Nektar (with Albrighton second from L), pictured at BB King’s Blues Club & Grill in NYC in 2013 (Photo via their Facebook page)
Roye Albrighton, lead singer and guitarist for 1970s era progressive rock band, Nektar, died July 27, 2016, at 67, in Dorset, England. Albrighton’s death was confirmed by the band’s co-founder and bass player, Derek “Mo” Moore, on his Facebook page:
“It is with a heavy Heart I have to report that our music brother Roye Albrighton, after a long illness, died last night in Poole Dorset. His organs just gave out on him. He was fighting against the infection that grasped him until he could fight no more.
“We have had our differences over the years but our respect for each other has always been strong. I would say he was in the top 5 guitarists of the last 5 decades. We were both strong personalities and pushed each other to do better and go forward all the time, to go further and further. We were both blessed to play together with Ron Howden, Taff Freeman and Mick Brockett our light musician and occasionally synthesizer pioneer Larry Fast. Over the years other musicians took to the stage to prolong our legacy with Roye and Ron in the forefront. We are all stunned.
“Roye, wherever you are, know that through all I have always loved you as a brother. There is a hole in the universe. I was always hoping we would get together one last time but always pushed it forward. Now that will have to be put on hold.”
The band formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1969 during the wave of popularity for progressive rock bands as they released a new studio album each year from 1971-1975. Besides Albrighton and Moore, the other original members were Allan Freeman on keyboards and Ron Howden on drums as well as Mick Brockett on lights and special effects. Some of their first releases were concept albums and 1973’s Remember the Future reached #19 on the U.S. albums chart.
Listen to the title track from 1972’s A Tab in the Ocean featuring Albrighton’s lead vocals
Albrighton left the band in the mid-1970s. Nektar disbanded after the release of their 1980 album Man in the Moon only to re-form in 2002 with original members Albrighton and Howden. Their final album was 2013’s Time Machine.
Nektar noted on their Facebook page: “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our friend, comrade, rock legend and father, Roye Albrighton, who passed away peacefully last night. May his six fingered chords and the warmth of his smile last eternal.”
Related: Musicians we lost in 2016
9 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSeems no-one on this side of the world remembers or cares very big shame RIP Roye!
Oh, I remember well, had the album back in the day, and have the CD now. Great band.
I saw Nektar 2 times in the 1970s in suburban New York City. I still have the ticket stubs! I still love Nektar, perhaps not as much as I did back then, but more than my peers – since I still have and listen to my Nektar albums! Because I listened to Nektar so much, I will always remember Roye’s voice. I can call it up in my mind anytime, anywhere. Therefore, even though I never met him in person, I am one who will keep his memory alive for as long as I live. And so this will contribute to keeping Roye’s alive forever! Long live Nektar!
Obviously you were cooler than your peers. I too loved Nektar and your comment about Roye’s voice is so true. I just found out about his passing and can’t stop hearing him singing in my head. Do You Believe In Magic and Good Day, Good Day…Our peers missed out on something very special but that’s what made it even more special, only special people knew about it. I wish that I could have told him how his music made my life better.
Very cool! I saw Nektar twice in Los Angeles. Once at the Shrine Auditorium. To make a long, but killer story short, I won tickets to the show, and my seat was one row in front of Mick Brockett! So cool to be that close to the stage to see and hear Roye and company SO close! What a show!
So cool someone remembers Roye was a very talented man and all great players in the band.Some lovely songs with great chord voicings cheers!
Take a trip back in time…life evolving growing higher! Remember the Future—RIP Roye
Great band. Saw Nektar several times through the years. Great to see that they have recently reformed to pass on the music to future generations. RIP Roye Albrighton
I fell in love with the album, Journey to the Center of the Eye in 1975. I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to it. I have gotta find out how they came up with that idea! R.I.P. Mr. Roye Albrighton – you are so missed.