Mont Campbell
Encyclopedia
Hugo Martin Montgomery Campbell (born 30 December 1950), formerly known as Mont Campbell, now Dirk Campbell is a British progressive rock
musician, best known as a member of progressive rock band Egg
.
("Archie"), in Ismaïlia, Egypt
, Campbell was named Martin after his grandfather, the composer Martin Shaw
. The family moved to Kenya in 1951, where they lived until their return to the UK in 1962, their son having preceded them by a year. In 1966, the family moved from Brighton to London where Campbell attended the City of London Boys School
. While at school he met guitarist Steve Hillage
and keyboardist Dave Stewart, whereupon the three formed the band Uriel
in early 1968. Following Hillage's departure, the band changed its name to "Egg". Campbell played bass guitar in the group and was its main composer, citing Igor Stravinsky
as his main influence.
By 1972 Campbell had become interested in mysticism
and was involved in the Subud
movement. He left Egg and attended the Royal College of Music
, studying the French horn and composition. He reunited with his former Egg bandmates for their final album "The Civil Surface" in 1974, which consisted of unreleased material from 1971–72, including what many view as his masterpiece in the progressive rock canon, Enneagram. He also played and composed for the Ottawa Music Company, a large ensemble co-led by Dave Stewart and Chris Cutler, which brought together members of Egg, Henry Cow and Khan, along with other composers and instrumentalists.
After a brief stint with Gilgamesh, in 1975 he again linked up with Stewart as part of the original line-up of National Health
, for which he composed several pieces, including Paracelsus, Agrippa, Zabaglione and Starlight On Seaweed. In June 1976, prior to National Health securing a recording contract, Campbell left the band after a UK tour, a radio session for the BBC and a one-off French festival, which was his final appearance with the group. His compositions finally appeared twenty years later on the archive collection "Missing Pieces".
In 1977, he changed his name to Dirk Campbell and moved away from rock music. After releasing his first solo album, Music from a Round Tower in 1996, he has in recent years focused on world music, including a link up with The World Wind Band. He has also been involved in film scores, including performances for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
as well as television programs.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
musician, best known as a member of progressive rock band Egg
Egg (band)
Egg were an English progressive rock band formed in January 1969.-Career:The founding members of the group were Dave Stewart who played organ , Mont Campbell on bass and vocals and drummer Clive Brooks...
.
Biography
Born to Mary Elizabeth Shaw ("Jackie") and Lieutenant Colonel Hal Montgomery Campbell of the Royal Tank RegimentRoyal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
("Archie"), in Ismaïlia, Egypt
Ismaïlia
-Notable natives:*Osman Ahmed Osman, a famous and influential Egyptian engineer, contractor, entrepreneur, and politician, was born in this town on 6 April 1917....
, Campbell was named Martin after his grandfather, the composer Martin Shaw
Martin Shaw (composer)
Martin Edward Fallas Shaw OBE, FRCM, DMus was an English composer, conductor and theatre producer...
. The family moved to Kenya in 1951, where they lived until their return to the UK in 1962, their son having preceded them by a year. In 1966, the family moved from Brighton to London where Campbell attended the City of London Boys School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
. While at school he met guitarist Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
and keyboardist Dave Stewart, whereupon the three formed the band Uriel
Uriel (band)
Uriel were an English psychedelic/blues band formed in 1968, consisting of Steve Hillage , Dave Stewart , Clive Brooks and Mont Campbell...
in early 1968. Following Hillage's departure, the band changed its name to "Egg". Campbell played bass guitar in the group and was its main composer, citing Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
as his main influence.
By 1972 Campbell had become interested in mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and was involved in the Subud
Subud
Subud is an international spiritual movement that began in Indonesia in the 1920s as a movement founded by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo. The basis of Subud is a spiritual exercise commonly referred to as the latihan kejiwaan, which was said by Muhammad Subuh to represent guidance from...
movement. He left Egg and attended the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, studying the French horn and composition. He reunited with his former Egg bandmates for their final album "The Civil Surface" in 1974, which consisted of unreleased material from 1971–72, including what many view as his masterpiece in the progressive rock canon, Enneagram. He also played and composed for the Ottawa Music Company, a large ensemble co-led by Dave Stewart and Chris Cutler, which brought together members of Egg, Henry Cow and Khan, along with other composers and instrumentalists.
After a brief stint with Gilgamesh, in 1975 he again linked up with Stewart as part of the original line-up of National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
, for which he composed several pieces, including Paracelsus, Agrippa, Zabaglione and Starlight On Seaweed. In June 1976, prior to National Health securing a recording contract, Campbell left the band after a UK tour, a radio session for the BBC and a one-off French festival, which was his final appearance with the group. His compositions finally appeared twenty years later on the archive collection "Missing Pieces".
In 1977, he changed his name to Dirk Campbell and moved away from rock music. After releasing his first solo album, Music from a Round Tower in 1996, he has in recent years focused on world music, including a link up with The World Wind Band. He has also been involved in film scores, including performances for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling, published on 8 July 2000.The novel won a Hugo Award in 2001, the only Harry Potter novel to do so...
as well as television programs.
Solo
- Music from a Round Tower (Resurgence RES-120-CD, 1996) U.K.
- Music from a Round Tower (East Side Digital ESD 81212, 1997) U.S.
- Music from a Walled Garden (MFA-02, 2009 - dist. Burning Shed) Worldwide.
With Uriel
- Arzachel (Evolution, 1969)
- Arzachel Collectors Edition (Egg Archive CD69-7201, November 2007 - dist. Burning Shed)
With Egg
- Egg (Deram POCD-1843, March 1970)
- The Polite Force (Deram POCD-1844, February 1971)
- The Civil Surface (Virgin VJD-5026, 1974)
- The Metronomical Society (Egg Archive CD69-7202, November 2007 - dist. Burning Shed)
With National Health
- National Health Complete (East Side Digital ESD 80402/412, 1990)
- Missing Pieces (East Side Digital ESD 81172, 1996)
With others
- Slapp Happy / Henry Cow Desperate Straights (Virgin, 1974) [French horn]
- Hatfield and the North The Rotters' Club (Virgin, 1975) [French horn]