Ariel is an Australian band descended from the remnants of Spectrum/Murtceps. Originally formed circa 1973 consisting of Mike Rudd, Bass Bill Putt, drummer Nigel Macara, guitarist Tim Gaze and keyboard player John Mills. The band released two albums, the first of which was heavily promoted and had a more accessible commercial sound.
The album "A Strange Fantastic Dream" (produced by Peter Dawkins) included the hit "Jamaican Farewell" and the dark song "Confessions of a Psychopathic Cowpoke". The second album "Rock & Roll Scars" had some success. The band lost members regularly with Pitt and Rudd continuing to form the nucleus until it finally died around 1975. While Rudd and Pitt made great music the era of Skyhooks and 'Living in the seventies" blew away the style of clever introspective lyrics which were the band's signature. The emergence of Countdown as a venue for commercially oriented bands to gain exposure assisted in the consignment of Ariel to music history.
