Caravan (band)

Caravan
Caravan in 2012
Background information
Origin	Canterbury, Kent, England
Genres	Progressive rock, Canterbury scene, psychedelic rock, jazz-rock, progressive pop
Years active	1968–1978, 1980–1985, 1990–1992, 1995–present
Spinoff of	The Wilde Flowers
Members	Pye Hastings Geoffrey Richardson Jan Schelhaas Mark Walker Lee Pomeroy
Past members	Richard Coughlan Richard Sinclair Dave Sinclair Steve Miller Derek Austin Stuart Evans John G. Perry Mike Wedgwood Dek Messecar Doug Boyle Simon Bentall Jimmy Hastings Jim Leverton
Website	officialcaravan.co.uk

Caravan are an English rock band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings, and Richard Coughlan in 1968.^[1] The band have never achieved the great commercial success that was widely predicted for them at the beginning of their career, but are nevertheless considered a key part of the Canterbury scene of progressive rock acts, blending psychedelic rock, jazz, and classical influences to create a distinctive sound.

The band were originally based in Whitstable, Kent, near Canterbury, but moved to London when briefly signed to Verve Records. After being dropped by Verve, the band signed to Decca Records, where they released their most critically acclaimed album, In the Land of Grey and Pink, in 1971. Dave Sinclair left after the album's release and the group split up the following year. Hastings and Coughlan added new members, notably viola player Geoffrey Richardson, continuing on before splitting in 1978.

The band reformed several times in the following decades, and Caravan still remain active as a live band in the 21st century, despite Coughlan's death in December 2013.