Peter Bardens

Infobox musical artist
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Name = Peter Bardens
Birth_name = Peter Bardens


Img_capt =
Born = June 19, 1944
Died = January 22, 2002
Origin = Westminster, Central London, England
Genre = Progressive rock, New Age Music
Label =
Occupation = Keyboardist
Songwriter
Pianist
Instrument = Organ
Piano
Keyboard
Synthesizer
Mellotron
Years_active = 1965 - 2002
Associated_acts = Camel
Pete Bardens' Mirage
URL =

Pete Bardens (June 19 1944 - January 22 2002) was one of the founding members of the British progressive rock group Camel, playing keyboards. Born in Westminster, South London, England, he often played the mellotron and synthesizer while working with the band, and wrote the majority of the songs while he was there (usually along with guitarist Andrew Latimer).

In 1965 he was the keyboard player with Them. Between 1966 and 1967 he was with the Shotgun Express, a group featuring Rod Stewart, Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood. His band Pete B's Looners (or the Pete B's) also included Green and Fleetwood.

He left Camel in 1978, and joined Van Morrison's band for the 1978 album Wavelength and the following tour, before he had a solo career that led him into electronica. In 1984 he was a member of Keats. During the late 80s and early 90s, he released a number of solo electronic albums including the moderately successful "Seen One Earth" in 1986. His first single from that album, "In Dreams", enjoyed heavy airplay on FM rock stations in the USA and Australia. In 1988 he followed this with "Speed of Light", on which his long time friend Mick Fleetwood guest featured on several tracks on drums. "Whisper in the Wind" and "Gold" were released as singles in the U.S.

Bardens was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001. His last concert, subsequent to this diagnosis, was in Los Angeles in the summer of 2001. On stage with Bardens were John Mayall, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Sheila E. and Ben Harper. [Chris Salewicz, Peter Bardens obituary, "The Independent", January 31, 2002. Accessible at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-bardens-729711.html] Bardens died from lung cancer in Malibu, California at the age of 57.

References

Records

*1970 - "The Answer"
*1971 - "Write My Name in the Dust"
*1973 - "Camel" (with Camel)
*1974 - "Mirage" (with Camel)
*1975 - "The Snow Goose" (with Camel)
*1976 - "Moonmadness" (with Camel)
*1976 - "Vintage 69" (reissue of "The Answer")
*1977 - "Rain Dances" (with Camel)
*1977 - "A Live Record" (with Camel)
*1978 - "Breathless" (with Camel)
*1979 - "Heart to Heart"
*1987 - "Seen One Earth"
*1988 - "Speed of Light"
*1989 - "Pete Bardens" (reissue of "Write My Name in the Dust")
*1989 - "White Magic Soundtrack" (to film by Warren Miller)
*1991 - "Water Colors"
*1993 - "Further Than You Know"
*1995 - "Big Sky"
*1995 - "Mirage: Live 14.12.94"
*2000 - "Speed of Light: Live" (as Pete Bardens' Mirage)
*2002 - "Art of Levitation"
*2002 - "Live: Germany 1996"
*2005 - "Write My Name in the Dust: Anthology"

amples

* [http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/mp3/Pete%20Bardens%20-%20No%20Jazz.mp3 Sample of "No Jazz"] (mp3) by Pete Bardens, from his final album, "Art of Levitation".