Twelfth Night (band)
Encyclopedia
Twelfth Night are an English
neo-progressive rock
band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.
and drummer Brian Devoil
joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff Mann as backdrop painter, and Rick Battersby as dry ice engineer. Devoil's previous musical experience was of various local bands in Reading, including Trash with whom he recorded a single "Priorities" released by Polydor in October the previous year. Revell's previous bands (in Bournemouth
) included Joe Soap and The Bubbles and Abraxas. Later in 1978, Clive Mitten
wandered into a rehearsal and asked for a job. (Devoil described Mitten as being very good in creating opportunities, convincing them when he said "you need a bass player". Mitten had previously played with local bands in Brighton
, including Luna Hare.
demo (Line-up: Devoil, Mitten, Revell). Later, during the Summer, they played one notable gig: a Midsummer Rock Concert at Reading University where friend Mann guested on vocals. After a couple of open air concerts in the summer, the band retired to Mann's parents' home in Manchester for rehearsals taking Battersby with them. While there they played a gig in Salford to an audience of 10 year olds.
When Battersby and Mann joined the band it was their first musical venture, although Battersby had previously been classically trained in the piano. However, Mann decided to remain in Manchester to paint and work with a close friend, Peter Lawrence
, in a two-piece "off the wall" band called the "God Stars". So Twelfth Night, having decided to forge ahead as an instrumental band, started gigging in earnest early in 1980. These early gigs were mainly pubs in the Home Counties.
. Their first major breakthrough came when music paper "Musicians Only" voted this tape its "Demo of the Week". This was followed by an ecstatic gig review and full page article - the band's first national press.
To find a vocalist, the band advertised in "Melody Maker
" and during that summer recruited American singer Electra MacLeod.
Electra added lyrics to a number of previously instrumental pieces, notably The Cunning Man, Abacus, Keep The Aspidistra Flying and Sequences. Live recordings of this line-up remain unreleased.
The band, with Electra, recorded a second cassette album (known variously as Twelfth Night, The Electra Tapes and Early Material
) which was released to coincide with an autumn tour. However, this did not work out and Electra left during November 1980. Despite this, a single, jokingly named "The First 7" Album" (TN001) was released that December featuring Electra's vocal contribution to The Cunning Man and a newly recorded short version of Fur Helene.
Following Electra's departure the band quickly recorded a live album, Live at the Target
(TN002). This album was released in February 1981 and was promoted by extensive live dates on a couple of which support was provided by "God Stars". This tour included the band's first gigs at the Marquee Club, London.
Once again the summer saw them searching for a vocalist. One track recorded with Reading vocalist Ian Lloyd-Jones in May 1981 was intended as a single, but did not materialise.
Eventually they recruited Mann once again and opened the Reading festival in August 1981, being only the second local band to appear at the event (after A.F.T. in 1976 who released one LP on Charisma that same year). Mann's own version of Sequences, debuted at Reading, would soon become a live staple and, ultimately, perhaps the best-loved Twelfth Night song.
After this they disappeared into the studio to demo some new songs. Some of the tracks from these demos were released on an LP length tape early in December 1981. Entitled Smiling at Grief
(TN003) it also included Fur Helene Part II, one of the earliest tracks written in 1978 and not previously released. During this period Battersby left the band to pursue some solo projects. By this time, Live At The Target had also enjoyed significant sales in America, Scandinavia and Europe.
The band spent most of 1982 writing and recording the Fact and Fiction
(TN006) album. Commenced in May it wasn't finally finished and released until December. Mitten doubled on keyboards in Battersby's absence and a few gigs were done as a four piece that autumn.
During the summer, an offer to appear on TV came "out of the blue" and so the band performed East of Eden on the first ever David Essex Showcase. It was screened on BBC1 on June 26, 1982.
Two tracks which didn't find room on the Fact and Fiction album, Eleanor Rigby and East of Eden were released on single (REV009) in October 1982. Battersby then rejoined in December 1982, completing the line-up for the Fact and Fiction Tour which began in January 1983 and included the band's first headline gig at the Marquee. Bullet & Pinnacle Records took over distribution of the new album.
A new epic track, "The Collector", was performed and demoed during the first half of 1983.
In August 1983, the band once again performed at the Reading Festival. CBS records seemed poised to offer a recording deal after four demos were recorded for CBS the previous May.
(ex Canis Major, Isis, Rapid Apple, and Silva) in December.
at Hammersmith Odeon, London, in March and several more gigs at the band's second home the Marquee Club
- including one which was filmed. This concert went out "live" in several European countries and was recorded for subsequent broadcast in the UK as part of a series: "Live From London". Twelfth Night's performance has never been broadcast, but was later released on video entitled "The Creep Show" and a DVD "Live From London".
Immediately after touring the band signed a management and publishing deal with Hit and Run Music, joining Genesis and Peter Gabriel amongst others at the company.
While most of summer 1984 was spent preparing new material, including a major new song Take A Look, the band broke cover in July to play their first major London headline at the Dominion Theatre. It was a great success with some 1,500 people attending. In August the band travelled to Liverpool to record the Art and Illusion
album with Gil Norton
(of "Echo & the Bunnymen
" fame) producing. Soon after its release in October it reached No. 83 in the national chart. The tour saw the band playing much larger venues than before and included the Dominion Theatre
again and what turned out to be their only gig outside the UK, in Marburg, Germany.
1985 started with a couple of special birthday gigs at the Marquee under the pseudonym Jan Six and the Cryptk Clues which sold out in advance through the fan club. Most of the rest of the first half of the year was spent writing new material, some of which was tried out during the Corner of the World tour in May.
It seemed that the band were at last going to get a major record deal when Charisma Records
decided to sign them. In July, however, the company went bust. Not dispirited the band played a charity gig (Wycombe Live Aid) followed by three consecutive nights at the Marquee - their 14th, 15th and 16th successive sell-out gigs there.
By September the band had selected the songs for the next album and began pre-production with producer John L. Walters
. Recording of the album began November, and in December the band signed a major record deal with Virgin Records
, who had by now taken over Charisma. The album was premiered at a special "showcase" concert at the Marquee in April 1986.
In May another special concert, this time at the London Town and Country Club, was filmed by the BBC
, with Blue Powder Monkey being subsequently shown on "Old Grey Whistle Test
". The concert was also recorded for Radio 1, but was not eventually broadcast. In June, Virgin released Shame as a single b/w Blue Powder Monkey. In July the album Twelfth Night
was released, followed soon after by second single Take a Look b/w Blondon Fair. Though receiving critical acclaim the overall sales of the album were disappointing, though it went straight in at No. 1 in Reading's local chart. Before the end of the year the band once again played Hammersmith Odeon in London.
. After initial rehearsals as a five piece, Clive Mitten also left early in 1987 to run a recording studio. The contract with Virgin was terminated shortly after. The band continued briefly as a four piece with Watson doubling on bass. The last set of songs written by Revell, Devoil, Battersby and Watson received a one-off live airing when the band support Geoff Mann at one of his Marquee gigs. Following this, Twelfth Night quietly split.
which was finally released in early 1991.
Geoff Mann died of cancer in February 1993. In 1996, Andy Sears went to live in Spain, where he became actively involved in various projects, including an appearance at the Tiana festival (Barcelona), originally planned as a Twelfth Night reunion. In 2006, Sears was invited to supply all the backing vocals for a new Galadriel album, Calibrated Collision Course, released in December 2008.
In the period since the band's demise, a number of archive live recordings have become officially available from Brian Devoil's archives and a new compilation album, Voices in the Night
was released in 2007.
, Andy Sears' one time flatmate, and an old friend of the band) replacing Rick Battersby. The band were invited to headline the 10th Tiana Festival in Barcelona in May 2008 - their second only concert outside of the UK, the previous being a concert on Marburg in 1984! Additional gigs were added in the UK, and at one of these, Geoff Mann's son James was invited by Andy Sears to accompany him on Love Song.
Play On, the official history of the band, was published in December 2009, just as the band announced their next gig: as headliners of the Progeny Festival in May 2010. Five other dates were subsequently announced, along with a revised line-up that included Roy Keyworth (guitar) and Dean Baker (keyboards) from the UK band Galahad
in place of the unavailable Andy Revell.
In 2010, Twelfth Night were invited to headline the Friday night of the V Night of The Prog festival at Loreley, with Marillion headlining the Saturday night. Despite horrendous technical problems, the band were extremely well received.
MMX, a new live double DVD and CD, was released in November 2010 and represents the band's first 'new' material since 1986.
Gigs in 2012 are likely to include 5 musicians in different combinations from the available "pool" of seven members.
Twelfth Night have been confirmed for their first-ever performance in North America. The band will perform at the final edition of North East Art Rock Festival
on Saturday, June 23, 2012.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
neo-progressive rock
Neo-progressive rock
Neo-progressive rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today....
band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.
Formation
The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy RevellAndy Revell
Andy "Rev" Revell is a British businessman, scientist and musician. He was founding member of the band Twelfth Night in 1978.He first started playing guitar after seeing Led Zeppelin in December 1971...
and drummer Brian Devoil
Brian Devoil
Brian Ronald Devoil is a British musician and a founding member of the band Twelfth Night.-References:...
joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff Mann as backdrop painter, and Rick Battersby as dry ice engineer. Devoil's previous musical experience was of various local bands in Reading, including Trash with whom he recorded a single "Priorities" released by Polydor in October the previous year. Revell's previous bands (in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
) included Joe Soap and The Bubbles and Abraxas. Later in 1978, Clive Mitten
Clive Mitten
Clive Richard Mitten is a British musician and is a member of the band Twelfth Night, both between November 1978 and December 1986 and again since the band reformed in June 2007.- References :...
wandered into a rehearsal and asked for a job. (Devoil described Mitten as being very good in creating opportunities, convincing them when he said "you need a bass player". Mitten had previously played with local bands in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, including Luna Hare.
Twelfth Night
Following a couple of gigs as the "Andy Revell Band", the band changed their name to Twelfth Night. In March 1979, the band completed its first recording which resulted in the 'legendary' SkanSkan (album)
Skan is an album by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night. Recorded in 1979, it was never released, though copies of the tape have circulated among music fans.-Production:...
demo (Line-up: Devoil, Mitten, Revell). Later, during the Summer, they played one notable gig: a Midsummer Rock Concert at Reading University where friend Mann guested on vocals. After a couple of open air concerts in the summer, the band retired to Mann's parents' home in Manchester for rehearsals taking Battersby with them. While there they played a gig in Salford to an audience of 10 year olds.
When Battersby and Mann joined the band it was their first musical venture, although Battersby had previously been classically trained in the piano. However, Mann decided to remain in Manchester to paint and work with a close friend, Peter Lawrence
Peter Lawrence
Peter Anthony Lawrence FRS is a British developmental biologist at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the Zoology Department of the University of Cambridge...
, in a two-piece "off the wall" band called the "God Stars". So Twelfth Night, having decided to forge ahead as an instrumental band, started gigging in earnest early in 1980. These early gigs were mainly pubs in the Home Counties.
Coming to notice
The band's first publicly available material was released in January 1980. This was an album featuring live versions of Fur Helene and Encore along with studio tracks Freddie Hepburn and Sequences. It was only available as a cassette and was named The First Tape AlbumThe First Tape Album
The First Tape Album is a part-studio, part-live cassette-only album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1980.-Details:Th First Tape Album marks the debut of classically trained keyboard Rick Battersby, who was an old friend of the band . Twelfth Night was the first band he joined...
. Their first major breakthrough came when music paper "Musicians Only" voted this tape its "Demo of the Week". This was followed by an ecstatic gig review and full page article - the band's first national press.
To find a vocalist, the band advertised in "Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
" and during that summer recruited American singer Electra MacLeod.
Electra added lyrics to a number of previously instrumental pieces, notably The Cunning Man, Abacus, Keep The Aspidistra Flying and Sequences. Live recordings of this line-up remain unreleased.
The band, with Electra, recorded a second cassette album (known variously as Twelfth Night, The Electra Tapes and Early Material
Early Material (Twelfth Night)
Early Material is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1980.-Details:...
) which was released to coincide with an autumn tour. However, this did not work out and Electra left during November 1980. Despite this, a single, jokingly named "The First 7" Album" (TN001) was released that December featuring Electra's vocal contribution to The Cunning Man and a newly recorded short version of Fur Helene.
Following Electra's departure the band quickly recorded a live album, Live at the Target
Live at the Target
Live At The Target is a live album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1981.-Details:Shortly after the release of Early Material singer Electra McLeod left Twelfth Night , leaving the band with a new release featuring a vocalist, but without a vocalist for concerts...
(TN002). This album was released in February 1981 and was promoted by extensive live dates on a couple of which support was provided by "God Stars". This tour included the band's first gigs at the Marquee Club, London.
Success
The album Live at the Target was recorded over two days in January. This led to a publishing deal with Neptune - signed in March 1981 - and the initial success of the album prompted Pinnacle Records to offer a distribution deal which meant the band had product available nationally for the first time. It appeared in both Heavy Metal and Hippy charts in both Melody Maker and Sounds.Once again the summer saw them searching for a vocalist. One track recorded with Reading vocalist Ian Lloyd-Jones in May 1981 was intended as a single, but did not materialise.
Eventually they recruited Mann once again and opened the Reading festival in August 1981, being only the second local band to appear at the event (after A.F.T. in 1976 who released one LP on Charisma that same year). Mann's own version of Sequences, debuted at Reading, would soon become a live staple and, ultimately, perhaps the best-loved Twelfth Night song.
After this they disappeared into the studio to demo some new songs. Some of the tracks from these demos were released on an LP length tape early in December 1981. Entitled Smiling at Grief
Smiling at Grief
Smiling At Grief is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982.-Details:Smiling At Grief comprised Twelfth Night's first recording with vocalist Geoff Mann. The album was recorded at Woodcray Manor Farm Studios, Berkshire....
(TN003) it also included Fur Helene Part II, one of the earliest tracks written in 1978 and not previously released. During this period Battersby left the band to pursue some solo projects. By this time, Live At The Target had also enjoyed significant sales in America, Scandinavia and Europe.
The band spent most of 1982 writing and recording the Fact and Fiction
Fact and Fiction
Fact and Fiction is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982.-Details:Recorded during down-time at Revolution Studios, Cheadle Hulme, Fact and Fiction was engineered by Stuart Rickering, Johnny Gluck, and Pablo, and produced by Twelfth Night and Andy MacPherson...
(TN006) album. Commenced in May it wasn't finally finished and released until December. Mitten doubled on keyboards in Battersby's absence and a few gigs were done as a four piece that autumn.
During the summer, an offer to appear on TV came "out of the blue" and so the band performed East of Eden on the first ever David Essex Showcase. It was screened on BBC1 on June 26, 1982.
Two tracks which didn't find room on the Fact and Fiction album, Eleanor Rigby and East of Eden were released on single (REV009) in October 1982. Battersby then rejoined in December 1982, completing the line-up for the Fact and Fiction Tour which began in January 1983 and included the band's first headline gig at the Marquee. Bullet & Pinnacle Records took over distribution of the new album.
A new epic track, "The Collector", was performed and demoed during the first half of 1983.
In August 1983, the band once again performed at the Reading Festival. CBS records seemed poised to offer a recording deal after four demos were recorded for CBS the previous May.
Departure of Mann
In November 1983, Mann left after two sell-out gigs at the Marquee, which were recorded for a live album, Live and Let Live. Mann commenced a solo career, and was replaced by vocalist/songwriter Andy SearsAndy Sears
Andy Sears is a British musician and vocalist/composer of the band Twelfth Night from November 1983 to December 1986, and again from June 2007 to the present day....
(ex Canis Major, Isis, Rapid Apple, and Silva) in December.
Consolidation
In January 1984, the band began an extensive period of touring with Andy Sears, coinciding with the release of the Live And let Live LP on the Music For Nations label (Cat. No. MFN18). Highlights included a slot supporting PallasPallas (band)
Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s...
at Hammersmith Odeon, London, in March and several more gigs at the band's second home the Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
- including one which was filmed. This concert went out "live" in several European countries and was recorded for subsequent broadcast in the UK as part of a series: "Live From London". Twelfth Night's performance has never been broadcast, but was later released on video entitled "The Creep Show" and a DVD "Live From London".
Immediately after touring the band signed a management and publishing deal with Hit and Run Music, joining Genesis and Peter Gabriel amongst others at the company.
While most of summer 1984 was spent preparing new material, including a major new song Take A Look, the band broke cover in July to play their first major London headline at the Dominion Theatre. It was a great success with some 1,500 people attending. In August the band travelled to Liverpool to record the Art and Illusion
Art and Illusion
Art And Illusion is a studio mini-album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1984.- Details :Art And Illusion marks the first Twelfth Night release with Andy Sears....
album with Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
(of "Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
" fame) producing. Soon after its release in October it reached No. 83 in the national chart. The tour saw the band playing much larger venues than before and included the Dominion Theatre
Dominion Theatre
The Dominion Theatre is a West End theatre on Tottenham Court Road close to St Giles Circus and Centre Point Tower, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:...
again and what turned out to be their only gig outside the UK, in Marburg, Germany.
1985 started with a couple of special birthday gigs at the Marquee under the pseudonym Jan Six and the Cryptk Clues which sold out in advance through the fan club. Most of the rest of the first half of the year was spent writing new material, some of which was tried out during the Corner of the World tour in May.
It seemed that the band were at last going to get a major record deal when Charisma Records
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
decided to sign them. In July, however, the company went bust. Not dispirited the band played a charity gig (Wycombe Live Aid) followed by three consecutive nights at the Marquee - their 14th, 15th and 16th successive sell-out gigs there.
By September the band had selected the songs for the next album and began pre-production with producer John L. Walters
John L. Walters
John L. Walters is a British editor, critic and composer. He was a founding member of the band Landscape, best known for the 1981 hit ‘Einstein A Go-Go’ which reached no. 5 in the UK charts...
. Recording of the album began November, and in December the band signed a major record deal with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, who had by now taken over Charisma. The album was premiered at a special "showcase" concert at the Marquee in April 1986.
In May another special concert, this time at the London Town and Country Club, was filmed by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, with Blue Powder Monkey being subsequently shown on "Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
". The concert was also recorded for Radio 1, but was not eventually broadcast. In June, Virgin released Shame as a single b/w Blue Powder Monkey. In July the album Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night XII
Twelfth Night is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1986. Although officially untitled, it is known informally as both XII and The Virgin Album.-Details:...
was released, followed soon after by second single Take a Look b/w Blondon Fair. Though receiving critical acclaim the overall sales of the album were disappointing, though it went straight in at No. 1 in Reading's local chart. Before the end of the year the band once again played Hammersmith Odeon in London.
Departure of Sears and Mitten
Andy Sears left the band in late 1986, severely disappointed with the complete lack of direction and promotional strategy displayed by Virgin. Sears was replaced by Martyn Watson from Pookah Makes ThreePookah Makes Three
Pookah Makes Three were an electronic pop music group from the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The members were Martyn Watson and Mallett. The band's name references a fairy in Celtic folklore, the Púca...
. After initial rehearsals as a five piece, Clive Mitten also left early in 1987 to run a recording studio. The contract with Virgin was terminated shortly after. The band continued briefly as a four piece with Watson doubling on bass. The last set of songs written by Revell, Devoil, Battersby and Watson received a one-off live airing when the band support Geoff Mann at one of his Marquee gigs. Following this, Twelfth Night quietly split.
Interregnum
In 1988, during one of the frequent calls between band members the subject of the unrecorded song The Collector was discussed. Mitten offered studio time, and so in May the "original" line-up (Revell, Devoil, Mitten, Mann and Battersby) reunited to record the song, along with a new version of Love Song. After careful deliberation the band offered a compilation of these and others to M.F.N in the form of the album Collector's ItemCollector's Item (Twelfth Night)
Collector's Item is a compilation album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1991 as a CD and double album, and re-released on CD only with some different tracks in 2001.-Details:...
which was finally released in early 1991.
Geoff Mann died of cancer in February 1993. In 1996, Andy Sears went to live in Spain, where he became actively involved in various projects, including an appearance at the Tiana festival (Barcelona), originally planned as a Twelfth Night reunion. In 2006, Sears was invited to supply all the backing vocals for a new Galadriel album, Calibrated Collision Course, released in December 2008.
In the period since the band's demise, a number of archive live recordings have become officially available from Brian Devoil's archives and a new compilation album, Voices in the Night
Voices in the Night
Voices in the Night is a compilation album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 2007.-Details:Voices in the Night is a 2 CD set of unreleased recordings from all the vocalists associated with Twelfth Night....
was released in 2007.
Reunion
Quite unexpectedly in June 2007, Clive Mitten and Andy Sears announced a one-off gig performing Twelfth Night material to take place in November 2007. By July, it had been confirmed that they would be billed as Twelfth Night, and in September, a 2nd gig was added and both Andy Revell and Brian Devoil were revealed as part of the line-up, with Mark Spencer (formerly the vocalist in 80s prog band LaHostLaHost
LaHost was a British progressive rock band of the 1980s.-Career:The band was formed by Sean Godfrey and Stephen J Bennett of the 1980s Norwich progressive band Airbridge. Godfrey and Bennett were joined by Fudge Smith , Mark Spencer , David Valentine-Haggart and Jaff .The band's first gig was at...
, Andy Sears' one time flatmate, and an old friend of the band) replacing Rick Battersby. The band were invited to headline the 10th Tiana Festival in Barcelona in May 2008 - their second only concert outside of the UK, the previous being a concert on Marburg in 1984! Additional gigs were added in the UK, and at one of these, Geoff Mann's son James was invited by Andy Sears to accompany him on Love Song.
Play On, the official history of the band, was published in December 2009, just as the band announced their next gig: as headliners of the Progeny Festival in May 2010. Five other dates were subsequently announced, along with a revised line-up that included Roy Keyworth (guitar) and Dean Baker (keyboards) from the UK band Galahad
Galahad (UK band)
Galahad are an English Progressive rock band formed in 1985. Despite never having a major record deal, they have released 6 studio albums, 3 live albums and 3 rarities collections. Over the last 25 years they have supported the likes of Pendragon, IQ and Twelfth Night...
in place of the unavailable Andy Revell.
In 2010, Twelfth Night were invited to headline the Friday night of the V Night of The Prog festival at Loreley, with Marillion headlining the Saturday night. Despite horrendous technical problems, the band were extremely well received.
MMX, a new live double DVD and CD, was released in November 2010 and represents the band's first 'new' material since 1986.
Gigs in 2012 are likely to include 5 musicians in different combinations from the available "pool" of seven members.
Twelfth Night have been confirmed for their first-ever performance in North America. The band will perform at the final edition of North East Art Rock Festival
NEARfest
The North East Art Rock Festival, or NEARfest for short, is a multi-day event celebrating the resurgence of progressive and eclectic music in the United States and around the world. The event is held annually in early summer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, approximately one hour north of Philadelphia...
on Saturday, June 23, 2012.
Lineup history
| February 1978 -September 1978 (as Andy Revell / Andy Revell Band) |
live dates only |
|
|---|---|---|
| September 1978 -August 1979 (as Andy Revell Band until December 1978) |
SKAN |
|
| August 1979 -Summer 1980 |
The First Tape Album |
|
| Summer 1980 -November 1980 |
Early Material three of these tracks available on Voices In The Night, and one on the reissue of Live At The Target |
|
| November 1980 -August 1981 |
A Midsummer Night's Dream Live At The Target Entropy |
|
| August 1981 -November 1981 |
Smiling At Grief (part) |
|
| November 1981 -November 1982 |
Smiling At Grief (part) Smiling At Grief ... Live Fact And Fiction one track on Voices in the Night |
|
| November 1982 -November 1983 |
Flashbacks Live and Let Live two tracks on Collector's Item 5 tracks on Voices in the Night |
|
| December 1983 -December 1986 |
Live From London Art And Illusion Corner Of The World Twelfth Night XII 6 tracks on Voices on the Night |
|
| December 1987 | rehearsals only |
|
| January 1987 -October 1987 |
5 tracks on Voices In The Night (2007) |
|
| May 1988 | two tracks for Collector's Item |
|
| March 1994 | one track for Mannerisms, also available on Voices in the Night |
|
| September 2007-January 2010 | live dates, 2007–2008 |
|
| January 2010-date | live dates, 2010 MMX |
|
Tapes
- SkanSkan (album)Skan is an album by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night. Recorded in 1979, it was never released, though copies of the tape have circulated among music fans.-Production:...
: March 1979 - The First Tape AlbumThe First Tape AlbumThe First Tape Album is a part-studio, part-live cassette-only album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1980.-Details:Th First Tape Album marks the debut of classically trained keyboard Rick Battersby, who was an old friend of the band . Twelfth Night was the first band he joined...
: January 1980 - Early Material : October 1980
- Smiling at GriefSmiling at GriefSmiling At Grief is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982.-Details:Smiling At Grief comprised Twelfth Night's first recording with vocalist Geoff Mann. The album was recorded at Woodcray Manor Farm Studios, Berkshire....
: January 1982, re-released on CD in 1997 and again in 2009
Studio
- Fact and FictionFact and FictionFact and Fiction is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982.-Details:Recorded during down-time at Revolution Studios, Cheadle Hulme, Fact and Fiction was engineered by Stuart Rickering, Johnny Gluck, and Pablo, and produced by Twelfth Night and Andy MacPherson...
: December 1982, re-released on CD in 2002 with 7 bonus tracks - Art and IllusionArt and IllusionArt And Illusion is a studio mini-album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1984.- Details :Art And Illusion marks the first Twelfth Night release with Andy Sears....
: October 1984, re-released on CD in 2003 with 7 bonus tracks; re-released again on CD in 2010 with 12 bonus tracks - Twelfth Night XIITwelfth Night XIITwelfth Night is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1986. Although officially untitled, it is known informally as both XII and The Virgin Album.-Details:...
: July 1986, re-released on CD in 2005 with 6 bonus tracks
Live
- Live at the TargetLive at the TargetLive At The Target is a live album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1981.-Details:Shortly after the release of Early Material singer Electra McLeod left Twelfth Night , leaving the band with a new release featuring a vocalist, but without a vocalist for concerts...
: February 1981, re-released on CD in 2004 with 3 bonus tracks - Live and Let Live: January 1984, re-released on CD in 1996 with 3 bonus tracks
- MMXMMX (Twelfth Night album)MMX is a live CD and DVD released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 2010. It is the band's first newly recorded album since 1986.-Track listing:Disc One#The Ceiling Speaks#Kings & Queens#We Are Sane#Last Song#Fur Helene I#First New Day...
: November 2010
Compilations
- Collector's ItemCollector's Item (Twelfth Night)Collector's Item is a compilation album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1991 as a CD and double album, and re-released on CD only with some different tracks in 2001.-Details:...
: 1991, reissued with some different tracks 2001 - Voices in the NightVoices in the NightVoices in the Night is a compilation album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 2007.-Details:Voices in the Night is a 2 CD set of unreleased recordings from all the vocalists associated with Twelfth Night....
: 2007
Archive releases
- Smiling at Grief ... Live: March 2003, live recording from 1981
- A Midsummer's Night Dream: 2005, live recording from 1980
- Corner of the World Tour: 2005, live recording from 1985
- Live From London: 2005, live recording from 1984
- Entropy: 2006, live recording from 1981
- Flashbacks: 2006, live recording from 1983
- Night Vision: 2006, live recording from 1984
Singles
- The First 7" Album : 7" single December 1980
- East of Eden / Eleanor RigbyEleanor Rigby"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
: 7" single 1982 - Shame / Shame(ful mix) : 7" and 12" single June 1986
- Take a Look (part 4) / Blondon Fair (short version) 7" single August 1986
- Take a Look (part 4) / Blondon Fair (long version) / Take A Look (album version) 12" single August 1986
External links
;- Fact and Fiction; Yahoo Groups site.