a stylistic albatross around the band's neck, since it didn't resemble their usual sound or anything else they normally played. Caines and Nicholson left the band as the '70s began, and Arbus kept it together. They jumped to the Harvest label, but their work there never caught on, coinciding as it did with a change in style and a veering away from Eastern music to a country-ish sound. Arbus left in the early '70s and was replaced by future Rory Gallagher collaborator Joe O'Donnell. The band carried on thru the mid 1970's as almost exclusively a European act, recording and releasing albums in Europe only. The three original core members reunited in 1999 for the recording and release of the album Kalipse. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: East of Eden (rock band)
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
For the Austin, Texas performance poetry group, see East of Eden Band.
For other uses, see East of Eden (disambiguation).

East of Eden was a British progressive rock band, who had a Top 10 hit in England with the single, "Jig-a-Jig", in 1971.[1] The track became something of a stylistic albatross around the band's neck, since it did not resemble their usual sound or anything else they normally played.[2] Although some might consider this group as being a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz oriented.[citation needed] Combining flutes, violins and tape loops to folk, gypsy and psychedelic music, the East of Eden style was always heavily supported on a pure rock base; strong and experimental.[citation needed]

History

Their professional career began back in 1967 when they were formed in Bristol by Dave Arbus (born David Arbus, 8 October 1941, Leicester) (violin, flute, saxophone, trumpet), Ron Caines (born 13 December 1944, Bristol) (alto saxophone), Geoff Nicholson (born 27 June 1948, near Bristol) (guitar, vocals), and Geoff Britton (born 1 August 1943, Lewisham, South London) (drums), who later joined Wings.[2] In 1968 they moved to London, and the group was signed to a recording contract with Decca's progressive rock imprint Deram label.[2]

In 1969 they released the Mercator Projected album, followed shortly after by the Snafu and Jig-a-Jig albums (both released in 1970). Snafu made it into the Top 30 in Britain of the UK Albums Chart[1], whilst a single, "Ramadhan," got to number two in France.[2] Caines and Nicholson left the band as the 1970s began, and Arbus kept it together.[2] They jumped to the Harvest label, but their work there never caught on, coinciding as it did with a change in style and a veering away from Eastern music to a country-ish sound.[2] Arbus left in the early 1970s and was replaced by future Rory Gallagher collaborator Joe O'Donnell.[2] The band carried on as almost exclusively a European act, recording and releasing albums in Europe only.[2]

The band broke up in 1978 having undergone various changes in membership. Important members in late line-ups included guitarist Andy Sneddon (born Andrew Sneddon, 8 May 1946, Ayrshire, Scotland), bassist/vocalist David Jack (born 24 January 1948, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland), drummer Jeff Allen (born Jeffrey Allen, 23 April 1946, Matlock, Derbyshire) and violinist Joe O'Donnell.

The three core members (Arbus, Caines and Nicholson), reunited in 1999 for the release of their album Kalipse.[2] Like most of their earlier work, it was only 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 the band's drummer Keith Moon, and was also later a member of Fiddler's Dram.

References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 176. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography by Bruce Eder". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:w9fqxqy5ldje~T1. Retrieved 8 January 2009. 

External links

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