Formed in Guildford, Surrey, England in 1971, Camel were strongly influenced by the bands emerging from Canterbury in Kent at the same time. However, and there’s a clue in the name, and their music seamlessly integrated Middle Eastern and North African themes, forms and rhythms – as well as Jazz, folk and classical elements - to create an exciting and exotic new strand to the ballooning world of progressive rock in the early 1970s.
The band came to transatlantic attention in 1975 with the release of the instrumental Music Inspired By The Snow Goose, inspired by Paul Gallico’s novella and the chart success of that album cemented the band’s place in the ongoing story of progressive rock. Camel has had its fair share of tragedy, including the death of founder Peter Bardens and serious illness to guitarist and flame-carrier Andy Latimer. Nonetheless, with Latimer still at the helm and after almost 50 years and fourteen studio albums, Camel continue to perform to rapturous receptions across the world.
Featuring a foreword by Steve Rothery of Marillion, this track by track analysis takes the reader along on the band’s half-century journey, as Camel carved out an inimitable niche in British rock music.
Born in Birmingham, UK and now living near Frankfurt, Germany, Hamish Kuzminski is the European Correspondent of the US-based 'journal of progressive music', Progression Magazine. Hamish first sneaked out of the house to watch gigs at twelve years old – and saw Camel live for the first time in 1977. Through his writing and social media presence, he continues to be an active promoter of the current generation of British and European progressive bands. He brings a very personal perspective to this book, based on a life-long love and deep knowledge of Camel and their music.
