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List of Soft Machine and spin-off band members

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Soft Machine performing live in 2018.

Soft Machine are an English jazz-rock[1] band from Canterbury. Formed in mid-1966, the group originally consisted of drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt, guitarists Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin, bassist and vocalist Kevin Ayers, and keyboardist Mike Ratledge. The current lineup of the band features guitarist John Etheridge (1975–1978, 1984 and since 2015), saxophonist, keyboardist Theo Travis (since 2015), bassist Fred Baker (since 2020) and drummer Asaf Sirkis (since 2022).

History

[edit]
Original drummer Robert Wyatt was the first and only lead vocalist for Soft Machine. After his departure in 1971, the group became entirely instrumental.
Original drummer Robert Wyatt was the first and only lead vocalist for Soft Machine. After his departure in 1971, the group became entirely instrumental.

Original run

[edit]

Soft Machine were formed in mid-1966 by drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt, guitarists Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin, bassist and vocalist Kevin Ayers and keyboardist Mike Ratledge. Wyatt, Allen and Ratledge had first worked together in 1963 as the Daevid Allen Trio,[2] after which Wyatt and Ayers co-founded the Wilde Flowers in late 1964 and Mister Head in early 1966, the latter with Allen and Nowlin. Mister Head was short-lived and in mid-1966 Wyatt, Ayers, Allen and Nowlin joined Ratledge to form Soft Machine. Nowlin's time with the band was brief, leaving less than two months after the band formed, reducing them to a quartet.[3] Soft Machine released a single, "Love Makes Sweet Music", in February 1967. Six months later they were reduced to a trio, when Allen, an Australian, was denied re-entry to the UK following a tour of France, after overstaying his visa.[4] Wyatt, Ayers and Ratledge recorded Soft Machine's self-titled debut album in April 1968, which was issued at the end of the year.[5] After the album's completion, Andy Summers joined the band on guitar, though he left after just two months returning the band to a trio.[6] After a final American tour, opening for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Ayers left Soft Machine in September 1968.[7]

Wyatt and Ratledge rebuilt Soft Machine in December 1968 with Hugh Hopper replacing Ayers on bass. Another former member of the Daevid Allen Trio and the Wilde Flowers, Hopper had previously guested on Soft Machine's debut album. This new lineup recorded Volume Two during early 1969, and eventually released in September that year.[8] After guesting on the Volume Two sessions, Hopper's brother Brian Hopper, another Wilde Flowers founder, joined the band on saxophone in May 1969. After five months, Brian Hopper departed, with Wyatt, Ratledge and Hugh Hopper expanding the band to a septet with the addition of a four-piece horn section: saxophonists Elton Dean and Lyn Dobson, cornet player Mark Charig and trombonist Nick Evans.[9] Both Charig and Evans left after two months due to "financial and logistical challenges", while Dobson also left the band in March 1970.[9]

After the release and promotion of Third and Fourth, Wyatt was fired in August 1971. Wyatt's replacement was initially Australian drummer Phil Howard. However, after half of the next album Fifth was recorded, Howard himself was replaced by John Marshall. After Fifth was completed, Dean also left in mid-1972 and was replaced by Karl Jenkins, a former bandmate of Marshall's in Nucleus.[10] The group issued Six the next year, which was Hopper's last album before departing in May 1973.[11] He was replaced by Roy Babbington, another former Nucleus member who had previously worked with Soft Machine as a session musician, playing double bass on Fourth and Fifth.[10] In November 1973, the group became a quintet again with the addition of Allan Holdsworth (another Nucleus alumnus) as their first guitarist in five years.[12] This lineup recorded the album Bundles and managed to stay together until April 1975, when Holdsworth departed. He recommended John Etheridge as his replacement.[13] At the beginning of 1976, saxophonist Alan Wakeman was added, at which point Jenkins stopped playing saxophone and oboe and focused solely on keyboards.[14] In March 1976, the band were left with no original members when Ratledge chose to leave.[15]

After Elton Dean's departure in 1972, he was replaced by Karl Jenkins (pictured) who would later become band leader.[16]
After Elton Dean's departure in 1972, he was replaced by Karl Jenkins (pictured) who would later become band leader.[16]

After the release of Softs in 1976, Soft Machine's lineup continued to change regularly. Wakeman left in July, just after the album's release,[17] and was replaced briefly by Ray Warleigh, who had worked with the band previously as a session player on Bundles.[18] For a European tour later in the year, Ric Sanders joined on violin and Percy Jones of Brand X took over from Babbington, who had suddenly quit.[19] Jones declined to join on a full-time basis and was replaced by Steve Cook. Live shows in 1977 spawned the band's first completely live release, Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris.[20] After a final show in December 1978, as a quartet without Sanders and with Allan Holdsworth returning to replace Etheridge,[21] Soft Machine disbanded and members went their separate ways.

Occasional reunions

[edit]

The Soft Machine name was briefly revived in 1980 for Land of Cockayne.[22] In the summer of 1984, Soft Machine reformed once again for a short run of shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, with the band comprising John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, Ray Warleigh, John Etheridge, Paul Carmichael and Dave MacRae.[23]

Early spin-off bands

[edit]

In 1978, former Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper and saxophonist Elton Dean formed the spin-off band Soft Heap, with former National Health keyboardist Alan Gowen and drummer Pip Pyle.[24] For their first tour, Pyle was temporarily replaced by Dave Sheen due to other commitments, and the group (renamed Soft Head) issued the live album Rogue Element by the end of the year.[25] With Pyle back on drums, the band recorded a self-titled debut album in late 1978, which was issued early the following year.[26] National Health's John Greaves later replaced Hopper and guitarist Mark Hewins joined after Gowen's death in 1981, with this second incarnation recording the live album A Veritable Centaur released in 1995.[27] A live album recorded by the original Soft Heap lineup of Hopper, Dean, Gowen and Pyle in 1978 was released as Al Dente in 2008.[28]

Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean formed a number of Soft Machine spin-off bands during the 1990s and 2000s, including Soft Bound (pictured).
Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean formed a number of Soft Machine spin-off bands during the 1990s and 2000s, including Soft Bound (pictured).

Later spin-off bands

[edit]

Over ten years after the last Soft Machine spin-off band, Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean formed Soft Ware in 1999, adding former Soft Machine drummer John Marshall and former King Crimson contributor Keith Tippett on keyboards.[29] The group did not release any albums, and by 2002 had changed their name to Soft Works as Tippett left and former guitarist Allan Holdsworth joined.[29] Abracadabra, the band's only studio album, was issued in 2003.[30] Holdsworth left again after the album's release and was replaced in October 2004 by his original replacement in Soft Machine, John Etheridge; at this point, the band renamed themselves Soft Machine Legacy.[29] During the final Soft Works tour, Hopper and Dean also recorded an album with Japanese keyboardist Hoppy Kamiyama and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida under the name Soft Mountain.[31] In 2004, they completed a tour with French keyboardist Sophia Domancich and drummer Simon Goubert under the name Soft Bounds.[32]

The first lineup of Soft Machine Legacy released Live at Zaandam in 2005, followed by a self-titled debut studio album and the live video New Morning: The Paris Concert the following year.[29] On 7 February 2006, however, Dean died following a year of "heart and liver problems".[33] His place in the band was taken by Theo Travis, and in January 2007 the group issued their second studio album Steam.[29] In June 2008, Hopper was diagnosed with leukemia and temporarily replaced on tour by Fred Baker of In Cahoots.[8][34] He later died of the condition on 7 June 2009.[35] As had happened when Hopper left Soft Machine in 1973, his place was taken by Roy Babbington.[36] In 2010, the band issued the live collection Live Adventures recorded in 2009, which was followed in 2013 by their third studio release Burden of Proof.[29]

Soft Machine returns

[edit]

Starting in December 2015, Theo Travis, John Etheridge, Roy Babbington and John Marshall began touring as Soft Machine, dropping "Legacy" from their name.[13] The band released their first official studio album under the original name since 1981 in the form of Hidden Details in September 2018. In December 2020 Fred Baker replaced Babbington.[13] In August 2022, Asaf Sirkis replaced newly retired John Marshall.[37][38] A new studio album, Other Doors, was released in June 2023. The album was recorded with Marshall before his departure.

Soft Machine members

[edit]

Current members

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Soft Machine release contributions
John Etheridge and Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (211948).jpg
 John Etheridge
  • 1975–1978
  • 1984
  • 2015–present
[13][23] 		guitars
Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (213008).jpg
 Theo Travis 2015–present[13]
  • tenor and soprano saxophones
  • flute
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • Hidden Details (2018)
  • Live at the Baked Potato (2020)
  • Other Doors (2023)
  • "The Dew at Dawn" (2024)
Fred Thelonious Baker.jpg
 Fred Baker 2020–present[13] bass
  • Other Doors (2023)
  • "The Dew at Dawn" (2024)
Asaf playing.jpg
 Asaf Sirkis
  • drums
 "The Dew at Dawn" (2024)

Former members

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Soft Machine release contributions
Mike Ratledge.jpg
 Mike Ratledge 1966–1976[2][15]
  • keyboards
  • organ
  • piano
  • synthesisers
  • flute
  • all releases from "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967) to Softs (1976)
  • all releases from Live at the Proms 1970 (1988) to Switzerland 1974 (2015)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
Robert Wyatt 1967.jpg
 Robert Wyatt 1966–1971[2][10]
  • drums
  • percussion
  • lead and backing vocals
  • occasional keyboards and bass
  • all releases from "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967) to Fourth (1971)
  • Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)
  • Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)
  • all releases from Live at the Paradiso 1969 (1995) to BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
  • Somewhere in Soho (2004)
  • Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Grides (2006)
  • Middle Earth Masters (2006)
  • Alive in Paris (2008)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
KevinAyers1974.jpg
 Kevin Ayers 1966–1968 (died 2013)[2][7]
  • bass
  • guitars
  • backing and lead vocals
  • "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)
  • The Soft Machine (1968)
  • Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volumes 1 and 2 (2001)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
  • Middle Earth Masters (2006)
DaevidAllen1974.jpg
 Daevid Allen 1966–1967 (died 2015)[2][4]
  • guitars
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)
  • Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001)
Larry Nowlin 1966[39]
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
 none – live performances only
Andy_Summers_with_guitar_2015.jpg
 Andy Summers 1968 guitars
Hh hammamet 72 bmp clip1.jpg
 Hugh Hopper 1968–1973[8][11] (session guest earlier in 1968) (died 2009)
  • bass
  • guitars
  • alto saxophone (1968–69)
  • all releases from The Soft Machine (1968) (as session musician) to Fifth (1972)
  • Six (1973)
  • all releases from Live at the Proms 1970 (1988) to Noisette (2000) and Backwards (2002) to Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Grides (2006)
  • all releases from Alive in Paris (2008) to Drop (2009)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
Brian Hopper 1969 (session guest earlier in 1969)[40] tenor and soprano saxophones
EltonDean01.jpg
 Elton Dean 1969–1972 (died 2006)[9]
  • alto saxophone
  • saxello
  • flute
  • keyboards
  • Third (1970)
  • Fourth (1971)
  • Fifth (1972)
  • Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)
  • Live in France (1995)
  • Virtually (1998)
  • Noisette (2000)
  • Backwards (2002)
  • Facelift (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
  • Somewhere in Soho (2004)
  • Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Grides (2006)
  • Alive in Paris (2008)
  • Drop (2009)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
Lyn Dobson 1969–1970[9]
  • tenor and soprano saxophones
  • flute
  • backing vocals
  • Third (1970)
  • Noisette (2000)
  • Backwards (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
  • Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Alive in Paris (2008)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
Mark Charig (2011) .jpg
 Mark Charig 1969 (session guests in 1970)[9]
  • cornet
  • trumpet
  • Fourth (1971) (as session musician)
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) (as guest)
  • Backwards (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
[43]
Nick Evans trombone
  • Third (1970) (as session musician)
  • Fourth (1971) (as session musician)
  • Backwards (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)
[44]
Phil Howard 1971–1972[10] drums
  • Fifth (1972)
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) (as guest)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)
  • Drop (2009)
John Marshall Cosmopolite 2018 (212056).jpg
 John Marshall
  • 1972–1978
  • 1980–1981
  • 1984
  • 2015–2022 (died 2023)
[10][23][13]
  • drums
  • percussion
  • Fifth (1972)
  • all releases from Six (1973) to Land of Cockayne (1981)
  • BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)
  • Live in France (1995)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)
  • British Tour '75 (2005)
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • all releases from NDR Jazz Workshop (2010) to Live at The Baked Potato (2020)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
  • Other Doors (2023)
Karl_Jenkins_-_St_David_Awards_2017.png
 Karl Jenkins
  • 1972–1978
  • 1980–1981
  • 1984
[10][23]
  • baritone and soprano saxophones
  • recorder
  • flute
  • oboe
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • synthesisers
  • all releases from Six (1973) to Land of Cockayne (1981)
  • BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)
  • British Tour '75 (2005)
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • NDR Jazz Workshop (2010)
  • Switzerland 1974 (2015)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
Roy Babbington Cosmopolite 2018 (212014).jpg
 Roy Babbington
  • 1973–1976
  • 2015–2020 (session guest 1970–1972 and 2022)
[10][13]
  • bass
  • double bass
  • Fourth (1971) (as session musician)
  • Fifth (1972) (as session musician)
  • Seven (1973)
  • Bundles (1975)
  • Softs (1976)
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) (as guest)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)
  • British Tour '75 (2005)
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • all releases from NDR Jazz Workshop (2010) to Live at the Baked Potato (2020)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
  • Other Doors (2023) (as session musician)
AH-1975-s.jpg
 Allan Holdsworth
(substitute for Etheridge at one show in 1977) (died 2017)[45]
  • guitars
  • voices
  • Bundles (1975)
  • Land of Cockayne (1981)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • Switzerland 1974 (2015)
Paintbox Exeter 2017 web.jpg
 Alan Wakeman 1976[46][17] tenor and soprano saxophones Softs (1976)
Ray Warleigh
  • 1976
  • 1980–1981
  • 1984[18] (session guest in 1974) (died 2015)
  • alto saxophone
  • flute
  • bass flute
  • Bundles (1975) (as session musician)
  • Land of Cockayne (1981)
Blacksheep festival 2014 rs FR 1259.JPG
 Ric Sanders 1976–1978[19] violin Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris (1978)
Up percy jones.png
 Percy Jones 1976[19] bass none – live performances only
Steve Cook 1976–1978[20] Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris (1978)
Jack Bruce (Cream) on Fanclub 1968.png
 Jack Bruce 1980–1981 (died 2014) Land Of Cockayne (1981)[45]
Dick_Morrissey_1970.jpg
 Dick Morrissey 1980–1981 (both died 2000) tenor saxophone
Stu Calver vocals
John Perry 1980–1981
Tony Rivers
Alan Parker rhythm guitar
John_Taylor.jpg
 John Taylor 1980–1981 (died 2015) electric piano
Paul Carmichael 1984[23] bass none – live performances only
Dave MacRae
  • keyboards
  • piano

Other Soft Machine musicians

[edit]

Touring substitutes

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Details
Nic France
  • 2017
  • 2022
 drums In 2017 and 2022, France filled in for John Marshall at a few shows, after the regular drummer injured his back.[47][48][49][50]
NEWS opening picture.JPG
 Gary Husband 2018 Husband substituted for Marshall on drums for a few gigs in 2018[51]

Session musicians

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
The Cake 1968 backing vocals The Soft Machine (1968)[52]
Rab Spall 1970 violin Third (1970)[44]
Jimmy Hastings
  • flutes
  • bass clarinet
[44][43]
Alan Skidmore tenor saxophone Fourth (1971)[43]
Nick Utteridge 2017 wind chimes Hidden Details (2018)[53]

Soft Machine & Heavy Friends

[edit]

On 11 March 1971, the then-current line-up of Soft Machine - Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean - performed a concert at the Paris Theatre in London as Soft Machine & Heavy Friends, with the "heavy friends" being Paul Nieman (trombone), Ronnie Scott (tenor saxophone), Neville Whitehead (bass), former Soft Machine member Marc Charig (cornet) and future Soft Machine members Phil Howard (drums) and Roy Babbington (double bass). The concert was released as BBC in Concert 1971 in 1993.

Spin-off band members

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
EltonDean01.jpg
 Elton Dean
  • 1978–1988
  • 1999–2006 (until his death)
[24][29][33]
  • alto saxophone
  • saxello
  • piano
 all Soft Machine spin-off band releases from Rogue Element (1978) to New Morning: The Paris Concert (2006)
Pip Pyle 1978–1988 (died 2006)[24]
  • drums
  • electronic drums
  • Soft Heap (1979)
  • A Veritable Centaur (1995)
  • Al Dente (2008)
Alan Gowen 1978–1981 (until his death)[24]
  • keyboards
  • synthesisers
  • Rogue Element (1978)
  • Soft Heap (1979)
  • Al Dente (2008)
Hh hammamet 72 bmp clip1.jpg
 Hugh Hopper
  • 1978–1979
  • 1999–2009 (touring hiatus from 2008–2009; his death)
[29][24] 		bass all Soft Machine spin-off band releases from Rogue Element (1978) to Al Dente (2008), except A Veritable Centaur (1995)
Dave Sheen 1978 (touring)[25] drums Rogue Element (1978)
John Greaves (musician).jpg
 John Greaves 1979–1988[27]
  • bass
  • vocals
  • keyboards
 A Veritable Centaur (1995)
Mark Hewins.jpg
 Mark Hewins 1981–1988[27]
  • guitar
  • vocals
John Marshall Cosmopolite 2018 (212056).jpg
 John Marshall 1999–2015[29] (died 2023)
  • drums
  • percussion
 all Soft Works and Soft Machine Legacy releases
Keith Tippett.jpg
 Keith Tippett 1999–2002[29] (touring 2015) (died 2020)
  • keyboards
  • synthesisers
 none – live performances only
AH-1975-s.jpg
 Allan Holdsworth 2002–2004[29]
Abracadabra (2003)
Hoppy Kamiyama 2003 (Soft Mountain)[31] keyboards Soft Mountain (2007)
Tatsuya Yoshida at Death By Audio 2012.png
 Tatsuya Yoshida drums
Sophia Domancich.jpg
 Sophia Domancich 2003–2004 (Soft Bounds)[32]
  • keyboards
  • piano
 Live at Le Triton 2004 (2005)
Simon Goubert drums
John Etheridge and Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (211948).jpg
 John Etheridge 2004–2015[29] guitars all Soft Machine Legacy releases
Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (213008).jpg
 Theo Travis 2006–2015[29]
  • tenor and soprano saxophones
  • flute
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • Steam (2007)
  • Live Adventures (2010)
  • Burden of Proof (2013)
Fred Thelonious Baker.jpg
 Fred Baker 2008–2009[34][a] (touring) bass none
Roy Babbington Cosmopolite 2018 (212014).jpg
 Roy Babbington 2009–2015[36]
  • Live Adventures (2010)
  • Burden of Proof (2013)

Other spin-off band musicians

[edit]

Touring substitutes

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Details
Liam Genockey.jpg
 Liam Genockey 2004–2005 drums Genockey and Fletcher substituted for the injured John Marshall at shows in October 2004 and summer 2005.[40]
Mark Fletcher 2005
Nic France 2015 During 2015, France and Husband filled in for John Marshall for several shows, after the regular drummer injured his back.[54][55][56][57][58]
NEWS opening picture.JPG
 Gary Husband

Session musicians

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Alain Eckert 1982–1983 guitar synthesizer A Veritable Centaur (1995)[59]

Soft Machine timeline

[edit]

Spin-off band timeline

[edit]

Soft Machine lineups

[edit]
Period Members Releases
August – September 1966 none
September 1966 – August 1967
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, vocals, guitar
  • Daevid Allen – guitar, backing vocals, bass
  • "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)
  • Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001) – four tracks
August 1967 – May 1968
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, guitar, vocals
  • The Soft Machine (1968)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001) – eleven tracks
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2 (2001) – six tracks
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) – five tracks
  • Middle Earth Masters (2006)
May – July 1968
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, vocals, guitar
  • Andy Summers – guitar
 none
July – September 1968
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2 (2001) – eight tracks
December 1968 – May 1969
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass, guitar, saxophone
  • Volume Two (1969)
  • Live at the Paradiso 1969 (1995)
May – October 1969
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Brian Hopper – saxophone
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) – two tracks
  • Spaced (1996)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) – two tracks
October – December 1969
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Lyn Dobson – saxophone, flute
  • Mark Charig – cornet, trumpet
  • Nick Evans – trombone
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) – two tracks
  • Backwards (2002) – two tracks
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) – one track
December 1969 – March 1970
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Lyn Dobson – saxophone, flute
  • Third (1970) – one track
  • Noisette (2000)
  • Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Alive in Paris 1970 (2008)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
March 1970 – August 1971
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Third (1970) – three tracks
  • Fourth (1971)
  • Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) – four tracks
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)
  • Virtually (1998)
  • Backwards (2002) – three tracks
  • Facelift (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) – five tracks
  • Somewhere in Soho (2004)
  • Grides (2006)
  • Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 (2009)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
August 1971 – January 1972
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Phil Howard – drums
  • Fifth (1972) – three tracks
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) – two tracks
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) – three tracks
  • Drop (2009)
January – May 1972
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Fifth (1972) – four tracks
  • Live in France (1995)
May 1972 – May 1973
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Six (1973)
  • BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) – one track
May – November 1973
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass, double bass
  • Seven (1973)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) – four tracks
  • NDR Jazz Workshop (2010)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
November 1973 – April 1975
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar
  • Bundles (1975)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) – three tracks
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • Switzerland 1974 (2015)
April 1975 – January 1976
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • British Tour '75 (2005)
January – March 1976
  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Alan Wakeman – saxophone
  • Softs (1976) – two tracks
March – June 1976
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Alan Wakeman – saxophone
  • Softs (1976) – nine tracks
  • Rubber Riff (1976) – Karl Jenkins solo album recorded during this period (with Marshall, Babbington and Etheridge guesting), re-released in 1994 under Soft Machine name
June – September 1976
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ray Warleigh – saxophone, flute
 none
September – November 1976
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ric Sanders – violin
  • Percy Jones – bass
November 1976 – March 1978
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ric Sanders – violin
  • Steve Cook – bass
December 1978
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Steve Cook – bass
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar
 none
Band inactive January 1979 – May 1980
June 1980 – March 1981
Band inactive April 1981 – June 1984
July – August 1984
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Ray Warleigh – saxophone, flute
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Paul Carmichael – bass
  • Dave MacRae – keyboards, piano
 none
Band inactive September 1984 – November 2015
December 2015 – December 2020
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
December 2020 – August 2022
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Fred Baker – bass
  • Other Doors (2023)
August 2022 – present
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Fred Baker – bass
  • Asaf Sirkis – drums[37][38]
  • "The Dew at Dawn" (2024)

Spin-off band lineups

[edit]
Period Members Releases
Soft Heap
(1978–1979)
  • Soft Heap (1979)
  • Al Dente (2008)
Soft Head
(April – August 1978)
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Alan Gowen – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Dave Sheen – drums
  • Rogue Element (1978)
Soft Heap
(1979–1981)
  • John Greaves – bass, vocals
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Alan Gowen – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Pip Pyle – drums
 none
Soft Heap
(1981–1988)
  • John Greaves – bass, keyboards, vocals
  • Mark Hewins – guitar, vocals
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Pip Pyle – drums
  • A Veritable Centaur (1995)
Spin-off bands inactive 1988–1999
Soft Ware
(September 1999 – June 2002)
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Keith Tippett – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums
 none
Soft Works
(June 2002 – October 2004)
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar, synthesisers
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Abracadabra (2003)
Soft Mountain
(August 2003)
  • Soft Mountain (2007)
Soft Bounds
(2003–2004)
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Sophia Domancich – keyboards, piano
  • Simon Goubert – drums
  • Live at Le Triton 2004 (2005)
Soft Machine Legacy
(October 2004 – February 2006)
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Live in Zaandam (2005)
  • Soft Machine Legacy (2006)
  • New Morning: The Paris Concert (2006)
Soft Machine Legacy
(March 2006 – June 2009)
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Steam (2007)
Soft Machine Legacy
(July 2009 – December 2015)
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

References

[edit]
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  1. ^ Baker replaced regular bassist Hugh Hopper between his 2008 leukemia diagnosis and his death in 2009.
[edit]
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