Mandalaband

Mandalaband actually comprised two distinct English progressive rock outfits that operated under a single creative force. The later version incorporated contributions from Barclay James Harvest, 10cc, Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior, and the Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward. Both lineups issued albums on Chrysalis in 1975 and 1978, yet each existed primarily to realize musician and scholar David Rohl’s mythological concepts.

After becoming a recognized Egyptologist, Rohl had started his initial group, Sign of Life, in 1968; the name soon shifted to Ankh to reflect his fascination with ancient Egypt. The musicians cut demos alongside Eric Stewart—then the former Mindbenders frontman known from Wayne Fontana’s era and later a 10cc co-founder—at a professional studio. Those recordings secured a Vertigo Records deal, the progressive subsidiary of Philips, but the completed album remained unreleased. Rohl stepped away from music and pursued photography, which resulted in his assignment to shoot the Moody Blues for the gatefold of their 1970 release A Question of Balance.

He subsequently established a personal studio and assembled drummer Tony Cresswell, keyboardist Vic Emerson, bassist John Stimpson, guitarist Ashley Mulford, and singer David Durant. Performing as Mandalaband, they debuted live in January 1975 and secured support slots on Robin Trower’s British tour after the ex-Procol Harum guitarist’s departure from that band. Chrysalis signed them, yet the label replaced Rohl with an outside producer for the debut. He departed just before sessions began on the album he had fully composed, whose lyrics addressed the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. Management later recalled him to remix the unsatisfactory results, but the effort proved unsuccessful.

Rohl next concentrated on engineering, collaborating with Marc Bolan, Thin Lizzy, Barclay James Harvest, Tim Hart, and Maddy Prior. The remaining Mandalaband members re-formed as Sad Cafe, later featuring future Mike & the Mechanics vocalist Paul Young. In 1976 Chrysalis invited Rohl back and reinstated the Mandalaband name for a solo project. Rather than a fixed band, he recruited an all-star cast that included Justin Hayward, Maddy Prior, Barclay James Harvest, and 10cc.

Rohl envisioned a trilogy tracing an elaborate fictional history modeled on the scale of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, spanning multiple eras in the realm of Wendor and featuring King Aenord, Princess Ursula, the hero Florian, and Witch Queen Silesandre. Only The Eye of Wendor: Prophesies reached completion after two years of recording. Issued in 1978, the album achieved modest sales in Britain, Australia, and parts of Europe, yet the fading progressive-rock climate prompted Chrysalis to abandon the remaining installments. Rohl persisted in music, teaming with Barclay James Harvest keyboardist Woolly Wolstenholme on film scores, supporting various ensembles, and continuing to compose.