Editing Procol Harum

{{Short description|British rock band}}
{{For|the band's self-titled debut album|Procol Harum (album)}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Procol Harum
| image             = Procol Harum.jpg
| landscape         = yes<!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt               = 
| caption           = Procol Harum in 2001
| alias             = The Pinewoods (1967), Liquorice John Death (1970)
| origin            = [[Southend-on-Sea]], [[Essex]], England
| genre             = {{Flatlist|
* [[Progressive rock]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1105|title=PROCOL HARUM discography and reviews|website=[[Prog Archives]]|access-date=31 March 2025}}</ref>
* [[proto-prog]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Macan|first=Edward|title=Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXoIAQAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Open Court|isbn=978-0-8126-9596-0|page=78}}</ref>
* [[art rock]]<ref>{{cite book |author1=Pete Prown |author2-link=HP Newquist |author2=HP Newquist |title= Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists |quote= ...British art rock groups such as the Nice, Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, the Moody Blues, and Procol Harum... |year=1997| page=78|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0793540426|author1-link=Pete Prown }}</ref>
* [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/procol-harum-mn0000304401|title=Procol Harum Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref>
}}
| years_active      = {{start date|1967}}–{{end date|1977}}, {{start date|1991}}–{{end date|2022}}
| label             = {{Hlist|[[Fly Records|Fly]]|[[Regal Zonophone Records|Regal Zonophone]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]] <small>(US)</small>|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]|[[Deram Records|Deram]]|[[DJM Records|DJM]]}}
| associated_acts   = [[The Paramounts]]<br/>[[Robin Trower]]
| website           = 
| current_members   = 
| past_members      = {{Plain list|
* [[Gary Brooker]]
* [[Keith Reid]]
* David Knights
* Richard Brown
* Alan Morris
* [[Matthew Fisher (musician)|Matthew Fisher]]
* Ray Royer
* [[Bobby Harrison]]
* [[B. J. Wilson]]
* [[Robin Trower]]
* [[Chris Copping]]
* [[Dave Ball (guitarist)|Dave Ball]]
* [[Alan Cartwright]]
* [[Mick Grabham]]
* [[Pete Solley]]
* [[Dee Murray]]
* [[Mark Brzezicki]]
* Dave Bronze
* [[Jerry Stevenson (musician)|Jerry Stevenson]]
* [[Tim Renwick]]
* [[Geoff Whitehorn]]
* [[Laurence Cottle]]
* [[Ian Wallace (drummer)|Ian Wallace]]
* [[Graham Broad]]
* [[Henry Spinetti]]
* [[Don Snow]]
* [[Matt Pegg]]
* [[Josh Phillips (musician)|Josh Phillips]]
* [[Geoff Dunn]]
}}
}}

'''Procol Harum''' ({{IPAc-en|'|p|r|oʊ|k|əl|_|'|h|ɑː|r|əm}}) were<!--"were" is correct in British English, do not change to "was"--> an English [[rock music|rock]] band formed in [[Southend-on-Sea]], Essex, in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single "[[A Whiter Shade of Pale]]", one of the few singles to have sold more than [[List of best-selling singles|10 million]] copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19826/m1/ |title=Show 49 – The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!: With an Emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and The Who. <nowiki>[Part 6]</nowiki>: UNT Digital Library |website=UNT Digital Library |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> Although noted for their [[baroque music|baroque]] and [[classical music|classical]] influence, Procol Harum's music is described as psychedelic rock and proto-prog with hints of the [[blues]], [[Rhythm and Blues|R&B]], and [[Soul music|soul]].

In 2018, the band was honoured by the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] when "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was inducted into the new Singles category.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/04/rock_and_roll_hall_of_fame_int.html|title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame introduces new category for singles|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-05-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8333912/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-inducts-songs-born-to-be-wild-louie-louie|title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inducts Songs for the First Time, Including 'Born to Be Wild' & 'Louie Louie'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-05-10}}</ref> They were previously nominated as performers in 2012.

== History ==
=== Formation ===
In 1966, after [[Southend-on-Sea]]-based group [[The Paramounts]] were unable to generate any follow-up success with their UK top 40 single "[[Poison Ivy (song)|Poison Ivy]]", the group disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10947/paramounts/|title=PARAMOUNTS {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|publisher=Official Charts Company|language=en|access-date=2018-10-07}}</ref><ref name="Strong">{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |year=2000 |title=The Great Rock Discography |edition=5th |publisher=Mojo Books |location=Edinburgh |pages=776–777 |isbn=1-84195-017-3}}</ref> Their frontman [[Gary Brooker]] decided to retire from performing and focus on songwriting, and his old friend [[Guy Stevens]] introduced him to lyricist [[Keith Reid]].<ref name=Reperformation>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Shine on Brightly |last=Welch |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Welch |others=Procol Harum |date=1997 |pages=1-3 |type=Liner Notes |publisher=[[Repertoire Records]]}}</ref> In April 1967, after several months writing together while failing to find any artists interested in performing their songs, Brooker and Reid decided to form their own band which would use their songs as their sole material.<ref name=Reperformation/> Brooker, in addition to vocals and the piano, was also proficient on the organ, trombone, cornet, piano accordion and Bengal flute.<ref name=KRLA67/> 

Paramounts' drummer [[B. J. Wilson|Barrie "B. J." Wilson]] agreed to stay on and rehearse for the new group and auditions brought them bassist David Knights and two members of George Bean and the Runners, Richard Brown (guitar) and Alan Morris (organ). But the lack of gigs and money led to the dispersal of this grouping before they even got out of the rehearsal hall, with only Knights staying on.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.procolharum.com/99/btp_rb-33-3_int.htm | title=Rehearsing with Morris and Wilson }}</ref>
	
They next teamed with organist [[Matthew Fisher (musician)|Matthew Fisher]], who had left [[Screaming Lord Sutch]]'s backing group The Savages and advertised for work. Reid said he was right for Procol Harum just from talking to him and decided before hearing him play.<ref name=MM19670603/> Guitarist Ray Royer was chosen after the group placed an advertisement for players and were inundated, so the band "really grilled the applicants" to find "someone with the right state of mind."<ref name=MM19670603/> Reid said bassist David Knights had also been chosen in a similar manner to Fisher, in that he was right for the group "as a person", and had an original playing style.<ref name=MM19670603/> Drummer [[Bobby Harrison]] completed the line-up, after the group had tried out up to nine drummers by this point. Reid said Harrison was the first that the band "could really work with", and had a sense of humour that helped balance out the more serious personality that Reid and the rest of the band had.<ref name=MM19670603/> The band chose Stevens as their manager.

The group named themselves after a male [[Burmese (cat)|blue Burmese cat]], which had been bred by Eleonore Vogt-Chapman and belonged to Liz Coombes, a friend.{{sfn|Johansen|2000|p=67}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://procolharum.com/young_cat-marcus-gray.htm |title=A shaggy cat story of wondrous complexity and scholarship • Marcus Gray, for BtP |website=Procolharum.com |access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> Stevens suggested the group name themselves after the cat, which the group immediately accepted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.procolharum.com/young_cat2.htm |title=The name, Procol Harum: origins and theories |website=procolharum.com |access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> However, the cat's [[Breed registry#Registered names and naming traditions|pedigree name]] was in fact Procul Harun, the Procul being the breeder's prefix,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.procolharum.com/cat_index.htm |title=About the Cat Whose Name the Band Adopted: Illustrated |website=procolharum.com |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> but the name was taken down over the telephone, leading to a misspelling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-p/procol-harum/|title=Artists - P - Procol Harum|date=8 July 2014 |publisher=Nostalgia Central|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> Although people informed the band that the name is [[Latin]] for "beyond these things",<ref name=KRLA67>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/procol-harum-beyond-a-poem|title=Procol Harum: Beyond a Poem|work=KRLA Beat|date=29 July 1967|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> this is incorrect as the correct term would be ''procul hīs''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=procul |title=Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, prŏcul |website=perseus.tufts.edu |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

=== "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and debut album (1967–1968)===
[[File:Procol Harum original lineup with Harrison and Royer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The original lineup of Procol Harum. Left to right: Bobby Harrison, Matthew Fisher, Gary Brooker, David Knights, Ray Royer.]]
In April 1967 the group entered [[Olympic Studios]] in London to record their debut single, "[[A Whiter Shade of Pale]]". They were joined by session drummer [[Bill Eyden]] in place of Harrison (though Harrison did play on the B-side "Lime Street Blues"), producer [[Denny Cordell]] and sound engineer Keith Grant. With a structure reminiscent of [[Baroque music]], the song features a [[countermelody]] loosely based on [[J. S. Bach]]'s [[Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068|Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major]]  played by Fisher's [[Hammond organ]]. An enthusiastic response from listeners of the [[pirate radio]] station [[Wonderful Radio London|Radio London]] prompted [[Deram Records]] to rush-release the single for 12 May 1967.<ref name=LS17/> It was an instant worldwide success, reaching No. 1 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] for six weeks and the same spot in eleven countries. In three weeks, it became the fastest selling record by a new group.<ref name=MM19670603>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-procol-harum--a-sound-to-remember|title=The Procol Harum - A Sound to Remember|first=Nick|last=Jones|work=Melody Maker|date=3 June 1967|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> In the US, it peaked at No. 5 and the song has since sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
Around the same time, Cordell suggested that Jonathan Weston be brought in to co-manage the band with Stevens.<ref name=LS17/>

Procol Harum played their first live gig at London's [[Speakeasy]] club on the day "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was released on 12 May 1967. They performed a set of mostly Brooker/Reid songs mixed with covers of [[Bob Dylan]], [[The Rascals]] and [[Tim Rose]] tunes. [[Jimi Hendrix]] was an early vocal supporter of the band and attended their first show where, at the start of their performance of Rose's "[[Morning Dew]]", he went on stage, took Knights' bass and joined in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.procolharum.com/99/ph_hendrix.htm|title=King Jimi, he was there: Procol and Hendrix|first=David|last=Percy|publisher=ProcolHarum.com|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref>

After 18 June, the group would not play live in the UK until the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.procolharum.com/99/tavistock_ticket.htm|title=Procol Harum Detail of the last gig of the original line-up in Torquay|via=Procol Harum|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=MM19680106>{{cite web|url= https://www.procolharum.com/99/tavistock_times.htm|title=Procol Harum Tavistock Times report of June 16 1967 gig of original line-up.|via=Procol Harum|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

On 15 July 1967, the group announced the June departure of Royer and Harrison and their split from Weston as manager. Fisher later said that the major issue for the split with Weston was when he organised an extensive UK tour for Procol Harum too soon after the release of "A Whiter Shade of Pale", resulting in the group performing "for £60 per night instead of £500."<ref name=LS17/> Following the addition of guitarist [[Robin Trower]] and the return of B. J. Wilson, the band secured new management under [[Tony Secunda]].<ref name=RM67>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/procol-harum-the-harum-troubles|title=Procol Harum: The Harum Troubles|work=Record Mirror|date=30 September 1967|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> The departures brought about what Brooker described as "great lawsuits and expense" from Royer, Harrison, and Weston, and initial session drummer Eyden filed his own suit.<ref name=LS17>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/procol-harum-the-ultimate-tale-of-a-whiter-shade-of-pale|title=Procol Harum: The ultimate tale of A Whiter Shade of Pale|first=Marcus|last=Gray|date=8 June 2017|publisher=Loudersound|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref> Roughly three months into their partnership with Secunda, the band hired two Americans, Bennett Glotzer and Ronnie Lyons, to manage them in the US.
[[File:Procol Harum early 1968.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Procol Harum {{circa|early 1968}} {{br}}From left: Knights, Trower, Brooker, Wilson, Fisher]]
The group's follow-up single, "[[Homburg (song)|Homburg]]", was released in September 1967. The song reached No.&nbsp;6 in the UK and No.&nbsp;34 in the US. In the same month their debut album, ''[[Procol Harum (album)|Procol Harum]]'', recorded between the two hit singles, was released in the US. Brooker said its release soon after the singles put the band in good stead in the US, but the problems created by the line-up changes, subsequent lawsuits and new management delayed its release in the UK until December. Brooker said it was at this point where the band "had lost the British audience."<ref name=RS71>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/procol-harum-and-facts-of-life|title=Procol Harum and Facts of Life|first=Andrew|last=Bailey|date=10 June 1971|magazine=Rolling Stone|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>

=== Follow-up albums and break-up (1968–1977) ===
The band's follow-up album, ''[[Shine on Brightly]]'' was released the following year and saw a greater excursion into [[progressive rock]] stylings. It reached number 24 in the US but failed to chart in the UK. Finding themselves labelled as [[one-hit wonder]]s in their home country, while in the US their reputation as a live act only continued to improve, for the next several years Procol Harum spent most of their time touring America.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Shine on Brightly |last=Welch |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Welch |others=Procol Harum |date=1997 |pages=3-4 |type=Liner Notes |publisher=[[Repertoire Records]]}}</ref><ref name=C71/>

Their third album, ''[[A Salty Dog]]'' (1969), was popular among fans and their first album to sell well in the UK. The title track in particular gained a good deal of US [[FM radio]] [[airplay]], and the album is now considered a rock classic, appealing to fans of [[The Beatles]], [[The Moody Blues]] and [[Pink Floyd]]. Procol Harum were asked to perform at the [[Woodstock|Woodstock Festival]] in August 1969, but were unable after Trower's wife was expecting a baby and needed to return to England.<ref name=MN70>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/an-interview-with-keith-reid-|title=An Interview with Keith Reid|first=Tony|last=Norman|work=Music Now|date=13 June 1970|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>

Later in 1969, Fisher left the band and was replaced by [[Chris Copping]], another former member of The Paramounts, who played organ and bass.<ref name=MN70/> The group appeared at the [[Isle of Wight Festival 1970|1970 Isle of Wight Festival]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Tobler |first=John |year=1992 |title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years |edition=1st |publisher=Reed International Books Ltd |location=London |page=215 |id=CN 5585}}</ref>

By 1971, the disparities in style had become too great and, after the release of their fifth album ''[[Broken Barricades]]'', Trower left to form his own [[power trio]]. He was replaced by [[Dave Ball (musician)|Dave Ball]],<ref name="Strong"/> while [[Alan Cartwright]] (a former bandmate of Wilson's in [[Freddie Mack]]'s band) took over bass from Copping, who remained on organ.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Freedland |first=Nat |title=From the Music Capitals of the World: Los Angeles |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=83 |issue=32 |publication-date=7 August 1971 |location=New York City, New York |publisher=Billboard Publications |page=23 |url=https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/70s/1971/Billboard%201971-08-07-OCR-Page-0023.pdf |access-date=8 August 2019 }}</ref>

In mid-1971, Procol Harum severed ties with Glotzer and Lyons and legally fought an accounting dispute which was settled out of court.<ref name=RS71/> The band went on to sign with [[Chrysalis Records]] and completed a successful UK tour opening for [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]].<ref name=C71>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-problematic-career-of-procol-harum|title=The Problematic Career of Procol Harum|first=Danny|last=Goldberg|date=August 1971|work=Circus|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>

During the band's 1971 tour, Procol Harum recorded their show on 18 November in [[Edmonton, Alberta]] with the [[Edmonton Symphony Orchestra]] and a choir for a live album. Released in April 1972, ''[[Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra]]'' was met with commercial success when it peaked at No.&nbsp;5 in the US, where it was certified gold for selling 500,000 copies. In the UK, it peaked at No. 48. The live rendition of "[[Conquistador (Procol Harum song)|Conquistador]]" from their debut album reached No.&nbsp;16 in the US and No. 22 in the UK.

After Dave Ball left, Mick Grabham was the group's guitarist from 1972 until 1977.

The band continued with their new [[symphonic rock]] sound on their follow-up, ''[[Grand Hotel (album)|Grand Hotel]]''. Released in March 1973, the album reached No.&nbsp;21 in the US.<ref name="Strong"/> It did not chart in the UK, but it was certified silver for selling over 60,000 copies there.

The band returned to its hard rock roots with their seventh studio album ''[[Exotic Birds and Fruit]]'', released in April 1974. Reid said the group made a conscious attempt to "dispel that symphonic image" that they had been attached to and has a similar sound to their debut. The album's sleeve was absent of lyrics in the liner notes.<ref name=SR77/>

In 1975 Procol Harum played the final night at the [[Rainbow Theatre (Finsbury Park)|Rainbow Theatre]] in London before its refurbishment.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=1998 |title=Guinness Rockopedia |edition=1st |publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd. |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/337 337–338] |isbn=0-85112-072-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/337 }}</ref>

The personnel changes contributed to declining sales in the later part of the 1970s, with "Pandora's Box" being the final UK [[Top 20]] hit in 1975.<ref name="Strong"/> Its parent album ''[[Procol's Ninth]]'' saw a re-connection with [[Jerry_Leiber_and_Mike_Stoller|Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller]], who both produced and wrote with the band.

In 1976 the band regrouped to record their final album of the 1970s, ''[[Something Magic]]''. This marked the departure of Cartwright, after Brooker thought Copping was a better bassist which led to the arrival of newcomer [[Pete Solley]] on keyboards. The album's producers were not impressed with the group's material, which took the form of "The Worm and the Tree", an extended track that originated from a theme of Brooker's that the band had attempted some years before, but the group "made it up as we went along" in the studio.{{sfn|Johansen|2000|pp=160–161}}

''Something Magic'' was released in March 1977 and peaked at No.&nbsp;147 in the US.<ref name="Roberts"/> During the subsequent tour, the band celebrated their tenth anniversary with a concert at the [[Palladium (New York City)|Palladium Theatre]] in New York City in May.<ref name=SR77>{{cite web|url=https://procolharum.com/99/super-rock77.htm|title=Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Pale and Beyond|work=Super Rock|date=October 1977}}</ref>

In April 1977, during the promotional tour for ''Something Magic'', Copping joined [[Frankie Miller]]'s band and was replaced in Procol Harum by [[Elton John]]'s former bassist [[Dee Murray]].<ref name="irvine">{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT237 237–241]}}</ref> The tour ended in May, and the following month Grabham announced that he had left the band, claiming that he had been "generally dissatisfied with my role ... for some months".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Grabham: 'I've quit Procols' |magazine=[[NME]] |publication-date=11 June 1977 |location=London, England |publisher=[[TI Media|IPC Magazines]] |url=https://procolharum.com/y/nme_40r2yc_1977.htm |access-date=8 August 2019 }}</ref> The band played one final show in October when "A Whiter Shade of Pale" co-won the [[Brit Award for British Single of the Year|Single of the Year]] award at the [[1977 Brit Awards]], with Brooker, Wilson and returning members Cartwright and Copping joined by guitarist [[Tim Renwick]].<ref name="irvine"/>

=== Reformation and the 1990s ===
After Reid and Brooker teamed up to write once again in late 1989, the band reformed in 1991, with Brooker, Fisher, Trower and Reid (Wilson had died in 1990 after three years in a [[persistent vegetative state]] following a drug overdose) and released ''[[The Prodigal Stranger]]'', but sales were modest.<ref name="Roberts"/> After the album's release, a new incarnation of the band, with Brooker and Fisher but not Trower, toured the US and the world for a few years in the first half of the 1990s. [[Tim Renwick]] took over on guitar, with Dave Bronze on bass and [[Mark Brzezicki]] on drums.<ref name="Strong"/> Renwick was replaced later in the year by [[Geoff Whitehorn]].<ref>{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT264 264]}}</ref>

After a tour which spawned ''One More Time: Live in Utrecht 1992'', Fisher briefly stepped away from the band to focus on studying for a degree, with [[Don Snow]] temporarily taking over for a summer tour.<ref name="snow">{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT270 270]}}</ref> [[Laurence Cottle]] substituted for Bronze, who was performing with [[the Hamsters]], at a show in August.<ref name="cottle">{{cite web |url=https://procolharum.com/procollc.htm |title=Laurence Cottle |publisher=Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale |accessdate=8 August 2019 }}</ref>

After nearly a year of inactivity, Procol Harum performed a handful of shows in May and June 1993, with former [[Diamond Head (English band)|Diamond Head]] keyboardist [[Josh Phillips (musician)|Josh Phillips]] filling in for Fisher and former [[King Crimson]] drummer [[Ian Wallace (drummer)|Ian Wallace]] in place of Brzezicki, who had rejoined [[Big Country]].<ref name="wallace">{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT271 271]}}</ref> Fisher returned for shows starting in July,<ref name="wallace"/> and [[Matt Pegg]] replaced Bronze the following month.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|p=272}}</ref> Touring continued sporadically throughout the rest of the decade – [[Graham Broad]] performed drums for a run of shows in July and August 1995,<ref>{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT279 279]}}</ref> and [[Henry Spinetti]] took over for shows in 1996.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott-Irvine|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT283 283]}}</ref>

In August 1995 Procol Harum played at the [[Cropredy Festival|Cropredy Music Festival]], as guests of [[Fairport Convention]]. They also toured US and UK the same year, performing at several locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.procolharum.com/ph_95-tour.htm |title=1995 tour |publisher=Procol Harum |access-date=2015-08-19}}</ref>

In July 1997 fans arranged the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the success of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and invited the then-inactive band to play a concert at [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Surrey]]. The band played a one-off show in celebration of the 30th anniversary of "A Whiter Shade of Pale", with the regular lineup joined on several songs by former members [[Mick Grabham]], [[Peter Solley]], [[Alan Cartwright]], Dave Bronze and [[Chris Copping]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://procolharum.com/redhill12.htm |title=This Old Cat: Procol Harum at Harlequin Theatre, Redhill, 19 July 1997 |publisher=Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale |accessdate=8 August 2019 }}</ref>

In late 1999, Brooker promised that "Procol will play in 2000", and in September the band played an open-air gig with the New London Sinfonia in [[Guildford]].

=== 2000s ===
In 2000 Procol Harum received some attention after the song "In Held Twas in I" appeared on the band [[Transatlantic (band)|Transatlantic's]] debut album.

Since 2001 the band, comprising Brooker, Fisher, [[Geoff Whitehorn]] (guitar), [[Matt Pegg]] (bass) and [[Mark Brzezicki]] (drums), has made several tours of mostly Europe, but also Japan and the US. A 2001 concert in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] was released on DVD in 2002. In 2003 the band released a new studio album, ''[[The Well's on Fire]]'' and appeared at the [[Progman Cometh]] festival in [[Seattle]]. Their concert in London on Friday 12 December 2003, with much of the material from that album, was released on DVD in 2004: ''Live at the Union Chapel''.

Long-time organist Matthew Fisher left the band in June 2004 due to "unresolved matters", with former stand-in Josh Phillips taking his place on Hammond again, leaving Brooker as the only original performing member.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://procolharum.com/mf_line-up2004.htm |title=Procol Harum: line-up change 2004 |publisher=Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale |date=17 June 2004 |accessdate=8 August 2019 }}</ref> These matters were later revealed to have been a lawsuit filed by Fisher against Brooker and the band for songwriting credits and a share of royalties on "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which he won in December 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6196413.stm |title=Organist wins Procol Harum battle |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=20 December 2006 |accessdate=8 August 2019 }}</ref>

The band resumed a limited touring schedule in 2005. In June 2006 they played at the [[Isle of Wight Festival 2006|Isle of Wight Festival]]. In August they played two outdoor concerts with the [[Danish National Chamber Orchestra|Danish Radio Orchestra]] at Ledreborg Castle in Denmark, which were tele-recorded. An hour-long edit of the show was broadcast on Christmas morning 2008 on Danish Channel DR2 and the full concert was issued on DVD on 11 May 2009 (with six extra tracks from a Danish television recording of the band from 1974).

Later in 2006, they played in [[Switzerland]], [[Norway]] and Denmark, but with [[Geoff Dunn]] replacing Brzezicki on drums, because the latter's other band [[Casbah Club]] was touring with [[The Who]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.procolharum.com/procolgd.htm |title=Geoggrey Dunn |website=procolharum.com |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> Then Dunn ended up replacing Brzezicki permanently for the band's European tour in 2007. Recordings from the [[Italy|Italian]] concerts were later released as ''[[One Eye to the Future – Live in Italy 2007]]''. Procol Harum also played an orchestral concert in [[Sweden]] on 30 June. They performed with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra at the outdoor opera venue [[Dalhalla]], near [[Rättvik]].

On 20 and 21 July 2007 fans arranged the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the success of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and invited the band to play. This took the form of two concerts at St John's, Smith Square in London. 20 July saw Procol Harum play a mixture of songs from their early days through to the début of a couple of new songs, "Sister Mary" and "Missing Persons". The following night 'Gary Brooker and Guests' performed a mixture of obscure songs by Brooker–Reid that had either never been recorded, never been performed live before or were significantly different from the versions they recorded.

Although there was no Procol Harum activity in 2008, their manager Chris Cooke, on the web site [https://web.archive.org/web/20151127071407/http://www.procolharum.com/ Beyond the Pale], announced plans for a live DVD and a new album in 2009, as well as festival concerts in Norway on 17 July and Finland on 23 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://procolharum.com/procolnews.htm |title=Procol Harum News |website=procolharum.com |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> Just before the latter concert, Brooker fell off a pile of road-side logs in [[Finland]] and broke several ribs. The show went ahead but he was unable to sing properly, and many of the songs were performed either as [[instrumental]]s or sung by others in the band.

In October 2009 with Brooker fully recovered, the band performed four concerts &nbsp;– in [[Hagen]] (Germany), [[Drammen]] (Norway), [[Moscow]] and [[St Petersburg]]. ''All This and More'', a four-disc retrospective (three CDs and a DVD with historical notes) was released in the autumn of 2009, and Salvo also issued all of the band's previous albums as remastered CDs with extra tracks, some never previously heard.

=== 2010s ===
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2017}}
Procol played a string of US (and [[Toronto]]) concert dates in June 2010, mostly opening for [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]. On 22 July Procol again headlined at the Keitelejazz Festival in [[Äänekoski]], Finland – the venue where the band performed with an injured Brooker in 2009. They described this loyal Finnish audience as "the best in the world" and played a unique three-verse version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" with a guitar solo from Geoff Whitehorn. 48 hours later Procol were invited to give a free concert at the courtyard of the Palace of the Province of [[Bergamo]] in [[Italy]].

In August 2010 they appeared in [[Bad Krozingen]] in [[Germany]] and a Rock Legends event at the Dolina Charlotty Amphitheater in [[Poland]]. After a Halloween gig in [[Leamington Spa]] (their first in the UK for three years) the band returned to North America in November, including a return orchestral event with the [[Edmonton Symphony Orchestra]] on 9 November. After playing in [[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]] on 18 November, they returned to the US for an orchestral concert in [[Wilmington, Delaware]] on 4 December. Over 13,000 people saw eight New Year concerts with the Danish Radio Orchestra in Copenhagen and other Danish cities in January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dr.dk/Koncerthuset/Kalender/2011/januar/dr-nytaarskoncerter-med-procol-harum-d15 |language=da |title=DR Nytarskoncerter med Procol Harum |website=dr.dk |date=15 January 2011 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

On 29 May 2012 Gary Brooker was hospitalised after suffering a fall in his hotel room in [[Cape Town]]. He was due to have performed with his band at GrandWest Arena on the 30th, with fellow Brits [[10cc]] and [[The Moody Blues]], in a tour billed as the 'British Invasion' and then again in [[Johannesburg]] on Friday 1 June 2012. Brooker (whose birthday it was) had been in his room at the five-star Table Bay Hotel. He was admitted to the ICU of the [[Christiaan Barnard]] Memorial Hospital with a serious skull fracture.

The band returned to Denmark for the Kløften Festival on 25 June before embarking on a 27-date U.S. tour supporting [[Yes (band)|Yes]].

In 2012 the Japanese artist [[Yumi Matsutoya]] came to London to record "A Whiter Shade of Pale" with Procol Harum, a band she considered an inspiration for her work. She sang a duet with Gary Brooker on this new version of the 1967 classic, which featured three verses and a guitar solo by Geoff Whitehorn. Yumi and Procol Harum then played a series of December concerts in major Japanese cities, one of which was recorded for a later television showing (on 31 March 2013).
[[File:Procol Harum, Colston Hall, Bristol 2017.jpg|thumb|Procol Harum performing at the Colston Hall, Bristol, 16 May 2017]]

Also in 2012, Henry Scott-Irvine published a biography of the band, ''Procol Harum – The Ghosts of A Whiter Shade of Pale''. Scott-Irvine also hosted a rare Procol Harum film evening at the BFI on the South Bank, which was attended by members of the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.procolharum.com/hsi-procolbook_prom-shindig.htm|title=Henry Scott-Irvine's Procol Harum book • 'Shindig' promo|website=Procolharum.com|access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref>

In September 2012 Procol Harum was among fifteen final nominees for the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] Class of 2013 (induction 18 April 2013). In the subsequent election that December, however, the band failed to gain enough votes for election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/04/showbiz/music/rock-roll-hall-fame-nominees/index.html |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced – CNN.com |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=4 October 2012 |website=[[CNN.com]] |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

In March and April 2013 Procol Harum played a series of five orchestral concerts in Denmark and two such events in [[Wuppertal]] in Germany. Four band-only concerts in Sweden & Finland were held in early October.

In 2014 the band toured again in France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada (Ottawa with orchestra) and the Eastern U.S. The band also played a five-song set at [[Kenney Jones]]' Rock'n'Horsepower charity event at [[Ewhurst, Surrey]] in June, on a bill including [[Alvin Stardust]], [[John Lodge (musician)|John Lodge]], [[Nik Kershaw]], [[Mike Rutherford]], [[Judie Tzuke]] and [[The Who]]. A twin CD, ''Inside & Outside'', was issued with studio tracks from the Chrysalis years and a live CD including new material and performances of tracks from their first four Zonophone albums.

On Monday 24 November Procol Harum appeared at the Dominion Theatre in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra and [[Crouch End Festival Chorus]] in an event recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night on 28 November. Guitarist Geoff Whitehorn was hospitalised during rehearsals and at short notice [[Rick Wakeman]]'s guitarist [[Dave Colquhoun]] deputised (on crutches, after a broken ankle). He played a guitar solo in the first extended, orchestrated version of Keith Reid's [[September 11 attacks|9/11]] tribute song "Blink of an Eye", dedicated by Gary Brooker to the brave firefighters of the 8th Avenue station who the band often talked with after gigs in New York.

The band's 13th album, ''[[Novum (album)|Novum]]'', was released on 21 April 2017 and the band played 36 dates in the UK and Europe to promote it. However, the most significant concert of the year came in March when the band played with an orchestra at the [[Royal Festival Hall]] in London. Whilst leaving the stage at the end of the first half, Gary Brooker fell and was seriously hurt. He reappeared for the second half with his head bandaged and nursing "a broken hand".

In 2018 the band again toured in Europe, including an orchestral show at the [[London Palladium]] on 9 October. They commenced 2019 with a Caribbean cruise hosted by [[Justin Hayward]], with many well-known rock acts. A US tour was due to follow.

=== Brooker's death ===
Brooker, the only constant member of the band and the main songwriter, died on 19 February 2022.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60485697|title=Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker dies at 76|first=Mark|last=Savage|work=BBC News|date=22 February 2022|accessdate=22 February 2022}}</ref> The band's website described him as "a brightly shining, irreplaceable light in the music industry".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/22/gary-brooker-lead-singer-procol-harum-dies-aged-76|title=Gary Brooker, lead singer of English band Procol Harum, dies, aged 76|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 February 2022|accessdate=22 February 2022}}</ref> "A Whiter Shade of Pale" entered the UK Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 at number 38 on 25 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20220225/7509/|title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - 25 February 2022 - 03 March 2022|website=Official Charts|date=25 February 2022|access-date=25 February 2022}}</ref> After his death, Procol Harum disbanded for good.

== Authorship lawsuit ==
{{main|A Whiter Shade of Pale#Authorship lawsuit}}

In July 2009, [[Matthew Fisher (musician)|Matthew Fisher]] won a British court judgment awarding him 40% of the music royalties from 2005 onwards for 1967's "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which had previously gone 50% to Brooker for the music and 50% to Reid for the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/30/procol.harum.royalties/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723085024/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/30/procol.harum.royalties/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=Classic 1960s Song's Organist Wins Royalties Battle – CNN.com |date=30 July 2009 |website=[[CNN.com]] |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

==Members==
{{main|List of Procol Harum members}}

== Discography ==
{{Main|Procol Harum discography}}

; Studio albums

* ''[[Procol Harum (album)|Procol Harum]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Shine on Brightly]]'' (1968)
* ''[[A Salty Dog]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Home (Procol Harum)|Home]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Broken Barricades]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Grand Hotel (album)|Grand Hotel]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Exotic Birds and Fruit]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Procol's Ninth]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Something Magic]]'' (1977)
* ''[[The Prodigal Stranger]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Well's on Fire]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Novum (album)|Novum]]'' (2017)

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== General and cited sources ===
* {{Cite book |last=Johansen |first=Claes |year=2000 |title=Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale |url=https://archive.org/details/procolharumbeyon00joha |url-access=registration |location=London |publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd |isbn=0-946719-28-4 |oclc=498563554}}
* {{Cite book | last=Scott-Irvine | first=Henry | title=Procol Harum: The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade of Pale | publisher=Omnibus | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-85712-802-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0DMDAwAAQBAJ}}
*{{cite book |last1=Steensma |first1=Frans |title=Gary Brooker and Procol Harum: Day By Day |date=2024 |publisher=Procoholic Media |location=Amsterdam|isbn=9789090378756}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q214486|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|wikt=no|s=no|c=category:Procul Harum|m=no|mw=no|species=no|f=no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151127071407/http://www.procolharum.com/ Official website at Beyond the Pale]
* {{allMusic}}
*{{Discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|1718978}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}
* [http://www.spoonbill.org/ph/gigs/ Proco Harum Gig Finder]

{{Procol Harum|state=expanded}}
{{Brit British Single}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Procol Harum}}
[[Category:1967 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2022 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:A&M Records artists]]
[[Category:Brit Award winners]]
[[Category:British musical sextets]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records artists]]
[[Category:Deram Records artists]]
[[Category:DJM Records artists]]
[[Category:English art rock groups]]
[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Music in Southend-on-Sea]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2022]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]]
[[Category:Proto-prog groups]]
[[Category:Regal Zonophone Records artists]]