Previous years of hebdomadal BtP updates

Year 18, ending October 2015

8 October 2015 : the final bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Today is BtP's 18th birthday ... and it falls on a date on which we always remember the life and music of the great BJ Wilson, who has been gone 25 years this year.

Accordingly, we are delighted to add a feature illustrating the triumphant rebuilding ... and playing ... of his Ludwig kit of which we sold various items on eBay exactly one year ago (thanks, Richard!)

Also it's a pleasure to add the first 2016 gig in the Procol calendar, which will be of interest to those who have been hankering for a band-only full-length set in the UK. This show has NOT been advertised anywhere except at 'Beyond the Pale' and the promoters have agreed to hold off for 24 hours from the date of this publication, in order that Procol fans may arrange their accommodation ... accommodation which is likely to dwindle pretty soon (thanks, Chris!)

1 October 2015 : the forty-eighth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the eleventh in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Corrected a ridiculous error here

Added the second in a series of picture pages showing Procol Harum on stage at Gossau, Switzerland (thanks, Heidi)

Added a graphic, below, that you can click to order a brand-new classic of British humour: a compendium of surprising, bizarre, outrageous or simply stupefying facts (no fiction!) about well-known figures.

The back cover (part of it pictured) is not the only Procol reference in it! Very strongly recommended for your pre-Christmas shopping, not merely for the strange insights (Lennon, Nico, Clapton, Fripp, Troggs a.o.) into the world of rock'n'roll (thanks, Frank)

24 September 2015 : the forty-seventh bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the first in a series of picture pages showing Procol Harum on stage at Gossau, Switzerland (thanks, Heidi)

Added Richie Blackmore's occasionally problematic appraisal of A Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Jim)

Added the tenth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

17 September 2015 : the forty-sixth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added two new European Procol Harum dates for December

Added a 1976 Procol ticket featuring the great Viv Stanshall (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added the ninth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added the fourth and last in a series showing Procol onstage in Freising, May 2014 (thanks, Heidi)

10 September 2015 : the forty-fifth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the third in a series showing Procol onstage in Freising, May 2014 (thanks, Heidi)

Added the eighth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added some good, long-range shots of Procol recently onstage at Winterbach, in Germany (thanks, Uta)

Added info and a correction to this interesting page (thanks, Martin!)

3 September 2015 : the forty-fourth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from the recent Gary Brooker and Friends concert in Souillac, France

Added the second in a series showing Procol onstage in Freising, May 2014 (thanks, Heidi)

Added the seventh and last in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http: //twitter.com/ProcolHarum1) and at the somewhat new 'Beyond the Pale' Facebook page, where we hope gigs / events can be more easily spotted than they are amid the busy newsfeed on our former Procol Facebook group.

27 August 2015 : the forty third bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the sixth in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added the seventh in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added the fourth in a first series and the fourth in a second series of interesting party-shots – specially interesting from the Brooker perspective – from Stuttgart at the end of July (thanks, Hary and Uta)

20 August 2015 : the forty second bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Normal service is now resumed at the Procol Harum online shop, following staff holidays. See here also. Thanks to all for your patience. Anything ordered since the end of June is now in transit.

Added the third in a first series and the third in a second series of interesting party-shots – specially interesting from the Brooker perspective – from Stuttgart at the end of July (thanks, Hary and Uta)

Added the first in a series showing Procol onstage in Freising, May 2014 (thanks, Heidi)

Added the sixth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

13 August 2015 : the forty-first bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the second page in a first series and the second page in a second series of interesting party-shots – you'll again recognise some of the people! – from Stuttgart at the end of July (thanks, Hary and Uta)

Added a third page of photos from Liquorice Jam (thanks, Tito)

6 August 2015 : the fortieth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Harry 'Your Own Choice' Pitch and Cilla Black

Added the first page in a first series and the first page in a second series of interesting party-shots – you'll recognise some of the people! – from Stuttgart at the end of July (thanks, Hary and Uta)

Added a second page of photos from Liquorice Jam (thanks, Tito)

Added the third and last in a series of Procol-related shots from Ewhurst (thanks, Graham)

30 July 2015 : the thirty-ninth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the fifth in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added the fifth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

26 July 2015 :

Added (in German and English) a very interesting review of Procol Harum and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson at Winterbach ... a must-read for fans of Procol and Tull alike ...

24 July 2015 :

Added the setlist from a Bellinzona show compromised and curtailed by atrocious weather

23 July 2015 :

Added the setlist from a great Winterbach show

22 July 2015 :

A fuller report will follow on this evening's wonderful Garden Party in Stuttgart organised by German/Irish Palers with the BtP team and attended by fans from about a dozen nations. Great food and drink; miraculously nice weather after an afternoon of 'orrible storms. Unheralded guests of honour were Procol Harum – Gary, Geoff, Geoff, Josh and Matt, with Johnny, Geoff and Thomas from the crew (the last of these with human and canine family members) – who evidently all had a good time and added immeasurably to the festivities by their amiable mingling and good humour!

Towards midnight a little live music developed, featuring The Commander initially on drums (playing Memorial Drive and A Rum Tale with GW on Elyra (a new style of electric guitar, the prototype designed by Tilly Fuchs, one of the party guests, and built by our German host Paul Koehrer) and Roland from BtP on piano. When Gary moved to the microphone Jens from BtP took over the drums, and Ian Hockley, and Roland (from the piano), helped out with lyrical prompts on Dead Man's Dream and Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) (assembled company sang the Legrand Ooh-la-las).

Lastly Gary improvised hilarious new lyrics to Grand Hotel, commending the food and drink, dancing with Sari from Finland during the 'Russian' section, leaving the 'band' (drums, Elyra and piano) to wind down the party. A really great and memorable time was had by all.

Major thanks to Paul und Marion, and Brendan and Kellie, for planning and executing this very enjoyable and memorable event!

Added a page of pictures taken the previous day in Stuttgart where preparations for the Procol garden-party were in full swing

Also added a 42-song setlist from another amazing party that took place in Brooklyn just a few days before at Electric Garyland, being a gathering of musical allies and fellow-travellers commemorating our friend Dave Ball as he would surely have wished, with loud playing and risk-taking, lots to eat and drink, and a great deal of bonhomie and merriment.

Also added the first page of pictures from this excellent Liquorice Jam session (thanks, Tito)

Major thanks to Tito and Gary C for executing and planning this very memorable and enjoyable event!

16 July 2015 : the thirty-eighth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Going to the Winterbach concert, and have no ticket? One seated ticket available from a Paler who sadly cannot attend the concert. 50 Euros. Seated tickets are sold out from the venue.

Send a mail to webmaster@procolharum.com, and we will put you in contact with the seller.

Added a review of the recent Brooker and Friends gig in Paris

Added the fourth in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added the fourth in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added the second in a series of Procol-related shots from Ewhurst (thanks, Graham)

Updated sundry pages here, here, here, here and here

9 July 2015 : the thirty-seventh bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'The arts succeed where religion often fails ... and if you don’t like Bach, try reading Marcel Proust.'
Added an illuminating, brief interview from Chris Copping (thanks, Justin)

See also the Copping/Proust page

Added the third in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added some pictures from May 2014: Gary Brooker's 69th birthday party, hosted in Germany by 'Beyond the Pale' (thanks, Heidi)

Added the third in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Good to see BJ Wilson in the NME Top Drummers poll celebrating the 75th birthday of Ringo Starr: see here for more

2 July 2015 : the thirty-sixth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the second in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added the second in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added the first in a series of Procol-related shots from Ewhurst (thanks, Graham)

1 July 2015

Tickets for the Garden Party in Stuttgart are now sold out.

If you are going to the Procol Harum concert in Winterbach on 23 July, and need transportation between Winterbach and Stuttgart – we still have a handful of seats available on our bus. See here for details.

27 June 2015

RIP Chris Squire

Added the setlist from tonight's Gary Brooker and Friends concert at New Morning in Paris

25 June 2015 : the thirty-fifth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the first in a series of Procol Harum performance pictures from Ewhurst (thanks, Charlie)

Added the first in a series of photographs of the grand concert at Ewhurst, Surrey, UK

Added some long-overdue captions to this photo page (thanks, Peter)

18 June 2015 : the thirty-fourth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Gary Brooker and friends play Paris in a week's time

'There's lots more to do yet'
Added 'a message to my friends at 'Beyond the Pale' from Gary Brooker, in response to the numerous greetings sent to him by readers of this site on the occasion of his birthday. The page also includes pictures of Gary and Mme Françoise, and a fine Salmanazar (thanks, Gary)

Just a few more hours, that's all the time you've got ... to bid on eBay for the Commander's Tail Coat (thanks, Gary)

Added a lavishly illustrated page reviewing the Ewhurst experience (many thanks, Charlie)

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's recent UK gig

' ...Dave's name and credentials plus his eagerness to collaborate with, jam and encourage local musicians ...'
Added a good obituary for Dave Ball (thanks, Daniel)

Added an iTunes link to the Cross Section (feat. Josh Phillips) page: gigs coming up in November, London area (thanks, Josh)

Added a couple of pictures here

'According to Radio Times, BBC 6 Music is broadcasting 'Classic Concert with Procol Harum in 1977' on Saturday 20 June. This is the well-known 1977 Golder's Green TV Special. Runs from 2am to 3am. BBC 6 Music is available on Freeview 707, Freesat 707, Sky 0120 and Virgin 909' (thanks, John).
 

11 June 2015 : the thirty-third bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP James Last, and Sir Christopher Lee, heavy metal artist

Procol Harum play Ewhurst, UK, in two days' time

Added a page of photos depicting the run-up to rehearsals at Ewhurst for Saturday's musical entertainment! The musicians involved this year include Ali Campbell, Andy Fairweather Low, Barry Wickens, Ben Mills, Chris Difford, Cross Section, Dave Bishop, Dave Bronze, Geoff Dunn, Geoff Whitehorn, Hamish Stuart, Jim Cregan, John Parr, John Thirkell, Josh Phillips, Julie Stardust, Kenney Jones, Lance Ellington, Lisa Stansfield, Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan, Mark King, Miles Bould, Mollie Marriott, Neil Sidwell, Nik Kershaw, Pat Davey, Procol Harum, Rock Chicks, Sam Blue, Sam Tanner, Simon Gardner and Steve Harley

In which connection, read this page about Cross Section (feat. Josh Phillips), suddenly recording afresh several decades after they featured in The Who's Quadrophenia: available on iTunes from 13 June. See also their website

5 June 2015 : the thirty-second bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Procol Harum play Ewhurst, UK, next week

Added a good, detailed obituary for Dave Ball from an authoritative UK newspaper (thanks, Charlie)

There are still tickets for the Winterbach Procol-fans' party, and the shuttle 'bus to the gig ... book now!

Plugged a lacuna in an Old Testament Procol setlist (thanks, Jim)

Added a link to an article about Edmonton, Alberta ... about how it's changed since the famous Procol gig there (thanks, Charlie)

What was the most-played track at the Beatles' Sgt Pepper launch party? Have a guess before you click here and read the answer (thanks, Charlie)

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http: //twitter.com/ProcolHarum1) and at the somewhat new 'Beyond the Pale' Facebook page, where we hope gigs / events can be more easily spotted than they are amid the busy newsfeed on our former Procol Facebook group.

29 May 2015 : the thirty-first bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Procol Harum play Ewhurst, UK, in a fortnight's time

Happy Birthday to Gary Brooker! Added a page of admirers' tributes and greetings

Just a few hours now for you to place your bids and win yourself a tee-shirt from The Commander's Wardrobe: click these links:

Another birthday salutation for GB may be read here (thanks, Charlie); and another here (thanks, Paul)

21 May 2015 : the thirtieth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP BB King | RIP Louis Johnson | Procol Harum play Ewhurst, UK, in three weeks' time

Next Friday Gary Brooker will be 70. If you’d like to be part of a worldwide fans’ greeting to him, send your message (addressed to Gary) c/o gb70@procolharum.com. Your words will be compiled in a physical document for The Commander, and will appear on a page at ‘Beyond the Pale’. Please include your name and place of origin!

Seven-tee shirts! To mark the anniversary, seven historic Procol tee-shirts are up for eBay auction (starting about 23: 00 hrs GMT on 22 May). As usual, half the proceeds to the BJ Wilson fund, and half towards the running-costs of 'Beyond the Pale'. Many thanks to Gary Brooker who owned and in many cases wore these garments:

Added pages about the long-expected 2CD reissues from Esoteric Records, including links direct to Amazon for ordering purposes: see here (A Salty Dog) and here (Home) (thanks, Vicky)

Are there any Hammond pundits who'd like to help the Deep Purple Appreciation Society? Click here (thanks, Stephen)

13 May 2015 : the twenty-ninth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Procol Harum play Ewhurst, UK, in four weeks' time

Added a page shewing the names of the four winners in the Esoteric Procol competition. BtP had a very pleasant drink with Esoteric Records yesterday morning, and learned that they were well aware, from the outset, of speed/pitch issues with the Salvo re-issues of these two albums. The problem was 'with the transfer, not the mastering', we were told. In any event, once again ... assurances that the songs sound as they were intended to sound, this time around.

BtP learns today that Procol Harum will be playing considerably more at Ewhurst than they did last year (see here). In the band's management's words, 'It won't be just a short set'. More details when we have them. Meanwhile, booking is still open.

Fans are reminded that Gary Brooker, Geoff Whitehorn and Matt Pegg (of Procol Harum), with Graham Broad (ex-Procol Harum) and Hammond organist Judy Blair are playing a gig in a Paris club at the end of June (Saturday 27th). Tickets are available! All details here (thanks, Roland)

Added a link (also here) to a comparison between the lyrics of Homburg and the work Meier Helmbrecht (Middle High German) by Werner der Gärtner (thanks, Christian)
 

7 May 2015 : the twenty-eighth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Errol Brown

Win the forthcoming Esoteric Records' 2CD reissue of Procol Harum 1967 or 3CD reissue of Shine on Brightly in our straightforward Prize Competition (thanks, Vicky)

Again added to the fan tributes to Dave Ball (thanks, Hans)

Added a Procol ticket here and here ... any more from this year? (thanks, Hans)

Added two pictures to the foot of this informative page (thanks, Martin)

Added a picture page showing some of the faces from last summer's fab Procol fans' party at Westbury Long Island, America (thanks, Bert)

1 May 2015 : the twenty-seventh bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Ben E King, Guy LeBlanc

' ...sounded of its time but also somewhat removed from that same time—a curiosity of tone and execution that felt genuine and refreshing ...'
Added an interesting appraisal of the first Procol Harum album (thanks, all)

Added a Rhythm Kings ticket here (thanks, Hans)

Added some photos of the venue for BtP's Garden Party in July (thanks, Marion)

Win the forthcoming Esoteric Records' 2CD reissue of Procol Harum 1967 or 3CD reissue of Shine on Brightly in our straightforward Prize Competition (thanks, Vicky)

16 April 2015 : the twenty-sixth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Regarding the BtP Garden Party and associated accommodation: you may find that it appears that all hotel rooms for 22 July are sold out. However BtP retains a block-booking of 10 rooms, available until 1 May.

 If you wish to book one of these, send a mail to webmaster@procolharum.com with your arrival day and departure day and number of persons in the room.

BtP will forward a list of names to the hotel, and the hotel will contact each of you to confirm your booking. We must release the ten rooms on 1 May – When they are gone, they are gone.

Booking for the party itself is still open – we have about 30 % capacity remaining.

Again added to the fan tributes to Dave Ball.

Added pages about the long-expected multiple-CD reissues from Esoteric Records, including links direct to Amazon for ordering purposes: see here (PH67) and here (SoB) (thanks, Vicky)

16 April 2015 : the twenty-sixth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Percy Sledge

Added many more fan tributes to Dave Ball. Gracious thanks to all subscribers.

If you didn't see the invitation to participate in this tribute to the late guitarist, you may need to sign up to our newsletter – but in any case it's not too late: just send your text in an e-mail to daveballtribute@procolharum.com and we'll add it to the page.

Added a modest contribution to the foot of the Terrible Spelling page

Added a 1968 ticket here (thanks, Rolf)

9 April 2015 : the twenty-fifth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'
 

Added numerous fan tributes to Dave Ball. Gracious thanks to all subscribers.

There are also page-length pieces from Poul Achton, Richard Beck, Unsteady Freddie and the BtP team (thanks, all)

If you didn't see the invitation to participate in this tribute to the late guitarist, you may need to sign up to our newsletter – but in any case it's not too late: just send your text in an e-mail to daveballtribute@procolharum.com and we'll add it to the page.

Added a Dave Ball obituary notice from The Burton Mail (thanks, all)

We had an excellent response to last week's "create a SHADE for the man who sang AWSoP" feature (see Gary Brooker requiring assistance with a lampshade): several entirely different methods of creating Gary's required shape are being explored – metal, glass, plexiglass – in various countries. But there weren't many people offering help with fabric. So if you are a person who understands cloth or has experience of stretching it to create particular forms, please visit the page and get in touch.

Added a good review of Robin Trower in Birmingham last month (thanks, Robin and Justin)

It's two years since Procol Harum played their magnificent symphonic concert in Wuppertal. Click here for the programme of the follow-up event – WupperTull Mania indeed – that starts tonight (three completely sold-out concerts for this Ian Anderson world orchestral première ... there are Procol-related pictures and a particularly nice shot of Michael Ackerman and Marcus Grebe, without whom there'd have been no Wuppertal Procol Harum Convention (thanks, Michael)

Added the setlist from a recent Procol tribute concert (thanks, Jack)

1 April 2015 : the twenty-fourth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Dave Ball – we are very sad to hear that our great friend, Procol Harum guitarist Dave Ball, lost his fight with cancer, just one day after his 65th birthday. You will be greatly missed, but your music, writings, paintings, videos and great memories will forever Shine On!.

It was with great sadness that Franky and I heard today that Dave Ball had lost his battle and has 'moved on'. As a Procolite he made a great contribution during the early 70s and the band today – with the Geoffs, Matt, Josh and Chris – have spent happy days with him whenever and wherever he came to see us, which was often. He was a very talented person, not just on guitar, but as a writer, artist, spy, melon picker, and humourist, and the contribution he gave to us and his many friends around the world will last – but the MAN and his presence will be very sadly missed. Rest in Peace Dave Gary Brooker 1 April 2015

Read a tribute piece about Dave Ball among his fans and friends, and another from Chris Copping

26 March 2015 : the twenty-fourth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'Added the first in a series of pages in which members of Procol Harum hope to tap into the craft skills of the fanbase, in order to realise one-off personal projects collaboratively.

"I created a SHADE for the man who sang AWSoP"
No 1, Gary Brooker, requiring assistance with a lampshade.

' ... the deep, dark organ in A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum, when you hear it, you know it'.
Added a link to a curious Procol reference (thanks, Charlie)

Added 'A Whiter Shade of Fail' to this excellent page (thanks, Tom)

' ...une voix magique qui n’a rien perdu de sa chaleur et de son émotion et reste remplie de ce feeling soul et mélancolique qui la caractérise ...'
Added booking information for Gary Brooker's concert in Paris in Jume (thanks, Laurent)

Added a Procol Harum ticket here and here (thanks, Hans)

19 March 2015 : the twenty-second bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Andy Fraser, Jimmy Greenspoon, Mike Porcaro

'For One Night Only'
Don't miss Radio 2's repeat of last November's excellent symphonic 'Friday Night is Music Night' on Friday 20 March at 8pm. ['According to Radio Times, Gary Brooker is 'joined by guitarist Geoff Whitehorn'. Oh dear! (thanks, John)]

Added some more fine pictures – and a key sartorial question – from Westbury 2014 (thanks, Bert)

Added another Procol Harum tour date here (thanks, John)

An absolute treat: Vintage TV concert by members of No Stiletto Shoes ... the magnificent Low Riders, headed up by Andy Fairweather Low ... flying dragons around his door!

Added the setlist from a recent Procol tribute concert (thanks, Jack)

12 March 2015 : the twenty-first bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Sir Terry Pratchett, he of the 'embuggerance', who 'leaves early to avoid the rush'

Added a Procol Harum ticket here and here (thanks, Hans)

Added some nice shots from Procol Harum's most recent Parisian outing (thanks, Charlie)

Added an outstanding mondegreen here: search for 'replace the cook' (thanks, Steve)

Added a No Stiletto Shoes setlist (thanks, Peter)

6 March 2015 : the twentieth bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a half-dozen great pictures of Gary Brooker on stage (thanks, Bert)

Good to speak with Geoff Whitehorn this evening: worth revisiting the first interview he did with BtP, just seventeen years ago, (cheers, Geoff!)

On 28 February 2015 Procol Harum got a rare name-check on Radio 4, the BBC's flagship station for Arts, News, Comedy and Drama. As you'll hear from this (much shortened) mp3 extract, the show in question was The News Quiz, hosted not by an English presenter but by a splendid comedienne from the country where Procol are most lavishly lauded. It's about the middle of the clip, during a strange stream-of-consciousness deviation from any script, that the band's name will be heard.

When you've enjoyed the soundclip above, find a genuine Procol / Nigerian connection (first heralded here in 1998) by clicking here

Added a 1970 setlist here (thanks, Jack)

An hour of live music for two keyboards, guitar, bass and drums – by a composer who is a Redhill veteran and long-standing contributor to this site (see also here) – may be heard and seen here (thanks, Harry)

26 February 2015 : the nineteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a new gig for this summer – Paris, no less (thanks, Franky / Roland)

Added a report on a recent gig at Winterbach, where Procol Harum kick off this year's concert appearances (thanks, Marion)

In which connection, do have a look at this page

Added photos of an unusual 1991 promo item for The Prodigal Stranger (and how to get hold of it!) (thanks, SG)

In which connection, do re-read this speculative page about The Imponderable Strangers

We're all up-to-date mailing out orders for the Procol Harum new vinyl 2LPs. More than half this limited edition is already sold, but they're not gone yet. Click the links ... (thanks, Andy).

Upgraded the graphic (thanks, Marvin) on this page: it shows the address of the Procol fanclub website to which CD buyers were directed in 1997 by this German record-label – which wrote so winningly of Gary Brooker's 'thoughtful, reflective brand of dignified music'

Added news of another upcoming Procol Harum tribute-band gig (thanks, Carlo)

20 February 2015 : the eighteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Lesley Gore

Added (sound and script) Gary Brooker's recent 'Tracks of my Years' BBC Radio 2 feature (thanks, Anvil)

Re-read GB's 1999 selection for a German Radio broadcast ... how many artists feature on both lists?

Keep the orders flowing in for the Procol Harum new vinyl 2LPs: click the links below.

BtP archives many pages of fans' interpretations of A Whiter Shade of Pale (a memorable one here). Readers might also be interested to read fans of They Might Be Giants tying themselves in knots over an equally inscrutable hit record

Added a graphic (thanks, Marvin) to this page: it shows the address of the Procol fanclub website to which CD buyers were directed in 1997 by this German record-label.

13 February 2015 : the seventeenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Steve Strange ... see also here

Added a page about eight delicious new Procol Harum double album releases, with numerous bonus tracks, on coloured vinyl (thanks, Andy)

Added individual pages (about track-listing, and how to order) about the following coloured vinyl double Procol Harum albums:

Added a five-star Robin Trower CD review – with Amazon ordering links

5 February 2015 : the sixteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

What was the date of the final gig from the line-up that recorded Procol Harum's first three albums?
Added a page of scholarly Procol research that presents conflicting accounts and evidence, and comes to a conclusion (thanks, Frans)

Remind yourself of our online Procol pedigree!

Added two ticket-sales links to the Bellinzona booking page for those who fancy hearing Procol Harum in July 2015 (thanks, Chris)

Added a surprising new Salty Dog picture here (thanks, Ruthie, whose Procoloid design-work may be seen here, here, here, here and here)

Added a thought-provoking Repent Walpurgis question here (thanks, Yukon) ... can anyone help?

Added a surprising and welcome footnote to this Vanilla Fudge superstar esteem page (thanks, Anvil)

Procol Harum and King Crimson fans may like to follow this link to hear and see Gary Brooker and Pete Sinfield performing together in on Spanish TV in 1982, on a song first aired by Lulu the year before. Gary sings the second verse of If You're Right (by Pete Sinfield and Andy Hill, words here, including a curious reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Something or Someone) and plays an organ solo. The song was later performed by Barbara Dickson. Prog rock it ain't.

29 January 2015 : the fifteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Edgar Froese

Added a fascinating and inspiring background story, regarding the organisation behind the next scheduled Procol Harum gig (thanks, Paul in Germany)

Added a good Grand Hotel press-kit picture here (thanks, Paul in France)

Added a mysterious Homburg picture-sleeve, from Portugal, here (thanks, Jorge) ... can anyone help with info about this? If so, please write in

Added a choral/orchestral setlist here here (thanks, Jack)

Added a link to a film of Matt Pegg's famous Dad offering a brilliant bass guitar in a worthy cause (thanks, Anvil)

25 January 2015

RIP Joe Jones
Joe was the bassist (and occasional sax-player) with The Rockefellas, the band on whom The Paramounts modelled themselves (he was therefore, arguably, instrumental in catalysing the birth of Procol Harum). He had been ill for a short while, and was about 72 years old (thanks, Mick)

Robin Trower: “The big influence on us was this band from Romford that Pete Tobin used to put on in the Palace Hotel ballroom, called The Rockafellas. They were fantastic. I think they were actually called The Fabulous Rockafellas and they were just that – fabulous. Their lineup was guitar, bass and drums, with a piano-player who sang – and that was the template for The Paramounts.”

21 January 2015 : the fourteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Dallas Taylor

Listen to BBC Radio 2 during the rest of this week for the feature, between 11.30 am and noon daily, featuring Gary Brooker's favourite records – two a day. Monday 19 January: B Bumble and the Stingers, Emeli Sande; Tuesday 20: George Harrison, Kate Bush; Wednesday 21: Chuck Berry, Andy Fairweather Low; Thursday 22: Ray Charles, The Beatles; and Friday 23: The Coasters, The Rolling Stones (thanks, John; tip of hat to Mike M)

Added some more superb pictures from a recent Procol orchestral show (thanks, Jens)

Added some moody shots from Procol Harum's most recent Parisian outing: make what you will of the hand gestures shewn (thanks, Charlie)

Masakichi: some really attractive, atmospheric new music (watch here) from Josh Phillips's niece Hannah Cartwright

Added a part setlist from 1993 (thanks, Jack)

14 January 2015 : the thirteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Dozy

Listen to BBC Radio 2 in this coming week for a feature, between 11.30 am and noon daily, featuring Gary Brooker's favourite records – two a day. Monday 19 January: B Bumble and the Stingers, Emeli Sande; Tuesday 20: George Harrison, Kate Bush; Wednesday 21: Chuck Berry, Andy Fairweather Low; Thursday 22: Ray Charles, The Beatles; and Friday 23: The Coasters, The Rolling Stones (thanks, John; tip of hat to Mike M)

Added an illustrated report of a recent broadcast mini-documentary, featuring Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, about A Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Frans)

Read also ... earlier Brooker words on the same subject

Added some more superb pictures from a recent Procol orchestral show (thanks, Jens)

Good to hear from Triumphant Victors who're now getting their Fab Prizes through the post. Do let us know when you get yours.

8 January 2015 : the twelfth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a gig to the schedule of Procol Harum concerts for 2015 (thanks, Chris)

'I have come away from the whole experience with a great deal of respect for Procol Harum, and their music ... I hope we get the chance to sing with the band again'
Added a choral note, the fifth and final instalment of our popular Dominion blog, From the Back Row of the Stage (many thanks, Jack/Al)

Added the solution to the BtP puzzles

Added the names of the Triumphant Victors in the above puzzles, with a note of the prizes they will end up withal.

5 January 2015:

Added the last in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Good luck with the instructions that follow it: just read 'em carefully and all will be well.

4 January 2015:

Added the eleventh in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Don't forget to have another look at the prizes and be ready with your preference order – all ten letters, please! – something like: "AGBHCIDJEF"

The final clue is scheduled to appear on this page (press F5 or 'Reload' to ensure your browser shows the latest version) at midnight London time (GMT), when Sunday 4 January becomes Monday 5 January.

3 January 2015:

Added the tenth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles

2 January 2015:

Added the ninth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Don't forget to look at the prizes

1 January 2015: Happy New Year!

Added a New Year message from the BtP team to all fellow Procol fans worldwide

Added the eighth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles

Nice to see a Palers' Project vocalist stylishly turning the tables on a troll

31 December 2014:

Added the seventh in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Don't forget to look at the prizes

30 December 2014:

Added the sixth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles

29 December 2014:

Added the fifth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Don't forget to look at the prizes.

(Just a friendly suggestion: if you happen to notice some trick of how the questions/answers work, you might like to think twice before voicing it on public forums, in case doing so skews the thinking of other participants, or defeats their enjoyment of figuring things out for themselves).

Added news of another Gary Brooker radio appearance in a few days' time (thanks, Charlie)

28 December 2014:

Added the fourth in our annual series of Christmas puzzles

27 December 2014:

Added the third in our annual series of Christmas puzzles. Don't forget to look at the prizes

26 December 2014:

Added the second in our annual series of Christmas puzzles

25 December 2014: Happy Christmas!

Added the first in our annual series of Christmas puzzles – good luck everyone! They do get easier and easier, as the prizes get more and more munificent.

24 December 2014:

Added a page of advice and information about how to play and win the Christmas Quiz for this year

22 December 2014:

RIP Joe Cocker: time to play With a Little Help from my Friends, followed by Just Like a Woman, good and loud

Added a page for Procol Harum concerts in 2015 – Winterbach is already on sale

20 December 2014: :

Added the schedule of ten magnificent Procol Harum prizes that you'll soon be able to get your hands on (do read 'em all).

Newcomers: our annual Christmas quiz starts in five days' time, and is always a lot of fun. There's one question a day for twelve days. Contenders send in a priority-list of all ten prizes in the order they favour them: the first three correct answers, against the clock, secure their highest-available choice of prize; then everyone else who responds correctly during the next 48 hours has an equal chance to win one of the remaining seven prizes, in the subsequent draw.

This year's answer (you'll see how it works as it unfolds) will be a single letter of the alphabet – so in fact you have a 1/26 or 3.84% chance of winning something very nice, even with a random guess. On the other hand, you are not encouraged to proceed by guesswork, nor to send in 26 different answers.

18 December 2014: the eleventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP our fellow Procol-fan Richard Solly, 'Good Captain Claptrap'

Gary Brooker on British television on 19 December, telling how in 1968 he first got interested in rock-band-with-orchestra

Coming soon: your guide to the BtP Christmas puzzles (topics will include features of Procol song-titles; instrumental solos (Procol Harum and Matthew Fisher); curiosities of names of Procol players; long suites; GPS promos; lyrical quirks; songs with variant titles; an off-the-record remark of Gary Brooker in May 2014; locations of gigs; patriotic anthems; place-names in Keith Reid lyrics) and details of the Fab Prizes on offer this year.

Added some excellent and revealing insider pictures from the pre-Dominion week rehearsals (thanks, Geoff)

Added some excellent and revealing Abbey Road pictures from the Dominion Theatre rehearsals (thanks, Geoff)

Added some excellent and revealing insider pictures taken pre-show at the Dominion (thanks, Geoff)

' ... the concert I have most enjoyed in my time with the choir ...'
Added a choral note, the fourth instalment of our popular Dominion blog, From the Back Row of the Stage (thanks, Jack/Al)

The excellent Crouch End Festival Chorus has a great gig coming up in the very venue where BtP staged Procol Harum's 40th Anniversary Concert

Added another Procol tee-shirt to this index (thanks, Gordon)

Procol Harum on BBC radio again soon (thanks, Charlie)

Selling well and sounding fantastic: Procol Harum download-only album ... Some Long Road ... [click to download]

11 December 2014: the tenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added 'What's been lost and what's been caught' – quite a detailed page about the Dominion Theatre broadcast

Whaling Stories v Symphathy for the Hard of Hearing: added a page about the songs that Procol have played on a stage shared with an orchestra during the present century.

'... wonderful to work with musicians for whom we are not simply part of the furniture, and who treat us as part of a partnership'.
Added a choral note, the third instalment of our popular Dominion blog, From the Back Row of the Stage (thanks, Jack/Al)

Added a page of pictures from the Dominion Theatre concert (thanks, Charlie)

4 December 2014: the ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Bobby Keys and Ian McLagan

'There will be product'
Added some reassuring post-Dominion Theatre comments from Geoff Whitehorn (thanks, Geoff!)

Added a good, illustrated review of the Dominion concert and broadcast (thanks, Charlie)

What was the scene during the four hours Procol Harum had to get the Dominion Theatre show ready with the Orchestra and Chorus at Abbey Road? A great photo reveals all (thanks, Chris)

Added news of impending Brooker activity (thanks, Chris)

Added a link to the Radio 2 Procol Harum marquee (as first shewn on our Facebook page, which you're welcome to 'like', if you like)

Added a Q&A session about the background to the Dominion Theatre broadcast on Radio 2 (thanks, Chris)

' ... mannered precision and sense of restless, unresolved anxiety ...'
Added a very illuminating rumination on Homburg and other Keith Reid lyrics, in the context of literary enquiry (thanks, Rob)

Amended this index page, and this photo page

26 November 2014: the eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the setlist from a genuinely unique Procol Harum concert in London (and corrected (thanks, Charlie) a running-order error)

(BBC picture)

The unique line-up: Matt Pegg, bass; Geoff Dunn, drums; Gary Brooker MBE, voice and piano; Josh Phillips, Hammond and synth; Dave Colquhoun, lead guitar

Here's a link to a backstage introduction to Procol Harum's Dominion Theatre broadcast: 'Back in our own home country, and they love us. Albert Hall next time'. Amen to that!

' ... Procol Harum seem poised to reclaim their rightful place alongside Pink Floyd in the great British progressive rock pantheon ...'
Added a review of the Dominion Theatre gig from the UK's respected Independent national daily newspaper

' ... one of the things we hope we can do in playing here is demonstrate to a lot of people that in fact we do a lot more than that one song ... otherwise we wouldn't have lasted that long | ... you have to like music a bit to like Procol Harum, but you know, there are people that like music ...'
Click here to listen to Gary Brooker's interview from Sky TV from the Saturday morning before the Dominion Theatre gig.

Created a page for Dave Colquhoun, who played guitar with Procol at the Dominion Theatre, and amended this index

'They say a lot of their tunes are blues, then they give you five hundred chords to learn!'
Added a good-length interview, from a telephone call this evening, with Dave Colquhoun (thanks, Dave)

Added a photograph of the Dominion line-up here (thanks, Chris)

Added another Dominion review here

Amended the once slightly coy photo-caption of this page

Updated personal pages here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here

23 November 2014:

Please spare a healing thought for Geoff Whitehorn who, midway through Procol's rehearsals for the Dominion show, was suddenly hospitalised with a chest infection. The band – to say nothing of the fans! – will miss him like mad on Monday night, of course; but the show must go on, and Geoff's stand-in, Dave Colquhoun, is riding the learning curve in great style. Best wishes to all involved for an excellent night!

A high-spirited posse of fans from England, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, America, Australia and Switzerland raised a glass to Procol's much-loved guitarist during the group meal that followed Ian Hockley's excellent organ recital in St Paul's Cathedral. Cheers, Geoff!

22 November 2014: watch out for Gary Brooker on Sky television at around 9.30 am GMT on Saturday 22 November: the programme is called Sunrise.We don't know if it can be seen online, but this link could be worth trying. We understand that Gary will also be featured on Robert Elms's show next Wednesday, 26 November: you should be able in due course to find the schedule by clicking here. (thanks, Chris)

20 November 2014: the seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

The Dominion Theatre has released some extra tickets for Procol Harum on Monday, right near the front: click here to view

'No rest for the Crouch End Festival Chorus'
Added a choral note, the second instalment of a blog From the Back Row of the Stage (thanks, Jack/Al)

Added an informative picture, taken at Thursday's Procol Harum rehearsal, here (thanks, Gary)

Since we cannot yet visualise the onstage scene on Monday night coming, let us enjoy some superb pictures from a more-or-less similar Procol orchestral show 626 days before the Dominion Theatre event (thanks, Jens)
 

13 November 2014: the sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added news of some Brooker activity next year (thanks, all)

Added (here) a ticket stub (16 April 1972) sent in by attentive Paler Bob Young who notes that ‘it appears this is a new date for BtP for Procol's 1972 US tour. Unable to find any information on this date, I drifted over to a Ten Years After site to see if I could garner more info. There I found a 1972 tour archive that records six additional Procol dates with Ten Years After: none of these dates conflicts with existing PH concert dates on BtP's '72 page. That, in conjunction with the fact their ’16 April’ date coincides with my 720416 ticket stub (and the two archives are in agreement on the 720505 and 720506 dates) leads me to believe we now have seven new US concert dates (search for 'Bob Young') for Procol’s 1972 schedule.(thanks, Bob!)

Added some nice pictures of an unusual Procol Harum line-up, on stage on tour 21 years ago (thanks, Verner)

Added a question about a 1969 performance in Illinois –anyone remember the power failure in question? (thanks, John)

Added a review of Robin Trower in a recent concert (thanks, Kaleidoscope Ken)

6 November 2014: the fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Acker Bilk, RIP Manitas de Plata

Win a musical item owned by BJ Wilson, signed by Gary Brooker, and dedicated with your own name! Hang it on your wall! It looks as though these nine items of BJ memorabilia are going for a song at eBay. The average price per item, as we go to press, is about 4 GBP [6.40 USD]. Bid now! (thanks, Gary)

Added a Finnish ticket here and here (thanks, Markku)

Added a choral note, the first instalment of a blog From the Back Row of the Stage (thanks, Jack/Al)

Added another Finnish ticket here and here (thanks, Markku)

'Attempts to wrangle these lyrics into linear coherence .... don’t let it bother you'
Added an article about Procol's 'lyric of the week'

Added another nother Finnish ticket here and here (thanks, Markku)

29 October 2014: the fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a new page proposing the sale by auction of nine drumheads, formerly belonging to BJ Wilson, which will be signed and dedicated to the lucky winners (thanks, Gary)

Reminder about our historic and super-convenient venue for the before and after-show drinks meeting on the day of the London Dominion show

Added a third page of pictures taken when Procol Harum played at Ridgefield in July this year (thanks, Bert)

25 October 2014:

RIP the wonderful bassist, pianist, composer and singer Jack Bruce

23 October 2014: the third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Alvin Stardust ... often enjoyed at Gary Brooker's charity gigs, and lately on the bill with Procol Harum at Josh Phillips's Ewhurst event raising funds for Prostate Cancer research

Great to see fans of BJ Wilson securing their chosen items from the sale of his early drumkit pieces – (here, here; here, here, here, here and ) – thanks all. Yet to come: these items

Added a page about the historic and super-convenient venue for our before and after-show drinks meeting on the day of the London Dominion show

Added an Italian article ... 'Named after a cat, they're selling millions' (thanks, Anvil)

Added a second page of pictures taken when Procol Harum played at Ridgefield in July this year (thanks, Bert)

Added some very heartening news about a seminal musician and former English teacher hailing from Essex

All visitors to this website are welcome to send their own accounts of recent Procol events (words, pictures, etc): please have a look at the Guidelines for Submissions page

Selling well and sounding fantastic: Procol Harum download-only album ... Some Long Road ... [click to download]

Follow 'Beyond the Pale' on Twitter (http: //twitter.com/ProcolHarum1) and at the new 'Beyond the Pale' Facebook page, where we hope gigs and events will stand out rather more clearly than they do among the adverts and promotions and music clips that predominate on our former Procol Facebook group.

15 October 2014: the second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'It's not as if I hold any grudge to the people of Kansas, but it just seems to be a good place to talk badly about.'
Added to this page of celebrity Procol endorsement: nice to see the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens issuing a song from the A Salty Dog album

About 5½ weeks until Procol Harum's major London showcase. Do sign up here if you're going. And the before- and after-show drinks meeting on the day will be bookable through our Fresh Fruit newsletter, so make sure you're signed up to that too. If you think subscribed to it before 5 September, re-subscribe to the new-look newsletter by clicking this link . Your old subscription won't work any more.

Some Procol fans may be interested to watch the rather excellent recent time-lapse video from our fab chum whose 'In the darkness of the night' appeared on the first Palers' Project album: his exhibition is in London the same time that Procol Harum are.

Added a report from the 'Shine on Brightly' New York concert on 11 October, and another from the contemporaneous 'mini-Redhill' event involving members of the Italian band, SormoRock

8 October 2014: : the first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #18 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Paul Revere

Today is BtP's 17th birthday ... a date on which we always remember the life and music of the great BJ Wilson

'One of the greatest rock drummers of all time ... his playing defined the essence of emotional, orchestrated rock music ...'
Added some excellent praise for BJ Wilson here (thanks, Charlie)

What was new on this website in past times