Previous years of hebdomadal BtP updates

Year 16, ending October 2013

8 October 2013: the final hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'Beyond the Pale', launched on 8 October 1997, celebrated its sixteenth birthday in Helsinki with an excellent fans' gathering (thanks, Pirjo). Thanks to everyone who has contributed so much to these 6,800+ webpages during that long time ... please keep it coming! And to those who still have collectible or contemporary clippings, pictures, reviews, and so on, which are not archived here: please send them in ...

Added a photo-report from BJ Wilson's resting-place (thanks, Pat)

Added a suitably perceptive review of A Salty Dog (thanks, Bradshaw)

Added four recent Procol Harum setlists from the amazingly successful tour just ended:  Malmø, Göteborg, Stockholm, and – including BtP's tribute to BJ Wilson from fans worldwide, and Gary Brooker's reworking of a classic Procol song in his honour – Helsinki

Above, photo to accompany a BJ Wilson story ... but what exactly is the story? A learned correspondent elucidates: 'BJ Wilson was noted in the photo in the 1/11 issue of Sound+Vision (formerly Stereo Review). The photo accompanied a review of the Classic Album DVD of Tom Petty's Damn the Torpedoes. The review itself doesn't mention BJ)' (thanks, Marvin)

'16 Vestal Virgins' tee-shirt ... get yours now! See here (thanks, Holger)

Made some retrospective toponymic adjustments here and here (thanks, Pirjo)

3 October: the penultimate hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the liner-note for the Salvo re-issue of Procol's Live at the Union Chapel DVD/CD ... and you can compare it with the same author's liner-note for the previous issue, ten years before

Added a third generous page of official pictures from 'Echoes in the Night', the BtP fans' afternoon event in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Listen to the majestic and inventive guitar instrumentals that Procol Harum's former stage tech John Magner (picture) has been putting up on SoundCloud (thanks, Johnny). He tells us that ‘Everything apart from the guitars is programmed. Took forever to put together. Just one guitar, an ESP baritone guitar through an ADA pre amp with speaker emulation. Apart from Spirit … that was an Ibanez Gem guitar through a Carvin X100B amp. All the drums are samples of my friend’s Tama kit recorded at Sawmill Studios in Cornwall. The girl ... she was the daughter of my friend’s girlfriend about eighteen years ago. All the other sounds are just out of my sample library built up over about twenty years. I recorded those pieces about ten years ago: I just never had a way to share them before. They were all recorded on an Akai DR8 digital eight track machine, with Akai samplers and my old (now deceased) Atari computer for the MIDI stuff. All I have now is my outdated MacBook, my samples and two guitars: the old ESP and a very lovely Gibson Les Paul Recording guitar (on permanent loan from the Commander). I don't really have a home studio any more but I'm working on stuff. I didn't play guitar at all for over two years. I'm practising hard to get back in form.'

Procol fans in Helsinki (or visiting Helsinki!) on 8 October: the details about the fans' gathering are here ... booking is now closed. (thanks, Pirjo)

A Ms J Clare (scroll down) writes from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra to say, 'I was looking at the website of the company who are making our German trombones and thought you might like this tour' (thanks, Jane)

26 September: the forty-eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Get as much Procol Harum merchandise as you desire – books, CDs, DVDs, tee-shirts, badges and stage-passes – and pay nothing for it! Read the details here

Procol fans in Helsinki (or visiting Helsinki!) on 8 October: the details about the fans' gathering are here ... and please realise you'll need to reserve your place (nothing to pay) by sending us an e-mail.

Added a second generous page of official pictures of Procol Harum's public performance with the orchestra, choir and dancers in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a second generous page of official pictures from 'Echoes in the Night', the BtP fans' afternoon event in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

'One Thousand One Hundred and Fifteen Shades of Pale': added an illustrated story of two Procol fans getting together at a magnificent collection (thanks, George)

19 September: the forty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Jackie Lomax

Added a first generous page of official pictures of Procol Harum's public performance with the orchestra, choir and dancers in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added some sad news and a cancellation here

Added a first generous page of official pictures from 'Echoes in the Night', the BtP fans' afternoon event in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)
 

12 September: the forty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

If you are going to any of the upcoming Procol Harum shows, add your name to the fans' lists (Malmø, Göteborg, Stockholm, Helsinki) and increase the chance of mingling before or after the music with people of very similar musical interests!

Added two archival snaps of Gary Brooker – here and here – each showing him with a fellow-luminary from the British rock scene, from the Facebook pages of Annie Haslam (thanks, Anvil)

Added a fifth page of pictures of Procol Harum's first (non-public) rehearsals with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a fourth page of pictures of Procol Harum's open rehearsal with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Newcomers to these pages may like to catch up with an unusual Gary Brooker project from the early 1990s: his ballet score, Delta

5 September: the forty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

If you are going to any of the upcoming Procol Harum shows, add your name to the fans' lists (Malmø, Göteborg, Stockholm, Helsinki) and increase the chance of mingling before or after the music with people of very similar musical interests!

Added a fourth page of pictures of Procol Harum's first (non-public) rehearsals with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added links to a couple of film clips of interest to fans of Gary Brooker and Judy Blair (piano and organ): here and here (thanks, Charlie)

Added links to a couple of film clips of interest to fans of Dave Ball, Pokkers Harem, and twerking: here and here (thanks, Dave)

Added new, large and interesting graphics to the foot of two pages, here and here (thanks, Gary)
 

29 August: the forty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Happy birthdays, Geoff Whitehorn and Chris Copping

Added a poster here (thanks, Graham)

Added a third page of pictures of Procol Harum's first (non-public) rehearsals with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a new cover version of Whisky Train here. Listen on YouTube here (thanks, Torjus)

Made a provisional modification here pending further research (thanks, Bill)

Added a third page of pictures of Procol Harum's open rehearsal with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

26 August: Added last night's Gary Brooker and Friends setlist, here (pictures here and here)

25 August: Added last night's Gary Brooker and Friends setlist, here (pictures here)

22 August: the forty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Søren Borello writes to BtP: I am sorry to say that we have to cancel our concert at "Havnehytten" (1 September) as our guitar player Claus Veronese cannot be there. Fortunately there is soon another chance to hear the band. 5 of October we play at "Slotsbio", 3400 Hillerød. So maybe we will see you there.

Added data about a songbook here (thanks, Claudio)

Added a second page of pictures of Procol Harum's first (non-public) rehearsals with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a pre-show photograph of a much-admired organist, here

Added a second page of pictures of Procol Harum's open rehearsal with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a new explanationof the meaning of the band name here. (thanks Fritz

15 August: the forty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Jon Brookes

If you are going to either of the upcoming Gary Brooker shows, add your name to the fans' lists (24 August, 25 August) and increase the chance of having nice social drinks before or after the performance with people of very similar musical interests!

Added a new Danish date for those who fancy a free concert of Procol Harum music (thanks, Søren)

Added a page of pictures of Procol Harum's first (non-public) rehearsals with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a poster here (thanks, Claudio)

Added a page of pictures of Procol Harum's open rehearsal with the orchestra in Wuppertal during April (thanks, Marcus und Dirk)

Added a sheet-music scan here (thanks, Claudio)

Corrected a toponymic solecism here and here (thanks, Christina)

8 August: the forty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP George Duke

Added news of two upcoming Gary Brooker and Friends concerts in France (thanks, Gary)

Added some Gary Brooker 'solo' tickets (thanks, Michael).

Read about the circumstances of the concerts to which those tickets relate, here and here; see pictures, here and here; see the tour dates from twenty years ago here

Watch the recent Whitehorn / Costa Barbé Procol extravaganza in its entirety here: songs include Conquistador, Grand Hotel, Repent Walpurgis, An Old English Dream, Homburg, A Whiter Shade of Pale, A Salty Dog (thanks, Geoff – nice work, Antonio, also Carlo 'Jack')

Have a look at the section headings – and the text, of course – of this audio review (thanks, Charlie)

Added a setlist from the Echoes in the Night musical extravaganza in Wuppertal, Germany, last April (thanks, Ian)

You might mention this on BtP (with a health warning!) says Charlie Allison

Read all about Henry's Procol Biography here (thanks, Henry)

1 August: the fortieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP JJ Cale, Mick Farren

Added nice ticket-scans here, here, here and here (and here) (thanks, Marvin)

If you haven't had enough of people's attempts to clarify the meaning of the words of A Whiter Shade of Pale you may like to visit ... or add to? ... this page (thanks, Anvil)

Added a somewhat overdue setlist here; let us know if you were there and can confirm, or otherwise, the list as written

Overhauled others here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here

Updated information about where to buy Henry Scott-Irvine's very good Procol Harum biography here (thanks, Henry)

25 July: the thirty-ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page (and a mirror) shewing the very straightforward solution, and winners, for the Union Chapel / Procol box set DVD+DVD / CD+CD+CD+CD competition (thanks, Alice; thanks, Chas)

As one correspondent wrote, 'How could so many have got the answer wrong? You set it out no more deviously than usual.'

Fans whose concert diaries are indexed from this page: please send updates relating to Procol shows you've seen during the past two years. Updated pages here, here, here, here and here

Added a links to a 'rockumentary' about last week's Procol/Tull-oriented event in Italy – here (see esp. 12:13, 21:40 and 26:03) (thanks, Geoff – nice work, Antonio)

Added a photo of Geoff Whitehorn and Martin Barre at the above event (thanks, Geoff)

Added a photograph to the foot of this page (thanks, Sari)

Remember Henry's Procol biog? You can win it here

18 July: the thirty-eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Selling well at the BtP online store (click here): the re-released and sound-corrected DVD/CD package – with all-new essay in the liner-notes – of Procol Harum live at the Union Chapel

You can win the above DVD/CD, with the Procol Harum Box Set (CD+CD+CD+DVD) in our Prize Competition: you stand an excellent chance of winning a prize, since about 60% of the answers that have come in so far are incorrect. Just read the questions and instructions carefully, and your name will end up in the BtP hat when we make the draw on Saturday morning (GMT)

Added a review of the recent Robin Trower album by a BtP regular (thanks, Gerard)

The upcoming Procol Harum shows are all selling very fast now. Malmo has the most seats remaining, but several of the others are down to a couple of dozen or so. Book now, or risk disappointment!

Added an illustration here, and some related screen-shots here ... sent in by a former BtP regular whom it's nice to be hearing from again (thanks, John)

Catch Redbeard's online Procol Harum programme while it lasts

Strangely, we're only now starting to create a page for 2013 Procol Harum tickets (thanks, Lars). Please send scans of tickets for shows that have already taken place, to webmaster@procolharum.com

11 July: the thirty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a page for the new Procol Harum re-issue from Salvo: Union Chapel on CD and DVD, with new liner note and re-synchronised sound (thanks, Chas)

Added a prize competition wherein you stand to win SIX excellent Procol Harum discs, by considering just five tiny, simple questions (thanks, Chas)

You can get the new Procol 2CD reissue now, at an excellent price, from 'Beyond the Pale': click here

Overhauled and updated this detailed page

Added a link – here – to a film clip of Matt Pegg playing in April 1993 on a television programme in America

Added graphics here, here and here (thanks, David, and Patrick)

4 July: the thirty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the second and final fine instalment – laden with pictures – from Procol author George Lovell, as he undertakes Part II of the Wuppertal chapter of his much-loved book (thanks, George)

Added news and pictures of a very welcome recent performance – by a core Procoler – in the UK (thanks, Gudrun)

Added news of a forthcoming performance of Procol Harum material – by a core Procoler – in Italy (thanks, Antonio)

27 June: the thirty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Bobby Bland, Alan Myers

Gary Brooker plays a one-off engagement on 29 June with Step on the Gas (see here)

You may have seen some stuff online about ' Procol Harum playing in London' but please note this statement ... 'While Procol Harum are in principle well-disposed to the idea of playing a London gig, they are not involved in the present initiative. In the event that the scheme is undersubscribed, they don't want anyone to be disappointed, and they certainly hope no fans get ripped off in the process.'

Added a link here and here to Shine On Brightly ornamental urns. BtP alerted Keith Reid to this instance of what we took for plagiarism (similar to everything on this page) and we're sure he wouldn't mind our sharing part of his response: "Dog House Urn and Cat Condo. Absolutely love it! Thanks Roland, definitely made me smile." Yet BtP also contacted the proprietrix of the site, and her surprising response runs as follows: "Thanks so much for writing. I was not aware of the Procol Harum song, Shine on Brightly. I created the site after the death of my husband, and my intention for the website was to honor the spirits of those who have passed. Best Regards, Adrienne Crowther, Shine On Brightly | twitter: @shineonbrightly"

Added an interesting note here about the first of three consecutive shows by Procol Harum + Frankie Miller (thanks, Mark)

Added an unusual image – scrutinise it carefully! – of Geoff Whitehorn (thanks, Charlie)

20 June: the thirty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a some hitherto unseen Paramounts photographs from 1964 (thanks, Terry)

Added a scan of a scathing review of No More Fear Of Flying to this very interesting page – if you haven't explored this whole suite of pages, you have a treat in store (thanks, Per)

Added something ghastly to the foot of this page (thanks, Per)

13 June: the thirty-third hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Sorry, software problems at BtP have made this update very late. Only one fresh item, but an elaborate one ...

Added a fresh instalment from Procol author George Lovell, as he undertakes the Wuppertal chapter of his much-loved book (thanks, George)

6 June: the thirty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'We have tried jazzing stuff up now and again, totally change the arrangements and the feels. But people are always happy when we come back to the old version.'
Added an interesting new Gary Brooker interview (thanks, Daniel)

Added a recently-discovered and long-unseen concert poster here (thanks, Michael)

Reacquaint yourself with some interesting pictures from the same gig

Added a link to some nice Whitehorn blues (from October 1992) to this page (thanks, Charlie)

30 May: the thirty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'... strong as Brooker.'
 Added a recent review of a slightly-less-recent Procol Harum concert in America (thanks, Bill)

Added a new setlist (thanks, Brian)

Added a link here, that allows you to buy the recently-published Procol Harum biography from Barnes and Noble

Added news of more chances to hear live Procol Harum music in Denmark

Added a page of pictures of fans eating well and socialising with members of Procol Harum (thanks, Thomas)

29 May

Happy Birthday Gary Brooker, a good year on from the traumatic events in South Africa!

23 May: the thirtieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Trevor Bolder,  Steve Hyams, Ray Manzarek

'Exotic Birds And Fruit was one album that we were particularly pleased with. There were no reservations about it ...'
Added an interesting Chris Copping interview from 1974 (thanks, Per)

See also here and here, while you're at it

Updated this useful page

Added a Mick Grabham session (thanks, Jim)

Added a page of Ozzy Osbourne scans (thanks, Charlie)

16 May: the twenty-ninth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

' ... wit so scorching it’s a good thing the books are only available electronically; if they were on paper they’d burst into flame ...'
Added a fine review of two titles by a well-known Procol Harum guitarist (thanks, Dave)

In case you did not know: you do not need a Kindle device to read Dave's books. Apps for iOS, Android and Windows are all available for download from Amazon.

Added a signed setlist to this page (thanks, Gordon)

Added a sage comment about A Whiter Shade of Pale to the foot of this page, and a link to it here

' ... mini-apocalypses from the best British rock drummer on the planet ...'
Added a review of Something Magic from Sounds (thanks, Per)

While you're at it, time to re-read this scathing snippet

Added a link to 'a short plug' from Henry Scott-Irvine (thanks, Henry) ... listen to his appeal, then click here to buy his Procol Harum book from Amazon USA

In similar vein, added a polemical and somewhat Dylanesque video-message to Jimmy Iovine, (thanks, Henry) regarding a slight against Procol Harum perpetrated on something called 'American Idol' in the USA

9 May: the twenty-eighth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

'Harum man quits' ... news of a Procol line-up change is here and here (thanks, Per)

What did Procol Harum play at their first live gig of the New Testament? Setlist here (thanks, Brian) review here, another review here, and another, an an advert for the show

You can now buy the Procol Harum biography from Amazon USA ... click here

Added Pete Sinfield's recent comments (6 May) about A Whiter Shade of Pale in which he explains that '16 Vestal Virgins' line (thanks, Rick)

Added a page containing thirty-seven nicely-displayed phototgraphs taken at the 'Echoes in the Night' Convention last month (thanks, Charlie)

2 May:  the twenty-seventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

As promised in our recent 'Fresh Fruit' newsletter (sign up here if you're not already a subscriber), added a page of thanks for the success of the Procol Harum week in Wuppertal

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (read here): 'So, who is the next artist who he thinks deserves induction? “Easy answer: Procol Harum!” he declares, with no pause at all. “It’s absurd that they aren’t in yet! They’re No. 1 for me, on my ballot.' (thanks, Steven Van Zandt)

Added a link to the new, comprehensive and intriguing Dave Ball Website ... well worth exploring.

Added some very interesting Canadian stage-shots from 1971 (thanks, Paul)

Added a scan to this page  (thanks, Per)

'... an album you have to listen to time and time again ...'
Added a review of a solo album by a founder-member of Procol Harum (thanks, Per)

25 April:  the twenty-sixth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Storm Thorgerson , RIP Ritchie Havens

We're glad to report that the bogus Gary Brooker page has been removed from Facebook (thanks, Chris)

Added two entries to our page about Procol music on film

Added an entertaining page of recent pictures and captions submitted by a Palers' Band member (thanks, Axel)

Added an extension to Homburg (thanks, Jim)

Available only from the BtP store, and while stock lasts – the limited-edition full-colour artist-designed 'Sixteen Vestal Virgins' commemorative tee-shirt from 'Echoes in the Night' (thanks, Holger)

More work by this excellent artist is here

Added news of live and recorded work from an Italian Procol Harum tribute band (thanks, Jack)

18 April:  the twenty-fifth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added two spectacular and finely-written symphonic Procol Harum reviews by BtP's ever-observant and entertaining prime correspondent in these matters (who also takes an excellent photo!): read here for Friday 5 April, and here for Saturday 6 April. Sorry these have been a little while in the pipeline, through no fault of the author's (thanks, Charlie)

We're sorry to learn that (the controversial) Shine on Brightly, the excellent A Salty Dog, and the fine-sounding Home – each dripping with delicious early bonus-tracks – have been deleted from the highly-regarded Salvo re-issue/remaster series. The BtP store, however, did take the precaution of buying a lot of remaining stock ... so they are still available on a first-come-first-served basis from here

'The Palers' Band ... a moving force in its own right, paying tribute to Gary and Procol Harum and giving life to songs either unplayed or indeed lost ...'
Added a great review of BtP's fab 'Echoes in the Night' convention in Wuppertal (containing links to a couple of bits of YouTube piracy) (thanks, Charlie)

Added a page shewing some 2013 stage passes (which collectors can acquire, following a few clicks of their mouses or mice)

Added a link to a recent performance of a number by a Palers' Project singer-songwriter – to an audience of Morris Dancers – that may resonate with anyone who's been aware of news from England lately (thanks, Mick)
 

11 April:  the twenty-fourth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Phil Ramone

Added some new band-only dates for Procol Harum (thanks, Chris)

Added two Procol Harum choral/orchestral setlists from Wuppertal, Germany, in April: here and here

Added a fabulous new tee-shirt to this page

Added a page of pictures from BtP's posh aftershow buffet at Salle Rossini, following the first public Procol Harum orchestral/choral concert in Wuppertal (thanks, Gary)

Well done to everybody who fell for our fake philately page on April Fool's Day. Needless to say, we shall not be sending you any postcards with Procol postage-stamps on them, for a very obvious reason! A favourite comment was 'They're here finally! I knew those were going to be released sooner or later and great to see them announced on this very day'.  

Updated this page about In Held 'Twas in I

Added the full Palers' Band setlist from 6 April in Wuppertal, (when Gary Brooker gave two live world premières) and revised the personnel listing in view of various eventuations

Added a first page of photographs from the Saturday afternoon musical events in the wondrous 'Echoes in the Night' convention (thanks, Gary)

8 April

Monday morning here in Europe and the BtP team – after long drives and ferry-crossings – are home from Germany to the UK and to Norway. Sorry not to have updated this page more frequently: we've been unbelievably busy. For the moment, though: it's been an amazing and unforgettable week. Most of us heard Procol with choir and orchestra three times (two concerts, one full soundcheck by GB's invitation). The official shows were of course entirely sold-out and marked by terrific performances and many standing ovations. BtP's evening reception in the charming Salle Rossini was also sold-out, and the food was excellent. All of Procol, and the crew, mingled and had a good time. The Commander was photographed wearing a 1967 'Robe of Silk' bought on eBay and brought over from LA for the occasion. Ian Hockley gave a terrific midweek organ recital in a major local church and we enjoyed a group meal at a fine Lebanese restaurant. Basecamp Hotel was comfortable and convenient and the bar thronged nightly with multilingual humour and bonhomie as 'old friends met for the first time'. The thirty-strong Palers' Band – featuring Dave Ball of course, and many other 'unknown stars' – rehearsed intensively for five days and gave a spirited and memorable performance on Saturday afternoon at the 'Echoes in the Night' convention ... where it was marvellous to meet so many fans from so many countries and enjoy each other's company. Thomas and Karen Raa Olsen manned the merchandise-stall in exemplary style, and Dave Ball's paintings, tee-shirts and so on attracted many customers too. Greetings from Keith Reid and Mick Grabham were read out when numbers from their own repertoire were performed. On Saturday  evening we played again to a large audience containing many of the musicians who'd featured in the Procol shows. Gary Brooker himself got up and gave the live premières of two of his own great songs – Hear What You're Saying and Saw the Fire with the Palers' Band. And at the very end Geoff Whitehorn came on stage and gave a blinding account of an unpremeditated instrumental. The staff at Live Club Barmen could not have been more helpful and friendly, on both the technical and the social fronts. Michael Ackermann had laid magnificent foundations for all of this through months of close collaboration with the BtP team and of course Procol Harum and Chris Cooke. Louise and Rainer Emerson looked after the Palers' Band and their partners (socially, medically, and gastronomically) with the kindest-imaginable care and forethought. We drank toasts to friends who could not be with us for various reasons: in particular Hans (who fell ill) and Stefano (pressure of work) and Dennis Grant who had sent his Hammond organ in advance from Australia but who was not able to join it. Next time, Dennis!

This rather garbled and hasty account will be fleshed out in days to come, no doubt, as we take stock of all that's happened. If you have photographs, please send them to webmaster@procolharum.com – and your reviews and comments and feedback will all be most welcome. 

3 April

No time for an update today. All the hours at our disposal are consumed with rehearsing, making arrangements, and socialising. A lot of fine Procol and Brooker music is being tackled by a dedicated, friendly and expert team ... reinforced by past and present Procolers (thanks Dave, thanks Gary)

Procol Harum have soundchecked for the Wuppertal concerts at the weekend and had their first rehearsal with choir and orchestra.

2 April

Added a few pictures from the first Palers' Band rehearsal in Wuppertal

April Fool's Day

Great gathering of Procol fans in Wuppertal tonight ... warm atmosphere despite the snow. Just one small picture to show it's really happening: the start of the Echoes in the Night convention, planned for something like 11 months.

Also, added further news about the recent honour conferred on Procol Harum in their own country (thanks, Phil)

28 March:  the twenty-second hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a thorough obituary of Kellogs (thanks, all)

Procol Harum's Japanese concert from earlier in the winter (!) can be viewed online on 31 March: details here (foot of page) (thanks, Chris / Arun)

Surely everyone's aware of this YouTube clip? Now read this critique of Procol's sound during the same tour (thanks, Niels)

Added a codicil to this illustrated Copenhagen review  (thanks, Peter)

Added an unused 1991 Procol Harum ticket (thanks, Bradshaw)

Updated this page about the recently published Procol Harum biography

Booking has closed for all aspects of the 2013 Procol Harum Convention, 'Echoes in the Night', scheduled for 5 and 6 April when Procol are playing in Wuppertal, Germany.

Added a pdf of the Procol Harum merchandise available at the Convention: some familiar, some not. Please download and print, and note that we can't take credit-cards: it's cash only. Specially bring enough cash to be able to go home with a Genuine Ball.

In fact a large number of Procol Harum fans are converging on the town, from all over the world, earlier in the week: some just to spend time together renewing friendships made at previous BtP Conventions, others to rehearse a wide variety of Procol and Brooker songs to play at the various parties.

In particular all are welcome – at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 3 April – to an hour's organ-recital in the fine church of St Laurence in Wuppertal, just a few minutes' walk from Palers' Basecamp Hotel. Ian Hockley will perform a programme including Bach, Pescetti, Prokofiev, Schumann, Widor, Franck ... and undoubtedly some of his renowned Procol arrangements.

He has chosen his material with the Procol Harum fan in mind: we'll hear some real echoes in the night. (thanks, Ian)

During this busy time for the BtP webpersons, our hebdomadal update will probably be suspended: from the start of next month, check this page daily for occasional, brief bulletins!

21 March:  the twenty-first hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added the illustrated setlist from Procol Harum's fifth and final orchestral / choral night of this tour in Denmark (thanks again, Thomas)

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's fourth orchestral / choral night in Denmark (thanks, Thomas)

Added a link to an interesting clip, in which you can hear the winner of the P4 North Jutland Procol Harum competition, Henrik Frandsen, singing terrifically – and with great respect from Gary Brooker and the rest of the band. He got to record A Whiter Shade of Pale with Procol Harum during their soundcheck.

Added link to another film of the above ... the full performance, including a splendid 'call me Granddad' quip from the Commander at the end (thanks, Charlie)

Procol Arm ... how big is your tattoo of Gary Brooker, then? (thanks, Luke)

Added a not-so-flattering review of the Procol Harum concert in Aalborg (thanks, Pia and Mogens)

Added news of a Salvo Procol Harum remastered reissue (with great bonus tracks) that has already been deleted (thanks, Paul)

Added a link to at least eight tickets for Procol's sold-out Wuppertal concerts ... get these, and you could still come to the Procol Harum Convention as well (if you book before 24 March)!

14 March:  the twentieth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Clive Gurr, RIP Peter Banks

Added the times of the free shuttle-'bus on Saturday 6 April in Wuppertal  (thanks, Marcus)

Added some interesting stuff about Kellogs's adventures working with Madness (thanks, Henry)

Added a brief obituary of Kellogs, not without error (thanks, all)

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's third orchestral / choral night in Denmark (thanks, Thomas)

Updated this page about In Held 'Twas in I

Added the setlist from Procol Harum's second orchestral / choral night in Denmark (thanks, Thomas, for the illustration)

' ... I was welling up by now and Grand Finale was just sublime. ...'
Added an illustrated review of the above show  (thanks, Charlie)

Added a fantastic setlist from Procol Harum's opening night in Denmark

' ...Procol Harum has set such high standards that even they may struggle to live up to it again ...'
Added a review of the above show  (thanks, Henrik)

7 March:  the nineteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Alvin Lee

Added Chris Copping's tribute to Kellogs (thanks, Chris); and do revisit this interview with Kellogs

Looking forward: a clip to watch, an article to read, trailing Procol Harum's orchestral and choral return to Denmark (see also here) (thanks, Axel and Niels-Erik)

' ... many expect this album to have a profound effect on the pop scene ...'
Added a farsighted 1967 review of the 1967 album (thanks, Wilfried)

' ... 'Direct relationships between Andrei Tarkovsky and Procol Harum, TS Eliot and Michael Jackson, or Bug Bunny and Freddie Mercury, might be trivial or even non-existent; the webs in which they have been mutually implicated are not, however …'
Added a link to a recent musicology book that refers to A Whiter Shade of Pale no fewer than 43 times. (thanks, Wilfried). 'If you do not already know the book,' writes our correspondent, 'you will be interested in reading the Procol parts, although the author of the work, published by The University of Chicago Press in 2008, gets a few things wrong (for example, he assumes that BJ Wilson played drums on the famous record) – he obviously should have consulted BtP first!'

28 February:  the eighteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Marie-Claire Alain, John Kalinowski, Tony Wilkinson

Roland from BtP writes: I didn't know Kellogs well, but – having seen his name in Shine On – I wrote to him in 1995, to enquire if there was to be any PH merch when the band played at Shepherd's Bush. His reply was an invitation for Linda, Jane and me to join Procol in the bar after the gig. A few days later he spotted us in the pre-concert crowd at Cheltenham, and invited me to show Gary my home-printed Edmonton tee-shirt, and lend him a reference copy of the Shepherd's Bush setlist ... somehow he knew I'd have one about me. Seven months later he welcomed us into the darkness of the Barbican, where we spent a fascinating afternoon watching PH rehearse and soundcheck with the London Symphony Orchestra under Nicholas Dodd. A lot stemmed from those kindnesses, really. Kellogs struck me as being completely in tune with the fans, and his gift of trusting so many of us was always repaid with affection and respect, as far as I could see. Later on he would find time to respond helpfully to BtP's occasional e-mails, and to chat on the telephone now and then. He really must be a great loss to those who were close to him so long.

Added a tribute to Kellogs by a Procol biographer (thanks, Henry)

Added a tribute to another Southend music-scene maker, whose funeral takes place today (thanks, James)

Gary Brooker has dropped an extremely welcome hint (see here) about what fans are to expect in the upcoming tour with orchestra and choir (thanks, Henrik)

Added a super page of Wuppertal publicity for the Procol shows and the 'Echoes in the Night' Convention (thanks, Michael)

21 February:  the seventeenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Tony Sheridan, and RIP the great Kevin Ayers

Added two fine tickets, here, that relate to Procol Harum's most successful-ever live record (thanks, Tim)

Re-read this fascinating page about the above show!

Added a good Norwegian review of Grand Hotel (thanks, Tancred)

Valentine's Day:  the sixteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

' ... the songs are mostly dismal ...'
Added an uncomplimentary review of a Procoler's solo album (thanks, Franky)

See also a review calling Fires Which Burnt Brightly ('a bad camp joke'), and many Reid lyrics rated as 'downright uninspired' by the same writer.

'I'll need someone at the farm I dream about, somebody who can fetch in the eggs ...'
Added a mighty strange article – with many unfamiliar pictures – that purports to lay bare the religious, ethical, jurisprudential and narcotics standpoints of the very young Procol Harum ... but read our disclaimer/warning at the top of the page first! (thanks, Tancred)

Added a freshly-written poem that asks, 'A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum / it may be wrong, but should it be out of sight' (thanks, Joe)
 

7 February:  the fifteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

RIP Reg Presley

Added the text of the mammoth interview – regrettably not glitch-free as it originally unfolded – given by Procol biographer Henry Scott-Irvine on Facebook at the weekend

Added news of a welcome new solo-CD from a former Procoler (thanks, all)

Added news of some very recent prime-time BBC Procol Harum coverage that you can still watch online (thanks, Alan)

Added (here) three new Trower picks (thanks, Alan)

Added the latest setlist from Denmark's excellent Procol Harum Project (thanks, Søren)

3 February

You can post questions in advance for Henry Scott-Irvine's live interview on Facebook with Canadian music journalist Roch Parisien, online at 19.00 GMT until 21.00 GMT today. Click here.

31 January:  the fourteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

At last, the BtP team is happy to be able to satisfy the demands of those readers who have protested, over the years, that too few of our 6,000+ pages are devoted to philately.
Added some historic and collectable illustrations shewing landmarks associated with Procol and Wuppertal (thanks, Michael)

Added an illustration to this page, and again to this (thanks, Fritz)

Added a Zeitgeistful scan from the UK's Stoke Sentinel, 4 March 1972, to our entry for 30 March on this tour page (thanks, davelee)

Added a page about a Procol road manager who came good for the Flying Burrito Brothers (and about Gram Parsons's private proclivities) (thanks, John)

Reminder for Friday: the fifteenth gig for Denmark's excellent Procol Harum Project! (thanks, Søren)

Added some further details and a graphic to this page about Henry Scott-Irvine's well-received biography of Procol Harum (thanks, Henry)

In which connection, Henry tells us that he will be doing a live interview on Facebook with Canadian music journalist Roch Parisien, online at 19.00 GMT until 21.00 GMT on Sunday 3 February. All readers of 'Beyond the Pale' are invited to participate in this event.

Geoff Whitehorn is at Shepherd's Bush Empire on 1 and 2 February –  'one night only' with extra show 'added due to phenomenal demand': more information here (thanks, Geoff)

Geoff recommends a new album, incidentally: 'My friend Steve Lukather has a new album called Transition. If you want some ridiculously fine guitar, some very deep grooves, great songs, and, essentially, the best album I've heard for ages, please buy it! As with Procol, The Blues comes in many forms. I was driving to and from rehearsals today (two hours each way) and the traffic delays were almost a pleasure. I listened to the whole album four times, straight through. Great music is still out there!'

24 January:  the thirteenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a second new Gary Brooker / Josh Phillips lyric for a Yumi Matsutoya solo Japanese hit (thanks, Chris)

Added a good interview with the author of the new Procol Harum biography (thanks, Kevin)

See Procol Harum for 4 USD! Added a ticket to our 1972 collection (thanks, Phil)

' ... as you hear the first few chords the volume is raised by double and silence is demanded ... '
Added a nice, brief impression of a Procol Harum tune to this page (thanks, Ian)

Added an information link to the page about the Edmonton album, lately reissued on 180-gramme audiophile vinyl

Added news and photographs from a gig from an Italian band influenced by Procol Harum (thanks, Jack)

17 January:  the twelfth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a New Testament setlist in which Procol Harum played Pilgrim's Progress (thanks, Bill)

Added a new Gary Brooker / Josh Phillips lyric for a Yumi Matsutoya solo Japanese hit (thanks, Chris)

Added a 1970 Procol date in Dagenham to the list here (thanks, Mick)

'A Whiter Shade of Pale is only one small part of the package, as the author clearly shows ...'
Added another review of Henry Scott-Irvine's Procol Harum biography (thanks, Bert)

Added more praise for Henry's book to the foot of this page (thanks, Henry)

'Paris 1919 still lives and breathes on record in a way that its bombastic musical cousins often fail to do'
Added a snippet about Chris Thomas (thanks, Evan)

Added a 'wee composition' about A Whiter Shade of Pale by Robertson Tait (thanks, Gordon)

10 January:  the eleventh hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a New Year message to Procol Harum fans from Gary Brooker MBE (thanks, Gary)

Added a list of Triumphant Victors who survived this year's Christmas Conundrums: send in your 'real-world' address and we look forward to sending out the spoils to you

Added the solution to the puzzles

5 January

Added the twelfth and last instalment of our somewhat unhasslesome Christmas Conundrums

4 January

Added the eleventh and penultimate instalment of our rather transparent Christmas Conundrums

Here are some helpful hints to prepare you for the final instalment (#12), which you'll be able to read tomorrow.

a) The final instalment will be unveiled close to Midnight GMT, ie at the interface of Friday and Saturday in London, UK. Click here to find out the time in GMT

b) You'll also need to have had a good look at our twelve fab prizes, deciding which ones you most favour ... as well as sending your puzzle-answer, you'll need to send us your full preference-order of all twelve, eg something like GAHBICJDKELF

c) The directions for what to do after you've solved the final instalment are on a Separate Page this year. The link to take you to it will be at the end of the résumé of all 36 questions.

e) Also at the end of the résumé of all 36 questions is a link to the Final Question. 

f) To make this link work you'll need a username and password.

g) To get the username and password mentioned in (f) above, follow the simple instructions on the Separate Page mentioned in (c) above

h) All you will need to send to BtP is a very simple and (of course predictable) response.

i) We forgot to write instruction (d) above, but it's too late to change anything now.

j) Three prizes go to people who send in a correct answer against the clock (Olympic-style, in other words), and nine prizes go to people who send in correct answers during the 48 hours following publication of the final instalment (#12). Their names will be drawn at random from the BtP Homburg as in former years.

3 January  RIP Patti Page

Added the tenth and antepenultimate instalment of our somewhat stress-free Christmas Conundrums

2 January

Added the ninth instalment of our agreeably laid-back Christmas Conundrums

January

Happy New Year!

Here's our 2012 / 2013 message to all 'Beyond the Pale' readers

Added the eighth instalment of our somewhat painless Christmas Conundrums#

There's a new Procol auction at eBay

31 December:

Added the seventh instalment of our rather undemanding Christmas Conundrums

30 December:

Added the sixth instalment of our somewhat uncomplicated Christmas Conundrums

29 December:

Added the fifth instalment of our very burden-free Christmas Conundrums

28 December: RIP Fontella Bass

Added the fourth instalment of our somewhat simple Christmas Conundrums

Mildly amended the wording to yesterday's Question 3, following a consultation with BtP's Dundee-educated resident anaesthetist (thanks, CWA, MBChB, FRCA)

27 December:

Added the third instalment of our rather untaxing Christmas Conundrums

26 December: RIP Richard Rodney Bennett

Added the second instalment of our somewhat straightforward Christmas Conundrums

25 December:

Happy Christmas!

Added the first instalment of our very informal Christmas Conundrums – good luck!

20 December:  The tenth hebdomadal bulletin for Year #16 at 'Beyond the Pale'

Added a schedule of the magnificent twelve prizes, any one of which could be yours in a few weeks' time, when you enter and enjoy the 'Beyond the Pale' Christmas puzzles.

Added a page shewing how to play in the 'Beyond the Pale' Christmas puzzles – all joking aside, the easiest questions we have ever had in this annual competition's long history.

Added a fine new Procol Harum tee-shirt (Japanese tour, 2012) to the online collection here : you could win this garment, signed: see here

Added a new Procol Harum hoodie (Japanese tour, 2012) to the ongoing list here : you could win this garment, signed: see here