PsychepediA

From: Canterbury, England

Official Website

This highly original prog-psych band from Canterbury, England is considered by many to have been one of the most important and influential groups to emerge from that now-legendary music scene, although major commercial success continually eluded them. All four of their original members, Pye Hastings (guitar, vocals), brothers David (keyboards) and Richard Sinclair (bass, vocals), and Richard Coughlan (drums), had previously been in the Wilde Flowers and formed Caravan in January, 1968.

Their debut, self-titled LP was released on Verve in the fall of 1968 along with a supporting 45, which includes the incredibly hypnotic and haunting 'Ride' on its B-side. The group released several heavily jazz-based progressive LPs throughout the early to mid 70s (most notably 1971's In The Land Of Grey And Pink), developing a very strong, although relatively small and local cult following. The group primarily played universities and outdoor music festivals, gigging alongside more popular bands like Pink Floyd, Yes and the Nice.

The band initially called it quits in the early 80s, but in 1990, all four original members reunited for what was supposed to be a one-off concert TV special. Sales of the special's supporting live LP were strong enough however that they decided to fully resurrect the group and embark on a second career. Caravan has been playing together in one lineup or another ever since.

Artist information sources include: The book, 'Tapestry of Delights Revisited' by Vernon Joynson.