John Lees' Barclay James Harvest is an English crossover prog group formed in 1998 by John Lees, with Craig Fletcher and Kevin Whitehead. It develops from the earlier Barclay James Harvest line-up and brings together members associated with that band’s original period of activity.

Background

John Lees and Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme are founder members of Barclay James Harvest, which emerges from Oldham in the late 1960s and is known for melodic rock with classical leanings. Their collaboration lasts across nine studio albums and two live double albums, a period widely regarded as the band’s most creative and productive.

During that era, Lees and Wolstenholme contribute to songs including “Mocking Bird”, “Galadriel”, “Child Of The Universe” and “Hymn”. Lees remains with Barclay James Harvest after Wolstenholme leaves in 1979.

Formation and early releases

After Barclay James Harvest takes a sabbatical in 1998, the original band effectively ends. Lees then resumes work with Wolstenholme, Fletcher and drummer Kevin Whitehead under the name Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees.

The group records Nexus, an album made up of half new material and half re-recordings of Barclay James Harvest songs. Eagle Records releases it in 1999. A tour of Germany and Switzerland follows, and the live album Revival - Live 1999 appears in 2000.

Later activity

The band continues with concerts in Germany and Greece, along with the first concerts in England by any of the members since 1992. Lees and Wolstenholme then begin work on a second studio album with the working title North, but it is shelved after the death of manager David Walker.

By 2005, Lees is ready to resume work with Wolstenholme, and the project takes the name John Lees' Barclay James Harvest. A full UK tour follows in 2006, the first by any Barclay James Harvest members since 1992. The Shepherds Bush Empire show is filmed and issued in 2007 as Legacy, on DVD and CD.

Live work and line-up

In 2009, the band performs in the United States, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium, and also tours the UK. Songs are written for a new studio album in 2010, and the group appears at the Douro Rock and Blues Festival in Portugal. Woolly Wolstenholme’s final live appearance is with the band that year, and he dies in December 2010.

The group’s line-up includes John Lees, Craig Fletcher, Kevin Whitehead, Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme, Jeremy Smith and Barclay James Harvest.