Login
Login

List of Soft Machine and spin-off band members

{{short description|None}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}

{{multiple image|caption_align=left|header_align=center

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| width = 218

| image1 = Soft Machine Cosmopolite 2018 (221606).jpg

| image2 = Soft Machine Cosmopolite 2018 (214746).jpg

| footer = Soft Machine performing live in 2018.

}}

Soft Machine are an English jazz-rock{{Cite web |title=Soft Machine, English Avant Jazz-Rock Fifty Years On – Jazz in Europe |url=https://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl/2018/08/soft-machine-english-avant-jazz-rock-fifty-years-on/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |language=en-GB}} band from Canterbury. Formed in mid-1966, the group originally consisted of drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt, guitarists Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin, bassist and vocalist Kevin Ayers, and keyboardist Mike Ratledge. The current lineup of the band features guitarist John Etheridge (1975–1978, 1984 and since 2015), saxophonist, keyboardist Theo Travis (since 2015), bassist Fred Baker (since 2020) and drummer Asaf Sirkis (since 2022).

History

{{CSS image crop |Image=Robert Wyatt 1967.jpg |bSize=300 |cWidth=200 |cHeight=200 |oTop=40 |oLeft=40 |Location=left |Description=Original drummer Robert Wyatt was the first and only lead vocalist for Soft Machine. After his departure in 1971, the group became entirely instrumental.}}

=Original run=

Soft Machine were formed in mid-1966 by drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt, guitarists Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin, bassist and vocalist Kevin Ayers and keyboardist Mike Ratledge. Wyatt, Allen and Ratledge had first worked together in 1963 as the Daevid Allen Trio,{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2015/03/new-statesmans-unlikely-role-progressive-rock-movement-1960s |title=The New Statesman's unlikely role in the progressive rock movement of the 1960s |last=Leszkiewicz |first=Anna |work=New Statesman |date=17 March 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} after which Wyatt and Ayers co-founded the Wilde Flowers in late 1964 and Mister Head in early 1966, the latter with Allen and Nowlin. Mister Head was short-lived and in mid-1966 Wyatt, Ayers, Allen and Nowlin joined Ratledge to form Soft Machine. Nowlin's time with the band was brief, leaving less than two months after the band formed, reducing them to a quartet.{{Cite web |title=A SOFT MACHINE Primer - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/list/groonrikk/a-soft-machine-primer/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Rate Your Music |language=en}} Soft Machine released a single, "Love Makes Sweet Music", in February 1967. Six months later they were reduced to a trio, when Allen, an Australian, was denied re-entry to the UK following a tour of France, after overstaying his visa.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11469764/Daevid-Allen-prog-rock-innovator-obituary.html |title=Daevid Allen, prog-rock innovator - obituary |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 March 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} Wyatt, Ayers and Ratledge recorded Soft Machine's self-titled debut album in April 1968, which was issued at the end of the year.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-soft-machine-vol-1-mw0000115482 |title=The Soft Machine, Vol. 1 - Soft Machine: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Bush |first=John |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} After the album's completion, Andy Summers joined the band on guitar, though he left after just two months returning the band to a trio.{{cite book |last=West |first=Aaron J. |title=Sting and the Police: Walking in Their Footsteps |date=1 October 2015 |location=Lanham, Maryland |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0810884915 |page=xii |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfqACgAAQBAJ&pg=PR12 |access-date=31 October 2019 }} After a final American tour, opening for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Ayers left Soft Machine in September 1968.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kevin-ayers-soft-machine-singer-and-bassist-dead-at-68-237863/ |title=Kevin Ayers, Soft Machine Singer and Bassist, Dead at 68 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 February 2013 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

Wyatt and Ratledge rebuilt Soft Machine in December 1968 with Hugh Hopper replacing Ayers on bass. Another former member of the Daevid Allen Trio and the Wilde Flowers, Hopper had previously guested on Soft Machine's debut album. This new lineup recorded Volume Two during early 1969, and eventually released in September that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hugh-hopper-mn0000280984/biography |title=Hugh Hopper: Biography & History |last=Lynch |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} After guesting on the Volume Two sessions, Hopper's brother Brian Hopper, another Wilde Flowers founder, joined the band on saxophone in May 1969. After five months, Brian Hopper departed, with Wyatt, Ratledge and Hugh Hopper expanding the band to a septet with the addition of a four-piece horn section: saxophonists Elton Dean and Lyn Dobson, cornet player Mark Charig and trombonist Nick Evans.{{cite web |url=http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/press/Soft%20Machine_NDR_PR.pdf |title=Soft Machine Bio |publisher=Cuneiform Records |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} Both Charig and Evans left after two months due to "financial and logistical challenges", while Dobson also left the band in March 1970.

After the release and promotion of Third and Fourth, Wyatt was fired in August 1971. Wyatt's replacement was initially Australian drummer Phil Howard. However, after half of the next album Fifth was recorded, Howard himself was replaced by John Marshall. After Fifth was completed, Dean also left in mid-1972 and was replaced by Karl Jenkins, a former bandmate of Marshall's in Nucleus.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/soft-machine-third-through-seven-remasters-by-john-kelman.php |title=Soft Machine: Third Through Seven Remasters |last=Kelman |first=John |work=All About Jazz |date=28 February 2007 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} The group issued Six the next year, which was Hopper's last album before departing in May 1973.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/hugh-hopper-innovative-bassist-with-soft-machine-and-stalwart-of-the-canterbury-scene-1703161.html |title=Hugh Hopper: Innovative bassist with Soft Machine and stalwart of the Canterbury scene |work=The Independent |date=12 June 2009 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} He was replaced by Roy Babbington, another former Nucleus member who had previously worked with Soft Machine as a session musician, playing double bass on Fourth and Fifth. In November 1973, the group became a quintet again with the addition of Allan Holdsworth (another Nucleus alumnus) as their first guitarist in five years.{{cite web |url=http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/softmachine.html |title=Soft Machine |publisher=Cuneiform Records |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} This lineup recorded the album Bundles and managed to stay together until April 1975, when Holdsworth departed. He recommended John Etheridge as his replacement.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/soft-machine-mn0000753685/biography |title=Soft Machine: Biography & History |last=Lynch |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} At the beginning of 1976, saxophonist Alan Wakeman was added, at which point Jenkins stopped playing saxophone and oboe and focused solely on keyboards.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/softs-mw0000278702 |title=Softs - Soft Machine: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Lynch |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} In March 1976, the band were left with no original members when Ratledge chose to leave.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mike-ratledge-mn0000494355/biography |title=Mike Ratledge: Biography & History |last=Lynch |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Karl Jenkins (detail).jpg |bSize=200 |cWidth=200 |cHeight=200 |oTop=25 |oLeft=0 |Location=right |Description=After Elton Dean's departure in 1972, he was replaced by Karl Jenkins (pictured) who would later become band leader.{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/reviews-column-61-jazz-prog |title=Reviews Column 61: Jazz Prog |last=Smith |first=Sid |work=Prog |date=13 November 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}}}

After the release of Softs in 1976, Soft Machine's lineup continued to change regularly. Wakeman left in July, just after the album's release,{{cite web |url=http://www.wingedheartrecords.com/alumni_and_artists_of_winged_heart/ |title=Alumni and Artists of Winged Heart |last=Dunmall |first=Paul |publisher=Winged Heart Records |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} and was replaced briefly by Ray Warleigh, who had worked with the band previously as a session player on Bundles.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11888530/Ray-Warleigh-saxophonist-obituary.html |title=Ray Warleigh, saxophonist - obituary |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} For a European tour later in the year, Ric Sanders joined on violin and Percy Jones of Brand X took over from Babbington, who had suddenly quit.{{cite web |url=https://www.innerviews.org/inner/percy-jones |title=Innerviews: Percy Jones – Evolving Macrocosm |last=Prasad |first=Anil |publisher=Innerviews |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} Jones declined to join on a full-time basis and was replaced by Steve Cook. Live shows in 1977 spawned the band's first completely live release, Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/alive-and-well-recorded-in-paris-soft-machine-esoteric-recordings-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Soft Machine: Alive & Well: Recorded In Paris |last=Kelman |first=John |work=All About Jazz |date=25 February 2011 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} After a final show in December 1978, as a quartet without Sanders and with Allan Holdsworth returning to replace Etheridge,{{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Graham |title=Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous|date=2014|publisher=Syzygy|isbn=9-7-8-90-822792-0-7|pages=344}} Soft Machine disbanded and members went their separate ways.

=Occasional reunions=

The Soft Machine name was briefly revived in 1980 for Land of Cockayne.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/land-of-cockayne-soft-machine-esoteric-recordings-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Soft Machine: Land Of Cockayne |last=Kelman |first=John |work=All About Jazz |date=22 August 2010 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} In the summer of 1984, Soft Machine reformed once again for a short run of shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, with the band comprising John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, Ray Warleigh, John Etheridge, Paul Carmichael and Dave MacRae.{{cite web |url=https://www.noisette.nl/alphabet/thestory.html |title=Soft Machine: The Story |publisher=noisette.nl |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

=Early spin-off bands=

In 1978, former Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper and saxophonist Elton Dean formed the spin-off band Soft Heap, with former National Health keyboardist Alan Gowen and drummer Pip Pyle.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/soft-heap-soft-heap-esoteric-recordings-review-by-nic-jones.php |title=Soft Heap: Soft Heap |last=Jones |first=Nic |work=All About Jazz |date=16 July 2009 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} For their first tour, Pyle was temporarily replaced by Dave Sheen due to other commitments, and the group (renamed Soft Head) issued the live album Rogue Element by the end of the year.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rogue-element-mw0000732218 |title=Rogue Element - Elton Dean, Alan Gowen, Hugh Hopper, Dave Sheen, Soft Head: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Jurek |first=Thom |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} With Pyle back on drums, the band recorded a self-titled debut album in late 1978, which was issued early the following year.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/soft-heap-mw0000820593 |title=Soft Heap - Soft Heap: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Thompson |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} National Health's John Greaves later replaced Hopper and guitarist Mark Hewins joined after Gowen's death in 1981, with this second incarnation recording the live album A Veritable Centaur released in 1995.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-veritable-centaur-mw0000419256 |title=A Veritable Centaur - Soft Heap: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Jurek |first=Thom |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} A live album recorded by the original Soft Heap lineup of Hopper, Dean, Gowen and Pyle in 1978 was released as Al Dente in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/al-dente-mw0000802252 |title=Al Dente - Soft Heap: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Nastos |first=Michael G. |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Soft bounds portrait01.jpg |bSize=267 |cWidth=200 |cHeight=200 |oTop=0 |oLeft=44 |Location=left |Description=Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean formed a number of Soft Machine spin-off bands during the 1990s and 2000s, including Soft Bound (pictured).}}

=Later spin-off bands=

Over ten years after the last Soft Machine spin-off band, Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean formed Soft Ware in 1999, adding former Soft Machine drummer John Marshall and former King Crimson contributor Keith Tippett on keyboards.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/soft-machine-legacy-mn0000559067/biography |title=Soft Machine Legacy: Biography & History |last=Lynch |first=Dave |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} The group did not release any albums, and by 2002 had changed their name to Soft Works as Tippett left and former guitarist Allan Holdsworth joined. Abracadabra, the band's only studio album, was issued in 2003.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/abracadabra-mw0000320917 |title=Abracadabra - Soft Works: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Astarita |first=Glenn |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} Holdsworth left again after the album's release and was replaced in October 2004 by his original replacement in Soft Machine, John Etheridge; at this point, the band renamed themselves Soft Machine Legacy. During the final Soft Works tour, Hopper and Dean also recorded an album with Japanese keyboardist Hoppy Kamiyama and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida under the name Soft Mountain.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/soft-mountain-soft-mountain-hux-records-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Soft Mountain: Soft Mountain |last=Kelman |first=John |work=All About Jazz |date=6 February 2007 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} In 2004, they completed a tour with French keyboardist Sophia Domancich and drummer Simon Goubert under the name Soft Bounds.{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-le-triton-2004-soft-bounds-musea-records-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Soft Bounds: Live At Le Triton 2004 |last=Kelman |first=John |work=All About Jazz |date=1 September 2005 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

The first lineup of Soft Machine Legacy released Live at Zaandam in 2005, followed by a self-titled debut studio album and the live video New Morning: The Paris Concert the following year. On 7 February 2006, however, Dean died following a year of "heart and liver problems".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/10/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries |title=Obituary: Elton Dean |last=Fordham |first=John |work=The Guardian |date=10 February 2006 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} His place in the band was taken by Theo Travis, and in January 2007 the group issued their second studio album Steam. In June 2008, Hopper was diagnosed with leukemia and temporarily replaced on tour by Fred Baker of In Cahoots.{{cite web |title=Soft Machine |url=https://www.john-etheridge.com/bands/soft-machine |accessdate=31 October 2019 |publisher=John Etheridge}} He later died of the condition on 7 June 2009.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/10/obituary-hugh-hopper |title=Obituary: Hugh Hopper |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |work=The Guardian |date=9 June 2009 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} As had happened when Hopper left Soft Machine in 1973, his place was taken by Roy Babbington.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roy-babbington-mn0000849491/biography |title=Roy Babbington: Biography & History |last=Chadbourne |first=Eugene |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=31 October 2019 }} In 2010, the band issued the live collection Live Adventures recorded in 2009, which was followed in 2013 by their third studio release Burden of Proof.

=Soft Machine returns=

Starting in December 2015, Theo Travis, John Etheridge, Roy Babbington and John Marshall began touring as Soft Machine, dropping "Legacy" from their name. The band released their first official studio album under the original name since 1981 in the form of Hidden Details in September 2018. In December 2020 Fred Baker replaced Babbington. In August 2022, Asaf Sirkis replaced newly retired John Marshall. A new studio album, Other Doors, was released in June 2023. The album was recorded with Marshall before his departure.

Soft Machine members

=Current members=

class="wikitable" border="1" width=100%
width="75"|Image

!width="120"|Name

!width="90"|Years active

!width="145"|Instruments

!Soft Machine release contributions

{{CSS image crop |Image=John Etheridge and Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (211948).jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=40 |oLeft=115}}

|John Etheridge

|{{hlist|1975–1978|1984|2015–present}}

|guitars

|{{hlist|Softs (1976)|Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris (1978)|British Tour '75 (2005)|Hidden Details (2018)|Live at the Baked Potato (2020)|Other Doors (2023)|"The Dew at Dawn" (2024)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (213008).jpg |bSize=215 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=25 |oLeft=65}}

|Theo Travis

|2015–present

|{{hlist|tenor and soprano saxophones|flute|keyboards|piano}}

|{{hlist|Hidden Details (2018)|Live at the Baked Potato (2020)|Other Doors (2023)|"The Dew at Dawn" (2024)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Fred Thelonious Baker.jpg |bSize=200 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=34 |oLeft=20}}

|Fred Baker

|2020–present

|bass

|{{hlist|Other Doors (2023)|"The Dew at Dawn" (2024)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Asaf playing.jpg |bSize=175 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=45 |oLeft=60}}

|Asaf Sirkis

|{{hlist|2022–present{{cite web |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/ProgMagazineUK/status/1612103255563059203 |title=Prog legends Soft Machine announce short run of February UK dates wheree they will introduce new drummer @asafsirkis, who replaces the now-retired John Marshall... |date= 8 January 2023 |website=mobile.twitter.com / ProgMagazineUK |accessdate= 10 January 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29753&title=soft-machine-to-introduce-new-drummer |title=Soft Machine to introduce new drummer on UK live dates |date= 9 January 2023 |website=www.jazzmusicarchives.com |accessdate= 10 January 2023}}}}

|{{hlist|drums}}

|"The Dew at Dawn" (2024)

=Former members=

class="wikitable" border="1" width=100%
width="75"|Image

!width="120"|Name

!width="90"|Years active

!width="145"|Instruments

!Soft Machine release contributions

{{CSS image crop |Image=Mike Ratledge.jpg |bSize=175 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=30 |oLeft=50}}

|Mike Ratledge

|1966–1976 {{small|(died 2025)}}

|{{hlist|keyboards|organ|piano|synthesisers|flute}}

|{{hlist|all releases from "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967) to Softs (1976)|all releases from Live at the Proms 1970 (1988) to Switzerland 1974 (2015)|Facelift France & Holland (2022)|The Dutch Lesson (2023)|Høvikodden 1971 (2024)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Robert Wyatt 1967.jpg |bSize=275 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=82 |oLeft=78}}

|Robert Wyatt

|1966–1971

|{{hlist|drums|percussion|lead and backing vocals|occasional keyboards and bass}}

|{{hlist|all releases from "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967) to Fourth (1971)|Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)|Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)|BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)|all releases from Live at the Paradiso 1969 (1995) to BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)|Somewhere in Soho (2004)|Breda Reactor (2004)|Grides (2006)|Middle Earth Masters (2006)|Alive in Paris (2008)|Facelift France & Holland (2022)|Høvikodden 1971 (2024)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=KevinAyers1974.jpg |bSize=475 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=80 |oLeft=114}}

|Kevin Ayers

|1966–1968 {{small|(died 2013)}}

|{{hlist|bass|guitars|backing and lead vocals}}

|{{hlist|"Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)|The Soft Machine (1968)|Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)|Soft Machine Turns On, Volumes 1 and 2 (2001)|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)|Middle Earth Masters (2006)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=DaevidAllen1974.jpg |bSize=375 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=80 |oLeft=102}}

|Daevid Allen

|1966–1967 {{small|(died 2015)}}

|{{hlist|guitars|bass|backing vocals}}

|{{hlist|"Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)|Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)|Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001)}}

|Larry Nowlin

|1966{{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Graham |title=Soft Machine: Out-Bloody-Rageous|date=2014|publisher=Syzygy|isbn=9-7-8-90-822792-0-7|pages=339}}

|{{hlist|guitars|backing vocals}}

|rowspan="2"|none {{small|– live performances only}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Andy_Summers_with_guitar_2015.jpg |bSize=275 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=45 |oLeft=50}}

|Andy Summers

|1968

|guitars

{{CSS image crop |Image=Hh hammamet 72 bmp clip1.jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=68 |oLeft=148}}

|Hugh Hopper

|1968–1973 {{small|(session guest earlier in 1968) (died 2009)}}

|{{hlist|bass|guitars|alto saxophone {{small|(1968–69)}}}}

|{{hlist|all releases from The Soft Machine (1968) {{small|(as session musician)}} to Fifth (1972)|Six (1973)| all releases from Live at the Proms 1970 (1988) to Noisette (2000) and Backwards (2002) to Breda Reactor (2004)|Grides (2006)|all releases from Alive in Paris (2008) to Drop (2009)|Facelift France & Holland (2022)|Høvikodden 1971 (2024)}}

|Brian Hopper

|1969 {{small|(session guest earlier in 1969)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr/softmachine/chrono2.html |title=Soft Machine Chronology |publisher=Calyx |accessdate=31 October 2019}}

|tenor and soprano saxophones

|{{hlist|Volume Two (1969) {{small|(as session musician)}}{{Cite AV media notes |id=SPB 1002 |others=Soft Machine |publisher=Probe Records |title=Volume Two |type=liner notes |year=1969}}|Spaced (1996){{Cite AV media notes |id=Rune 90 |others=Soft Machine |publisher=Cuneiform Records |title=Spaced |type=liner notes |year=1996}}|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=EltonDean01.jpg |bSize=165 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=8 |oLeft=20}}

|Elton Dean

|1969–1972 {{small|(died 2006)}}

|{{hlist|alto saxophone|saxello|flute|keyboards}}

|{{hlist|Third (1970)|Fourth (1971)|Fifth (1972)|Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)|BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)|Live in France (1995)|Virtually (1998)|Noisette (2000)|Backwards (2002)|Facelift (2002)|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)|Somewhere in Soho (2004)|Breda Reactor (2004)|Grides (2006)|Alive in Paris (2008)|Drop (2009)|Facelift France & Holland (2022)|Høvikodden 1971 (2024)}}

|Lyn Dobson

|1969–1970

|{{hlist|tenor and soprano saxophones|flute|backing vocals}}

|{{hlist|Third (1970)

Noisette (2000)|Backwards (2002)|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)|Breda Reactor (2004)|Alive in Paris (2008)|Facelift France & Holland (2022)}}
{{CSS image crop|Image=Mark Charig (2011) .jpg|bSize=165|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=15|oLeft=25}}

|Mark Charig

|rowspan="2"|1969 {{small|(session guests in 1970)}}

|{{hlist|cornet|trumpet}}

|{{hlist|Fourth (1971) {{small|(as session musician)}}|BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) {{small|(as guest)}}|Backwards (2002)|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)}}{{Cite AV media notes |id=S 64280 |others=Soft Machine |title=Fourth |publisher=CBS Records |year=1971}}

|Nick Evans

|trombone

|{{hlist|Third (1970) {{small|(as session musician)}}|Fourth (1971) {{small|(as session musician)}}|Backwards (2002)|BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003)}}{{Cite AV media notes |id=CG 30339 |publisher=Columbia Records |others=Soft Machine |title=Third |year=1970}}

|Phil Howard

|1971–1972

|drums

|{{hlist|Fifth (1972)|BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) {{small|(as guest)}}|BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)|Drop (2009)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=John Marshall Cosmopolite 2018 (212056).jpg |bSize=750 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=80 |oLeft=345}}

|John Marshall

|{{hlist|1972–1978|1980–1981|1984|2015–2022 {{small|(died 2023)}}}}

|{{hlist|drums|percussion}}

|{{hlist|Fifth (1972)|all releases from Six (1973) to Land of Cockayne (1981)|BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)|Live in France (1995)|BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)|British Tour '75 (2005)|Floating World Live (2006)|all releases from NDR Jazz Workshop (2010) to Live at The Baked Potato (2020)|The Dutch Lesson (2023)|Other Doors (2023)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Karl_Jenkins_-_St_David_Awards_2017.png |bSize=140 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=30 |oLeft=30}}

|Karl Jenkins

|{{hlist|1972–1978|1980–1981|1984}}

|{{hlist|baritone and soprano saxophones|recorder|flute|oboe|keyboards|piano|synthesisers}}

|{{hlist|all releases from Six (1973) to Land of Cockayne (1981)|BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)|BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)|British Tour '75 (2005)|Floating World Live (2006)|NDR Jazz Workshop (2010)|Switzerland 1974 (2015)|The Dutch Lesson (2023)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Roy Babbington Cosmopolite 2018 (212014).jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=25 |oLeft=215}}

|Roy Babbington

|{{hlist|1973–1976|2015–2020 {{small|(session guest 1970–1972 and 2022)}}}}

|{{hlist|bass|double bass}}

|{{hlist|Fourth (1971) {{small|(as session musician)}}|Fifth (1972) {{small|(as session musician)}}|Seven (1973)|Bundles (1975)|Softs (1976)|BBC in Concert 1971 (1993) {{small|(as guest)}}|BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)|British Tour '75 (2005)|Floating World Live (2006)|all releases from NDR Jazz Workshop (2010) to Live at the Baked Potato (2020)|The Dutch Lesson (2023)|Other Doors (2023) {{small|(as session musician)}}}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=AH-1975-s.jpg |bSize=325 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=50 |oLeft=110}}

|Allan Holdsworth

|{{hlist|1973–1975|1978|1980–1981}} {{small|(substitute for Etheridge at one show in 1977)}} {{small|(died 2017)}}

|{{hlist|guitars|voices}}

|{{hlist|Bundles (1975)|Land of Cockayne (1981)|BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003)|Floating World Live (2006)|Switzerland 1974 (2015)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Paintbox Exeter 2017 web.jpg |bSize=300 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=80 |oLeft=138}}

|Alan Wakeman

|1976{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Dave |title=Softs |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/softs-mw0000278702 |accessdate=4 November 2020 |website=AllMusic}}

|tenor and soprano saxophones

|Softs (1976)

|Ray Warleigh

|{{hlist|1976

1980–1981|1984 {{small|(session guest in 1974)}} {{small|(died 2015)}}}}

|{{hlist|alto saxophone|flute|bass flute}}

|{{hlist|Bundles (1975) {{small|(as session musician)}}|Land of Cockayne (1981)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Blacksheep festival 2014 rs FR 1259.JPG |bSize=200 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=28 |oLeft=28}}

|Ric Sanders

|1976–1978

|violin

|Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris (1978)

{{CSS image crop |Image=Up percy jones.png |bSize=185 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=4 |oLeft=56}}

|Percy Jones

|1976

|rowspan="3"|bass

|none {{small|– live performances only}}

|Steve Cook

|1976–1978

|Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris (1978)

{{CSS image crop|Image=Jack Bruce (Cream) on Fanclub 1968.png|bSize=400|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=92|oLeft=155}}

|Jack Bruce

|1980–1981 {{small|(died 2014)}}

| rowspan="7" |Land Of Cockayne (1981){{Cite AV media notes |id=1A 062-07439 |others=Soft Machine |publisher=EMI Records |title=Land of Cockayne |year=1981}}

{{CSS image crop|Image=Dick_Morrissey_1970.jpg|bSize=80|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=15|oLeft=0}}

|Dick Morrissey

|rowspan="2"|1980–1981 {{small|(both died 2000)}}

|tenor saxophone

|Stu Calver

|rowspan="3"|vocals

|John Perry

|rowspan="3"|1980–1981

|Tony Rivers
|Alan Parker

|rhythm guitar

{{CSS image crop|Image=John_Taylor.jpg|bSize=210|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=60|oLeft=75}}

|John Taylor

|1980–1981 {{small|(died 2015)}}

|electric piano

|Paul Carmichael

| rowspan="2" |1984

|bass

| rowspan="3" |none {{small|– live performances only}}

|Dave MacRae

|{{hlist|keyboards|piano}}

Other Soft Machine musicians

=Touring substitutes=

class="wikitable" border="1" width=100%
width="75"|Image

!width="120"|Name

!width="90"|Years active

!width="145"|Instruments

!Details

|Nic France

|{{Hlist|2017|2022}}

|rowspan="2"|drums

|In 2017 and 2022, France filled in for John Marshall at a few shows, after the regular drummer injured his back.{{cite web |url=https://www.echoesanddust.com/2017/07/soft-machine/ |title=Interview: Soft Machine |last=Cloud |first=Gaz |publisher=Echoes and Dust |date=28 July 2017 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.paiste.com/e/endorser_det.php?page=bio&endorserid=5372 |title=Nic France Biography |publisher=Paiste |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}{{Cite web |last=Swan |first=Richard |date=2022-03-29 |title=Soft Machine |url=https://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2022/03/29/soft-machine-3/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=T P A |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=philfacelift |date=2022-03-30 |title=Soft Machine, Band on the Wall, 28 March 2022 |url=https://canterburyscene.com/2022/03/30/soft-machine-band-on-the-wall-28-march-2022/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Canterbury scene(zine) continued.... |language=en}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=NEWS opening picture.JPG |bSize=115 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=22 |oLeft=26}}

|Gary Husband

|2018

|Husband substituted for Marshall on drums for a few gigs in 2018{{cite news |url=https://www.thunderdrummer.com/2015/03/gary-husband-soft-machine-legacy-japan.html |title=Gary Husband: Soft Machine Legacy- Japan Tour dates |publisher=Thunder Drummer |date=16 March 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

= Session musicians =

class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%"
width="75" |Image

! width="120" |Name

! width="90" |Years active

! width="145" |Instruments

!Release contributions

|The Cake

|1968

|backing vocals

|The Soft Machine (1968){{Cite web |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1980.html |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=thedeadrockstarsclub.com}}

|Rab Spall

|rowspan="3"|1970

|violin

|Third (1970)

|Jimmy Hastings

|{{Hlist|flutes|bass clarinet}}

|{{Hlist|Third (1970)|Fourth (1971)}}

|Alan Skidmore

|tenor saxophone

|Fourth (1971)

|Nick Utteridge

|2017

|wind chimes

|Hidden Details (2018){{Cite AV media notes |id=MJR093 |others=Soft Machine |publisher=Moonjune Records |title=Hidden Details |year=2018}}

Spin-off band members

class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%"
width="75" |Image

! width="120" |Name

! width="90" |Years active

! width="145" |Instruments

!Release contributions

{{CSS image crop |Image=EltonDean01.jpg |bSize=165 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=8 |oLeft=20}}

|Elton Dean

|{{hlist|1978–1988|1999–2006 {{small|(until his death)}}}}

|{{hlist|alto saxophone|saxello|piano}}

|all Soft Machine spin-off band releases from Rogue Element (1978) to New Morning: The Paris Concert (2006)

|Pip Pyle

|1978–1988 {{small|(died 2006)}}

|{{hlist|drums|electronic drums}}

|{{hlist|Soft Heap (1979)|A Veritable Centaur (1995)|Al Dente (2008)}}

|Alan Gowen

|1978–1981 {{small|(until his death)}}

|{{hlist|keyboards|synthesisers}}

|{{hlist|Rogue Element (1978)|Soft Heap (1979)|Al Dente (2008)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Hh hammamet 72 bmp clip1.jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=68 |oLeft=148 }}

|Hugh Hopper

|{{hlist|1978–1979|1999–2009 {{small|(touring hiatus from 2008–2009; his death)}}}}

|bass

|all Soft Machine spin-off band releases from Rogue Element (1978) to Al Dente (2008), except A Veritable Centaur (1995)

|Dave Sheen

|1978 {{small|(touring)}}

|drums

|Rogue Element (1978)

{{CSS image crop |Image=John Greaves (musician).jpg |bSize=215 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=32 |oLeft=65}}

|John Greaves

|1979–1988

|{{hlist|bass|vocals|keyboards}}

| rowspan="2" |A Veritable Centaur (1995)

{{CSS image crop |Image=Mark Hewins.jpg |bSize=185 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=35 |oLeft=30}}

|Mark Hewins

|1981–1988

|{{hlist|guitar|vocals}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=John Marshall Cosmopolite 2018 (212056).jpg |bSize=700 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=74 |oLeft=318}}

|John Marshall

|1999–2015 {{Small|(died 2023)}}

|{{hlist|drums|percussion}}

|all Soft Works and Soft Machine Legacy releases

{{CSS image crop |Image=Keith Tippett.jpg |bSize=175 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=76 |oLeft=40}}

|Keith Tippett

|1999–2002 {{small|(touring 2015) (died 2020)}}

|{{hlist|keyboards|synthesisers}}

|none {{small|– live performances only}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=AH-1975-s.jpg |bSize=325 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=50 |oLeft=110}}

|Allan Holdsworth

|2002–2004

|{{hlist|guitars|SynthAxe}}

|Abracadabra (2003)

|Hoppy Kamiyama

| rowspan="2" |2003 {{small|(Soft Mountain)}}

|keyboards

| rowspan="2" |Soft Mountain (2007)

{{CSS image crop |Image=Tatsuya Yoshida at Death By Audio 2012.png |bSize=135 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=8 |oLeft=22}}

|Tatsuya Yoshida

|drums

{{CSS image crop |Image=Sophia Domancich.jpg |bSize=235 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=18 |oLeft=68}}

|Sophia Domancich

| rowspan="2" |2003–2004 {{small|(Soft Bounds)}}

|{{hlist|keyboards|piano}}

| rowspan="2" |Live at Le Triton 2004 (2005)

|Simon Goubert

|drums

{{CSS image crop |Image=John Etheridge and Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (211948).jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=40 |oLeft=115}}

|John Etheridge

|2004–2015

|guitars

|all Soft Machine Legacy releases

{{CSS image crop |Image=Theo Travis Cosmopolite 2018 (213008).jpg |bSize=215 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=25 |oLeft=65}}

|Theo Travis

|2006–2015

|{{hlist|tenor and soprano saxophones|flute|keyboards|piano}}

|{{hlist|Steam (2007)|Live Adventures (2010)|Burden of Proof (2013)}}

{{CSS image crop |Image=Fred Thelonious Baker.jpg |bSize=200 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=34 |oLeft=20}}

|Fred Baker

|2008–2009{{Efn|Baker replaced regular bassist Hugh Hopper between his 2008 leukemia diagnosis and his death in 2009.}} {{Small|(touring)}}

| rowspan="2" |bass

|none

{{CSS image crop |Image=Roy Babbington Cosmopolite 2018 (212014).jpg |bSize=400 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=25 |oLeft=215}}

|Roy Babbington

|2009–2015

|{{hlist|Live Adventures (2010)|Burden of Proof (2013)}}

Other spin-off band musicians

=Touring substitutes=

class="wikitable" border="1" width=100%
width="75"|Image

!width="120"|Name

!width="90"|Years active

!width="145"|Instruments

!Details

{{CSS image crop |Image=Liam Genockey.jpg |bSize=250 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=115 |oLeft=92 }}

|Liam Genockey

|2004–2005

|rowspan="4"|drums

|rowspan="2"|Genockey and Fletcher substituted for the injured John Marshall at shows in October 2004 and summer 2005.

|Mark Fletcher

|2005

|Nic France

|rowspan="2"|2015

|rowspan="2"|During 2015, France and Husband filled in for John Marshall for several shows, after the regular drummer injured his back.{{cite web |url=https://www.echoesanddust.com/2017/07/soft-machine/ |title=Interview: Soft Machine |last=Cloud |first=Gaz |publisher=Echoes and Dust |date=28 July 2017 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.paiste.com/e/endorser_det.php?page=bio&endorserid=5372 |title=Nic France Biography |publisher=Paiste |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}{{Cite web |last=Swan |first=Richard |date=2022-03-29 |title=Soft Machine |url=https://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2022/03/29/soft-machine-3/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=T P A |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=philfacelift |date=2022-03-30 |title=Soft Machine, Band on the Wall, 28 March 2022 |url=https://canterburyscene.com/2022/03/30/soft-machine-band-on-the-wall-28-march-2022/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Canterbury scene(zine) continued.... |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thunderdrummer.com/2015/03/gary-husband-soft-machine-legacy-japan.html |title=Gary Husband: Soft Machine Legacy- Japan Tour dates |publisher=Thunder Drummer |date=16 March 2015 |accessdate=31 October 2019 }}

{{CSS image crop |Image=NEWS opening picture.JPG |bSize=115 |cWidth=75 |cHeight=75 |oTop=22 |oLeft=26}}

|Gary Husband

=Session musicians=

class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%"
width="75" |Image

! width="120" |Name

! width="90" |Years active

! width="145" |Instruments

!Release contributions

|Alain Eckert

|1982–1983

|guitar synthesizer

|A Veritable Centaur (1995){{Cite AV media notes |id=IMP CD 18219 |others=Soft Heap |publisher=Impetus Records |title=A Veritable Centaur |year=1995}}

Soft Machine timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:24

PlotArea = left:100 bottom:110 top:10 right:20

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/05/1966 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1967

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967

Colors =

id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards

id:sax value:tan2 legend:Saxophone

id:flute value:lavender legend:Flute

id:trumpet value:skyblue legend:Trumpet/cornet

id:trombone value:coral legend:Trombone

id:violin value:drabgreen legend:Violin

id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals

id:studio value:black legend:Studio_albums

id:live value:gray(0.7) legend:Live_recordings

id:bars value:gray(0.92)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

layer:back width:1

color:live

at:16/09/1967

at:05/12/1967

at:15/10/1968

at:29/03/1969

at:10/06/1969

at:10/11/1969

at:25/11/1969

at:04/01/1970

at:31/01/1970

at:13/02/1970

at:20/04/1970

at:26/04/1970

at:04/05/1970

at:25/05/1970

at:13/08/1970

at:25/10/1970

at:15/12/1970

at:28/02/1971

at:11/03/1971

at:23/03/1971

at:01/06/1971

at:20/07/1971

at:15/10/1971

at:15/11/1971

at:11/04/1972

at:02/05/1972

at:17/05/1973

at:30/10/1973

at:10/06/1974

at:04/07/1974

at:29/01/1975

at:11/10/1975

at:06/07/1977

color:studio

at:15/12/1968

at:15/09/1969

at:06/06/1970

at:28/02/1971

at:15/07/1972

at:15/02/1973

at:15/10/1973

at:22/03/1975

at:15/06/1976

at:15/02/1981

at:20/09/2018

at:30/06/2023

BarData =

bar:Daevid text:Daevid Allen

bar:Larry text:Larry Nowlin

bar:Andy text:Andy Summers

bar:Allan text:Allan Holdsworth

bar:JohnE text:John Etheridge

bar:AlanP text:Alan Parker

bar:MikeR text:Mike Ratledge

bar:JohnT text:John Taylor

bar:Dave text:Dave MacRae

bar:Kevin text:Kevin Ayers

bar:Hugh text:Hugh Hopper

bar:Roy text:Roy Babbington

bar:Percy text:Percy Jones

bar:Steve text:Steve Cook

bar:Jack text:Jack Bruce

bar:PaulC text:Paul Carmichael

bar:Fred text:Fred Baker

bar:Robert text:Robert Wyatt

bar:Phil text:Phil Howard

bar:JohnM text:John Marshall

bar:Asaf text: Asaf Sirkis

bar:Brian text:Brian Hopper

bar:Elton text:Elton Dean

bar:Lyn text:Lyn Dobson

bar:Karl text:Karl Jenkins

bar:AlanW text:Alan Wakeman

bar:Ray text:Ray Warleigh

bar:Dick text:Dick Morrissey

bar:Theo text:Theo Travis

bar:Mark text:Mark Charig

bar:Nick text:Nick Evans

bar:Ric text:Ric Sanders

bar:Stu text:Stu Calver

bar:JohnP text:John Perry

bar:Tony text:Tony Rivers

PlotData=

width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)

color:lvocals

bar:Robert from:start till:31/08/1971 width:3

bar:Kevin from:start till:30/09/1968 width:3

color:guitar

bar:Daevid from:start till:24/08/1967

bar:Larry from:start till:30/09/1966

bar:Kevin from:start till:30/09/1968 width:7

bar:Andy from:01/05/1968 till:10/07/1968

bar:Hugh from:31/10/1968 till:07/05/1973 width:3

bar:Allan from:10/11/1973 till:14/04/1975

bar:JohnE from:15/04/1975 till:31/03/1978

bar:Allan from:01/04/1978 till:31/12/1978

bar:Allan from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:AlanP from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:JohnE from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:JohnE from:01/12/2015 till:end

color:bass

bar:Kevin from:start till:30/09/1968

bar:Daevid from:start till:24/08/1967 width:7

bar:Hugh from:01/10/1968 till:07/05/1973

bar:Roy from:08/05/1973 till:14/09/1976

bar:Percy from:15/09/1976 till:14/11/1976

bar:Steve from:15/11/1976 till:31/12/1978

bar:Jack from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:PaulC from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:Roy from:01/12/2015 till:06/12/2020

bar:Fred from:07/12/2020 till:end

color:keys

bar:MikeR from:start till:05/03/1976

bar:Elton from:06/10/1969 till:14/06/1972 width:3

bar:Karl from:15/06/1972 till:08/01/1976 width:3

bar:Karl from:09/01/1976 till:31/12/1978

bar:Karl from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:JohnT from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:Karl from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:Dave from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:Theo from:01/12/2015 till:end width:3

color:drums

bar:Robert from:start till:31/08/1971

bar:Phil from:01/09/1971 till:13/01/1972

bar:JohnM from:14/01/1972 till:31/12/1978

bar:JohnM from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:JohnM from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:JohnM from:01/12/2015 till:23/08/2022

bar:Asaf from:24/08/2022 till:end

color:sax

bar:Hugh from:01/10/1968 till:17/05/1969 width:7

bar:Brian from:18/05/1969 till:05/10/1969

bar:Elton from:06/10/1969 till:14/06/1972

bar:Lyn from:06/10/1969 till:31/03/1970

bar:Karl from:15/06/1972 till:08/01/1976

bar:AlanW from:09/01/1976 till:01/07/1976

bar:Ray from:02/07/1976 till:14/09/1976

bar:Ray from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:Dick from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:Ray from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984

bar:Theo from:01/12/2015 till:end

color:flute

bar:MikeR from:start till:17/05/1969 width:3

bar:Lyn from:06/10/1969 till:31/03/1970 width:7

bar:Ray from:02/07/1976 till:14/09/1976 width:3

bar:Ray from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981 width:3

bar:Ray from:01/06/1984 till:30/09/1984 width:3

bar:Theo from:01/12/2015 till:end width:7

color:trumpet

bar:Mark from:06/10/1969 till:20/12/1969

color:trombone

bar:Nick from:06/10/1969 till:20/12/1969

color:violin

bar:Ric from:15/09/1976 till:31/03/1978

color:bvocals

bar:Daevid from:start till:24/08/1967 width:3

bar:Larry from:start till:30/09/1966 width:3

bar:Lyn from:06/10/1969 till:31/03/1970 width:3

bar:Allan from:10/11/1973 till:14/04/1975 width:3

bar:Stu from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:JohnP from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

bar:Tony from:01/06/1980 till:15/03/1981

}}

Spin-off band timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:24

PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:10 right:20

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1978 till:30/11/2015

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1978

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1978

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards

id:sax value:tan2 legend:Saxophone/flute

id:studio value:black legend:Studio_albums

id:live value:gray(0.7) legend:Live_recordings

id:bars value:gray(0.92)

id:band value:gray(0.1)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

layer:back width:1

color:live

at:15/05/1978

at:22/11/1978

at:15/03/1982

at:15/06/1988

at:10/05/2005

at:12/12/2005

at:22/10/2009

color:studio

at:15/02/1979

at:29/07/2003

at:18/05/2006

at:21/08/2007

at:13/01/2013

BarData =

bar:Band text:Band

bar:Mark text:Mark Hewins

bar:Allan text:Allan Holdsworth

bar:JohnE text:John Etheridge

bar:Alan text:Alan Gowen

bar:Keith text:Keith Tippett

bar:Hugh text:Hugh Hopper

bar:JohnG text:John Greaves

bar:Fred text:Fred Baker

bar:Roy text:Roy Babbington

bar:Pip text:Pip Pyle

bar:Dave text:Dave Sheen

bar:JohnM text:John Marshall

bar:Elton text:Elton Dean

bar:Theo text:Theo Travis

PlotData=

width:13 textcolor:white fontsize:8 align:center shift:(3,-4)

color:band

bar:Band from:start till:30/11/1988 text:"Soft Heap/Soft Head"

bar:Band from:01/09/1999 till:31/03/2002 text:"Soft Ware"

bar:Band from:01/06/2002 till:31/07/2004 text:"Soft Works"

bar:Band from:01/10/2004 till:end text:"Soft Machine Legacy"

color:bass

bar:Hugh from:start till:31/05/1979

bar:JohnG from:01/06/1979 till:30/11/1988

bar:Hugh from:01/09/1999 till:07/06/2009

bar:Fred from:01/06/2008 till:30/06/2009 width:3

bar:Roy from:01/07/2009 till:end

color:sax

bar:Elton from:start till:30/11/1988

bar:Elton from:01/09/1999 till:08/02/2006

bar:Theo from:01/03/2006 till:end

color:drums

bar:Pip from:start till:30/11/1988

bar:Dave from:01/04/1978 till:31/08/1978 width:3

bar:JohnM from:01/09/1999 till:end

color:keys

bar:Alan from:start till:17/05/1981

bar:JohnG from:18/05/1981 till:30/11/1988 width:7

bar:Elton from:01/09/1999 till:08/02/2006 width:3

bar:Keith from:01/09/1999 till:31/03/2002

bar:Theo from:01/03/2006 till:end width:3

color:guitar

bar:Mark from:01/06/1981 till:30/11/1988

bar:Allan from:01/06/2002 till:31/07/2004

bar:JohnE from:01/10/2004 till:end

color:vocals width:3

bar:JohnG from:01/06/1979 till:30/11/1988

bar:Mark from:01/06/1981 till:30/11/1988

}}

Soft Machine lineups

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:20em;"|Period

!scope="col" style="width:25em;"|Members

!scope="col" style="width:25em;"|Releases

scope="col"|August – September 1966

|

|none

scope="col"|September 1966 – August 1967

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, vocals, guitar
  • Daevid Allen – guitar, backing vocals, bass

|

  • "Love Makes Sweet Music" (1967)
  • Jet Propelled Photographs (1972)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001) {{small|– four tracks}}
scope="col"|August 1967 – May 1968

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, guitar, vocals

|

  • The Soft Machine (1968)
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 1 (2001) {{small|– eleven tracks}}
  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2 (2001) {{small|– six tracks}}
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) {{small|– five tracks}}
  • Middle Earth Masters (2006)
scope="col"|May – July 1968

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, vocals, guitar
  • Andy Summers – guitar

|none

scope="col"|July – September 1968

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Kevin Ayers – bass, guitar, vocals

|

  • Soft Machine Turns On, Volume 2 (2001) {{small|– eight tracks}}
scope="col"|December 1968 – May 1969

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano, flute
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass, guitar, saxophone

|

  • Volume Two (1969)
  • Live at the Paradiso 1969 (1995)
scope="col"|May – October 1969

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Brian Hopper – saxophone

|

  • The Peel Sessions (1990) {{small|– two tracks}}
  • Spaced (1996)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) {{small|– two tracks}}
scope="col"|October – December 1969

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Lyn Dobson – saxophone, flute
  • Mark Charig – cornet, trumpet
  • Nick Evans – trombone

|

  • The Peel Sessions (1990) {{small|– two tracks}}
  • Backwards (2002) {{small|– two tracks}}
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) {{small|– one track}}
scope="col"|December 1969 – March 1970

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Lyn Dobson – saxophone, flute

|

  • Third (1970) {{small|– one track}}
  • Noisette (2000)
  • Breda Reactor (2004)
  • Alive in Paris 1970 (2008)
  • Facelift France & Holland (2022)
scope="col"|March 1970 – August 1971

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Robert Wyatt – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards

|

  • Third (1970) {{small|– three tracks}}
  • Fourth (1971)
  • Live at the Proms 1970 (1988)
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) {{small|– four tracks}}
  • BBC in Concert 1971 (1993)
  • Virtually (1998)
  • Backwards (2002) {{small|– three tracks}}
  • Facelift (2002)
  • BBC Radio: 1967–1971 (2003) {{small|– five tracks}}
  • Somewhere in Soho (2004)
  • Grides (2006)
  • Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 (2009)
  • Høvikodden 1971 (2024)
scope="col"|August 1971 – January 1972

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Phil Howard – drums

|

  • Fifth (1972) {{small|– three tracks}}
  • The Peel Sessions (1990) {{small|– two tracks}}
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) {{small|– three tracks}}
  • Drop (2009)
scope="col"|January – May 1972

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

|

  • Fifth (1972) {{small|– four tracks}}
  • Live in France (1995)
scope="col"|May 1972 – May 1973

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, piano
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards

|

  • Six (1973)
  • BBC in Concert 1972 (1994)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) {{small|– one track}}
scope="col"|May – November 1973

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass, double bass

|

  • Seven (1973)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) {{small|– four tracks}}
  • NDR Jazz Workshop (2010)
  • The Dutch Lesson (2023)
scope="col"|November 1973 – April 1975

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar

|

  • Bundles (1975)
  • BBC Radio: 1971–1974 (2003) {{small|– three tracks}}
  • Floating World Live (2006)
  • Switzerland 1974 (2015)
scope="col"|April 1975 – January 1976

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – saxophone, keyboards
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar

|

  • British Tour '75 (2005)
scope="col"|January – March 1976

|

  • Mike Ratledge – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Alan Wakeman – saxophone

|

  • Softs (1976) {{small|– two tracks}}
scope="col"|March – June 1976

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Alan Wakeman – saxophone

|

  • Softs (1976) {{small|– nine tracks}}
  • Rubber Riff (1976) {{small|– Karl Jenkins solo album recorded during this period (with Marshall, Babbington and Etheridge guesting), re-released in 1994 under Soft Machine name}}
scope="col"|June – September 1976

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ray Warleigh – saxophone, flute

|rowspan="2"|none

scope="col"|September – November 1976

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ric Sanders – violin
  • Percy Jones – bass
scope="col"|November 1976 – March 1978

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Ric Sanders – violin
  • Steve Cook – bass

|

scope="col"|December 1978

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Steve Cook – bass
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar

|none

scope="col" colspan="3"|Band inactive January 1979 – May 1980
scope="col"|June 1980 – March 1981

|

|

scope="col" colspan="3"|Band inactive April 1981 – June 1984
scope="col"|July – August 1984

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • Karl Jenkins – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Ray Warleigh – saxophone, flute
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Paul Carmichael – bass
  • Dave MacRae – keyboards, piano

|none

scope="col" colspan="3"|Band inactive September 1984 – November 2015
scope="col"|December 2015 – December 2020

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards

|

scope="col"|December 2020 – August 2022

|

  • John Marshall – drums, percussion
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Fred Baker – bass

|

  • Other Doors (2023)
scope="col"|August 2022 – present

|

  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Fred Baker – bass
  • Asaf Sirkis – drums

|

  • "The Dew at Dawn" (2024)

Spin-off band lineups

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:20em;"|Period

!scope="col" style="width:25em;"|Members

!scope="col" style="width:25em;"|Releases

scope="col"|Soft Heap
{{small|(1978–1979)}}

|

|

  • Soft Heap (1979)
  • Al Dente (2008)
scope="col"|Soft Head
{{small|(April – August 1978)}}

|

  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Alan Gowen – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Dave Sheen – drums

|

  • Rogue Element (1978)
scope="col"|Soft Heap
{{small|(1979–1981)}}

|

  • John Greaves – bass, vocals
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Alan Gowen – keyboards, synthesisers
  • Pip Pyle – drums

|none

scope="col"|Soft Heap
{{small|(1981–1988)}}

|

  • John Greaves – bass, keyboards, vocals
  • Mark Hewins – guitar, vocals
  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Pip Pyle – drums

|

  • A Veritable Centaur (1995)
scope="col" colspan="3"|Spin-off bands inactive 1988–1999
scope="col"|Soft Ware
{{small|(September 1999 – June 2002)}}

|

  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Keith Tippett – keyboards, synthesisers
  • John Marshall – drums

|none

scope="col"|Soft Works
{{small|(June 2002 – October 2004)}}

|

  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • Allan Holdsworth – guitar, synthesisers
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

|

  • Abracadabra (2003)
scope="col"|Soft Mountain
{{small|(August 2003)}}

|

|

  • Soft Mountain (2007)
scope="col"|Soft Bounds
{{small|(2003–2004)}}

|

  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • Sophia Domancich – keyboards, piano
  • Simon Goubert – drums

|

  • Live at Le Triton 2004 (2005)
scope="col"|Soft Machine Legacy
{{small|(October 2004 – February 2006)}}

|

  • Elton Dean – saxophone, saxello, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

|

  • Live in Zaandam (2005)
  • Soft Machine Legacy (2006)
  • New Morning: The Paris Concert (2006)
scope="col"|Soft Machine Legacy
{{small|(March 2006 – June 2009)}}

|

  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Hugh Hopper – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

|

  • Steam (2007)
scope="col"|Soft Machine Legacy
{{small|(July 2009 – December 2015)}}

|

  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • John Etheridge – guitar
  • Roy Babbington – bass
  • John Marshall – drums, percussion

|

References

{{reflist}}{{Notelist}}

External links

  • [https://www.softmachine.org/ Soft Machine official website]

{{Soft Machine}}

Soft Machine

*