Leading Progressive Rock act led by the sultry Sonja Kristina. CURVED AIR employed the novel use of classicly trained musicians, violinist Darryl Way, drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, bassist Robert Martin and keyboard player Francis Monkman are graduates of the Royal College Of Music, with Kristina's evocative vocal style overlaying hardened Blues Rock. Never really achieving the success their combined talents deserved CURVED AIR acted as a stepping stone in the musical paths of many name acts and musicians.

Kristina was previously a leading actress in the musical 'Hair' playing the part of Chrissy. In this role she had already released a single 'Frank Mills' in 1968. The singer was put in touch with the band, then known as SISYPHUS, to augment their sound and with this new addition the act became CURVED AIR, named after the Terry Riley composition 'A Rainbow In Curved Air'.

CURVED AIR toured Britain and soon landed a deal with major label Warner Bros. CURVED AIR's debut was the first ever album to employ the marketing technique of being a picture disc and it dult smashed it's way into the British top ten. The muscian's classical leanings were evident from the start as the record included a radical re-working of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'. An American tour was quickly followed by a top 5 British hit single 'Back Street Luv' and 1971's 'Second Album', with new bassist Ian Eyre, repeated the chart success of its predecessor.

In late 1971 Mike Wedgewood of the NEW OVERLANDERS and ARTHUR'S MOTHER took over on bass for the 'Phantasmagoria' album. After the release though Way quit to form his own band DARRYL WAY'S WOLF, a unit which would release three albums. There were suggestions at this stage to retitle the act THE SONJA KRISTINA BAND but the next album would emerge once more as CURVED AIR.

Keyboard player Eddie Jobson was recruited from the ranks of a former support band FAT GRAPPLE, his extra skills on the violin being a valuable addition. Guitarists Kirby Gregory and drummer Jim Russell weresuggested by manager Clifford Davis.

The resulting album 'Air Cut' failed to chart and did not even see an American release. On July 21st 1973 CURVED AIR played the 'Summer Rock' festival in Frankfurt, Germany sharing the stage with GENTLE GIANT, BLACK SABBATH, HARDIN & YORK, JON HISEMAN'S TEMPEST, HEAVY METAL KIDS and RORY GALLAGHER. However, CURVED AIR folded in mid 1973 having recorded another album 'Lovechild' which was shelved. Jobson joined ROXY MUSIC and UK whilst Wedgewood worked with JOHN ENTWHISTLE before a lengthy spell with CARAVAN.

Gregory would depart to work on solo material by ex-FLEETWOOD MAC guitarist DANNY KIRWAN. This liaison was to entrap the guitarist into one of Rock's biggest ever scams though as Gregory formed part of the 1974 'bogus' FLEETWOOD MAC assembled Clifford Davies. Although a union of accomplished musicians the band's right to use the name was quashed in the courts.

Gregory, pulling in Jim Russell, stuck together with his fake FLEETWOOD MAC colleagues vocalist Elmer Gantry and bassist Paul Martinez to create Pop Rock band STRETCH scoring a 1975 hit single. Much later Gregory would create the short lived BLUE MURDER with ex MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP drummer Ted McKenna.

CURVED AIR was forced out of retirement in order to pay off an impending tax bill. Joining Kristina was Way, Monkman, Pilkington-Misk and bassist Phil Kohn. The British tour was a success and a live album solidified their return. The band's line up problems were far from over though as Monkman bailed out to form 801. He would later enjoy commercial success with the classical 'supergroup' SKY.

Pilkington-Misk also departed. New recruits were found in former CARAVAN bassist John Perry, keyboard player Pete Woods, guitarist Mike Jacques and American tour manager Stewart Copeland was switched to the role of drummer. This roster recorded the 'Midnight Wire' album.

In early 1976 CURVED AIR drafted bass player Tony Reeve after Perry decamped to QUANTUM JUMP. Reeve's pedigree was without question having been a member of JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS, a founder member of COLOSSEUM and an integral part of GREENSLADE.

1976's 'Airborne' was promoted by a heavy tour schedule as the band added erstwhile BUTTS BAND keyboard player Alex Richman. With Punk Rock now in its prime CURVED AIR's time had come. Kristina had married Copeland but by early 1977 CURVED AIR had been ground to a halt. Copeland had been searching for a way out of CURVED AIR's downward spiral for most of 1976 and after persuading a singer named STING from a Newcastle band LAST EXIT to join him left the band in January 1977. Copeland and Sting of course went onto fame and fortune with the Pop Reggae sensation THE POLICE.

SONJA KRISTINA went solo at first forming a band called ESCAPE followed by TUNIS. In 1980 the singer recorded a solo album for the Chopper label in collusion with Way. The duo stuck together to record a single 'Renegade' and a re-interpretation of the epic 'O Fortuna'. Despite enthusiastic radio play 'the rights to 'O Fortuna' could not be cleared and thus it was never released.

In 1982 Kristina married Copeland, by then a huge star with THE POLICE.

The 'Renegade' single was eventually issued in 1984 under the CURVED AIR handle. The lost 'Lovechild' album was finally released in 1990. Kristina would ally herself with TY-LOR for the 1991 album 'Songs From The Acid Folk'. A further solo effort followed in 1995 'Harmonics Of Love'.

During the 90's Reeves and Jacques reunited with their erstwhile COLOSSEUM partner to create Blues Rock band BIG CHIEF issuing two CDs' 'It Don't Make No Sense' and 'Steppin' Out'. Reeves is also part of the revived GREENSLADE.