Quasar (band)

Quasar
Origin	London, San Francisco
Genres	Neo-prog, progressive rock
Years active	1979–1990, 2006-present
Labels	Q Records
Associated acts	Landmarq
Website	http://quasar.netne.net/

Members	Keith Turner Keren Gaiser Robert Hunt Robinson Paul Johnson Clancy Ferrill

Past members	Geoff Banks John Clark Steve Clarke Mike Kenwright Cyrus Khajavi Steen Doosing Peter Shade Paul Vigrass Peter Ware Susan Robinson Dillon Tonkin David Cairns Dave Wagstaffe Kevin Fitzgerald Uwe D'Rose Steve Leigh Tracy Hitchings Toshi Tsuchiya PJ Shadowhawk Greg Studley

Quasar was formed in 1979 by founder Keith Turner. They found themselves to be amongst a movement of British bands during the early 1980s, including Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, Twelfth Night, Solstice and Pallas, that continued in the progressive rock style created by 1970s bands such as Genesis and Yes.^[1] Though Quasar has had quiet times due to leaving members, they and are now based in San Francisco. They are currently working on a new album for release in 2015.

History

In 1979, Quasar was formed when Keith Turner and Mike Kenwright began to write songs in the Progressive Rock style. Other members of the band included guitarist Steve Clarke, drummer John Clark, and keyboardist Geoff Banks. It didn't take long for changes to occur, however, as Clark left to join Bill Bruford's band Earthworks and Clarke left to tour with Billy Cobham, with Kenwright and Banks also departing the band.

Turner brought in Cyrus Khajavi on guitar, Paul Vigrass on vocals, Peter Ware on keyboards, Peter Shade on percussion and keyboards, and Steen Doosing on drums. In 1982 this lineup released the debut album Fire In The Sky. After a short burst of live shows further lineup changes occurred when Vigress, Doosing, Shade, and Ware departed the band to be replaced by former Solstice vocalist Susan Robinson, drummer David Cairns, and keyboardist Dillon Tonkin.

This stable line-up did hundreds of shows over the next few years culminating in headliners at the Marquee Club in the same months as their contemporaries, Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, Twelfth Night, Solstice and Pallas.

In 1985, David Cairns and Cyrus Khajavi were replaced by Dave Wagstaffe and Kevin Fitzgerald respectively, and this lineup recorded a new track for the EMI compilation album "Fire in Harmony" which reached number 49 in the Kerrang! rock album charts. Not long after "Fire in Harmony"'s release, Fitzgerald, Robinson, and Tonkin were replaced by Uwe D'Rose, Nick Williams, and Steve Leigh respectively. After a few months and some of the hardest gigs known to mankind Williams left and Tracy Hitchings took his place.

The band's second album The Loreli was started, but during recording, D'Rose and Leigh left, with the former being replaced by Toshi Tsuchiya. The Loreli was released in 1989 and this took the band further to perform in Europe as well as the UK. Despite this, the band dissolved shortly thereafter, with Wagstaffe joining the recently departed D'Rose and Leigh in forming Landmarq, whom Hitchings would later join.

Quasar lay quiet for some years until in 2006 founding member Keith Turner reformed Quasar with new members PJ Shadowhawk (Drums/Percussion), and Enrico Goias (Guitars) in 2005. Enrico moved on in 2006 and was replaced by Robert Hunt Robinson (vocals/keyboards), and Greg Studley (guitars). In 2010, Shadowhawk left due to illness and was replaced by Paul Johnson. Studley was replaced by Clancy Ferrill in 2012. Keren Gaiser (Vocals/keyboards) joined in 2011 to round out the current lineup and the band's third album is expected in the near future.

Personnel

Members

Current members

Keith Turner - bass, keyboards (1979–present)
Keren Gaiser - vocals, keyboards (2010–present)
Robert Hunt Robinson - vocals, keyboards (2006–present)
Paul Johnson - drums, percussion (2010–present)
Clancy Ferrill - guitars (2012–present)

Former members

Geoff Banks - keyboards (1979–1980)
John Clark - guitars (1979–1980)
Steve Clarke - drums (1979–1980)
Mike Kenwright - vocals (1979–1980)
Cyrus Khajavi - guitars (1980–1985)
Steen Doosing - drums (1980–1981)
Peter Shade - percussion, keyboards (1980–1981)
Paul Vigrass - vocals (1980–1981)
Peter Ware - keyboards (1980–1981)
Susan Robinson - vocals (1981–1985)

Dillon Tonkin - keyboards (1981–1985)
David Cairns - drums (1981–1985)
Dave Wagstaffe - drums (1985–1989)
Kevin Fitzgerald - guitars (1985)
Uwe D'Rose - guitars (1985–1989)
Steve Leigh - keyboards (1985–1989)
Nick Williams - vocals (1985)
Tracy Hitchings - vocals (1985–1990)
Toshi Tsuchiya - guitars (1990)
PJ Shadowhawk - drums (2005–2010)
Greg Studley - guitars (2006–2012)

Lineups

1979–1980	1980–1981	1981–1985	1985
Geoff Banks - keyboards John Clark - guitars Steve Clarke - drums Mike Kenwright - vocals Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Steen Doosing - drums Cyrus Khajavi - guitars Peter Shade - percussion, keyboards Paul Vigrass - vocals Peter Ware - keyboards	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Cyrus Khajavi - guitars David Cairns - drums Susan Robinson - vocals Dillon Tonkin - keyboards	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Susan Robinson - vocals Dillon Tonkin - keyboards Kevin Fitzgerald - guitars Dave Wagstaffe - drums
1985	1985–1989	1989–1990	1990–2005
Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Dave Wagstaffe - drums Uwe D'Rose - guitars Steve Leigh - keyboards Nick Williams - vocals	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Dave Wagstaffe - drums Uwe D'Rose - guitars Steve Leigh - keyboards Tracy Hitchings - vocals	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Dave Wagstaffe - drums Tracy Hitchings - vocals Toshi Tsuchiya - guitars	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals
2005–2010	2010–present
Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Robert Hunt Robinson - vocals, keyboards PJ Shadowhawk - drums, percussion Greg Studley - guitars	Keith Turner - bass, 12string, basspedals Keren Gaiser - vocals, keyboards Robert Hunt Robinson - vocals, keyboards Paul Johnson - drums, percussion Clancy Ferrill - guitars

Discography

Studio

Fire in the Sky (1982)
The Loreli (1989)
Memories of Times Yet to Be (TBC)^[2]

Live & Compilations

Fire in Harmony (1985)
Quasar Live 1984–1990 (2011)
Live 2011 (2012)

References

↑ "Neo Progressive". ProgArchives.com. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
↑ "The New CD". Retrieved 2010-08-23.

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