The Lens - Regeneration (2010)

To find the roots of a "modest" band called THE LENS, we have to go back to 1976, when guitarist Mike Holmes, Peter Nicholls (vocals) and Niall Hayden (drums) met when according to the urban myth, searching for a GENESIS ticket, so they decide to form a band called THE GILN almost out of nothing.

They soon recruit bass player Rob Thompson and keyboardist Peter Blackler and changed the name to THE LENS. They start to play in small venues. Really this was an amateur attempt, to the point that Niall Hayden often was replaced by Brian Marshall, or when the two were together, both played, something similar happened with Peter Nichol's position.

The first revolution starts when Thompson and Blackler leave and the excellent keyboardist Martin Orford joins the band, his first appearance with THE LENS was the last one with two drummers, because Niall quitted after a show in Nettley Abbey.

After some changes, in 1978 the band turns into a four piece, but despite the problems and constant changes they kept growing, until 1981 came and THE LENS vanished, but………..IQ took it's place, the rest is history for anybody who knows a bit of Neo Prog.

~ Prog Archives