Nektar founding member and drummer Ron Howden dead at 78 years

Ron Howden

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

History[edit]

1969–1973: Early years[edit]

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 (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[edit]

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 Eyes theme of extraterrestrials granting a human enlightenment, but with a blind boy as the protagonist. It demonstrated a much 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 (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 at this point. 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 (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.[citation needed]

2000–present: Reformation and New Nektar[edit]

2000–2018: Reformation[edit]

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.[4] In 2003, Moore departed the band and was replaced by Randy Dembo. Nektar cut one more album, Evolution (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.

Later in 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.[5]

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, 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.[6]

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 (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.[7] By the time the band came to record the covers album A Spoonful of Time (2012), 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.[8] The Albrighton-Howden-Henatsch-Sherwood line-up recorded and released Time Machine (2013).[9] 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.[7][10] 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.[11] 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 (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.[12]

2018–present: Nektar (US-based band)[edit]

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 (2020) as Nektar.[13]

Original Nektar keyboardist Allan “Taff” Freeman died in August 2021 at the age of 76.[14]

On 29 September 2023, Ron Howden died at the age of 78 after years of numerous health issues, including cancer.[15] The band had been arranging new music only five days earlier for a new album. The future of these plans is currently unknown.

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

The Germany-based Nektar has 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.

Personnel[edit]

Current members[edit]

United States-based band (since 2018)[edit]

  • 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, vocals (1978, 2019–present)
  • Randy Dembo – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals (2003–2006, 2019–present)
  • Kendall Scott – keyboards (2019–present)

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

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

Former members[edit]

Timeline[edit]

Line-ups[edit]

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

Nektar[edit]

1969–1972 1972–1975 1975–1976 1976–1977
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett – special effects
  • Keith Walters – special effects
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett – special effects
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett – special effects
Additional personnel
  • Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett – special effects
Additional personnel
  • Larry Fast – synthesisers
1977–1978 1978 1978 1978–1979
  • Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Additional personnel
  • Larry Fast – synthesisers
  • Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals
  • Ryche Chlanda – guitars, backing vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett – special effects
Additional personnel
  • Larry Fast – synthesisers
  • Roye Albrighton* – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Disbanded
1979–1980 1980–1982 1982–2000 2000–2002
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Carmine Rojas – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Prater – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Tommi Schmidt – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Carmine Rojas – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Prater – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Disbanded
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, bass, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman* – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Ray Hardwick – drums, percussion
2002–2003 NEARfest 2002 Reunion 2003–2004 2004–2006
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Larry Fast* – synthesisers
  • Derek “Mo” Moore* – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ray Hardwick – drums, percussion
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Larry Fast – synthesisers
  • Derek “Mo” Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden* – drums, percussion
  • Mick Brockett* – special effects
Additional personnel
  • Scott Krentz – percussion and vocals
  • Michelle Eckert – backing vocals
  • Maureen McIntyre – backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Allan “Taff” Freeman (died 2021) – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals
  • Randy Dembo – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Tom Hughes – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Randy Dembo – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
2006–2007 2007–2011 2011–2014 2014–2016
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Steve Adams – guitars, backing vocals
  • Steve Mattern – keyboards
  • Desha Dunnahoe – bass, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Peter Pichl – bass
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Lux Vibratus – bass
  • Billy Sherwood – bass (2013)
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roye Albrighton (died 2016) – guitars, lead vocals
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Tom Fry – bass
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Che Albrighton – drums (2014)
2017–2018 2018–2019 2019–2021 2021–present
  • Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards
  • Tom Fry – bass
  • Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Che Albrighton – drums (2018)
as “New Nektar” (Germany-based band)

  • Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards
  • Tom Fry – bass
  • Norbert “Panza” Lehmann – drums, backing vocals
as “New Nektar” (Germany-based band)

  • Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards
  • Heike Nolden – bass (2019-2021)
  • Norbert “Panza” Lehmann – drums, backing vocals
as “New Nektar” (Germany-based band)

  • Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal
  • Klaus Henatsch – keyboards
  • Holger Trull – bass, backing vocals (2021-present)
  • Norbert “Panza” Lehmann – drums, backing vocals

Nektar (US-based band)[edit]

2018–present
  • Ryche Chlanda* – guitars, vocal
  • Kendall Scott – keyboards
  • Derek “Mo” Moore* – bass, keyboards, vocals
  • Randy Dembo* – bass, 12-string guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals
  • Ron Howden (died 2023) – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Brockett* – special effects

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Album United States Canada[16] Australia[17]
1971 Journey to the Centre of the Eye
1972 A Tab in the Ocean 141
1973 …Sounds Like This
Remember the Future 19 23 72
1974 Down to Earth 32 37 93
1975 Recycled 89
1977 Magic Is a Child 172
1980 Man in the Moon
2001 The Prodigal Son
2004 Evolution
2008 Book of Days
2012 A Spoonful of Time
2013 Time Machine
2018 Megalomania (released as New Nektar)
2020 The Other Side (released as Nektar, the US-based band)

Live albums[edit]

Year Album
1974 Sunday Night at London Roundhouse (5 tracks)
1977 Live in New York
1978 More Live Nektar in New York
2002 Sunday Night at London Roundhouse Expanded version (10 tracks)
2002 Unidentified Flying Abstract – Live at Chipping Norton 1974
2004 Greatest Hits Live
2005 2004 Tour Live
2005 Door to the Future – The Lightshow Tapes Volume 1
2005 Live in Germany 2005
2008 Live in Detroit 1975
2011 Fortyfied
2011 Complete Live In New York 1974 (compiles Live in New York + More Live Nektar in New York)
2011 Greatest Hits Volume 1 (Re-release of CD 1 of Greatest Hits Live)
2011 Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Re-release of CD 2 of Greatest Hits Live)
2014 Live at the Patriots Theater (re-release of Greatest Hits Live)
2017 Live in Bremen
2019 Live Anthology 1974-1976
2021 Sounds Like Swiss

Compilation albums[edit]

Year Album
1976 Nektar
1978 Thru the Ears
1978 Best of Nektar
1994 Highlights
1998 The Dream Nebula: The Best of 1971–1975
2008 The Boston Tapes
2011 Retrospektiv 1969–1980

Singles[edit]

Year Title Billboard Hot 100 U.S Mainstream Rock UK Top 100 Album
1973 “Do You Believe in Magic?” …Sounds Like This
1974 “What Ya Gonna Do?”
“Remember the Future (Edit)” Remember the Future
“Fidgety Queen'” Down to Earth
“Astral Man” 91
1975 “Flight to Reality” Recycled
2005 “Always” Evolution

Videography[edit]

Video albums[edit]

Year Title
2003 Live
2005 Pure: Live in Germany 2005

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nektar at AllMusic
  2. Jump up to:a b c “Aural Innovations 4”. Aural-Innovations.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  3. ^ Martin Kielty, “Nektar’s Roye Albrighton dead at 67” Teamrock.com, 28 July 2016
  4. ^ “NEARfest Official Facebook Page”NEARfest Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  5. ^ Naylor, Mark (18 April 2011). “Music Producer’s £170,000 Swindle”Grimsby Telegraph.
  6. ^ “27-Apr-2008 interview with Roye Albrighton on Outsight Radio Hours”Archive.org. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  7. Jump up to:a b c d e “The Current Band Members”Nektar: The Official Website. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  8. ^ “Nektar – A Spoonful Of Time (CD, Album)”Discogs.com. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  9. ^ “Nektar – Time Machine (Vinyl, LP, Album)”Discogs.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  10. ^ “2013 & 2014 Tour Dates – The Nektar Project Forum – Page 1”. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ^ “Legendary NEKTAR Frontman Roye Albrighton Passes”Bravewords.com. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  12. ^ “The Story of NEKTAR”Bravewords.com. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  13. ^ “Concert Review of NEKTAR”Regioactive.de.
  14. ^ “Allan TAFF Freeman, Musician Obituary (1945 – 2021) – Legacy Remembers”Legacy.com.
  15. ^ “Nektar founding member and dummer Ron Howden dead at 78”Loudersound.com. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  16. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 214. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. ^ “RPM Magazine search results”Library and Archives Canada.

External links[edit]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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