Prog Magazine Issue 90 Back Issue

CAMEL
The last time the UK had a summer as hot as this one, Camel were one of the biggest bands in the country. Riding high after the huge success of the preceding year’s conceptual extravaganza The Snow Goose, the band
formed by guitarist Andy Latimer in 1971 had passed steadily through the progressive rock ranks and were now, seemingly, on the cusp of even greater success. Their next move would eventually turn out to be their
smartest of all: forty two years later, the band’s fourth album is widely regarded as their finest work, not to mention their most enduringly popular. Released in March 1976, just in time for that year’s now legendarily drought ravaged summer, Moonmadness was the ultimate showcase for the classic Camel line-up of Latimer, keyboard player Peter Bardens, bassist Doug Ferguson and drummer Andy Ward. As Camel continue to play Moonmadness in full on their latest tour, guitarist Andy Latimer looks back at the creation of one of the all-time classic prog albums.