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Peter BardensBritish rock musician, keyboardist
Date of Birth: 19.06.1944
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Peter Bardens
- Early Career and Collaborations
- Later Career and Solo Albums
- Final Years and Legacy
Biography of Peter Bardens
Early Life and CareerPeter Bardens was a British rock musician, keyboardist, and one of the founding members of the progressive rock band 'Camel'. He played the organ, piano, synthesizer, and mellotron, and co-wrote songs with Andrew Latimer. Bardens collaborated with rock singer Rod Stewart, drummer Mick Fleetwood, and Northern Irish musician Van Morrison, the founder of Celtic soul. Born on June 19, 1944, in Westminster, Central London, England, Bardens was the son of Dennis Bardens, a detective writer. He grew up in Notting Hill and studied at the local Byam Shaw art school.
Early Career and Collaborations
In 1965, Bardens left 'The Cheynes' and performed with the Northern Irish group 'Them' for a while, where he met the emerging Van Morrison. He then joined 'Peter B's Looners', which eventually transformed into 'Shotgun Express', a soul music group that included Rod Stewart, Peter Green, and Mick Fleetwood. In 1970, Peter formed a new group called 'The Village', which recorded the album 'The Answer' in the same year, featuring blues-rock guitarist Peter Green under the pseudonym Andy Gee. In 1971, Bardens released a self-titled album, which was released in the USA as 'Write My Name in the Dust' and joined 'Camel' in 1972. During this period, Bardens began studying electronics and released the album 'Heart to Heart', establishing an impressive body of work.
Later Career and Solo Albums
Bardens left 'Camel' in 1978 to reunite with his former 'Them' bandmate Van Morrison and record the album 'Wavelength' in 1978. Additionally, he participated in a concert tour to support the album. In collaboration with vocalist and guitarist Bobby Tench, Bardens wrote the song 'Looking For A Good Time', which was released as the B-side of the single 'Chain Gang' in 1982 – Tench dedicated this record to the memory of soul singer Sam Cooke. In 1984, he became a member of the band 'Keats'. Bardens released several solo albums of electronic music, including 'Seen One Earth' in 1987, which gained particular success in the USA. The first single from this album, 'In Dreams', received significant airplay on rock radio stations in the USA and Australia. In 1988, he released the follow-up album 'Speed of Light', featuring Mick Fleetwood. 'Water Colours' was released in 1991, and in 1994, Bardens formed the band 'Mirage' with former 'Camel' member Andy Ward on drums and David Sinclair from 'Caravan' on keyboards.
Final Years and Legacy
Peter Bardens' last concert took place in Los Angeles in the summer of 2001, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. The concert featured guest appearances by Mick Fleetwood, British singer and guitarist John Mayall, bassist John McVie, drummer Sheila Escovedo, and singer-songwriter Ben Harper. On January 22, 2002, Bardens passed away from lung cancer in Malibu, California, at the age of 57. His contributions to progressive rock, new age, rhythm and blues, and soul continue to be appreciated by music enthusiasts worldwide.
