Nektar

Not to be confused with Nectar.

Nektar
Roye Albrighton with Nektar live in 2007
Background information
Origin	Hamburg, West Germany
Genres	Progressive rock space rock jam rock
Years active	1969–1978 1979–1982 2000–2016 2019–present
Labels	Current: On Stage Purple Pyramid Former: Bellaphon United Artists Passport Decca Polydor Ariola Bacillus
Members	Nektar (US-based band) Derek "Mo" Moore Ryche Chlanda Kendall Scott Mick Brockett Randy Dembo New Nektar (Germany-based band) Klaus Henatsch Alexander Hoffmeister Holger Trull Norbert "Panza" Lehmann
Past members	Roye Albrighton Allan "Taff" Freeman Ron Howden Keith Walters Dave Nelson Dave Prater Carmine Rojas Ray Hardwick Larry Fast Tom Hughes Steve Adams Desha Dunnahoe Steve Mattern Peter Pichl Billy Sherwood Tom Fry Lux Vibratus Tommi Schmidt Che Albrighton
Website	nektarband.com nektarsmusic.com

Nektar (German for nectar) is an English progressive rock band formed in Hamburg, West Germany in 1969, by guitarist and lead vocalist Roye Albrighton, keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman, bassist Derek "Mo" Moore, and drummer Ron Howden.

History

1969–1973: Early years

The band formed in Hamburg, West Germany in 1969. The founding members were Englishmen Roye Albrighton on guitars and lead vocals, Allan "Taff" Freeman on keyboards, Derek "Mo" Moore on bass, Ron Howden on drums and artists Mick Brockett and Keith Walters on lights and "special effects". Though the concept of non-performing bandmembers was not unprecedented (e.g. lyricist Keith Reid in Procol Harum), it was unusual that a third of Nektar's lineup had no role in performing or writing their music. Throughout their early existence the band's songwriting was credited to all six members on the album sleeves, but BMI records show that the music was written by the four performing members. Brockett did however co-write the lyrics with Moore, and invented or contributed to the original album titles.

The band's debut album, Journey to the Centre of the Eye (1971), consisted of a single song running over 40 minutes, with the last 100 seconds of the first side repeated at the beginning of the second side to maintain continuity. It was a concept album, following an astronaut who is given overwhelming knowledge by extraterrestrials, with sonic textures reminiscent of psychedelic rock. The follow-up, A Tab in the Ocean (1972), drew on more conventional rock and blues influences. Walters had left by the time of their third album, the heavily improvised double album ...Sounds Like This (1973), though the band would continue to use his art in their shows and album designs for a time. A cult following grew for the band, based largely on word of mouth.

1973–1982: Height of success and disbanding

Nektar's U.S. release, Remember the Future (1973), propelled the band briefly into mass popularity. A concept album revisiting Journey to the Centre of the Eye's theme of extraterrestrials granting a human enlightenment, but with a blind boy as the protagonist. It demonstrated a more melodic sound than previous albums and shot into the Top 20 album charts in the U.S. The follow-up, Down to Earth (1974), was another concept album (this time with a circus theme); it also sold well, breaking into the Top 40 album charts and including their only song to chart on the Billboard singles charts, "Astral Man". The next album, Recycled (1975), was stylistically close to bands like Gentle Giant and carried on the band's close connection with progressive rock.

Albrighton left the band in December 1976, just prior to the studio sessions for Nektar's first major-label release, Magic Is a Child (1977). The remaining members were joined by guitarist/vocalist Dave Nelson at this point. The album was more eclectic, although with shorter songs and fairly straightforward rhythms. Lyrically the album covered a wide range of subjects from Norse mythology and magic to more down to earth subjects like railroads and truck drivers.

In 1978 the band dissolved; however in 1979 Albrighton and Freeman reformed the band with bassist Carmine Rojas and drummer Dave Prater and released a new album, Man in the Moon (1980), before the band dissolved once again in 1982.

Ian Curtis of Joy Division was a fan of the band and was photographed before he joined the band in a Nektar T-shirt.

2000–present: Reformation and New Nektar

2000–2018: Reformation

Nektar regrouped in 2000 with a line-up consisting of Albrighton, Freeman, and drummer Ray Hardwick, and in 2001, they released The Prodigal Son (2001). The following year, the band headlined NEARfest with the full classic line-up including Moore on bass, Howden on drums, and Larry Fast guesting on synthesizers. In 2003, Moore departed the band and was replaced by Randy Dembo. Nektar cut one more album, Evolution (2004), before Freeman was replaced by Tom Hughes. Dembo and Hughes left in August 2006, citing communication problems, money issues, personality issues, and trust in the management issues. Dembo was briefly replaced by a returning Carmine Rojas, before the band settled on a line-up that consisted of Albrighton, Howden, guitarist Steve Adams, bassist Desha Dunnahoe, and keyboardist Steve Mattern. However, this line up never performed live on stage.

Later in 2006, the band found new management in Roy Clay to replace The Eclectic Records staff, and performed at progressive rock-themed festivals worldwide on a part-time basis, and occasionally appearing in some of their old haunts in the New Jersey/New York area. Clay was released from management duties early 2007 after a dispute over financial matters, and the band made an official complaint which exposed further fraudulent acts. Clay was ultimately convicted for fraud, lying, and forgery, and was jailed for 2 years and 11 months.

In mid-2007, a solo tour was undertaken by Albrighton. A full band tour of Europe (primarily Germany) was scheduled by a European-based promoter, but they had to postpone as extra funds were needed to complete the new album, Book of Days, which was not released until the following year, by which time Adams, Dunnahoe, and Mattern had departed the band. Book of Days featured more of Roye Albrighton's guitar work than previous Nektar albums.

In late 2007, the band embarked on a tour for which they performed Remember the Future in its entirety, the line-up now including Klaus Henatsch on keyboards and Peter Pichl on bass. In this formation they toured extensively through Europe in 2008. These concerts resulted in the highly acclaimed live double album Fortyfied (2011), which was released in 2009 under Roye's own Treacle Music label. In 2009, the band also played their first gig in the US again, appearing as headliners at the Rites of Spring Festival and a week-long tour along the East Coast.

In mid 2011, Lux Vibratus joined the band on bass for the Cleopatra Records' Space Rock Invasion Tour in the U.S. By the time the band came to record the covers album A Spoonful of Time, bass duties were shared by session musician Jürgen Engler, Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan, and former Yes member Billy Sherwood, who also served as the album's producer. The Albrighton-Howden-Henatsch-Sherwood line-up recorded and released Time Machine. A special post-recording show was put together at the Coach House in South Orange County, California. Returning to Nektar in 2013, Vibratus was on bass for the Cruise to the Edge voyage, followed by The Virada Cultural Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. In June, this line-up went on the road again for a U.S. tour billed as the U.K. Legends of Classic Rock. In January 2014, bassist Tom Fry joined the band for a European tour. On this tour Che Albrighton, Roye's son, made his first appearance as a drummer because Howden had a different engagement. Che had previously worked as tour manager for Nektar on several tours.

On 26 July 2016, Roye Albrighton died after an unspecified illness, at the age of 67. Following his death, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry decided to move on with the production of a new album with On Stage Records, the label they worked with since 2015. The first release was the double live album Live in Bremen (2017), which documents the last tour with Albrighton. After an audition in 2017, Henatsch, Howden, and Fry agreed to continue Nektar with Alexander Hoffmeister as their new frontman and guitarist.

2018–present: Nektar (US-based band)

Nektar performing at Progstock in 2019

In early 2018, Howden left the band to found his own group, also named Nektar, and based in the US. He asked former bass player Moore to join, to which he agreed, which was followed by the addition of former members Randy Dembo, Mick Brockett (lights, projections and atmosphere), and Ryche Chlanda (guitar and vocals), and newcomer keyboardist Kendall Scott, a friend of Chlanda's.

The US line-up assembled a set of previously unrecorded tracks from Chlanda's time in the band, which were released on The Other Side as Nektar.

Original Nektar keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman died in August 2021 at the age of 76.

On 29 September 2023, Ron Howden died at the age of 78 after years of numerous health issues, including cancer. The band had been arranging new music only five days earlier for a new album. The future of these plans is currently unknown.

2018–present: New Nektar (Germany-based band)

The Germany-based Nektar has operated under a new name, New Nektar, to create some distinction and distance from old successes. In 2018, New Nektar recorded the concept album Megalomania (2018), featuring Che Albrighton on drums, and completed the Megalomania Release Tour in December 2018. Che Albrighton was unavailable to participate, so he was replaced by Norbert "Panza" Lehmann.

Personnel

Current members

United States-based band (since 2018)

• Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, vocals and lyrics (1969–1978, 2002–2003, 2019–present)
• Mick Brockett – special effects, lyrics (1969–1977, 2002, 2019–present)
• Ryche Chlanda – guitars, lead vocals (1978, 2019–present)
• Randy Dembo – guitars, bass, bass pedals, backing vocals (2003–2006, 2019–present)
• Kendall Scott – keyboards, backing vocals (2019–present)

Germany-based band (also known as New Nektar since 2018)

• Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals (2007–present)
• Alexander Hoffmeister – vocals, guitars (2017–present)
• Holger Trull – bass, backing vocals (2021–present)

Former members

• Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals (1969–1978, 1979–1980, 2000–2004; died 2021)
• Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1969–1978, 2003–2016, 2019–2023, his death)
• Roye Albrighton – guitars, bass, lead vocals (1969–1976, 1978, 1979–1982, 2000–2016; his death)
• Keith Walters – special effects (1969–1972)
• Larry Fast – synthesisers (1975–1978, 2002–2003)
• Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals (1976–1978)
• Carmine Rojas – bass, backing vocals (1979–1982, 2006)
• Dave Prater – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1979–1982)
• Tommi Schmidt – keyboards, backing vocals (1980–1982)

• Ray Hardwick – drums, percussion (2000–2003)
• Scott Krentz – percussion, vocals (2002)
• Tom Hughes – keyboards, backing vocals (2004–2006)
• Steve Adams – guitars, backing vocals (2006–2007)
• Desha Dunnahoe – bass, backing vocals (2006–2007)
• Steve Mattern – keyboards (2006–2007)
• Peter Pichl – bass (2007–2011)
• Lux Vibratus – bass (2011–2014)
• Billy Sherwood – bass (2013)
• Tom Fry – bass (2014–2019)
• Che Albrighton – drums (2014, 2018)
• Heike Nolden – bass (2019–2021)
• Norbert "Panza" Lehmann – drums, backing vocals (2018–2023, his death)

Timeline

Line-ups

Note: bold indicates a line-up change; (*) indicates returning member

Nektar

1969–1972	1972–1975	1975–1976	1976–1977
Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett – special effects Keith Walters – special effects	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett – special effects	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett – special effects Additional personnel Larry Fast – synthesisers	Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett – special effects Additional personnel Larry Fast – synthesisers
1977–1978	1978	1978	1978–1979
Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Additional personnel Larry Fast – synthesisers	Dave Nelson – guitars, lead vocals Ryche Chlanda – guitars, backing vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett – special effects Additional personnel Larry Fast – synthesisers	Roye Albrighton* – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Disbanded
1979–1980	1980–1982	1982–2000	2000–2002
Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Carmine Rojas – bass, backing vocals Dave Prater – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Tommi Schmidt – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Carmine Rojas – bass, backing vocals Dave Prater – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Disbanded	Roye Albrighton – guitars, bass, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman* – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Ray Hardwick – drums, percussion
2002–2003	NEARfest 2002 Reunion	2003–2004	2004–2006
Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Larry Fast* – synthesisers Derek "Mo" Moore* – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ray Hardwick – drums, percussion	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Larry Fast – synthesisers Derek "Mo" Moore – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Ron Howden* – drums, percussion Mick Brockett* – special effects Additional personnel Scott Krentz – percussion and vocals Michelle Eckert – backing vocals Maureen McIntyre – backing vocals	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Allan "Taff" Freeman (died 2021) – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals Randy Dembo – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Tom Hughes – keyboards, backing vocals Randy Dembo – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals
2006–2007	2007–2011	2011–2014	2014–2016
Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Steve Adams – guitars, backing vocals Steve Mattern – keyboards Desha Dunnahoe – bass, backing vocals Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals Peter Pichl – bass Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Roye Albrighton – guitars, lead vocals Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals Lux Vibratus – bass Billy Sherwood – bass (2013) Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Roye Albrighton (died 2016) – guitars, lead vocals Klaus Henatsch – keyboards, backing vocals Tom Fry – bass Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Che Albrighton – drums (2014)
2017–2018	2018–2019	2019–2021	2021–present
Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal Klaus Henatsch – keyboards Tom Fry – bass Ron Howden – drums, percussion, backing vocals Che Albrighton – drums (2018)	as "New Nektar" (Germany-based band) Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal Klaus Henatsch – keyboards Tom Fry – bass Norbert "Panza" Lehmann – drums, backing vocals	as "New Nektar" (Germany-based band) Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal Klaus Henatsch – keyboards Heike Nolden – bass (2019-2021) Norbert "Panza" Lehmann – drums, backing vocals	as "New Nektar" (Germany-based band) Alexander Hoffmeister – guitars, vocal Klaus Henatsch – keyboards Holger Trull – bass, backing vocals (2021-present) Norbert "Panza" Lehmann – drums, backing vocals

Nektar (US-based band)

2018–present
Ryche Chlanda* – guitars, vocal Kendall Scott – keyboards Derek "Mo" Moore* – bass, keyboards, vocals Randy Dembo* – bass, 12-string guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals Ron Howden (died 2023) – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mick Brockett* – special effects

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	United States	Canada	Australia
1971	Journey to the Centre of the Eye	–	–	–
1972	A Tab in the Ocean	141	–	–
1973	...Sounds Like This	–	–	–
	Remember the Future	19	23	72
1974	Down to Earth	32	37	93
1975	Recycled	89	–	–
1977	Magic Is a Child	172	–	–
1980	Man in the Moon	–	–	–
2001	The Prodigal Son	–	–	–
2004	Evolution	–	–	–
2008	Book of Days	–	–	–
2012	A Spoonful of Time	–	–	–
2013	Time Machine	–	–	–
2018	Megalomania (released as New Nektar)	–	–	–
2020	The Other Side (released as Nektar, the US-based band)	–	–	–
2024	Mission to Mars (released as Nektar, the US-based band)	–	–	–

Live albums

Year	Album
1974	Sunday Night at London Roundhouse (5 tracks)
1977	Live in New York
1978	More Live Nektar in New York
2002	Sunday Night at London Roundhouse Expanded version (10 tracks)
2002	Unidentified Flying Abstract - Live at Chipping Norton 1974
2004	Greatest Hits Live
2005	2004 Tour Live
2005	Door to the Future - The Lightshow Tapes Volume 1
2005	Live in Germany 2005
2008	Live in Detroit 1975
2011	Fortyfied
2011	Complete Live In New York 1974 (compiles Live in New York + More Live Nektar in New York)
2011	Greatest Hits Volume 1 (Re-release of CD 1 of Greatest Hits Live)
2011	Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Re-release of CD 2 of Greatest Hits Live)
2014	Live at the Patriots Theater (re-release of Greatest Hits Live)
2015	Up Close (Roye Albrighton)
2017	Live in Bremen
2019	Live Anthology 1974-1976
2021	Sounds Like Swiss

Compilation albums

Year	Album
1976	Nektar
1978	Thru the Ears
1978	Best of Nektar
1994	Highlights
1998	The Dream Nebula: The Best of 1971–1975
2008	The Boston Tapes
2011	Retrospektiv 1969–1980

Singles

Year	Title	Billboard Hot 100	Album
1973	"Do You Believe in Magic?"	-	...Sounds Like This
1974	"What Ya Gonna Do?"	-
	"Remember the Future (Edit)"	-	Remember the Future
	"Fidgety Queen'"	-	Down to Earth
	"Astral Man"	91
1975	"Flight to Reality"	-	Recycled
2005	"Always"	-	Evolution

Videography

Video albums

Year	Title
2003	Live
2005	Pure: Live in Germany 2005
2016	Up Close (Roye Albrighton)

External links

• The US Nektar web site
• The Nektar Project: the classic Nektar years from 1969 to 2003
• Nektar discography at Discogs
• Nektar at AllMusic
• Nektar at IMDb as Roye Albrighton
• 2010 interview with Roye Albrighton
• onstage management of NEKTAR