Arena (Band)

Arena is an English progressive rock band that was founded in 1995 by Mick Pointer (ex - Marillion ) and Clive Nolan ( Pendragon among others, and Shadowland ).

History

The band released its founding in 1995, and in their early occupation of their first album Songs from the Lions Cage. After only singer John Carson left in September 1995 and then bassist Cliff Orsi in May 1996, the band and were replaced by Paul Wrightson (vocals) and John Jowitt ( bass) replaced. It was followed by the studio album Pride, which was produced by Simon Hanhart, and a tour and EP Edits. After the release of the EP, guitarist Keith More turned to other things and was replaced by John Mitchell. This played for the first time on the EP The Cry, published in 1997. In the same year he also produced the first live album Arena: Welcome to the Stage - Live. A year later appeared The Visitor, which is often cited as the most important album of the band and - based on short, interconnected songs that tell a story - a concept album.

1999, it was quiet around Arena. The band released an album and some members were dedicated to other projects: John Mitchell played at The Urbane and Clive Nolan took the Jabberwocky Project with Oliver Wakeman part. In addition, the vocalist Paul Wrightson by Rob Sowden and bassist John Jowitt was replaced by Ian Salmon. With this fresh cast, the band released in 2000 the album Immortal? out, for the work had already begun in 1999. This was followed by a tour and 2001, the live album Breakfast in Biarritz.

After the tour, some members concentrated again on side projects: Clive Nolan toured with Pendragon, while Rob Sowden and John Mitchell worked on solo albums. 2001 began work on the album Contagion, which was not published until early 2003 due to " various circumstances that were not subject to the control of the band ." He should - completed by the notice published in the same year Contagius EP - The Visitor as representing a coherent concept album. Then, still followed an EP, two studio albums, one live CD and three DVDs.

Style

Musically, the band is quite close to the early Marillion, as the drummer Mick Pointer at the studio album Script for a Jester's Tear by Marillion has cooperated. Since its founding, there have been several line-up changes. On the last albums, the band moved slightly more into the metal corner and now sounds like the colleagues of Threshold. The progressive impact was scaled back somewhat, the atmospheric elements have remained to this day.

Only the two founders play on all albums. The last albums listen to similar Shadowland, Nolan's former band, at.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Songs from the Lions Cage ( 1995)
  • Pride ( 1996)
  • The Cry (1997, EP)
  • The Visitor (1998)
  • Immortal? (2000)
  • Contagion (2003)
  • Contagious (2003, EP)
  • Contagion (2004, EP)
  • Pepper's Ghost (2005)
  • The Seventh Degree of Separation (2011)

Live albums

  • Welcome to the Stage - Live ( 1997)
  • Breakfast in Biarritz (2001, double CD)
  • Live & Life (2004, double CD plus DVD)
  • Ten Years On (2006, Best of )
  • Caught in the Act (2003)
  • Clive Nolan's keyboards Crumpet [Limited Edition] (2005)
  • Smoke & Mirrors (2006)
  • Rapture (2013 )
Singing Bass guitar Electronic keyboard England Pendragon (Band) The Visitor (Arena album) Threshold (Band)
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