What was new at 'Beyond the Pale'

October 2004

Hallowe'en: Procol Harum play London in eighteen weeks' time

Added another obituary for Bill Eyden, drummer on Procol Harum's first single (thanks, John)

Added another item to the Procol Thesaurus page, now that we have received clarification of the words of Chasing the Chop (thanks, Gary)

October 30:

Added some shots of Gary Brooker in action with Ringo's All-Starr band (thanks, Hans)

Remember the other gigs from that time, when further Procol Harum activity seemed so unlikely? Index page here

October 29:  

Added news of a poll in which Palers can, once again, propel A Whiter Shade of Pale to the top of a chart. Remember: doing this increases the possibility of – one day – a re-release of the single which might – just! – reignite popular Procol fervour ... (thanks, Bengt)

Added some Frisian (thanks, Jân) and some Hebrew (thanks, Yael) to this increasingly-useful page

October 28:

' ... a covers band playing their original songs ... '

Is this what you expect to read in a substantial 2003 Gary Brooker interview from a Swedish publication? (thanks, Chris ... and Bengt)

Read it in Swedish and see the pictures too, by clicking here

Remember another interview from the same era in which, again, the Commander opens up to an interviewer who is also a musician.

October 27:

Added an obituary for Bill Eyden, drummer on Procol Harum's first single (thanks, Bridie)

Remember another early Procol drummer's comments on the above?

October 26: RIP the legendary John Peel ... who hosted Procol Harum on many occasions, and understood A Salty Dog

Added the eleventh in our series of pages, in which you may read the Alan Cartwright profile from the concert programme for Procol Harum's recital at the Hollywood Bowl in September 1973 (thanks, Roxie; thanks, Jill)

October 25:

Added a nice record label to the foot of this page (thanks, Beverly)

October 24: Procol Harum play London in nineteen weeks' time

Remind yourself of another chronological survey from the same year

October 23:

Added the liner note for the Friday Music re-issue of Exotic Birds and Fruit which, by many fans' accounts, comes closer than any other CD does to the sound of the original vinyl album (thanks, Jill)

Added a Procol souvenir of Kawasaki to this page (thanks, One-Eye)

October 22: BtP has been down several hours today due to a server mafunction. Sorry for any unconvenience

Added the liner note for the Friday Music re-issue of Grand Hotel which, by many fans' accounts, comes closer than any other CD does to the sound of the original vinyl album (thanks, Jill)

Added a newspaper advertisement to this page and a flyer to this one (thanks, One-Eye)

October 21:

Added an interesting sumary of Procol Harum's career, which alludes to the influence of the Shangri-las ... (thanks, Elizabeth)

Remind yourself of the Pete Solley / Procol Harum relationship in 1967 (from an article published in the same year as the above)

October 20:

Very nice to have something written specially for BtP by the Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston (thanks, Bruce)

 Added a Japanese cover to this page (look for 'Jam Jam') (thanks, Bert)

October 19: Happy Birthdays to Keith Reid (1946) and Pete Solley (1948)

Added a page logging last night's excellent broadcast of Palers' Project music (thanks, John): click on the links to hear what was said on air.

Added a brief review of Procol Harum Live at the Union Chapel from Uncut (thanks, Chris)

October 18: Today: from 12–4 PM (Central Time) on http://uicradio.ws/: music from The Palers' Project

Added a photograph of the six-man Harum, rare in itself, but even rarer since it has a fan drawn in, in cartoon form, by a member of the band (thanks, Monocular One)

October 17: Procol Harum play London in twenty weeks' time

'Some of the best music you've never heard ... '

Listen on Monday 18 October to 'Hidden Treasures of Rock'n'Roll' from 12–4 PM (Central Time) on http://uicradio.ws/ : featured music being the songs of Procol Harum, as played by The Palers' Project (thanks, John)

Added a link to a clip of a Procol cover-version from Jules Shear (thanks, Roxie)

What does AWSoP sound and look like with Josh Phillips on Hammond? Find the video link here (thanks, Spongecat)

October 16:

Added a transcript from an American TV programme, where Procol Harum were invoked (eventually!) by one of the band's high-profile fans (thanks, One-Eye + Beverly)

Gary Brooker's forthcoming Southend gig sold out within 24 hours, so we have great pleasure in announcing that a second gig has been arranged: details here (thanks, Dave)

October 15: RIP Bill Eyden, drummer on A Whiter Shade of Pale

Added pictures of Procol Harum onstage in 1975 (thanks, John)

What did Procol do the day after those photos were taken? Read here and here

The forthcoming Brooker / No Stiletto Shoes gig is completely sold out ... sorry! (thanks, Riga Music!)

October 14:

Booking for Procol Harum's London show : a date-mistake at the theatre's website has now been rectified, and ticket sales are under way. For a week – until the London listings go out – they are giving priority to Paler bookings, so be sure to mention 'Beyond the Pale' when you ring or write in. 

Added pictures of Procol Harum onstage in 1976 (thanks, John)

Have a look at some other 1976 Procol stage pictures, here, here, and here

October 13:

So ... what was BJ's favourite Procol Harum album, and what did he think of Keith Reid's words? Added an interview with BJ Wilson (thanks, Diane)

Remastered CD prizes have all been sent out to the Triumphant Victors in our recent competition. Please let us know when they reach you safely.

October 12:

Added a final page – for the moment – showing the evolution, through charts and pictures, of BJ's percussion equipment (thanks, Keith)

Added a link to Gary Brooker's Tibetan benefit from June 2002 (thanks, Ben)

October 11:

Hurry! Added a link to information about the forthcoming Brooker / No Stiletto Shoes gig: tickets are now on sale to fans only (public announcement of the gig will follow by 24 October) (thanks, Riga Music!)

Added a fourth page of pictures and charts depicting BJ's evolving percussion set-up (thanks, Keith)

Added a review of the Well's on Fire (thanks, Ken)

October 10:  Happy Birthday Alan Cartwright, 1945 : Procol Harum play London in twenty-one weeks' time

Added our third page of charts and pictures depicting BJ's evolving drum-kits (thanks, Keith)

Added a song specially written and recorded for BJ Wilson, in memoriam (thanks, Tim)

October 9:

Added our second page of charts and pictures depicting BJ's drum-kits (thanks, Keith)

Added the schedule of lucky winners, and the correct answers, from the BtP / Friday Music puzzle: thanks to all who took part!

Added a correction here: Procol's Paris show is on a Monday, not a Thursday (thanks, Sue)

October 8: Happy Birthday Ray Royer (1945) : 'Beyond the Pale' is seven years old today!

Many thanks to the kind users of this site who have chosen today to hit the 'please help' button above!

We are pleased to be able to commemorate this seventh birthday of 'Beyond the Pale' by adding a percussion analysis in memory of Barrie James Wilson, 18 March 1947 – 8 October 1990: so please enjoy our first page of charts and pictures depicting BJ's drum-kits (thanks, Keith)

We have commemorated this anniversary with the following pieces in recent years:

2003: Close encounter with a great percussionist
2002: the Melody Maker profile of BJ
2001: a BtP interview with one of BJ's Joe Cocker band-mates
2000: a grand picture outtake and Procol rarities for sale
1999: a new portrait of BJ and a friend's tribute
1998: new studio photos of BJ from Mick Grabham;
1997: to launch the website, a BtP interview from Barrie's great friend, Kenny White.

Celebrating BtP's birthday, added the dates and booking details for a couple of Procol Harum concerts in European capitals (thanks, Chris; thanks, Mark)

October 7: Just one more day to answer these questions and win new Procol CDs

We understand that Gary Brooker may be heard live on WRFG 89.3FM at 1.30 pm GMT today: listen online by hitting the WRFG link here

Added an mp3 of Gary Brooker's comments about the composition of AWSoP, as broadcast two days back (thanks, Felice)

In case that sounded familiar, have a look at the longer interview from which it was so artfully excerpted

October 6: Two more days to answer these questions and win new Procol CDs

Added a page about the remastered CD re-issue of Within Our House (thanks, Joe). You can win this album – and its label-mates in the PH remasters series – at BtP's Autumn Puzzle explanatory page ... not a race against the clock, but a leisurely few days' contemplation of some simple clues, and a good number of prizes (thanks, Friday!) We should point out that the Autumn Competition is extremely easy if you click on the links in each question ... and the Procol CD prizes are highly desirable (specially the 9-minute Blue Danube, of which we are giving away three copies)

Added this link to an unspeakably-titled compilation containing the 'Procul Harem' song,  A Whiter Shade of Pale (thanks, Alan)

In which connection, why not re-read this gruesome page?

October 5: Three days left to answer these questions and win new Procol CDs

Added a nice overview of Robin Trower's early solo career, culled from the preface to one of his songbooks (thanks, Jill)

Added a link to an interesting online resource of Trower songbooks

October 4: Four more days to answer these questions and win new Procol CDs

Last few hours for bidding at eBay on the Brooker / Trower / Paramounts rare photo ... visit the link at the foot of this page to see how the auction is going.

Added a page about the remastered re-issue of Grand Hotel which contains a live version of the title-track, including a song from The Wizard of Oz, which you have probably not heard on CD before ... we include an mp3 excerpt (thanks, Joe)

You can win this album – and its label-mates in the PH remasters series – at BtP's Autumn Puzzle explanatory page ... not a race against the clock, but a leisurely few days' contemplation of some simple clues, and a good number of prizes (thanks, Friday!)

We should point out that the Autumn Competition is extremely easy if you click on the links in each question ... and the Procol CD prizes are highly desirable (specially the 9-minute Blue Danube, of which we are giving away three copies)

October 3:

Added a mini-review of Procol Harum Live at the Union Chapel (thanks, Charlie)

Added a useful Procol page which will quickly teach you some Portuguese if you don't already know it! (thanks, Luiz)

October 2:

Added a page about the remastered re-issue of Exotic Birds and Fruit which contains over nine new minutes of hitherto-unheard vintage Procol music ... of which we include an mp3 excerpt (thanks, Joe)

You can win this album – and its label-mates in the PH remasters series – at BtP's Autumn Puzzle explanatory page ... not a race against the clock, but a leisurely week's contemplation of some simple clues, and a good number of prizes (thanks, Friday!)

Added the questions for the 'Beyond  the Pale' Autumn Puzzle ... take your time, and good luck!

October 1:

Added a short review of Procol Harum Live at the Union Chapel (thanks, Martin)

Added a ticket here and some venue information here ... in both cases, with a Little Feat connection (thanks, Thomas)

Coming soon ... BtP's Autumn Competition in which you can win yourself a copy of Exotic Birds (with the 9-minute Blue Danube bonus) or of Grand Hotel (with the live title-track bonus) or of Within Our House (remastered)

Meanwhile you still have time to bid for the unique and highly-collectable Paramounts signed photograph

Read what was new on this website in previous months