Initially formed in 1968 in
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire, England, by
Johnny Coppin (guitar, vocals) and Dave Bell (guitar, vocals), the band were augmented in 1971 by the addition of Al Fenn on
lead guitar and
mandolin and Geoff March on
violin and
cello. Their first managers included future comedian
Jasper Carrott. They originally signed to
Vertigo Records in 1973 and recorded their debut album,
Say Hello to the Band, that year. By 1974, the band's line-up changed with
Dik Cadbury joining the group on lead and 12-string acoustic guitar and bass. Geoff March incorporated
keyboards into his repertoire and the band signed to
Mooncrest Records to record the album,
Mammoth Special, which showed a turn towards more introspective and progressive material, that was to define their sound for the remaining years of their existence. Although rumours of a missing album called,
Beyond the Light or
Beyond the Days circulated, (it was even given a catalog number), most of this material appeared on their third album “Third Light”. In 1975, now on
Transatlantic Records,
Third Light, was produced by
Tom Allom. A year later they added
drummer Bob Critchley and released, ''Tomorrow's Pantomime''. The sales were disappointing and Decameron disbanded shortly thereafter. ==Discography==