Curved Air

Curved Air
Origin	London
Genre(s)	Progressive rock
Years active	1969-1976, 1990,
Website	http://www.curvedair.com
Members
Francis Monkman Darryl Way Sonja Kristina Linwood Florian Pilkington-Miksa Rob Martin
Former members
Ian Eyre Mike Wedgwood Eddie Jobson Stewart Copeland Tony Reeves Kirby Gregory Jim Russell Phil Kohn Mick Jacques Alex Richman
Notable instrument(s)
Electric violin, synthesizer

Curved Air were a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1969.

Contents 1 History 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Singles 3 References 4 External links

History

The group evolved out of the band Sisyphus ^[1] and was named after the piece "A Rainbow in Curved Air" by contemporary composer Terry Riley. The musicians came from quite different artistic backgrounds, classic, folk, and electronic sound, which resulted in a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements. Along with It's A Beautiful Day, Curved Air were one of the first rock bands to feature a violin. The first lineup consisted of:

• Francis Monkman - (keyboards, guitar)
• Darryl Way - (electric violin, vocals)
• Sonja Kristina Linwood - (vocals)
• Florian Pilkington-Miksa - (drums)
• Rob Martin - (bass).

Throughout their lifespan the band experienced frequent personnel changes. To name but a few of the better-known:

• Ian Eyre (born 11 September, in Knaresborough, Yorkshire) took over on bass for the second album
• Mike Wedgwood (born 19 May 1950, in Derby, Derbyshire) played bass on the third album (later in Caravan)
• John G. Perry (ex-Caravan) played bass in later albums
• Eddie Jobson (later Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull and UK) replaced Darryl Way
• Stewart Copeland (The Police) replaced Florian Pilkington-Miksa
• Tony Reeves (born 18 April 1943, in London), ex-Greenslade, Colosseum, John Mayall, replaced Rob Martin

Only Sonja Kristina continuously remained as member. Monkman, member of Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, was later to play with John Williams in a group called Sky. The band's groundbreaking 1970 debut, Airconditioning, reached no. 8 in the UK Albums Chart, and was the second picture disc ever released - the first being by the band Saturnalia in the previous year. In 1976 the band recorded their last studio album and then eventually split . Intermittently since then, the group, particularly in its original line-up, has re-joined for periodic concerts, one of which in 1990 gave rise to another live album.

Discography

Albums

• "Airconditioning" (1970) including the renowned piece "Vivaldi"
• "Second Album" (1971) including the biggest hit "Back Street Luv"
• "Phantasmagoria" (1972)
• "Air Cut" (1973)
• "Live" (1975)
• "Midnight Wire" (1975)
• "Airborne" (1976)
• "Lovechild" (recorded 1973, released 1990)
• "Live At The BBC" (1995)
• "Alive, 1990" (2000)

Singles

• "It Happened Today" / "Vivaldi" / "What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up" (1971)
• "Back Street Luv" / "Everdance" (1971) UK#4
• "Sarah's Concern" / "Phantasmagoria" (1972)
• "Desiree" / "Kids to Blame" (1976)
• "Baby Please Don't Go" / "Broken Lady" (1976)
• "Renegade" / "We're Only Human" (1984)

References

External links

• www.curvedair.com