Galahad formed in 1985 just for fun playing half covers (Genesis, Zeppelin, Rush, Sabbath, Focus, Marillion etc) and half original material. Galahad then supported a few fairly well known ‘Progressive’ bands that were coming up at the time including IQ, Pendragon, Haze and later Pallas and Magnum.
Then, after mixing it with the slightly ‘bigger boys’ Galahad decided take it more seriously, and began playing only original material resulting in the release of their first proper album in 1991, ‘Nothing Is Written’, which was purely self financed and released independently but which went on to sell several thousand copies.
The success of ‘Nothing Is Written’ was also helped by the fact that the band received substantial air play on BBC Radio One, especially on the Radio One Rock Show hosted by the late, great Tommy Vance. The band then landed themselves with deals in the UK, Japan and Germany.
The band has now released fifteen albums including albums by main band offshoots such as Galahad Electric Company and the Galahad Acoustic Quintet. The band has played hundreds of gigs in the UK, Europe and America over the last few years, at times in some very unusual venues!
In 2002 Galahad released ‘Year Zero’ which featured John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) on guest vocals.
In September 2006 Galahad released their debut DVD ‘Resonance’ , which was recorded live in Katowice, Poland in May 2006.
‘Empires Never Last’ , which features Karl Groom (Threshold) on engineering duties, was released in 2007 and took the band in a heavier, more muscular, guitar orientated direction. This more contemporary, metallic approach seems to have worked as ‘Empires’ has proved to be the band’s most successful album to date, both commercially and critically, and has resulted in them winning album of the year at the 2007 Classic Rock Society awards. ‘Empires’ was also included in many music web sites top tens for 2007.
In the interim and whilst recording TWO new studio albums Galahad have released a couple of live albums ‘Sleepless in Phoenixville – Rosfest Live 2007’ and ‘Whitchurch 92/93 – Live Archives -Vol.2′
‘Battle Scars’, again recorded at Thin Ice by Karl Groom was released in April 2012 and takes the band further in to a heavy/rockier direction but mixing it up with a few more overt modern dance/trance and classical influences. ‘Beyond the Realms of Euphoria’, the second album recorded at the same time will be released later in 2012. Both new albums feature Neil Pepper on bass who sadly passed away in September 2011 after a long battle against cancer. He will be very greatly missed but will always be a part of the band in spirit.
Galahad on tour….
Sunday 19th August – The Thomas Tripp, Christchurch, Dorset UK
Saturday 1st September 2012 – Progmotion Festival, De Pul, Uden, The Netherlands
with Minor Giant and Wolverine.
Saturday 15th September 2012 – House of Progression at The Peel, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK
plus special guests
Saturday 20th October 2012 – The inaugural PROGUPHORIA Festival, Mr Kyps, Poole, Dorset, UK
also featuring ‘The Cryptic Clues’ (effectively Twelfth Night), The Paul Menel Band (Ex-IQ) and Alan Reed (Ex-Pallas).
Should be a night of ‘Prog’ to remember!!
Saturday 24th November 2012 – Danfest 2 at The Musician, Leicester, UK
with Also Eden, Konchordat, The Gift and two others TBA!
