Galadriel were an Australian progressive rock group formed in 1969 by Garry Adams on guitar and vocals, Doug Bligh on drums (both ex-House of Bricks), Gary Lothian on lead guitar (ex-Elliot Gordon Union), Mick Parker on bass guitar and flute (ex-Samael Lilith), and John "Spider" Scholtens on lead vocals. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, their debut self-titled album from May 1971 is, "one of the rarest major label progressive rock albums of the early 1970s... songs ranged in style from bluesy hard rock ('Amble On', 'Girl of Seventeen') to jazzy ballads ('Standing in the Rain')." The group broke up in 1972. Galadriel was re-released in 1995, on CD, by Vicious Sloth Collectables.
Galadriel | |
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| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Progressive rock |
| Years active | 1969–1972 |
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| Past members |
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History edit
Future members of Galadriel, Garry Adams on guitar and vocals and Doug Bligh on drums, had both been members of Sydney dance band, House of Bricks, alongside Daryl Braithwaite on lead vocals and Bruce Worrall on bass guitar.[1][2] Mick Parker, on bass guitar and flute, was a member of Samael Lilith with Ray Ferguson on lead vocals and guitar, Brent Thurlow on organ and Greg Wilder on drums.[1] When Galadriel formed in 1969 and House of Bricks disbanded, Braithwaite and Worrall joined Samael Lilith before the pair later joined pop group, Sherbet.[1] Galadriel's original members with Adams, Bligh and Parker were Gary Lothian on lead guitar (ex-Elliot Gordon Union), and John "Spider" Scholtens on lead vocals;[1] the main song writers were Adams and Sholten.[2]
The group were named for the Elven character in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.[1][2] Their debut single, "Girl of Seventeen", was issued via the Du Monde label in February 1971. They were signed to Polydor Records, which issued the group's self-titled album in May of that year.[1][3] It was recorded with Tom Lubin producing.[1] Ian McFarlane, an Australian music journalist, observed, "[it is] one of the rarest major label progressive rock albums of the early 1970s... songs ranged in style from bluesy hard rock ('Amble On', 'Girl of Seventeen') to jazzy ballads ('Standing in the Rain')."[1] A second single, "Standing in the Rain", appeared alongside the album in the same month.[1] Parker left the group and was replaced by Dave Allen on flute and Bruce Belbin on bass guitar.[1][2] The group had signed a recording contract with Festival Records but broke up in 1972.[1][2] Adams and Bligh joined Mario Millo in the Clik, Bligh later played in Richard Clapton Band, Ross Ryan Band and then Windchase (the latter group with Millo).[1] Galadriel was re-released in 1995, on CD, by Vicious Sloth Collectables.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Broderick Smith'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Galadriel". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Galadriel (1995), Galadriel, Vicious Sloth Collectables, retrieved 23 August 2019,
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