Catapilla

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Catapilla
Origin	London, England
Genre(s)	Progressive Rock Jazz
Label(s)	Vertigo
Former members
Malcolm Frith (drums) Dave Taylor (bass) Graham Wilson (guitar) Joe Meek (vocals) Hugh Eaglestone (saxophone) Robert Calvert (saxophone) Thierry Rheinhart (woodwind) Anna Meek (vocals) Bryan Hanson (drums) Ralph Rolinson (keyboards) Carl Wassard (bass)

Catapilla was an english progressive rock band and was active from the late 60s till the first half of the 70s. Its lead members were vocalist Anna Meek and saxophonist Robert Calvert. It created very innovative music in the early 70s, but disbanded shortly after the release of its second album. Nevertheless, the group had a great influence on music of the period.

[edit] History

Catapilla was formed in the late 60s in west London, with early members Malcolm Frith on drums, Dave Taylor on bass, Graham Wilson playing guitar and a wind section (Hugh Eaglestone, Robert Calvert and Thierry Rheinhart). Joe Meek (singer) was the first lead vocalist.

Black Sabbath manager Patrick Meehan produced the band's first album, recorded with Anna Meek. The cover of Catapilla is reminiscent of the Beatles' apple, but being eaten by a caterpillar. This suggests the idea of destroying the utopian perfection of british psychedelia and opposition to the mainstream psychedelic and progressive rock of that time.

After the release of their first album, the group toured, and Eaglestone, Frith, Rheinhart and Taylor were substituted by Brian Hanson (drums), Ralph Rolinson (keyboards) and Carl Wassard (bass). With this new line-up, the band recorded their second album, Changes. This album is regarded as the group's main achievement, and had a great influence on other musicians of that time, although without mainstream success. Soon after the release of this album Catapilla disbanded.