# Fusion Orchestra > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fusion_Orchestra > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fusion_Orchestra.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_Orchestra > Source revision: 1302095860 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British musical group}} {{More footnotes|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fusion Orchestra | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = London, England | genre = [Progressive rock](/source/Progressive_rock) | years_active = 1969–1975
2013 (as Fusion Orchestra 2) | label = [EMI](/source/EMI) | website = [http://www.fusionorchestra.com/ FusionOrchestra.com]
[http://www.fusionorchestra2.com/ FusionOrchestra2.com] | past_members = Dave Bell
Dave Cowell
Colin Dawson
Stan Land
[Jill Saward](/source/Jill_Saward_(singer))
See also: [Personnel](/source/Fusion_Orchestra) }} '''Fusion Orchestra''' was a British [progressive rock](/source/progressive_rock) band active between 1969 and 1975.[http://www.fusionorchestra.com/ Fusion Orchestra official website] FusionOrchestra.com ==History== The band was formed in 1969 by Dave Bell, Stan Land, and Colin Dawson, but the more recognisable incarnation was formed when [Jill Saward](/source/Jill_Saward_(singer)) joined on vocals in 1970. They performed regularly on the British club circuit in the early 1970s, clocking up over 500 gigs at venues such as the [Marquee Club](/source/Marquee_Club) before they eventually split in 1975.[http://www.fusionorchestra.com/giglist.html Fusion Orchestra Gigs] at FusionOrchestra.com Their live performances were flamboyant and Saward's reputation for erotically charged on-stage antics drew both positive''[NME](/source/NME)'': "[http://www.fusionorchestra.com/galleries/1974-06-15_NMEReview.html Front Row Reviews]", 15 June 1974 and negative''Swindon Evening Advertiser'': "[http://www.fusionorchestra.com/galleries/1973-08-18_SwindonEveningAdvertiser.html Swindon ban on 'obscene' pop group]", 18 August 1973 at FusionOrchestra.com publicity. In 1973, the band were signed by [EMI](/source/EMI), and released their only album ''Skeleton in Armour''. It contained four long and complex pieces in a progressive rock vein and a shorter single, "When My Mama's Not at Home", together with four short interlude tracks. The band continued touring, but 1974 saw a series of line-up changes, and eventually lead guitarist and founding member Colin Dawson quit the band at the end of that year. The guitar duties were taken over by [Alan Murphy](/source/Alan_Murphy), who subsequently played with [Go West](/source/Go_West_(band)) and [Level 42](/source/Level_42). He played with the band until their final split in mid 1975. Saward sang in several bands and later went on to join [Shakatak](/source/Shakatak),[http://www.shakatak.com/ Shakatak official website] Shakatak.com with whom she still records and tours. Colin Dawson and a new line-up (Fusion Orchestra 2) released a new album in 2013 called ''Casting Shadows''.[http://www.fusionorchestra2.com/casting-shadows Fusion Orchestra 2 – ''Casting Shadows'' (2013) album] at FusionOrchestra2.com ==Personnel== ===''Skeleton in Armour'' (1973)=== * [Jill Saward](/source/Jill_Saward_(singer)) – vocals, keyboards, flute (1970–1975) * Colin Dawson – lead guitar (1969–1974) * Stan Land – rhythm guitar (1969–1974) * Dave Cowell – bass (1972–1973) * Dave Bell – drums (1969–1975) ===Other members=== * Mick Sluman – bass (1969–1972) * Paul Jennings – bass (1973–1975) * Martin Slavinec – keyboards (1974) * Andy Blamire – rhythm guitar (1974) * [Alan Murphy](/source/Alan_Murphy) – lead guitar (1975) ==Discography== * ''Skeleton in Armour'' ([EMI](/source/EMI), 1973) # "Fanfairy Suite for 1,000 Trampits (Part One)" # "Sonata in Z" # "Have I Left the Gas On?" # "OK Boys, Now's Our Big Chance" # "Skeleton in Armour" # "When My Mama's Not at Home" # "Don't Be Silly, Jilly" # "Talk to the Man in the Sky" # "Fanfairy Suite for 1,000 Trampits (Part Two)" Recorded at [Abbey Road Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios), London June–July 1973 *''Live at the Marquee 1974'' ([Secret Records](/source/Secret_Records) Limited, 2018) # "Beginning End" # "Sister Reno" # "Talk to the Man in the Sky" # "To a Child" # "Set in the Rock # "Spinedance + drum solo" # "Skeleton in Armour" # "Ticket to Ride" # "Whole Lotta Shakin'" Official Bootleg Series – Unreleased live concert Marquee Club 1974. ==Fusion Orchestra 2== ===Personnel=== * Elsie Lovelock – vocals{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} * Colin Dawson – guitar * Ben Bell – keyboards * Shemeck Fraczek – bass * Seex Dyer – drums ===Discography=== * ''Casting Shadows'' (Patchwork Studios (UK), 2013) # "Don't Forget Your Keys" # "Leaving It All Behind" # "Troubled Dreams and Fairy Queens" # "Cider Sue" # "See What We Left Behind?" # "Secret Shadow" # "Unseen, Unheard, Unfinished" ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.fusionorchestra.com/ Fusion Orchestra official website] FusionOrchestra.com * [http://www.fusionorchestra2.com/ Fusion Orchestra 2 official website] FusionOrchestra2.com * [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fusion-orchestra-mn0002088582 Fusion Orchestra biography, discography and album reviews, credits & releases] at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1413153-Fusion-Orchestra-2 Fusion Orchestra discography, album releases & credits] at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/4644826-Fusion-Orchestra-2 Fusion Orchestra 2 discography, album releases & credits] at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) * [https://www.facebook.com/fusionorchestra/ Fusion Orchestra] at Facebook * [https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3355#discography Fusion Orchestra biography, discography, album credits & user reviews] at ProgArchives.com * [https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8448 Fusion Orchestra 2 biography, discography, album credits & user reviews] at ProgArchives.com * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GyanX5V0NmoRSMKWBI80W Fusion Orchestra albums to be listened] as stream on [Spotify](/source/Spotify) * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jC0TfTD6U7YCLobTVRNVT Fusion Orchestra 2 albums to be listened] as stream on [Spotify](/source/Spotify) {{Authority control}} Category:British progressive rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 1969 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1975 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fusion Orchestra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_Orchestra) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_Orchestra?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.