The baroque
roquers of Procol Harum (Richmond, London) became world famous after the delivery
of a few superb symphonic pop prototypes. That fame was achieved not in the least
by the release of a contemporary version of Johann Sebastian Bach's Air from the
Suite for Orchestra No. 3 (BWV 1068) in D major, given the more vivid
title A Whiter Shade of Pale by the band.
It was the manager of the band, Guy
Stevens, who came up with the band name: a friend of his had a cat called
Procol Harum - at least that was what the cat’s name sounded like.
Later Stevens
(who also thought up the band name Mott The Hoople) made other
attempts to attach a meaning to the name: according to him Procul Harun is Latin,
meaning something like 'far beyond these things'.
Singer and pianist Gary Brooker let the world know that he was completely happy with that statement, because, as he said, the cat’s name could have meant something like ‘I'm going to buy a cow’ just as well.
Later Stevens
(who also thought up the band name Mott The Hoople) made other
attempts to attach a meaning to the name: according to him Procul Harun is Latin,
meaning something like 'far beyond these things'.Singer and pianist Gary Brooker let the world know that he was completely happy with that statement, because, as he said, the cat’s name could have meant something like ‘I'm going to buy a cow’ just as well.
The editors of this encyclopedia however cherish their own
theory: we consider it possible that the cat of Stevens' friend was named after
the biggest 'ocean' (called 'mare') that can be found on the moon: Procellarum.
Active: 1967-1977; 1991-present, GBR
1 comments:
The friend of the Manager wad Bob Rowbury. Procul Harum was the pedigrees name of his cat. But Bob called the cat Brian. This is a true story as i know Bob personally.
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