Dantalian's Chariot

Dantalian's Chariot was a British psychedelic rock band formed in 1967, led by keyboardist and bandleader Zoot Money, and also featuring Andy Summers (later of The Police). They are best remembered for their single "Madman Running Through the Fields", and for their live performances, which featured early psychedelic light shows. The band would all wear white robes and kaftans in concert, with all of their equipment painted white, to heighten the effect of these light shows. The group disbanded in April 1968, with Summers going on to join Soft Machine and Money joining Eric Burdon & The Animals

In 1961, George Bruno "Zoot" Money formed the Big Roll Band, playing a mixture of soul, jazz, and R&B. Despite becoming a popular fixture on the London club circuit in the early-to-mid-1960s and releasing two albums on EMI's Columbia label, they had little commercial success. With the burgeoning psychedelic scene rendering the band's blend of jazz and R&B passé, Money split up the Big Roll Band in mid-1967 and formed a new band. This new group comprised Money on keyboards and vocals, Andy Somers (who later changed his surname to Summers) on guitar, Pat Donaldson on bass, and Colin Allen on drums....(Read more at Wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Zoot Money made his reputation on the London pop scene not only as leader of a popular live band, but as one of its leading "ravers", known for his on-stage clowning and his offstage partying and "looning", which led to his name frequently appearing in pop press gossip columns like Melody Maker's "The Raver" and Record Mirror's "The Face". His records attracted less attention, with the exception of the 1966 single "Big Time Operator", which made the UK charts, was played frequently on the offshore pirate radio stations and made Peel's British Top Ten on KMEN.

But by the time Peel returned to the UK in 1967, the music scene was changing and the mod club scene which had provided Zoot Money's Big Roll Band with an audience was starting to look old-fashioned. Money repsonded to this with the drastic change of style mentioned above. Not everyone was impressed, but Peel defended the new band in International Times of 5 October 1967:


 * Everyone seems determined to knock Dantalian's Chariot - including hairy colleague Mick Farren. However I know that Zoot Money is sincere in this sudden reformation and he's not trying cynical bandwagon jumping as has been ofttimes suggested. After all he has obviously suffered financially as a result of the emanciaption of his music. All the mohairs who used to roar for immediate personal involvement in the "jerk" will now be roaring for his blood and all those aware of the good sounds are shouting "fake". To be on guard against exploitation is essential but intolerance is not a part of our garden of delights.

But like the Big Roll Band, Dantalian's Chariot are remembered for one track - their single "Madman Running Through the Fields", which wasn't a hit but became recognised as one of the classic tracks of the era. It certainly remained a Peel favourite, being included in the Peelenium 1967 and appearing in a show playlist as late as 2003.

Sessions

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Other Shows Played
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