Arena (band)

Arena

Arena at "Baltic Prog Fest 2007" in Lithuania.
Background information
Origin United Kingdom
Genres Neo-progressive rock
Years active 1995–present
Labels Verglas Music, Griffin Music, SPV
Website Official website
Members Clive Nolan
Mick Pointer
John Mitchell
Paul Manzi
Kylan Amos
Past members Keith More
John Carson
Cliff Orsi
John Jowitt
Paul Wrightson
Ian Salmon
Rob Sowden

Arena are a British neo-progressive rock musical group founded in 1995. The band's style ranges from symphonic to hard rock.

History

Arena was founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan keyboardist of Pendragon and Shadowland, and Mick Pointer, the original drummer of Marillion, his tenure lasting from 1979 until 1983. The other founding members of the band were guitarist Keith More, vocalist John Carson, and bassist Cliff Orsi. Orsi was replaced by John Jowitt (of IQ) in the band's inaugural year, whilst Carson and More left the band in 1996 and 1997, and were replaced by Paul Wrightson and John Mitchell (of Frost*) respectively. Both Jowitt and Wrightson left the band in 1998, to be replaced by Ian Salmon and Rob Sowden, creating the band's most stable lineup to date (from 1998 until 2010). This lineup came to an end with Paul Manzi replacing Sowden in 2010. In 2011, Jowitt rejoined the band to replace the departing Salmon, leaving again in 2014 and being replaced by Kylan Amos.

Most of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan, though Pointer contributed lyrics to Sirens and other tracks on the first two albums.

Musically the band's style ranges from symphonic to hard rock. Some of the band's recent albums have a similar sound to Nolan's earlier band, Shadowland.

Allmusic called them one of the dominant neo-prog groups of the 1990s. [1]

Personnel

Members

Current members
Former members
  • Keith More - guitars, backing vocals (1995–1997)
  • John Carson - vocals (1995-1996)
  • Cliff Orsi - bass (1995)
  • John Jowitt - bass, backing vocals (1995–1998, 2011-2014)
  • Paul Wrightson - vocals (1996–1998)
  • Ian Salmon - bass (1998–2011)
  • Rob Sowden - vocals (1998–2010)

Lineups

1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998
  • John Carson - vocals
  • Keith More - guitars, backing vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • Cliff Orsi - bass
  • John Carson - vocals
  • Keith More - guitars, backing vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Jowitt - bass, backing vocals
  • Keith More - guitars, backing vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Jowitt - bass, backing vocals
  • Paul Wrightson - vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Jowitt - bass, backing vocals
  • Paul Wrightson - vocals
  • John Mitchell - guitars
1998-2010 2010-2011 2011-2014 2014-present
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Mitchell - guitars
  • Ian Salmon - bass
  • Rob Sowden - vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Mitchell - guitars
  • Ian Salmon - bass
  • Paul Manzi - vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Mitchell - guitars
  • Paul Manzi - vocals
  • John Jowitt - bass, backing vocals
  • Clive Nolan - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Pointer - drums, backing vocals
  • John Mitchell - guitars
  • Paul Manzi - vocals
  • Kylan Amos - bass

Timeline

Discography

Arena at "Baltic Prog Fest 2007" in Lithuania.

Studio

Live

EP

Compilations

Videos/DVDs

References

  1. ↑ Geoff Orens. "Arena Biography". Allmusic.com.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arena.
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