Graphite

Graphite is a progressive rock group from Reading, United Kingdom, active in the early 1970s and associated with the UK prog scene of that period. The band forms at Reading University in the late 1960s and plays professionally on the rock circuit from 1970 to 1973.

Style and line-up

The group’s sound uses mellotron, drifting vocals and spacey guitar effects, with a melancholic edge. It is described as downbeat, hedonistic prog rock. The core writing line-up includes Keith Allen on vocals, Chris Gore on keyboards and David Hook on guitar. The rhythm section changes several times.

Live work and support slots

Graphite supports a number of major acts of the era, including Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come, Mott the Hoople and T. Rex. In 1971, the band receives a billing above Queen at a festival in Truro, Cornwall.

Recordings

The band records a substantial amount of material in studios including Rockfield, Command, CBS and Nova Sound, but only two singles are issued. The first is Gimmie Your Number / Chestnut Loke, released on Beacon in 1972. The second is Come Back / Good Time Woman, released on EMI in 1974 under the pseudonym Sinbad. The band splits up in 1974.