EMPIRE feat. Peter Banks & Sydney Foxx - Mark II (1977)

EMPIRE was a band project, or rather three band projects, set up by former Yes guitarist Peter BANKS when his band Flash folded. The initial start of this venture came to be while Banks was out recruiting musicians for a brand new line-up of Flash. While meeting various possible candidates he met singer Sydney Foxx (Sidonie Jordan), and they soon developed a strong personal and professional relationship, the former leading to them marrying and the latter to the band assembled given a unique moniker - Empire.

The first album was recorded in 1974. However, the record labels weren't at all interested in the final result, and Empire disbanded. Banks and Foxx moved to the US shortly after. In 1977 a new line-up was assembled and a second album made. The record labels didn't take much interest in this second effort by the band either, and Empire dissolved yet again.

A third attempt with a new line-up came to be in 1978, but yet again the record labels found the end result wanting. Empire eventually dissolved in 1980, ending the professional relationship between Banks and Foxx - their personal one had disintegrated some time before.

In the 1990's US Record label One Way Records took an interest in these recordings, and decided that these titles were worth releasing. In 1995 they issued the first of these under the moniker Empire featuring Peter Banks as Mark I, with Mark II following in 1996 and Mark III in 1997.