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For more information on the band and its history go to mandalaband.co.uk

MANDALABAND I – IN THE BEGINNING

Mandalaband I

MANDALABAND began life in the early 1970s when David Rohl recruited the first band line-up of Dave Durant (lead vocals), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (guitars), John Stimpson (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Tony Cresswell (drums). David played keyboards and contributed to the backing vocals – and engineered, produced and composed the music.

For the four movements of Om Mani Padme Hum, Dave Durant and the London Chorale perform mantras and lyrics from the Tibetan national anthem, in this symphonic rock masterpiece, which so impressed DJs John Peel and Alan Freeman.

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MANDALABAND II – THE EYE OF WENDOR

Mandalaband II

The original Eye of Wendor took two full years to create, beginning in the autumn of 1976 at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England, where David Rohl had recently been appointed Chief Engineer. With the help of Barclay James Harvest (David was engineering and co-producing them at the time) plus musician friends and colleagues with whom he had worked over the years, the Mandalaband founder carefully created this classic symphonic rock album on a budget of just £8,000. All the singers and musicians contributed their talents for free, working in the studio ‘dead hours’ to keep costs down and so as to afford the luxury of the Hallé Orchestra and Gerald Brown Singers – the final icing on the cake of this ambitious project.

Based on a Tolkienesque fantasy centred around a magical gem-stone, vocalists Eric Stewart (10cc), Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Graham Gouldman, Lol Creme & Kevin Godley (10cc) and Paul Young (Sad Café/ Mike and the Mechanics) tell the tale.

Other contributors include: Ritchie Close (Grand Piano, Piano & Fender Rhodes); Woolly Wolstenholme (Mellotrons & Synths, Moog Horns, Cathedral and Hammond Organs); David Rohl (Grand Piano, Pianos & Synths); Phil Chapman (Flutes, Fifes, Alto & Tenor Saxophones); Steve Broomhead (Lead, Spanish, Electric & Acoustic Guitars); John Lees (Lead Guitar, Guitars); Ashley Mulford (Lead Guitar, Guitars); Jimmy McDonnell (Guitar, Rhythm Guitar); Norman Barratt (Voice Box Guitar); Les Holroyd (Bass); Noel Redding (Bass); Pete Glennon (Bass); Graham Gouldman (Bass); Alf Tramontin (Bass); Kim Turner (Drums, Percussion, Synths, Acoustic Guitar); David Hassle (Drums, Percussion); Mel Pritchard (Drums, Rototoms); the Gerald Brown Singers and the Halle Orchestra Strings.

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Mandalaband III - The third incarnation of mandalaband

Mandalaband III

Four of the principal musicians from the 70s Mandalaband are still part of the new project: Ashley Mulford (guitars; Mandalaband I & Sad Café), Woolly Wolstenholme (mellotron/keyboards; Mandalaband II, Barclay James Harvest, John Lee's BJH & Maestoso), Kim Turner (drums/percussion; Mandalaband II & Maestoso) and David Rohl (writer, engineer, producer and keyboards for both albums). It has been over 30 years since the last album and this third incarnation of the band now includes Troy Donockley (Uilleann pipes, whistles and guitars; Iona & the Bad Shepherds), Jose Manuel Medina (keyboards; Last Knight), Marc Atkinson (vocals; Gabriel & Riversea), Geoffrey Richardson (violin, viola, flute, clarinet and guitars; Caravan, The Penguin Café Orchestra & the Murray Head band), Craig Fletcher (bass guitar; Maestoso, BJH & John Lee's BJH) and Barbara & Briony Macanas (vocals; Limehouse & Afriko).

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Mandalaband IV - The fourth incarnation of mandalaband

Mandalaband IV

Several new musicians and singers have joined the Mandalaband IV brotherhood for this album, which includes:

David Rohl (writer, engineer, producer, vocalist and keyboards; Mandalaband I to IV); Ashley Mulford (guitars and vocals; Mandalaband I & III, Sad Cafe); Troy Donockley (Uilleann pipes, whistles, guitars and bouzouki; Iona & the Bad Shepherds); Marc Atkinson (acoustic guitar and vocals; Gabriel & Riversea); Jose Manuel Medina (keyboards, Spanish guitar and backing vocals; Last Knight); Sergio Garcia (acoustic guitar; Last Knight); Kim Turner (drums, percussion and mandolin; Mandalaband II & III, Maestoso); David Clements (bass guitar); Craig Fletcher (bass guitar and backing vocals; Mandalaband III, Maestoso & John Lees BJH); Morten Vestergaard (bass guitar); Pablo Lato (bass guitar; Last Knight);Dave Duran (the original singer in Mandalaband 1); Barbara & Briony Macanas (backing vocals); Alison Carter (backing vocals); Lynda Howard (backing vocals).

Woolly Wolstenholme (keyboards and vocals; Mandalaband II & III, Barclay James Harvest & Maestoso) sadly passed away during the last stages of recording AD. This album is dedicated to his memory.

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