Dorset Progressive rock band Galahad are incredibly proud and pleased to announce, fifteen years to the day, the release of Alive at Loreley which was recorded on Friday 3rd Sept 2010 in Germany at the Night of the Prog V festival at the beautiful Loreley venue.
Although they didn’t know it at the time, this would also be the last show that bassist Neil Pepper ever performed on stage with Galahad as he was suffering from advanced Oesophageal cancer and very sadly passed away almost exactly a year later on 2nd September 2011 which makes this release even more poignant.
The band feel that this album is a fitting tribute to Neil, to whom it is dedicated, and who will always be a massive and integral part of Galahad and its history.
The inner sleeve notes reads:
“On a very warm and sunny late summer afternoon, as part of the ‘Night of the Prog V’ music festival, we performed at the most beautiful venue we have ever played, the world-famous Loreley amphitheatre in Germany situated several hundred metres above the meandering and shimmering River Rhine.
In many ways the Loreley show was a watershed in the history of Galahad as it was to be Neil Pepper’s final performance with the band, although they didn’t know it the time. He was already struggling and feeling very ill but was determined to enjoy it and make it a show to remember. Sadly, he succumbed to Oesophageal cancer almost exactly one year later. It really was the end of era for both the band and Neil’s family.
Vocalist Stu is not quite sure why it took so long but fifteen years later we decided to revisit the original live recordings that were made on that incredible weekend and upon listening we were very pleasantly surprised to hear the quality and clarity of the sound. Karl Groom, as usual, has done an amazing job both on the mix and sound.
Although, to be perfectly honest, it wasn’t the tidiest of performances and included a few erroneous notes and misplaced lyrics here and there but it was certainly full of emotional spirit, passion and raw energy, encapsulating a classic Galahad show with Neil on top form, incredibly fitting for his final live performance with Galahad. It was also the first Galahad show to feature Mark Spencer on additional guitar, albeit just for just one song, a storming version of Termination to finish the hour-long set.
Thus, it made complete sense to us to finally mix and release this important and rather poignant slice of Galahad history on the occasion of our fortieth anniversary.” The album features 6 tracks played within the historic surrounds and it captures the very essence of the bands live set that has captivated fans for so long. The band earlier this year were awarded a lifetime achievement away at the Original Music Awards at a lavish ceremony at the Lighthouse in Poole in view of their 12 studio albums and the fact they have continued to perform since forming in 1985.
Track Listing
Sleepers
Empires Never Last
Richelieu’s Prayer
Bug Eye
Seize the Day
Termination
Galahad Line up 2010
Stu Nicholson – Vocals and tambourines
Dean Baker – Keyboards and backing vocals
Roy Keyworth – Guitar and backing vocals
Spencer Luckman – Drums
Neil Pepper – Bass guitar
Surprise special guest: Mark Spencer – Guitar and backing vocals
Credits
Edited, mixed and mastered by Karl Groom at The Parks Studio, Berkshire
Photographs by Sam Smyth, Martin Christgau and Bettina Dörr
Artwork and booklet design by Paul Tippett
Purchase the new CD here.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/room801
https://galahad1.bandcamp.com
