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Procol Harum (/ˈproʊkəl ˈhɑːrəm/) are an English rock 1.2 “”, commercial formed in 1967. They contributed to the develop- success and debut (1967) ment of , and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 hit single At , southwest , with session "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which is considered a classic drummer (and non-Paramount) Bill Eyden, producer of popular music and is one of the few singles to have sold and sound engineer Keith Grant, the over 10 million copies.[1] Although noted for its baroque group recorded "A Whiter Shade of Pale", and it was re- and classical influence, Procol Harum’s music also em- leased on 12 May 1967. With a structure reminiscent of braces the , R&B and soul. , a countermelody based on J. S. Bach's In October 2012, was nominated for induction Orchestral Suite N° 3 in D Major by Fisher’s Hammond into the Hall of Fame.[2] organ, Brooker’s soulful vocals and Reid’s mysterious lyrics, the single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and the Canadian RPM Magazine chart. It did almost as well in the , reaching No. 5.[3] In , 1 History it was No. 1 for many weeks, setting a record of 8 weeks in . 1.1 Origins, , early years After “A Whiter Shade of Pale” became a hit, the band set out to consolidate their studio success by touring; and formation (1964–67) their live debut was opening for in 1967. The group’s follow-up single, "Homburg", with a line-up The Paramounts, based in Southend-on-Sea, , led change of former Paramounts B.J. Wilson on drums and by and and including Chris Robin Trower on guitar, reached No. 6 in the UK, No. Copping and B. J. Wilson, scored a moderate British suc- 15 in , and No. 34 in the US. cess in 1964 with their version of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Poison Ivy", which reached number 35 in the The group’s eponymous debut studio album was recorded UK Singles Chart. Unable to generate any follow-up suc- between the two hit singles, but was held back until early cess, the group disbanded in 1966.[3] 1968. A series of singles charted lowly in the US and UK, though rarely both at the same time. The Paramounts were signed to EMI UK for their re- leases; until one day before Procol Harum linked with EMI UK again, they were called The Pinewoods. A 1.3 Follow-up and break-up last-minute offer from 's fledgling Island (1968–1977) Records label was given the thumbs down by Brooker and band. The band’s follow-up album, , was re- In April 1967, Brooker began working as a singer- leased the following year and sees a greater excursion into and formed Procol Harum with non- progressive rock stylings. Their third album, Paramounts (poet), Hammond organist (1969), was popular among fans and their first album to Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer and bassist David sell well in the UK. The title track in particular gained a Knights.[3] , their original manager, named good deal of US FM radio . However, one noted the band after a friend’s Burmese cat.[4] The cat’s US writer previewed the LP and the story ran in print as "Cat Fancy" name was Procul Harun, Procul being the “A Salty Duck”. Fisher, who produced the album, de- breeder’s prefix.[5] parted the band soon after its release.[3] In the absence of a definitive origin, the name attracted The group would have many personnel changes,[9] but various interpretations,[6] being said to be for “be- their line-up for their first three albums was Brooker (pi- yond these things” (but the correct Latin translation of ano and lead vocals), Trower (guitar and lead vocals), “beyond these things” is “Procul his”)[7] or translated as Fisher (organ and lead vocals), Knights (bass), Wilson “of these far off things”, the genitive plural “harum” per- (drums), and Reid (lyricist). Former Paramount Chris haps agreeing with an understood “rerum”, “things”.[8] Copping joined on organ and bass in 1970.[3] The group The name of the band is frequently misspelt; often with appeared at the Festival 1970.[10] By 1971, “Procul”, “Harem”, both, or other variations. the disparities in style had become too great and, after

1 2 1 HISTORY

the release of their fifth album , Trower 1.5 2000s left to form his own band and was replaced by .[3] From late 1972 until 1977, the group’s gui- In 2000, Procol Harum received some attention after tarist was Mick Grabham. By 1968 their first compilation the song “In Held Twas in I” appeared on the band album In 1968 was released but only in . Transatlantic’s debut album. Procol Harum returned to success on the record charts in Since 2001 the band, comprising Brooker, Fisher, Geoff the following years with a symphonic rock sound, often Whitehorn (guitar), (bass) and backed by symphony orchestras. At this they were one (drums), has made several tours of mostly Europe, but of the first groups to achieve success; Procol Harum Live: also Japan and the US. A 2001 concert in , In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was a was released on DVD in 2002. In 2003 the No. 5 gold album in the US in 1972, as well as reaching band released a new studio album, The Well’s on Fire, No. 48 in Britain. "Conquistador" (a track from their first and appeared at the Progman Cometh festival in Seattle. album, re-charted for accompaniment by the Edmonton Their concert in London on Friday 12 December 2003, Symphony in 1971) was a hit single in 1972, getting to with much of the material from that album, was released No. 16 in the US and No. 7 in Canada, whilst reaching on DVD in 2004: Live at the Union Chapel. Fisher left No. 22 in the UK. Their follow-up album, Grand Hotel, Procol Harum in 2004. did fairly well, reaching No. 21 on the US Billboard 200 in 1973.[3] The album also received a Silver Certification The band resumed a limited touring schedule in 2005, (over 60, 000 copies sold) in the United Kingdom. with replacing Fisher on Hammond, leav- ing Brooker as the only original performing member. In In 1975 Procol Harum played the final night at the June 2006 they played at the . In in London.[11] More personnel changes August they played two outdoor with the Danish contributed to declining sales in the later part of the Radio Orchestra at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark, which 1970s, with “Pandora’s Box” being their final UK Top 20 were tele-recorded. An hour-long edit of the show was hit in 1975.[3] Its parent album, Procol’s Ninth saw a re- broadcast on Christmas morning, 2008 on Danish Chan- connection with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who both nel DR2 and the full concert was issued on DVD on 11 produced and wrote with the band. The band broke up May 2009 (with six extra tracks from a Danish television in 1977, after seeing stall at No. 147 in recording of the band from 1974). the US Billboard 200 chart.[11] They reunited for a single performance five months later, when “A Whiter Shade Later in 2006 they played in , and of Pale” was named joint winner (along with Queen's Denmark, but with Geoff Dunn replacing Brzezicki on "") of the Best British Pop Single drums, because the latter’s other band was 1952–1977 at the , part of Queen Elizabeth touring with .[14] However, Dunn ended up re- II's .[12] placing Brzezicki for the band’s European tour in 2007. Recording from the Italian concerts were later released as One Eye to the Future – Live in 2007. Procol Harum also played an orchestral concert in on 30 June. 1.4 Reformation and the 'Nineties (1991- They performed with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra at 1999) the outdoor opera venue Dalhalla, near Rättvik. On 20 and 21 July 2007, fans arranged the celebration of The band reformed in 1991 with Brooker, Fisher, Trower the 40th anniversary of the success of “A Whiter Shade and Reid (Wilson had died in 1990), and released The of Pale”, and invited the band to play. This took the form Prodigal Stranger, but sales were modest.[11] After the of two concerts at St John’s, Smith Square in London. album’s release, a new incarnation of the band, with 20 July saw Procol Harum play a mixture of songs from Brooker and Fisher but not Trower, toured the US and their early days through to the début of a couple of new the world for a few years in the first half of the 1990s.[3] songs, “Sister Mary” and “Missing Persons”. The follow- ing night 'Gary Brooker and Guests’ performed a fixture In August 1995 Procol Harum played at the Cropredy of obscure songs by Brooker–Reid that had either never , as guests of . They been recorded, never been performed live before or were also toured US and UK the same year, performing at sev- significantly different from the versions they recorded. eral locations.[13] Although there was no Procol Harum activity in 2008, In July 1997, fans arranged the celebration of the 30th an- their manager Chris Cooke used the 'Beyond the Pale' niversary of the success of “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, and web site to announce plans for a live DVD and a new al- invited the then-inactive band to play a concert at Redhill, bum in 2009, as well as festival concerts in Norway on . 17 July and on 23 July.[15] Just before the lat- In late 1999, Brooker promised that “Procol will play in ter concert, Brooker fell off a pile of road-side logs in 2000”, and in September the band played an open air gig Finland and broke several ribs. The show went ahead but with the New London Sinfonia in . he was unable to sing properly, and many of the songs 3

were performed either as instrumentals or sung by others of Pale. wrote the Foreword, Sir Alan in the band. In October 2009, with Brooker fully recov- Parker wrote an Introduction and Sebastian Faulks wrote ered, the band performed four concerts – in (Ger- an Afterword. He also hosted a rare Procol Harum film many), (Norway), and St Petersburg. evening at the BFI on the South Bank, which was attended All This and More, a four disc retrospective (three CDs by members of the group. and a DVD with historical notes) was released in the au- In March and April 2013 Procol Harum played a series of tumn of 2009, and Salvo also issued all of the band’s pre- five orchestral concerts in Denmark and two such events vious albums as remastered CDs with extra tracks, some in in Germany. Four band-only concerts in never previously heard. Sweden & Finland were held in early October. In September 2012 Procol Harum was among fifteen fi- 1.6 2010s (2010–present) nal nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2013 (induction 18 April 2013). In the subsequent election that December, however, the band failed to gain Procol played a string of US (and ) concert dates enough votes for election.[2] in June 2010, mostly opening for Jethro Tull. On 22 July Procol again headlined at the Keitelejazz Festival In 2014 the band toured again in France, Switzerland, in Äänekoski, Finland – the venue where the band per- Germany, Canada (Ottawa with orchestra) and the East- formed with an injured Brooker in 2009. They described ern U.S. The band also played a five-song set at Ken- this loyal Finnish audience as “the best in the world” and ney Jones’ Rock'n'Horsepower charity event at Ewhurst, played a unique three-verse version of “A Whiter Shade Surrey in June, on a bill including , John of Pale” with a guitar solo from Geoff Whitehorn. 48 Lodge, Nick Kershaw, , Judie Tsuke and hours later Procol were invited to give a free concert at The Who. A twin CD, Inside & Outside, was issued the courtyard of the Palace of the Province of with studio tracks from the Chrysalis years and a live in Italy. In August 2010 they appeared in Bad Krozin- CD including new material and performances of tracks gen in Germany and a Rock Legends event at the Dolina from their first four Zonophone albums. On Monday Charlotty Amphitheater in . After a Halloween gig 24 November Procol Harum appeared at the Dominion in Leamington Spa (their first in the UK for 3 years) the Theatre in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra and band returned to North America in November, including the Crouch End Festival Chorus in an event recorded for a return orchestral event with the Edmonton Symphony broadcast on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night Orchestra on 9 November. After playing in , on 28 November. Guitarist Geoff Whitehorn was hospi- on 18 November, they returned to the US for an talised during rehearsals and at short notice Rick Wake- orchestral concert in Wilmington, Delaware on 4 Decem- man’s guitarist Dave Colquhoun deputised (on crutches, ber. Over 13 thousand people saw eight New Year con- after a broken ankle). He played a guitar solo in the first certs with the Danish Radio Orchestra in Copenhagen and extended, orchestrated version of Keith Reid’s 9/11 trib- other Danish cities in January 2011. ute song “Blink of an Eye”, dedicated by Gary Brooker to the brave firefighters of the 8th Avenue station who the On 29 May 2012, Gary Brooker was hospitalised after band often talked with after gigs in New York. suffering a fall in his hotel room in . He was due to have performed with his band at GrandWest Arena on the 30th, with fellow Brits and , in a tour billed as the 'British Invasion' and then again in 2 Authorship lawsuit Johannesburg on Friday 1 June 2012. Brooker (whose birthday it was) had been in his room at the five-star Table Main article: A Whiter Shade of Pale § Authorship Bay Hotel. He was admitted to the ICU of the Christiaan lawsuit Barnard Memorial Hospital with a serious skull fracture. [16] The band returned to Denmark for the Kløften Festi- In July 2009, Matthew Fisher won a British court judg- val on 25 June before embarking on a 27-date U.S. tour ment awarding him 40% of the music royalties from 2005 supporting Yes. In 2012 the Japanese artist Yumi Mat- onwards for 1967’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, which had sutoya came to London to record “A Whiter Shade of previously gone 50% to Brooker for the music and 50% Pale” with Procol Harum, a band she considered an inspi- to Reid for the lyrics.[17] ration for her work. She sang a duet with Gary Brooker on this new version of the 1967 classic, which featured three verses and a guitar solo by Geoff Whitehorn. Yumi 3 Members and Procol Harum then played a series of December con- certs in major Japanese cities, one of which was recorded Current members for a later television showing (on 31 March 2013). In 2012 Henry Scott-Irvine published a biography of the • Gary Brooker – vocals, (1967–1977, 1991– band, Procol Harum – The Ghosts of A Whiter Shade present) 4 5 REFERENCES

• Keith Reid – lyrics (1967–1977, 1991–present) • Shine on Brightly (1968)

• Geoff Whitehorn – guitars (1991–present) • A Salty Dog (1969)

• Matt Pegg – bass (1993–present) • Home (1970)

• Josh Phillips – organ (1993, 2004–present) • Broken Barricades (1971)

• Geoff Dunn – drums (2006–present) • Grand Hotel (1973)

• (1974) Former members • Procol’s Ninth (1975) • Matthew Fisher – organ, vocals (1967–1969, 1991– • Something Magic (1977) 2003) • The Prodigal Stranger (1991) • Dave Knights – bass (1967–1969) • The Well’s on Fire (2003) • Ray Royer – guitars (1967)

• – drums (1967) 5 References • B.J. Wilson – drums, percussion (1967–1977; died 1990) [1] “Show 49 – The British Are Coming! The British Are • Robin Trower – guitars, vocals (1967–1971, 1991) Coming!: With an Emphasis on , the and The Who. [Part 6]: UNT Digital Library”. UNT Dig- • – bass, organ (1969–1977) ital Library. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

• Dave Ball – guitars (1971–1972; died 2015) [2] France, Lisa Respers (4 October 2012). “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced – CNN.com”. • – bass (1972–1976) CNN.com. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

• Mick Grabham – guitars (1972–1977) [3] Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 776–777. ISBN • – guitars (1977, 1991) 1-84195-017-3.

• Pete Solley – organ (1977) [4] Johansen 2000, p. 50.

• – bass (1977; died 1992) [5] “About the Cat Whose Name the Band Adopted: Il- lustrated”. procolharum.com. Retrieved 27 December • Dave Bronze – bass (1991–1993) 2014..

• Mark Brzezicki – drums (1991–1992, 2000-2006) [6] “Doglatin”. procolharum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2014. • Jerry Stevenson – guitars, mandolin (1991) • [7] “Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, – organ (1992) prŏcul”. perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 27 December 2014. • – drums (1993; died 2007) [8] “Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, rēs”. perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 27 December 2014. • – drums (1995, 1997) • [9] “A Graphical Pedigree of Procol Harum (Old Testa- – drums (1996) ment)". procolharum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

[10] Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). 3.1 Timeline London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 215. CN 5585.

4 Discography [11] Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 337–338. ISBN Main article: Procol Harum discography 0-85112-072-5. [12] “1977”. brits.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

Studio albums [13] http://www.procolharum.com/ph_95-tour.htm [14] “Geoggrey Dunn”. procolharum.com. Retrieved 27 De- • Procol Harum (1967) cember 2014. 5

[15] “Procol Harum News”. procolharum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

[16] “DR Nytarskoncerter med Procol Harum”. dr.dk (in Dan- ish). 15 January 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

[17] “Classic Song’s Organist Wins Royalties Battle – CNN.com”. CNN.com. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 27 De- cember 2014.

6 Sources

• Johansen, Claes (2000). Beyond the Pale. SAF Pub- lishing Ltd. ISBN 0-946719-28-4.

7 External links

• Beyond the Pale, Procol Harum’s semi-official web- site 6 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text

• Procol Harum Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procol_Harum?oldid=673036194 Contributors: The Anome, David spector, Stephen C. Carlson, TUF-KAT, Bogdangiusca, Lee M, Magnus.de, Floydian, RedWolf, Postdlf, Wereon, Curps, Gamaliel, Brequinda, Sunny256, Jfdwolff, Scraggy4, CJCurrie, Thincat, Yossarian, Sam Hocevar, Inventio, Grstain, Bonalaw, Bruzie, Rich Farmbrough, Barfooz, Aaron- brick, Nk, Anonymous Cow, SemperBlotto, Droob, AeneasMacNeill, Phyllis1753, Ombudsman, H2g2bob, Alai, Robert K S, Bdj, Ober- sachse, Lawrence King, Enzo Aquarius, Koavf, Rogerd, Vegaswikian, Lairor, Tbone, FlaBot, RexNL, Sonitus, Aethralis, Wasted Time R, Patman2648, RussBot, Barefootguru, C777, Gaius Cornelius, Mst~enwiki, DragonHawk, Badagnani, Engineer Bob, Mareklug, Jff119, Jack Upland, Zanoni, True Pagan Warrior, SmackBot, JeanBaptiste, Thrasamund, Alex1011, Jim62sch, ProveIt, Gilliam, Folajimi, The monkeyhate, Thumperward, Trekphiler, Multiman dan, Zone46, OrphanBot, Nixeagle, Bpolhemus, Jablair51, Ritchie333, Derek R Bul- lamore, Ohconfucius, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, JzG, John, SilkTork, Gobonobo, Mrom, Timclare, Catapult, Mark Lungo, PCP MC, Ck- atz, Pfold, Azate, Macarion, 2T, Monni95, RomeoVoid, Jimmyeightysix, HisSpaceResearch, Applemask, Shoeofdeath, DougHill, Wood- shed, Jonas Blind Höna, MFlet1, Cydebot, Hebrides, Chris Henniker, StormCloud, Mr. Brain, Nhl4hamilton, PaulVIF, Escarbot, Jimmy- bob32, Darklilac, Elkoref, Grievous Angel, Gxsoft, BucsWeb, Miketm, Designquest10, FinnBjork, NYCRuss, Theeurocrat, MasterRecs, Buhadram, Thomas279, Molly-in-md, Egghead06, UnicornTapestry, Onegin1, Martinevans123, TXiKiBoT, MarkCertif1ed, Slysplace, Broadbot, Pjoef, Shaidar cuebiyar, Barrympls, MuzikJunky, Sposato, Mungo Kitsch, CharlieWA, Rcarlberg, MattKeegan, Escape Or- bit, Martarius, Leahtwosaints, Deanlaw, Wikievil666, Phoenixrisingoverlondon, Rodhullandemu, Richerman, SchreiberBike, DumZiBoT, Antti29, XLinkBot, Jonxwood, Mr.fruit, WikHead, Jkolak, SilvonenBot, Rybrks9, Addbot, James007wiki, SpBot, Tassedethe, Lightbot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, TaBOT-zerem, MSClaudiu, AnomieBOT, Bigbucksyo, Moxy, FrescoBot, Paine Ellsworth, Rubendw, DefaultsortBot, JPGR69, Preservedmoose, Lachlan Foley, Discographer, MrX, Rwood128, GabeMc, TGCP, QueryOne, John Cline, Ostevens, SporkBot, Burbridge92, Obotlig, Sahimrobot, Manytexts, CactusBot, SgtPetsounds, Jeff Song, DrDrake100, Dresian, Helpful Pixie Bot, Hengist Pod, AvocatoBot, Navillus100, LuciferHades23, Dogdogcatdog, Chie one, Amb1997, Sam navera, Mogism, Melemaan, Mchanges!, Mrbelette, Sijambo, Narrow Feint, LewisAlexis, Carlos Rojas77, Monkbot, Frack Wells, EternalFloette, Merkcid, KasparBot and Anonymous: 194

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