Galadriel were an Australian

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...

group formed in 1969 by Garry Adams on guitar and vocals, Doug Bligh on drums (both ex-House of Bricks), Gary Lothian on lead guitar (ex-Elliot Gordon Union), Mick Parker on bass guitar and flute (ex-Samael Lilith), and Jon "Spider" Scholtens on lead vocals. According to Australian musicologist,

Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist ...

, their debut self-titled album from May 1971 is, "one of the rarest major label progressive rock albums of the early 1970s... songs ranged in style from bluesy hard rock ('Amble On', 'Girl of Seventeen') to jazzy ballads ('Standing in the Rain')." The group broke up in 1972. ''Galadriel'' was re-released in 1995, on CD, by Vicious Sloth Collectables.

History

Future members of Galadriel, Garry Adams on guitar and vocals and Doug Bligh on drums, had both been members of Sydney dance band, House of Bricks, alongside

Daryl Braithwaite Daryl Braithwaite (born 11 January 1949) is an Australian singer. He was the lead vocalist of Sherbet (1970–1984 and many subsequent reunions). Braithwaite also has a solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including ...

on lead vocals and Bruce Worrall on bass guitar. Mick Parker, on bass guitar and flute, was a member of Samael Lilith with Ray Ferguson on lead vocals and guitar, Brent Thurlow on organ and Greg Wilder on drums. When Galadriel formed in 1969 and House of Bricks disbanded, Braithwaite and Worrall joined Samael Lilith before the pair later joined pop group, Sherbet. Galadriel's original members with Adams, Bligh and Parker were Gary Lothian on lead guitar (ex-Elliot Gordon Union), and Jon "Spider" Scholtens on lead vocals; the main song writers were Adams and Scholtens. The group were named for the Elven character in

J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...

's ''

The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an Epic (genre), epic high fantasy novel written by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's book ''The Hobbit'' but eventually d ...

''. Their debut single, "Girl of Seventeen", was issued via the Du Monde label in February 1971. They were signed to

Polydor Records Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

, which issued the group's self-titled album in May of that year. It was recorded with Tom Lubin producing.

, an Australian music journalist, observed, "

t is T, or t, is the twentieth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''tee'' (pronounced ), plural ''tees''. It is d ...

one of the rarest major label progressive rock albums of the early 1970s... songs ranged in style from bluesy hard rock ('Amble On', 'Girl of Seventeen') to jazzy ballads ('Standing in the Rain')." A second single, "Standing in the Rain", appeared alongside the album in the same month. Parker left the group and was replaced by Dave Allen on flute and Bruce Belbin on bass guitar. The group had signed a recording contract with

Festival Records Festival Records, later known as Festival Mushroom Records, was an Australian recording and publishing company founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1952 and operated until 2005. Festival was a subsidiary of News Limited from 1961 to 2005. The com ...

but broke up in 1972. Adams and Bligh joined Mario Millo in the Clik, Bligh later played in Richard Clapton Band, Ross Ryan Band and then Windchase (the latter group with Millo). ''Galadriel'' was re-released in 1995, on CD, by Vicious Sloth Collectables.

Members

* Garry Adams – guitar, vocals * Doug Bligh – drums * Gary Lothian – lead guitar * Mick Parker – bass guitar, flute * Jon "Spider" Scholtens – lead vocals * Dave Allen – flute * Bruce Belbin – bass guitar

Discography

Albums

* ''Galadriel'' (May 1971) –

Polydor Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

Singles

* "Girl of Seventeen" (1971) – Du Monde * "Standing in the Rain" (1971) – Polydor

References

{{Authority control Australian progressive rock groups Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 1972 Musical groups from Sydney