The History of Nektar Part 3

1974: "Down To Earth"

Nine years later, Nektar turned from itinerant rocksters fleeing the English scene to one of Germany's most highly respected bands. Their new album, "Remember The Future," which traces the story of a bluebird from a distant planet who gives strange visions to a young earthling, was picked by Musik Express, Germany's top trade publication, as a number one album of the year. Frank Zappa chose them to tour France, Switzerland, and German with him. And in an article on European rock, Newsweek magazine called their sound. "Theatrical, restless in its changing modalities."

Nektar's schedule for 1974 was for tours of America, Spain, Scandinavia as well as England and other European countries, combined with lots of TV shows. "You know, we started off very slowly, just playing occasional gigs, and doing everything for ourselves, including management. Then our name seemed to spread across Europe. We’ve been steadily gigging around the continent, like last year when we toured with Frank Zappa."

New songs were added to their repertoire that was due to be released over the next few albums. They were played to the audiences and their reactions were watched. Some of those songs were: "That's Life", "Show Me The Way", and "Fidgety Queen". By the end of the year "Marvellous Moses" and "It's All Over" were added as well. However, Bellaphon Records had different plans. Bellaphon wanted Nektar to be more radio / commercial friendly and Nektar wrote a single for airplay called "Astral Man." Nektar released the Down To Earth album next. This move hurt Nektar a lot, it killed off their momentum here in the States and their record sales started declining. Instead of the extended jams of classic progressive rock they were known for, now comes an album that consisted of short songs based on a circus theme. 1975 "Down To Earth" becomes a gold album in Germany (Nektar's second) but not here in the States. Nektar perfected the Down to Earth songs for concerts and Mick kept adding to the visuals.

1974 Nektar extends its international following to America with the release on Passport Records of "Remember the Future," (Nektar's first gold record) and a tour of the States. 21,700 fans attend the first 6 shows. Four of those shows held at the 3000 seat Ambassador Theater were sell outs due largely in part from the extensive air–play from KSHE FM radio station complete with a two–story gas balloon in Nektar's honor. Finally Nektar gets the break they have been looking for. Nektar finishes their American tour on May 25 at Asbury Park, New Jersey then finishes out the year touring only in Germany.

Since the tastes of the American concert goers was more mainstream rock–n–roll than their European counterpart, Nektar changed their format somewhat by dropping all songs from their "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" suite and added more hard–rocking songs like their "Good Ole Rock–n–Roll" medley to accommodate them. Roye also added his guitar solo taken from the ending of "Do You Believe In Magic" and tacked it onto the ending of "Let It Grow"

On stage "Taffy" uses a Hammond B3 organ as well as a Moog "satellite" and a Thomas "Cameo Royale" organ through an acoustic 270 amp with a 201 speaker cabinet. Mo also uses acoustic amplification for his bass guitar. Ron sits behind his expanded Ludwig double bass drum kit surrounded by nine microphones to balance the sound out front. Roye now has his Epiphone guitar, refinished in white and gold with eight strings, fed through a custom foot pedal board into is Binson echo unit. At this time (July 1974) he pushes his sound into an incredibly small "practice amp" which is amplified though the PA (his normal system is a hi–watt coupled with an Orange cabinet full of Lansing Loud Speakers). The sound is highlighted by a 2500–watt public address system that was custom built for Nektar by Midas Amplification and Dave Martin. The system features eight reflex bass bins in conjunction with four horns, two mid–range horns, and eight "super-tweeters." The stage monitor system consists of four 200 watt Martin monitors. "Vinnie" Schmidt controls this audio power from the 24–channel Midas sound mixer situated in the audience.

In 1974 Nektar consisted of: 4 musicians, 1 light musician, once in a while painter, 1 sound engineer, 3 office freaks, and not to be forgotten, 5 roadies. Vinnie and Tommi who are roadies for quite a long time with Nektar should not be underestimated, because of their know how. Plus now a new light show: consisting of 4 light towers supporting 3 screens, with new projectors at stage front and from behind Ron's drum kit, plus four more effects projectors set up to project onto the two adjacent side screens attached to the scaffold towers housing the PA speakers, a totally fantastic light show, a totally fantastic light show. It has to be seen and heard before one can say anything. Nektar are still experimenting with lights, yes with a 3 dimensional laser and many other little goodies.

Nektar, however, will continue to keep Germany as its home base because they feel a sense of freedom there that is, in turn, reflected in their music. "We want to be commercial," concluded Moore, "but that's not our major concern. We feel a responsibility to the audiences who supported us and kept us going over the years. People are the most important ingredient in our music and we feel obligated to treat them fairly."

Upon returning back to England, Nektar started to play songs that wound up on "Down To Earth" and by the middle of the year "Recycled."

Part 4: The Shot Heard Around The World!

This biography is a rough translation of the with the following lineage. The original version was written in English then translated and written into German then translated back into English.