Nektar

Biography

Nektar (German for nectar) is an English progressive rock band formed in Hamburg, West Germany in 1969, by guitarist and lead vocalist Roye Albrighton, keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman, bassist Derek "Mo" Moore, and drummer Ron Howden.

1969–1973: Early years

The band formed in Hamburg, West Germany in 1969. The founding members were Englishmen Roye Albrighton on guitars and lead vocals, Allan "Taff" Freeman on keyboards, Derek "Mo" Moore on bass, Ron Howden on drums and artists Mick Brockett and Keith Walters on lights and "special effects". Though the concept of non-performing bandmembers was not unprecedented (e.g. lyricist Keith Reid in Procol Harum), it was unusual that a third of Nektar's lineup had no role in performing or writing their music. Throughout their early existence the band's songwriting was credited to all six members on the album sleeves, but BMI records show that the music was written by the four performing members. Brockett did however co-write the lyrics with Moore, and invented or contributed to the original album titles.
The band's debut album, Journey to the Centre of the Eye×Journey to the Centre of the Eye1971 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracksA1Prelude1:25A2Astronaut's Nightmare6:27A3Countenance3:34A4The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun2:55A5Warp Oversight4:10A6The Dream Nebula, Part 12:16B1The Dream Nebula, Part 22:27B2It's All in the Mind3:22B3Burn Out My Eyes7:50B4Void of Vision2:02B5Pupil of the Eye2:47B6Look Inside Yourself0:54B7Death of the Mind1:55 (1971), consisted of a single song running over 40 minutes, with the last 100 seconds of the first side repeated at the beginning of the second side to maintain continuity. It was a concept album, following an astronaut who is given overwhelming knowledge by extraterrestrials, with sonic textures reminiscent of psychedelic rock. The follow-up, A Tab in the Ocean (1972), drew on more conventional rock and blues influences. Walters had left by the time of their third album, the heavily improvised double album ...Sounds Like This (1973), though the band would continue to use his art in their shows and album designs for a time. A cult following grew for the band, based largely on word of mouth.

1973–1982: Height of success and disbanding

Nektar's U.S. release, Remember the Future (1973), propelled the band briefly into mass popularity. A concept album revisiting Journey to the Centre of the Eye's theme of extraterrestrials granting a human enlightenment, but with a blind boy as the protagonist. It demonstrated a more melodic sound than previous albums and shot into the Top 20 album charts in the U.S. The follow-up, Down to Earth (1974), was another concept album (this time with a circus theme); it also sold well, breaking into the Top 40 album charts and including their only song to chart on the Billboard singles charts, "Astral Man". The next album, Recycled×Recycled1975 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Recycle2:47A2Cybernetic Consumption2:12A3Recycle Countdown1:51A4Automaton Horrorscope3:08A5Recycling1:44A6Flight to Reality1:19A7Unendless Imagination?4:37B1Sao Paulo Sunrise3:05B2Costa Del Sol4:03B3Marvellous Moses6:35B4It’s All Over5:21 (1975), was stylistically close to bands like Gentle Giant and carried on the band's close connection with progressive rock.
Albrighton left the band in December 1976, just prior to the studio sessions for Nektar's first major-label release, Magic Is a Child (1977). The remaining members were joined by guitarist/vocalist Dave Nelson, and lead vocals were now divided among the four instrumentalists, often with multiple lead vocalists on a single song. Brockett was now credited only as one of Nektar's four stage and lighting designers rather than as a member of the band, and did not appear in the group photo on the back cover. The album was more eclectic, although with shorter songs and fairly straightforward rhythms. Lyrically the album covered a wide range of subjects from Norse mythology and magic to more down to earth subjects like railroads and truck drivers.
In 1978 the band dissolved; however, in 1979 Albrighton and Freeman reformed the band with bassist Carmine Rojas and drummer Dave Prater and released a new album, Man in the Moon×Man in the Moon1980 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Too Young to Die4:25A2Angel3:39A3Telephone3:46A4Far Away3:26A5Torraine5:35B1Can’t Stop You Now4:31B2We4:51B3You’re Alone4:14B4Man in the Moon6:55 (1980), before the band dissolved once again in 1982.
Ian Curtis of Joy Division was a fan of the band and was photographed before he joined the band in a Nektar T-shirt.

2000–2018: Reformation

Nektar regrouped in 2000 with a line-up consisting of Albrighton, Freeman, and drummer Ray Hardwick, and in 2001, they released The Prodigal Son (2001). The following year, the band headlined NEARfest with the full classic line-up including Moore on bass, Howden on drums, and Larry Fast guesting on synthesizers. In 2003, Moore departed the band and was replaced by Randy Dembo. Nektar cut one more album, Evolution×Evolution25 October 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Camouflage to White7:062Old Mother Earth7:433Child of Mine6:464Phazed by the Storm9:245Always7:046Dancin’ Into the Void8:217The Debate9:338After the Fall5:37 (2004), before Freeman was replaced by Tom Hughes. Dembo and Hughes left in August 2006, citing communication problems, money issues, personality issues, and trust in the management issues. Dembo was briefly replaced by a returning Carmine Rojas, before the band settled on a line-up that consisted of Albrighton, Howden, guitarist Steve Adams, bassist Desha Dunnahoe, and keyboardist Steve Mattern. However, this line up never performed live on stage.
In early 2006, the band found new management in Roy Clay to replace The Eclectic Records staff, and performed at progressive rock-themed festivals worldwide on a part-time basis, and occasionally appearing in some of their old haunts in the New Jersey/New York area. Clay was released from management duties early 2007 after a dispute over financial matters, and the band made an official complaint which exposed further fraudulent acts. Clay was ultimately convicted for fraud, lying, and forgery, and was jailed for 2 years and 11 months.
In mid-2007, a solo tour was undertaken by Albrighton. A full band tour of Europe (primarily Germany) was scheduled by a European-based promoter, but they had to postpone as extra funds were needed to complete the new album, Book of Days×Book of Days16 May 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Over Krakatoa5:072King of the Deep8:523Lamorna1:284Doctor Kool11:105The Iceman10:296Where Are You Now10:447Book of Days (Between the Lines)3:288Book of Days3:31, which was not released until the following year, by which time Adams, Dunnahoe, and Mattern had departed the band. Book of Days featured more of Roye Albrighton's guitar work than previous Nektar albums.
In late 2007, the band embarked on a tour for which they performed Remember the Future in its entirety, the line-up now including Klaus Henatsch on keyboards and Peter Pichl on bass. In this formation they toured extensively through Europe in 2008. These concerts resulted in the highly acclaimed live double album Fortyfied×Fortyfied2009 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11A Tab in the Ocean14:392Cryin' in the Dark5:463King of Twilight4:184Dream Nebula4:335Desolation Valley5:186Waves3:117Remember the Future Pt 218:488Doctor Kool10:119King of the Deep9:07Disc 21Where Are You Now9:412A Day in the Life of a Preacher5:263Mr. H9:174Recycled Pt 117:295The Debate8:206Man in the Moon8:45 (2011), which was released in 2009 under Roye's own Treacle Music label. In 2009, the band also played their first gig in the US again, appearing as headliners at the Rites of Spring Festival and a week-long tour along the East Coast.
In mid 2011, Lux Vibratus joined the band on bass for the Cleopatra Records' Space Rock Invasion Tour in the U.S. By the time the band came to record the covers album A Spoonful of Time×A Spoonful of Time2 November 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Sirius2:452Spirit of the Radio4:593Fly Like an Eagle4:074Wish You Were Here5:565For the Love of Money7:156Can’t Find My Way Home3:2172000 Light Years From Home4:568Riders on the Storm6:409Blinded by the Light7:1810Out of the Blue4:4611Old Man3:2612Dream Weaver3:4813I’m Not in Love5:5614Africa4:22, bass duties were shared by session musician Jürgen Engler, Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan, and former Yes member Billy Sherwood, who also served as the album's producer. The Albrighton-Howden-Henatsch-Sherwood line-up recorded and released Time Machine. A special post-recording show was put together at the Coach House in South Orange County, California. Returning to Nektar in 2013, Vibratus was on bass for the Cruise to the Edge voyage, followed by The Virada Cultural Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. In June, this line-up went on the road again for a U.S. tour billed as the U.K. Legends of Classic Rock. In January 2014, bassist Tom Fry joined the band for a European tour. On this tour Che Albrighton, Roye's son, made his first appearance as a drummer because Howden had a different engagement. Che had previously worked as tour manager for Nektar on several tours.
On 26 July 2016, Roye Albrighton died after an unspecified illness, at the age of 67. Following his death, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry decided to move on with the production of a new album with On Stage Records, the label they worked with since 2015. The first release was the double live album Live in Bremen×Live in Bremen5 May 2017 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11A Tab in the Ocean2Band Introduction3Doctor Kool4King of the Deep5Recycled (excerpt)Disc 21The Dream Nebula (Part 1+2)2Desolation Valley3Waves4Time Machine5Now6Cast Your Fate7The Debate8Man on the Moon9Good Day (2017), which documents the last tour with Albrighton. After an audition in 2017, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry agreed to continue Nektar with Alexander Hoffmeister as their new frontman and guitarist.

2018–present: Nektar (US-based band)

In early 2018, Howden left the band to found his own group, also named Nektar, and based in the US. He asked former bass player Moore to join, to which he agreed, which was followed by the addition of former members Randy Dembo, Mick Brockett (lights, projections and atmosphere), and Ryche Chlanda (guitar and vocals), and newcomer keyboardist Kendall Scott, a friend of Chlanda's.
The US line-up assembled a set of previously unrecorded tracks from Chlanda's time in the band, which were released on The Other Side as Nektar.
Original Nektar keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman died on 22 August 2021 at the age of 76.
On 29 September 2023, Ron Howden died at the age of 78 after years of numerous health issues, including cancer. This album would ultimately see a release in 2024 under the title Mission to Mars×Mission to Mars30 August 2024 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Mission to Mars8:582Long Lost Sunday7:113One Day High One Day Lo10:114I'll Let You In6:04. After the passing of Ron Howden, Jay Dittamo has replaced him since 2024, featuring on Nektar's latest album Mission to Mars (2024) and touring with the band. As of 2025, bass player Randy Dembo no longer appears as a band member, neither on the band's website nor as a touring member.

2018–present: New Nektar (Germany-based band)

The Germany-based Nektar operated under a new name, New Nektar, to create some distinction and distance from old successes. In 2018, New Nektar recorded the concept album Megalomania (2018), featuring Che Albrighton on drums, and completed the Megalomania Release Tour in December 2018. Che Albrighton was unavailable to participate, so he was replaced by Norbert "Panza" Lehmann. The US based line-up of Nektar (featuring Moore, Howden & Brockett) successfully challenged the rights of the German band to use the name Nektar and legal ownership of the band name reverted to the US based band.

United States-based band (since 2018)

Source

Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, vocals and lyrics (1969–1978, 2002–2003, 2019–present)
Mick Brockett – special effects, lyrics (1969–1977, 2002, 2019–present)
Ryche Chlanda – guitars, lead vocals (1978, 2019–present)
Kendall Scott – keyboards, orchestral programming, backing vocals (2019–present)
Maryann Castello – vocals (since 2019)
Jay Dittamo – drums (since 2024)

Germany-based band (also known as New Nektar since 2018)

Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals (2007–present)
Alexander Hoffmeister – vocals, guitars (2017–present)
Holger Trull – bass, backing vocals (2021–present)

Line-ups

Note: bold indicates a line-up change; (*) indicates returning member