Nektar - Knowledge

693:. A special post-recording show was put together at the Coach House in South Orange County, California. Returning to Nektar in 2013, Vibratus was on bass for the Cruise to the Edge voyage, followed by The Virada Cultural Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. In June, this line-up went on the road again for a U.S. tour billed as the U.K. Legends of Classic Rock. In January 2014, bassist Tom Fry joined the band for a European tour. On this tour Che Albrighton, Roye's son, made his first appearance as a drummer because Howden had a different engagement. Che had previously worked as tour manager for Nektar on several tours. 142: 632:(2004), before Freeman was replaced by Tom Hughes. Dembo and Hughes left in August 2006, citing communication problems, money issues, personality issues, and trust in the management issues. Dembo was briefly replaced by a returning Carmine Rojas, before the band settled on a line-up that consisted of Albrighton, Howden, guitarist Steve Adams, bassist Desha Dunnahoe, and keyboardist Steve Mattern. However, this line up never performed live on stage. 32: 477:), it was unusual that a third of Nektar's lineup had no role in performing or writing their music. Throughout their early existence the band's songwriting was credited to all six members on the album sleeves, but BMI records show that the music was written by the four performing members. Brockett did however co-write the lyrics with Moore, and invented or contributed to the original album titles. 469:, West Germany in 1969. The founding members were Englishmen Roye Albrighton on guitars and lead vocals, Allan "Taff" Freeman on keyboards, Derek "Mo" Moore on bass, Ron Howden on drums and artists Mick Brockett and Keith Walters on lights and "special effects". Though the concept of non-performing bandmembers was not unprecedented (e.g. lyricist 635:

Later in 2006, the band found new management in Roy Clay to replace The Eclectic Records staff, and performed at progressive rock-themed festivals worldwide on a part-time basis, and occasionally appearing in some of their old haunts in the New Jersey/New York area. Clay was released from management

709:

In early 2018, Howden left the band to found his own group, also named Nektar, and based in the US. He asked former bass player Moore to join, to which he agreed, which was followed by the addition of former members Randy Dembo, Mick Brockett (lights, projections and atmosphere), and Ryche Chlanda

696:

On 26 July 2016, Roye Albrighton died after an unspecified illness, at the age of 67. Following his death, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry decided to move on with the production of a new album with On Stage Records, the label they worked with since 2015. The first release was the double live album

564:(1977). The remaining members were joined by guitarist/vocalist Dave Nelson at this point. The album was more eclectic, although with shorter songs and fairly straightforward rhythms. Lyrically the album covered a wide range of subjects from 636:

duties early 2007 after a dispute over financial matters, and the band made an official complaint which exposed further fraudulent acts. Clay was ultimately convicted for fraud, lying, and forgery, and was jailed for 2 years and 11 months.

725:

On 29 September 2023, Ron Howden died at the age of 78 after years of numerous health issues, including cancer. The band had been arranging new music only five days earlier for a new album. The future of these plans is currently unknown.

662:(2011), which was released in 2009 under Roye's own Treacle Music label. In 2009, the band also played their first gig in the US again, appearing as headliners at the Rites of Spring Festival and a week-long tour along the East Coast. 657:

in its entirety, the line-up now including Klaus Henatsch on keyboards and Peter Pichl on bass. In this formation they toured extensively through Europe in 2008. These concerts resulted in the highly acclaimed live double album

639:

In mid-2007, a solo tour was undertaken by Albrighton. A full band tour of Europe (primarily Germany) was scheduled by a European-based promoter, but they had to postpone as extra funds were needed to complete the new album,

738:(2018), featuring Che Albrighton on drums, and completed the Megalomania Release Tour in December 2018. Che Albrighton was unavailable to participate, so he was replaced by Norbert "Panza" Lehmann. 701:(2017), which documents the last tour with Albrighton. After an audition in 2017, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry agreed to continue Nektar with Alexander Hoffmeister as their new frontman and guitarist. 2652: 2348: 486:(1971), consisted of a single song running over 40 minutes, with the last 100 seconds of the first side repeated at the beginning of the second side to maintain continuity. It was a 2888: 734:

The Germany-based Nektar has operated under a new name, New Nektar, to create some distinction and distance from old successes. In 2018, New Nektar recorded the concept album

665:

In mid 2011, Lux Vibratus joined the band on bass for the Cleopatra Records' Space Rock Invasion Tour in the U.S. By the time the band came to record the covers album

545:

theme); it also sold well, breaking into the Top 40 album charts and including their only song to chart on the Billboard singles charts, "Astral Man". The next album,

510:(1973), though the band would continue to use his art in their shows and album designs for a time. A cult following grew for the band, based largely on word of mouth. 985: 3390: 2964: 504:(1972), drew on more conventional rock and blues influences. Walters had left by the time of their third album, the heavily improvised double album 535:

boy as the protagonist. It demonstrated a more melodic sound than previous albums and shot into the Top 20 album charts in the U.S. The follow-up,

3056: 452:

in 1969, by guitarist and lead vocalist Roye Albrighton, keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman, bassist Derek "Mo" Moore, and drummer Ron Howden.

3524: 2982: 3544: 2892: 3549: 3529: 491: 3534: 612:

Nektar regrouped in 2000 with a line-up consisting of Albrighton, Freeman, and drummer Ray Hardwick, and in 2001, they released

3122: 3539: 3002: 3554: 3285: 2539: 1882: 713:

The US line-up assembled a set of previously unrecorded tracks from Chlanda's time in the band, which were released on

626:

guesting on synthesizers. In 2003, Moore departed the band and was replaced by Randy Dembo. Nektar cut one more album,

520: 3373: 3040: 2200: 2167: 667: 646:, which was not released until the following year, by which time Adams, Dunnahoe, and Mattern had departed the band. 558:

Albrighton left the band in December 1976, just prior to the studio sessions for Nektar's first major-label release,

115: 96: 141: 3559: 3264: 3149: 1822: 482: 68: 3320: 687:, who also served as the album's producer. The Albrighton-Howden-Henatsch-Sherwood line-up recorded and released 614: 3564: 3313: 1966: 585: 53: 2914: 75: 3355: 2108: 715: 3292: 2554: 1903: 537: 2733: 3348: 3334: 3061: 2067: 2027: 689: 642: 82: 2717: 2836: 3327: 2598: 2006: 628: 64: 579:

In 1978 the band dissolved; however in 1979 Albrighton and Freeman reformed the band with bassist

3299: 1924: 672: 49: 42: 3028: 2759: 2695: 251: 232: 2862: 3102: 2777: 2678: 3142: 599:

was a fan of the band and was photographed before he joined the band in a Nektar T-shirt.

8: 3278: 2513: 1864: 506: 3341: 3271: 1843: 722:

Original Nektar keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman died in August 2021 at the age of 76.

569: 500: 3111: 3036: 2763: 2489: 1810: 710:(guitar and vocals), and newcomer keyboardist Kendall Scott, a friend of Chlanda's. 246: 524:(1973), propelled the band briefly into mass popularity. A concept album revisiting 89: 3306: 3098: 2811: 2674: 2580: 1945: 560: 547: 495: 441: 276: 256: 174: 3135: 565: 266: 3247: 1803: 942: 684: 573: 384: 271: 3518: 3219: 3035:(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 214. 1796: 1275: 869: 676: 580: 487: 356: 261: 650:

featured more of Roye Albrighton's guitar work than previous Nektar albums.

622:

with the full classic line-up including Moore on bass, Howden on drums, and

788: 596: 552: 474: 449: 1434:

Allan "Taff" Freeman (died 2021) – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals

3089: 2983:"Allan TAFF Freeman, Musician Obituary (1945 - 2021) - Legacy Remembers" 531:

s theme of extraterrestrials granting a human enlightenment, but with a

3227: 3107: 2987: 1106: 848: 680: 623: 592: 470: 364: 179: 532: 2778:"27-Apr-2008 interview with Roye Albrighton on Outsight Radio Hours" 31: 3117: 3084: 2939: 653:

In late 2007, the band embarked on a tour for which they performed

619: 184: 555:

and carried on the band's close connection with progressive rock.

3093: 466: 445: 160: 2889:"2013 & 2014 Tour Dates - The Nektar Project Forum - Page 1" 729: 490:, following an astronaut who is given overwhelming knowledge by 830: