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Our diet of news Call me if there's any change ...
We're sorry to report the death of Michael Bywater, journalist, pilot, Cambridge don and organist of choice for the Gary Brooker Ensemble, the 'unlikely muse to his close friend Douglas Adams' as The Times's obituarist put it (he was probably the model for Adams's Dirk Gently character). This Wikipedia article summarises his extraordinarily varied career and the prodigious spectrum of his talents. Most readers of this website, however, will remember him chiefly for the comical quotation from the Symphony No 3 in C minor ('avec orgue') by Camille Saint-Saëns (1886), which he was wont to squirrel into performances of Brooker's Psalm for St Mary (you can hear it on the Within Our House album). BtP learnt only in Autumn 2020 that this was in fact a scored element of the song, specified by GB himself (thanks, Franky).
Added the solution to our recent competition quiz, a note about the prizewinners, and a paradoxical feature of Franky Brooker's eBay auction, in which 'items with Whiter Shade of Pale in the title have thus far attracted almost no attention at all, despite the fact that one of them is probably the rarest surviving 45 rpm version of the famous tune.'
'Go grab a bargain,' as they say.
31 August
The new eBay auction of Procol / Brooker memorabilia from Franky to fans is now active. All links here ... much more detail and many more pictures to be seen when you follow the eBay links provided
Please bid generously for one or more of the many items in support of Gary's chosen cause, the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
29 August
Happy Birthdays Geoff Whitehorn and Chris Copping Added a review of the 'Remembering Gary Brooker' DVD, which people are watching for the first time tonight! (thanks, Charlie, our excellent, trusty, prolific contributor) Thanks for all the correct solutions to the BtP Prize Competition ... keep them coming, and you could win the above-reviewed DVD and more!
28 August
Added, as promised, the BtP Prize Competition. Two lucky winners will each be sent, free of all charges, the CD+DVD 1983 Gary Brooker Band 'Rockpalast' concert (thanks, MadeInGermany) and the 2CD+DVD+BluRay 2023 Gary Brooker Memroial Concert (thanks, Esoteric Records) representing a value of about 55 or 60 GBP
All you need, to play, is pencil and paper, and access to this webpage list and this YouTube film
Unlike some of our more Baroque competitions of former years, this is a straightforward two-parter that anyone can tackle with confidemce. It requires no prior knowledge at all, and you have until the end of 1 September (UK time) to get your simple answer in to us. Jens and Roland wish everyone the best of luck in this puzzle, possibly our last, certainly one of our best.
Start here ... and read the instructions carefully, as ever
27 August This just in to BtP from our correspondent at Esoteric / Cherry Red, referring to this recently-amended page 'I am sorry for the confusion but I can confirm the release is out this Friday – 29 August – as originally stated' (thanks, Matt) So that's good news :-)
26 August
Esoteric Records / Cherry Red have informed 'Beyond the Pale' that the release date of the Gary Brooker Memorial Conecrt four-disc set has been put back again. Full details here
We'll shortly be announcing a straightforward competition whose lucky winner will get this long-awaited item at a saving of £35.99.
Carefully watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUUvElHGfw ... and you'll be at a great advantage in the forthcoming competition.
Order directly from Cherry Red by clicking here
23 August
We are delighted to announce a new auction of Brooker/Procol memorabilia, again in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Watch the short film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUUvElHGfw to get a taste – from Franky Brooker – of what's on offer, and keep an eye on the webpage [at https://www.procolharum.com/ebay-marsden2.htm ] which will be populated in coming days with detailed descriptions and illustrations of what's on offer. The auction won't be open for a few days yet. The Fresh Fruit newsletter will let you know when the sale starts ... join up here if you're not yet subscribed. When we're up and running, please bid generously ... to keep up Gary Brooker's great work! (Many thanks, Franky, for all the goodies and memorablilia)
8 June Added a page explaining the competition result and winner, the sums raised in the vinyl legacy auction, and extolling the excellent sum raised for the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital Charity (thanks, everybody)
6 June 2025
At the start of his last Autumn, Gary signed twenty items of collectable vinyl to be auctioned for fans: details here. The eBay auctions are now live, for both the true rarities and the pocket-money souvenirs: follow the 'particulars and pictures' links on this page, to go straight to the bidding pages. Proceeds split between The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and www.procolharum.com
The very lucky winner is announced in this narrated short film, which also explains Gary's reasoning, and gives a glimpse backstage at the UK HQ of his website. A glimpse of the Norwegian stronghold is yet to be vouchedsafe.
29 May 2025
Today would have been the 80th birthday of Gary Brooker MBE ... truly 'hard to forget', in the words of his lyricist partner. • The Brooker Memorial Concert DVD is at long last announced: 2CD audio, DVD, and BluRay: page includes pre-order link
• At the start of his last Autumn, Gary signed twenty items of collectable vinyl to be auctioned for fans: details here. The eBay auctions are now live, for both the true rarities and the pocket-money souvenirs: follow the 'particulars and pictures' links on this page, to go straight to the bidding pages. Proceeds split between The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and www.procolharum.com • You can win one of the above vinyl items – the one Gary prophesied would be most popular, in fact – by participating in the competition at the foot of this page. Everyone should have a go! You stand only to win one of the last items The Commander ever signed for his supporters. Please give your street address when participating; it's one-player one-vote only; no pseudonyms! • Newly announced today as well, the excellent CD/DVD of The Gary Brooker Band at Rockpalast, 1983, with a new liner-note essay, photos, and remastered sound and vision.
• Collectors take note: in coming weeks three or four significant stage-souvenirs from Procol Harum's touring days will be offered to fans for purchase, the proceeds to be shared between a The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and ‘Beyond the Pale’ (for server costs etc) (thanks, Franky). Watch this space for details, which we’ll publish as soon as the full dimensions of each item are confirmed.
1 December We publish the competition-winnners' names – and commiserations to the differently-lucky aspirants – at the head of this page
27 November 2024
Added the final question of the quiz – in which you can win a free copy of the new Procol Harum Day-by-Day book – is now here. If you send a correct entry, your name goes in a hat, and the prizewinners' names will be drawn on 1 December. Full instructions here
A long-term fan writes from Rome, asking 'Are there more clues than red herrings in this year's puzzle?' (thanks, Vi).
To which the BtP team's reply is 'Six of one, half a dozen of the other.'
Hope this helps ...
17 November Added a suite of pages relating to the newly-published masterwork about Gary Brooker and Procol Harum by music encyclopaedist Frans Steensma (thanks, Marvin!)
• A comprehensive, illustrated review of the long-awaited book, by Charlie Allison, for BtP (thanks, Charlie)
• The initial – now defunct – offer of books for UK customers at a substantially reduced postage cost
• Eight full-page excerpts showing the design, scope and depth of the book (thanks, Bradshaw)
• How to order the book, and postal charges for sending it worldwide (thanks, Frans)
• Part One of a prize competition ... win the book or other excellent Procol goodies (thanks, Jane, for verifying the working)
• The fab competition prizes on a page of their own (thanks, Frans and Franky)
08 September
"Of course it’s not the real Procol – that’s gone ‘into the darkness of the darkness for ever’" (thanks, Dylan)
Roland from BtP reviews a gig in which Josh Phillips's Blue Water Giants make an intriguing contribution to the debate (if we can call it that) about the virtues, or otherwise, of keeping Procol Harum music alive on stage after the death of The Commander.
Read, without prejudice, how the tale unfolds: ‘Johnny Luskus and the Delph-tones’ ... ‘Gary would be very proud of you,’ said Josh to his cohort ... 'what seems to be is always better than nothing at all?'
29 May 2024 Today would have been Gary Brooker's 79th birthday. BtP spoke with Franky Brooker, who was in good form. She asked us to pass on to fans the news that work continues on the planned DVD of the Memorial Concert, from 4 December: 'People can expect to see it, perhaps in a couple of months'. In that connection, there are still supplies of the Memorial Concert official programme, which 'Beyond the Pale' is sending out to collectors of Procolabilia, for a nominal charge. The offer stands while stocks last ... it has been very popular. Read how to get your copy or copies by clicking here In that connexion, too, there's a great GB interview online here (thanks, Dianne)
19 December
Added The Final Farewell, Charlie Allison’s liberally-illustrated report from 4 December's concert in memory of Gary Brooker at Guildford (thanks. Charlie, Jim and Franky)
24 November
The organisers of the 'Remembering Gary Brooker' concert write to us with another ticket offer as follows: "We have created a new 20% discount code for your audience (see below), which will bring the remaining tickets down from £250 to £200 each. The buyer gets: • A ticket to the concert • A collectible one-of-one digital version of an official concert photograph that they can own, or sell or trade • The option to choose the photograph from the official portfolio released after the concert."
Place your order by clicking here, and claim the discount by using following code PH20RGB or call Glive.co.uk Box Office +44 (0)343 310 0055
17 November
'A chilling emotional lifetime memory ...'
With great regret we must announce the death of organist Peter Solley, who left a strong mark during his relatively brief tenure with Procol Harum, and remained a proud Procoler to the end of his days. Read his comments here, and follow many links from the same page.
Both BtP webmasters count themselves lucky to have known Pete, largely through e-mail exchanges and phone-calls, and mourn the loss of a very erudite, musical and friendly correspondent. Readers of this tribute will notice a slightly crossed wire: 'Webb' is not a thinko for 'Reid'. Keith Webb and Peter Solley were co-founders of the British twin-keyboard band Paladin.
15 November Added some new and special tickets for the Gary Brooker memorial concert
29 October
Palers' gathering at the Gary Brooker Memorial Concert. Added two possibilities for meeting new and old friends before the Gary Brooker memorial concert in Guildford UK.
26 September Pre-sale booking for the Memorial Concert for Gary Brooker: click here and read it all carefully! (thanks, Andy; thanks, Mark) Click on the link provided in the pale purple panel: this will insert a Promo Code into the booking process, allowing readers of this website – BrookerFans, in fact – to get through to the priority booking that would otherwise be open only to signed-up members of the venue.
25 September: Sorry to report that the pre-sale booking for the Memorial Concert for Gary Brooker will not begin on 25 September as previously announced.
We understand that it will start on Tuesday 26 September at 10:00 am UK time, and last for 24 hours, after which fans will be competing for tickets with the general public.
21 September: ' ... always there with his bouncy positivity and musical contributions ...' With great sorrow we publish words and pictures commemorating the life of our good friend Gary Shepard (thanks, Bert; thanks, Geoff)
15 September: Watch this page for an imminent announcement about the Memorial Concert for Gary Brooker (thanks, Franky)
When the page goes live, you will find a link for fans of 'Beyond the Pale' to use, to book tickets before they go on sale to the wider public. NB The pre-sale link itself will not go live until 18 September at 10 am UK time.
NB2 We've just now (18:00 on 15/9) heard that the show announcement is being delayed by a week ... to give an additional artist time to assess whether 'they' can or cannot participate. Keep watching this space.
20 May: RIP Pete Brown Poet, musician, lyricist (not least, furnisher of words for much of Procol Harum's well-loved final album ... time now to re-read this interview with Gary Brooker)
14 May: RIP Francis Monkman, a wonderful and highly influential musician Time to re-read the BtP interview in which Francis describes his 'audition' day with Procol Harum ... and explains the guitar break in Quite Rightly So
23 April:
'No-one sounded better with band and orchestra than Gary!' Added an intriguing page about the continuing tradition of sold-out 'Rock meets Classic' concerts in Wuppertal, ten years after Procol Harum's triumphant showing there with orchestra and chorus, and featuring an artist much influenced by Gary Brooker and his music (thanks, Michael)
30 March: ‘Don’t get caught again ...' Added a second written tribute to Barry Sinclair
29 March: 'Taking turns in trying to pass it on' We are extremely sad to have to announce the death of Keith Reid, in the words of his official representative
28 March: ‘He will be remembered ... for his humour and his passion for Hornby trains ...' Added sad news of the death of Barry Sinclair (thanks, Franky)
22 March 2023:
Added a rather special, orchestral/choral setlist ... upgraded from this incomplete version (thanks, Peter, Ken)
19 February:
To mark the first anniversary of Gary Brooker's death, added a special Haiku written by an admirer, from the Palers' Band (thanks, Nancy)
Sleep well, Commander! Your voice lives on forever In our grateful hearts.
AriZonophone
The 'Beyond the Pale' team would like to express our sympathy to everybody touched by Gary's death, especially to Mrs Franky Brooker, surely foremost in every fan's thoughts on this sad anniversary.
4 February 2023:
'... gradually, through Diane’s perseverance and Gary’s generosity, more and more [Procol] members (past and present) were recruited ...' Sadly added a page commemorating the life of Diane Rolph, outstanding Procol and Paramounts fan to whose vivacity, acumen and loyalty all readers of this website owe a tremendous debt of gratitude (thanks, Franky, Lou, John)
1 January 2023:
Added a taster from long-time friend of BtP, Steve Hunter, by way of a taster for a piano album of Procol songs which we're all looking forward to very much!
Happy 2023 to all our readers, and let's hope for a good one at last :-)
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