DAVID ROHL: Producer/Engineer, composer, arranger, keyboards, vocals, archaeology and the clever-clogs of the outfit. Other lives: Mandalaband I & II, Egyptologist, explorer, writer & TV presenter.
WOOLLY WOLSTENHOLME: Composer, arranger, keyboards, vocals, strange behaviour and smoking on the naya. Other lives: Mandalaband II, Barclay James Harvest & Maestoso.
TROY DONOCKLEY: Composer, arranger, Uilleann pipes, Celtic whistles, space-guitar, folksy stuff, incredible magic and the kitchen sink. Other lives: Iona, Maddy Prior band, Barbara Dixon band, Moya Brennan (Clannad), Mostly Autumn, Nightwish & The Bad Shepherds; producer and orchestrator; concert performer (with the Boston Symphony).
MARC ATKINSON: Vocals, acoustic guitar, unsung hero of the North-East blessed with the voice of a divine kheruba. Other lives: Riversea & Gabriel.
JOSE MANUEL MEDINA: Composer, arranger, keyboards, Alfonso I of Aragon and sundry other kitchen utensils. Other lives: Last Knight.
ASHLEY MULFORD: Composer, guitars, vocals and more guitars, and, of course, Danish pastries. Other lives: Mandalaband I, Sad Cafe & Mike and the Mechanics.
KIM TURNER: Composer, drums, percussion, guitars, mandolin, vocals, style guru and various items from the local flea market. Other lives: Mandalaband II, Maestoso & The Fabulous Wonderfuls.
CRAIG FLETCHER: Bass guitars, vocals, tranquilising effect on Maestoso Wolstenholme. Other lives: Barclay James Harvest (in the Eyes of John Lees) & Maestoso.
GEOFFREY RICHARDSON: Viola, violin and many other things that scrape and blow. Other lives: Caravan, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Murray Head band & Bob Geldof band.
BARBARA MACANAS: Composer, vocals, management, publishing and checkbook.
BRIONY MACANAS: Vocals and student union card.
DITAS ROHL: Nosh, beverages, climbing under the desk to reconnect wires, and remarkable patience (sometimes).
More to follow ...
Influences
Stravinsky; Richard Strauss; Mahler; Los Beatles; Peter Gabriel; Homer; Herodotus; Virgil; Cretien de Troyes; and then, in a negative kinda way, punk, rap and house (perhaps explaining the thirty-year sabbatical).
Sounds Like
Mandalaband I and II but with more wisdom and arrogance.
BUY THE NEW ALBUM 'BC – ANCESTORS' direct from the band's official website at mandalaband.co.uk – special offer price!MANDALABAND III is the third reincarnation of an extraordinary progressive rock band with a long history. In fact, it has been thirty years since their last album (this must be a world record!) and expectations are pretty high for the two albums currently in production.
The first and original album 'MANDALABAND' was released by Chrysalis in October 1975 and created quite a stir with its bombastic 'Om Mani Padme Hum' – a four-movement work for rock band and choir, the lyrics of which form the basis of the Tibetan national anthem. These Tibetan lyrics were 'performed' by lead singer Dave Durant and the London Chorale, whilst the other members of the band were Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (guitars), Tony Cresswell (drums) and John Stimpson (bass), with David Rohl as founder, writer and studio engineer for the band. Emerson, Mulford, Cresswell and Stimpson later went on to form Sade Cafe along with lead singer, Paul Young, and rhythm guitarist, Ian Wilson.
Mandalaband I: L to R - John, Dave, Vic (front), Tony (back) and Ashley
In the meantime, Chrysalis had asked David Rohl to write and produce a second Mandalaband album, making use of all the singers and fellow musicians David had befriended during his time at Indigo and Strawberry Studios in Manchester, where he was Chief Engineer during the 1970s. Two years later, the result was 'THE EYE OF WENDOR' – a concept album based on a Tolkienesque fantasy set in a prehistoric world of warlocks, witches, sea-monsters, battling heroes, and a magical gemstone of great supernatural power.
Vocalists on this album included: Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Eric Stewart (10cc), Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Kevin Godley (10cc), Lol Creme (10cc), and Paul Young (Sad Cafe & Mike and the Mechanics). Musicians included: Ritchie Close, David Rohl and Woolly Wolstenholme (Barclay James Harvest) on sundry keyboards; Noel Redding (Jimmy Hendrix Experience), Les Holroyd (BJH), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Pete Glennon and Alf Tramontin on bass guitars; Steve Broomhead (Maestoso), John Lees (BJH) and Jimmy McDonnell on guitars; Phil Chapman on saxes and flutes; Gerry Murphy on Northumbrian Pipes; Kim Turner (Maestoso), Mel Pritchard (BJH) and Dave Hassle on drums & percussion; plus the Halle orchestra and Gerald Brown Singers for all the classical bits. Quite a line up!
THE EYE OF WENDOR was released in May 1978 to much bemusement (some might say indifference) but, over the years, it has come to be recognised as one of the great classic prog rock albums and the most complete concept album of its time and genre.
Thirty years later we have MANDALABAND III about to be relaunched onto the unsuspecting world – a brotherhood of musicians (some ex-Mandalaband, some new) under the guiding hands (digits and ears) of David Rohl. The band are busy producing two progressive rock (actually David prefers to call them regressive rock) albums, with all the old flourish and grandeur of Mandalaband I and II – but with the lusciously rich sounds and dynamic technology of the modern sampling era. The uncompromising brief from David to the guys tasked with writing the new compositions was 'majesty and magnificence' and that's exactly what you can expect (give or take the odd slide into musical comedy or Gilbert & Sullivan).
The first of the two albums to be released is called 'BC – ANCESTORS' and covers the heroic age of our ancient ancestral history (leading up to the birth of Christ). The second album will be entitled 'AD – SANGREAL' and concerns itself with the Romano-Spanish legends surrounding the Holy Grail (minus King Arthur).
Twenty-five new songs and compositions which will take your breath away with their majestic themes and massive orchestrations, from 6/8 overtures which swing like a drunken sailor, to heavy rock guitar solos played in the heroic fashion, to melancholy classical opuses in that familiar Woollyesque style – it's all there with your one-and-only, reborn, re-invigorated, uncompromising, regressive concept band of the century (all eight years of it). The very best bunch of wrinkly musicians you could ever hope for, resurrected from the dead in all their pompous glory, brought together by music's very own Machiavelli, and all performing in the best possible taste!
Now, towards the end of 2009, the band are preparing for live performances in 2010, beginning with a warm up rehearsal session in York where 'A Bloodline Born', 'Beautiful Babylon', 'Karum Kanesh', 'England's Heart and Soul' and 'Solomon the Wise' were worked on. The following album has photos from the session.
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How I made my profile: I used Dave & Jay's amazing myspace editor.
HI AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE ADD ON YOUR PAGE ...I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO MY SONGS AND MAYBE LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU GET TIME...I WISH YOU WELL AND HOPE YOU ENJOY MY MUSIC ..THANKS AGAIN...YOUR FRIEND PATRICK K
I think your music is great. The BC Ancestors album is excellent. Will definitely be buying a copy of AD Sangreal when it is released. Hope you get your wish to perform the songs live. All the best.
Thank you so much... My EP, A Moment to Break, is now available on iTunes and Amazon. You can also join my mailing list at www.jamielynnnoon.com-- I couldn't be more grateful for the love and support!
Thanks for the add Mandalaband :) Hope you'll enjoy
ma songs as well and your comments will be most welcome.
Take care and have a great weekend. Cheers
Hi MANDALABAND, Thanks for the friendship, I was really thrilled and impressed by your music, I think it is so beautiful and pleasant, to listen to, some out of the songs gives me goose bumps, absolutely wonderful. Have the very best with everything and all the time.
Performers: Choir of the Vienna Opera and Vienna Philharmonic Karl Böhm – Conductor
All my best, michael
..Today the music of Verdi, whose masterworks dominate the standard opera repertoire a century and a half after their composition, is in my myspace classical music-video blog.
We had rehearsals for MANDALABAND all this week and it went great! I hope we do get chance to play this all 'live' next year... It'll really be something special I miss all you guys already... Cant wait for us all to be together again. Peace, love and rock n roll... Marc x
The first and original album 'MANDALABAND' was released by Chrysalis in October 1975 and created quite a stir with its bombastic 'Om Mani Padme Hum' – a four-movement work for rock band and choir, the lyrics of which form the basis of the Tibetan national anthem. These Tibetan lyrics were 'performed' by lead singer Dave Durant and the London Chorale, whilst the other members of the band were Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (guitars), Tony Cresswell (drums) and John Stimpson (bass), with David Rohl as founder, writer and studio engineer for the band. Emerson, Mulford, Cresswell and Stimpson later went on to form Sade Cafe along with lead singer, Paul Young, and rhythm guitarist, Ian Wilson.
Mandalaband I: L to R - John, Dave, Vic (front), Tony (back) and Ashley
In the meantime, Chrysalis had asked David Rohl to write and produce a second Mandalaband album, making use of all the singers and fellow musicians David had befriended during his time at Indigo and Strawberry Studios in Manchester, where he was Chief Engineer during the 1970s. Two years later, the result was 'THE EYE OF WENDOR' – a concept album based on a Tolkienesque fantasy set in a prehistoric world of warlocks, witches, sea-monsters, battling heroes, and a magical gemstone of great supernatural power.
Vocalists on this album included: Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Eric Stewart (10cc), Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Kevin Godley (10cc), Lol Creme (10cc), and Paul Young (Sad Cafe & Mike and the Mechanics). Musicians included: Ritchie Close, David Rohl and Woolly Wolstenholme (Barclay James Harvest) on sundry keyboards; Noel Redding (Jimmy Hendrix Experience), Les Holroyd (BJH), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Pete Glennon and Alf Tramontin on bass guitars; Steve Broomhead (Maestoso), John Lees (BJH) and Jimmy McDonnell on guitars; Phil Chapman on saxes and flutes; Gerry Murphy on Northumbrian Pipes; Kim Turner (Maestoso), Mel Pritchard (BJH) and Dave Hassle on drums & percussion; plus the Halle orchestra and Gerald Brown Singers for all the classical bits. Quite a line up!
THE EYE OF WENDOR was released in May 1978 to much bemusement (some might say indifference) but, over the years, it has come to be recognised as one of the great classic prog rock albums and the most complete concept album of its time and genre.
Thirty years later we have MANDALABAND III about to be relaunched onto the unsuspecting world – a brotherhood of musicians (some ex-Mandalaband, some new) under the guiding hands (digits and ears) of David Rohl. The band are busy producing two progressive rock (actually David prefers to call them regressive rock) albums, with all the old flourish and grandeur of Mandalaband I and II – but with the lusciously rich sounds and dynamic technology of the modern sampling era. The uncompromising brief from David to the guys tasked with writing the new compositions was 'majesty and magnificence' and that's exactly what you can expect (give or take the odd slide into musical comedy or Gilbert & Sullivan).
The first of the two albums to be released is called 'BC – ANCESTORS' and covers the heroic age of our ancient ancestral history (leading up to the birth of Christ). The second album will be entitled 'AD – SANGREAL' and concerns itself with the Romano-Spanish legends surrounding the Holy Grail (minus King Arthur).
Twenty-five new songs and compositions which will take your breath away with their majestic themes and massive orchestrations, from 6/8 overtures which swing like a drunken sailor, to heavy rock guitar solos played in the heroic fashion, to melancholy classical opuses in that familiar Woollyesque style – it's all there with your one-and-only, reborn, re-invigorated, uncompromising, regressive concept band of the century (all eight years of it). The very best bunch of wrinkly musicians you could ever hope for, resurrected from the dead in all their pompous glory, brought together by music's very own Machiavelli, and all performing in the best possible taste!
Now, towards the end of 2009, the band are preparing for live performances in 2010, beginning with a warm up rehearsal session in York where 'A Bloodline Born', 'Beautiful Babylon', 'Karum Kanesh', 'England's Heart and Soul' and 'Solomon the Wise' were worked on. The following album has photos from the session.
I hope we do get chance to play this all 'live' next year... It'll really be something special 
I miss all you guys already... Cant wait for us all to be together again. Peace, love and rock n roll... Marc x