Quella Vecchia Locanda ("That old inn") or QVL were an Italian band from Monteverde, classified as Italian progressive rock, symphonic rock or chamber music. The band released two studio albums, in 1972 and 1974. Both their studio albums have received favourable reviews. Years active: 1970-1974 QVL plays a complex music with a lot of instrumental combinations, beautiful melodies and a very high sophistication, reminiscent of the style of King Crimson. The band's singer (and flautist) was Giorgio Giorgi. According to an interview with Don V. Lax, the violin player on the first album, "I would find some Bach or Brahms or Corelli and weave it into the music so we were making a classical-rock fusion." As for live performances, "playing at Villa Pamphili for 150,000 people was the most memorable, but we also played for other huge outdoor concerts, on television, and at clubs in Rome and on the coast." Don Lax went on to play violin for artists such as Camper van Beethoven and briefly collaborating with Tim Tompkins of The Moody Blues. Members: Giorgio Giorgi Raimondo Maria Cocco Massimo Roselli Romualdo Coletta
Discography: Albums: Quella vecchia locanda (1972) Il tempo della gioia (1974) Live album: Live (1993, recorded 1971?) Singles: "Villa Doria Pamphili" (1974)
Kyrie Eleison was an Austrian symphonic rock band, formed in 1973 and lasted until 1979 when they disbanded, by Gerald Krampl (keyboards) together with two school friends, Karl Novotny (drums) and Felix Rausch (guitar). The music is symphonic, progressive rock at its finest, with Mellotrons and keyboard leads, and moods ranging from quiet piano passages to walls of sound. They blended the symphonic mastery of Genesis with the thematic aspects of Van Der Graaf Generator. Played on all bigger festivals in Austria together with groups like Van Der Graaf, Amon Düül, Eela Craig, Collosseum etc. Toured several times through the country with their concept of a "Symphonic Rock Theater" à la Genesis, and self-released a highly acclaimed LP: "The Fountain Beyond The Sunrise", which nearly brought the international breakthrough. But onlasting personnel troubles and the impossibility to produce a second LP led in the end to the split of the group in 1979.
Following musicians played (chronologically) in the band:
Gerald Krampl - keyboards, synthesizers, Mellotron, backing vocals Wolfgang Wessely - vocals Michael Schubert - lead vocals, percussion Felix Rausch - guitar Manfred Drapela - acoustic & electric guitars, backing vocals Gerhard Eder - guitar Gerhard Frank - bass Norbert Morin - bass, bass pedals, acoustic guitar Karl Novotny - drums, percussion, backing vocals Otto Singer - drums The Fountain Beyond The Sunrise (1976): http://youtu.be/6W3B0M4t6Qw
Discography: - The Blind Windows Suite (1975) - Fountain Beyond The Sunrise (1976) - The Complete Recordings 1974-1978 (2002)
Not much is known about Ardo Dombec except that they were an early 70’s German prog band who released an album with a heavy, bluesy, and slightly jazzy feel, ending up barely sounding German at all. Often compared to Colosseum, their music features a lot of saxophone, often matched by electric guitar and flute. Their arrangements are upbeat and bright, yet the lyrics are rather dark and cynical in contrast. The band consisted of Helmut Hachmann on sax and flute, Harald Gleu on guitar and vocals, Wolfgang Spillner on drums and vocals, and Michael Ufer on bass. Their only cd, entitled simply “Ardo Dombec” (1971), collects just about everything the band has ever recorded. At times, their jazzy material flirts with pop and at other times, it sounds downright baroque. The band obviously enjoys strange and complex rhythms, Soft Machine style. Although they seem to favour vocal tracks (which aren’t exactly their forte), it is in the instrumental sections that they truly shine. Technically speaking, the musicianship is fairly good but the compositions may lack a little inspiration and excitement. Not an essential album by any means but certainly worth a listen, if only for Hachmann’s heavy sax grooves. Ardo Dombec 1971: http://youtu.be/4BdHWYjpX04
Biography Randy Pie was a german band that played a mix of Rock, Jazz and Soul. Founded 1973, partly by musicians that played in the band Rattles before. Members: Dicky Tarrach - Drums Bernd Wippich - Guitar, Lead Vocals Manfred Thiers - Bass Jochen Petersen - Sax, Flute, Guitar, Vocals Werner Becker - Keyboard Jean-Jacques Kravetz - Keyboard, Sax Discography: - Highway Driver - England, England - Fast Forward Randy Pie - Randy Pie 1973: http://youtu.be/M8bVpPh3Bm4
This is a documentary on the band produced for Vh1 Classic in support of the first Archive box set. Upscaled and slightly edited for cohesiveness. Narrated by Ray Wilson. Part 1: 1967 - 1975 http://youtu.be/ft7gE1k2ic0
