Nick Barrett / Pendragon (neo-classic progressive rock legends)

One day, back in 1985, the postman brought a parcel from the UK. Sender was no other than Nick Barrett, founding member, singer, composer and guitarist of new-classic progressive rock super band PENDRAGON. I feel, humbly said, a selection of tracks from THE JEWEL, the debut album of the band which came inside that parcel from the UK plus a couple more tracks from the great FLY HIGH, FALL FAR e.p. on one of my Sunday night specials for Concierto Fm in Santiago back in those days began the whole story for me and, possibly, for the ever growing fan base PENDRAGON were able and deserved gaining each passing month and year, in spite of the limited airplay back then. A few years later, things changed for good when, between 1989 and 1996 PENDRAGON never remained absent from my monthly TOP playlists for Futuro Fm, a daily non-stop 20-hour ride of the music I always considered I had to share and be heard and discovered by more than just myself and the bunch of friends who used to gather, sitting comfortably (no pun intended) in front of two powerful speakers and a good sounding receiver or amp. Those were the days of just a few import record stores in Santiago and regions, but most significantly, no internet, no cell phones, luckily…no possibility of escaping the magical rite of listening to a vinyl record from which the incredibly moving, energizing and unforgettable songs emerged, writing the beginnings of one truly relevant chapter of the so-called neo-progressive rock of the early and mid 80s, along with IQ, Marillion, Twelfth Night, Pallas, Castanarc, and others. Countless songs from their first four studio albums became perfectly familiar to any captive listener of Futuro Fm back then, and PENDRAGON were never again limited to just one weekly Sunday night special. FLY HIGH, FALL FAR; DARK SUMMER'S DAY; THE BLACK NIGHT; ALASKA; CIRCUS; I WALK THE ROPE; SHANE; THE LAST MAN ON EARTH; PLEASE and the N°1 song on 1991 New Year’s Eve biannual playlist of Futuro Fm. It had to be THE VOYAGER, part of the unforgettable and multi-style DNA of that period of the radio station - "for the immense minority" said the slogan during the first half of the nineties. I was glad and amazed to see the band could finally make it to Santiago, Chile at least a couple of times (that is…so far), once in 1998, when we finally met with Nick, Clive, Peter and Fudge at usually busy Musicland Record Store for handshakes, autographs and photos. How could we not meet after about thirteen years of exchanging letters, receiving the band fanzine and airplaying PENDRAGON daily! By the way, Musicland was the right place to go get PENDRAGON, JADIS, IQ, JONI MITCHELL, COCTEAU TWINS, DEAD CAN DANCE, and so many more from the usual inhabitants in the airwaves of the 88.9 Fm. All the memories of those good, happy days for me and much more were lots of fun to share in this conversation which I was fearing might not take place. But good days and good moments come to those who wait, don't they. My honest and great, admiration, gratefulness and my best wishes of long life to Pendragon, Clive, Peter, Vinnie, and a giant THANK YOU, Nick for your time, interest and good will to share your memories along this long road of 41years full of nuances, sunny and cloudy days. Rock On ! Thank you Rachel Barrett, too ! For music, coming tours and more visit: https://www.pendragon.mu/ https://pendragon3.bandcamp.com/