History Music / Camel

[[caption-width-right:324:The classic lineup: Peter Bardens (keyboards), Doug Ferguson (bass), Andy Ward (drums[=/=]percussion), [[FaceOfTheBand Andrew Latimer]] (guitars, vocals)]]

** Andrew Latimer, also FaceOfTheBand

!'''''Harbour of Tropes''''':

Camel are an English {{progressive rock}} band formed in 1971 and an important part of the Canterbury scene.

* RevolvingDoorBand: From the 1980's on, Latimer and Colin Bass have been the only consistent members. Denis Clement's been the drummer since 2000.

* ShoutOut: The title of ''I Can See Your House From Here'' is one to a joke that was fairly popular back in 1979, where the crucified Jesus summons his disciple Peter, only to utter the titular line.

* FilkSong: Several, but "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider" is specifically about ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.

* FilkSong: Several, but ''Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider'' is specifically about ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The cover for the album ''Mirage'' looks very similar to Camel cigarette cartons.

* IAmTheBand: Andrew Latimer, also FaceOfTheBand

** Also, the cover to ''I Can See Your House from Here'', which depicts a [[MessianicArchetype crucified astronaut]].

* RevolvingDoorBand: From the 1980s on, Latimer and Colin Bass have been the only consistent members. Denis Clement's been the drummer since 2000.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album, ''Breathless'', Peter Bardens left. After the release of 1981's ''Nude'', Andy Ward left as well, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel left the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company, Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer. Their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed live fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboardist.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album, ''Breathless'', Peter Bardens left. After the release of 1981's ''Nude'', Andy Ward left as well, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole that many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel left the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company, Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer. Their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed live fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboardist.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album, ''Breathless'', Peter Bardens left. After the release of 1981's ''Nude'', original drummer Andy Ward left as well, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole that many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel left the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company, Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer. Their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed live fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboardist.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album, ''Breathless'', Peter Bardens left. After the release of 1981's ''Nude'', original drummer Andy Ward left as well, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole that many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel left the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company, Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer and their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed live fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboardist.

They're often considered one of the most underrated bands in the progressive rock genre. More people started to check them out when Mikael Åkerfeldt of Music/{{Opeth}} cited them as a major influence.

!!Current Members:

!!Former Members:

!!Camel contains examples of:

** ''Stationary Traveller'', an album about German refugees attempts to cross the Berlin Wall.

** Also, the cover to ''I Can See Your House From Here'', which depicts a [[MessianicArchetype crucified astronaut]].
* EpicRocking: This is expected because they are prog-rock, but their most well known is the thirteen minute epic, "Lady Fantasy". "Nimrodel", "Lunar Sea" and "Ice" are not very far behind. ''The Snow Goose'' may be an example as well, since most of the songs segue together seamlessly.

* MeaningfulName: ''The Single Factor'' refers to Andrew Latimer being the only remaining band member at the time.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album, ''Breathless'', Peter Bardens left. After the release of 1981's ''Nude'', original drummer Andy Ward left as well, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole that many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel disappeared from the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company, Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer and their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed concerts fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboard spot.

* EpicRocking: This is expected because they are prog-rock, but their most well known is the thirteen minute epic, "Lady Fantasy". "Nimrodel", "Lunar Sea" and "Ice" are not very far behind, at over nine minutes, and ''The Snow Goose'' could be considered an example as well, since most of the songs actually segue together seamlessly.

* GreatestHitsAlbum: A whole bunch of them over the years, through most are out-of-print. The more recent ones have had the band try to avoid too much overlap between them by including lesser-known songs and live versions

Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971 and an important part of the Canterbury scene.

Camel is an English progressive rock band formed in 1971 and are an important part of the Canterbury scene.

They were originally known as The Brew, which consisted of guitarist Andrew Latimer, bassist Doug Ferguson, and drummer Andy Ward. They then hired keyboardist Peter Bardens and changed their name to Camel. They released four albums together as the original four. Andy Ward was pushing the band towards a more jazzier direction, which caused Ferguson to leave and be replaced by Richard Sinclair, an ex-Music/{{Caravan}} member; Mel Collins of Music/KingCrimson also joined. After their sixth album ''Breathless'' Peter Bardens left the band. After the release of two more albums, original drummer Andy Ward left the band, leaving only Latimer. Camel eventually fell into the same hole that many progressive rock bands found themselves in, by struggling to retain their roots while trying to appeal to the pop and mainstream audiences. In 1981, Camel disappeared from the scene until about a decade later when Latimer formed his own record producing company Camel Productions. They eventually returned to their prog-rock roots in ''Rajaz''. In 2002, Peter Bardens died of lung cancer and their latest album, ''A Nod and a Wink'' is dedicated to him. After a decade long hiatus from touring, the band has performed concerts fairly consistently since 2013, with Latimer, longtime bassist Colin Bass, Denis Clement on drums, and a rotating keyboard spot.

** ''Music Inspired by the Snow Goose'', a wholly instrumental album about the book ''The Snow Goose''

** ''Stationary Traveller'', an album about German refugees attempts to cross the Berlin Wall
** ''Dust and Dreams'', which is based off the book ''Literature/TheGrapesOfWrath''
** ''Harbour of Tears'', a story of Irish immigrants and their trip to America

* ContemptibleCover: Debatable, but many disliked the cover art of ''I Can See Your House From Here'' which depicts a crucified astronaut in space looking down to Earth.

* GreatestHitsAlbum: A whole bunch of them over the years, through most are of out-of-print. The more recent ones have had the band try to avoid too much overlap between them by including lesser-known songs and live versions

* UncommonTime: '''''Duh.''''' It's {{prog|ressiveRock}}. Were you really expecting something else?

[[caption-width-right:324:The classic Camel lineup: Peter Bardens (keyboards), Doug Ferguson (bass), Andy Ward (drums, percussion), [[FaceOfTheBand Andrew Latimer]] (guitars, vocals)]]

They are often considered one of the most underrated bands in the progressive rock genre. More people started to check them out when Mikael Åkerfeldt of Music/{{Opeth}} cited them as a major influence.

* ConceptAlbum: Quite a few
** ''Music Inspired by the Snow Goose'', a completely instrumental album about the book ''The Snow Goose''
** ''Nude'', the story of Hiroo Onoda, a popular story in Japanese culture

* ContemptibleCover: Debatable, but many disliked the cover art of ''I Can See Your House From Here'' which depicts a crucified astronaut in space looking down to the earth

** Also, the cover to ''I Can See Your House From Here'', which depicts a [[MessianicArchetype crucified astronaut]]

* RevolvingDoorBand: From the 80s onward, Latimer and Colin Bass have been the only consistent members. Denis Clement has been playing drums since 2000.
* NoEnding: The version of "Never Let Go" on the band's first live album abruptly ends, cutting out the final chorus and the guitar solo.
* TickTockTune: "Metrognome", which, after the metronome section, then segues into a complex meter.
* UncommonTime: ''Duh.'' It's {{prog|ressiveRock}}. Were you really expecting something else?

* UncommonTime: ''Duh.'' Its {{prog|ressiveRock}}. Were you really expecting something else?