Patrick Campbell-Lyons facts for kids

Patrick Campbell-Lyons is an Irish musician and composer born on July 13, 1943. He is famous for being one half of the band Nirvana, a symphonic-rock group that started in London in 1967. This band was known for mixing rock music with the sounds of an orchestra.

Patrick Campbell-Lyons: A Musical Journey

Patrick Campbell-Lyons grew up in Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland. From a young age, he loved music and became a part of the lively music scene in West London during the early 1960s. He played in several bands, learning and growing as a musician.

Early Music Days

One of Patrick's first important bands was an R&B (Rhythm and Blues) group called Second Thoughts. He was the lead singer and helped start the band. Second Thoughts was quite popular in the local area. Many talented musicians played in this band, including Chris Thomas, who later became a famous record producer. Other members included Speedy Keen, who went on to form the band Thunderclap Newman, and Jon Field and Tony Duhig, who later joined the progressive rock band Jade Warrior. Second Thoughts broke up in late 1965. After that, Patrick lived in Sweden for a year before returning to London in late 1966.

Forming the Band Nirvana

In early 1967, Patrick Campbell-Lyons met Greek musician Alex Spyropoulos. Together, they formed the band Nirvana. While Patrick and Alex were the main members, they often worked with other musicians in the studio and during live shows. They created several albums that were praised by music critics. These albums featured a unique "baroque" style, meaning they used many orchestral instruments and sounds, making their music sound rich and grand. The band continued to make music until the early 1970s.

Life After Nirvana

After Nirvana, Patrick Campbell-Lyons continued his career in the music business. He worked as an A&R executive, which means he helped find new musical talent and develop artists. He also worked as a producer, helping other musicians record their songs. Even while doing this, he still made his own music. He released several solo albums, including Me & My Friend, The Electric Plough, and The Hero I Might Have Been.

In 2001, his first solo album, Me & My Friend, was re-released in the UK. It included extra songs from one of Nirvana's later albums, Songs of Love and Praise. In July 2008, Patrick began writing a book about his life and experiences in the music world, especially during the 1960s in London.

More recently, in 2017, Patrick Campbell-Lyons released a new album called You're a Cloud, I'm a Comet. It was released on a special 180-gram vinyl record and also included a CD.