Aquila - Aquila (Reissue) (1970/1994)

Welsh band Aquila arose from the ashes of late 1960's band BLONDE ON BLONDE. Founding guitarist Ralph Denyer left that band in 1970 to work on his Aquila project. Blonde on Blonde recruited new vocalist/guitarist David Thomas (an old school friend of Denyer) to replace Denyer, and went on to record their best album "Rebirth".

Aquila's music, while substantially based in art rock, draws in influences from a diverse range of influences, including jazz and heavy rock. Deyner was the clear leader of the band, writing all the songs on their sole release, a self titled album.

Quite what happened to the band thereafter, and why they split up so quickly is something of a mystery, especially since they were signed to a major label (RCA). Wind instrumentalist George Lee joined ARRIVAL, a mainly vocal collaboration who enjoyed brief singles success before his arrival with the song "Friends". (Answers.com notes that this is the same George Lee who was born in Ghana, real name Kwame Narh Kojo Larnyoh, who was a member of Burning Spear and Toots & the Maytals, but I suspect this is inaccurate.)

No photos of the band appear to exist, even the images on the album sleeve are sketches of each band member. The image on this page is taken from the LP sleeve.

The sole "Aquila" album ended up in the bargain bins of the UK, but ironically, is now a sought after rarity.

With due acknowledgement to an article written by Nigel Camilleri for DPRP.net, about the only reference to the band currently traceable! ~ Bob McBeath