The Sequoias of Sulfur were one of the late ’60’s most promising British pop bands and yet, you’ve probably never heard of them. Their albums were only released in the UK. After a season of dirty record company politics and the unfortunate decline of, songwriter/lead singer, Jamie Beckett’s mental health, their recorded works were sadly kept from wider distribution and buried for decades.

Many expected this recording, their 1968 studio release, to be one of that year’s most important albums.  Madman, a concept album chock full of innovative pop songs and psychedelic sounds, artfully chronicles the changes Jamie was experiencing at that time.  

Over five decades have come and gone and their recordings have finally resurfaced. This is thanks, in large part, to the efforts of emerging art-rock band, The Inquisition. Their upcoming debut album, The Magi of Kent (act one-Turn of the Tide)  prominently features the story of The Sequoias of Sulfur. After calling in many favors and no small amount of diplomacy with a now defunct record label (that shall go unnamed here), these amazing recordings are getting the distribution they deserve via modern streaming services as well as through the most discriminating of record stores and online vendors. Now, the world (and you!) can finally enjoy this fresh taste of the musical explosion that was 1968!

This album’s lead single, “Madman”, was released on streaming services July 16, 2024, exactly 56 years to the day after their last, and fateful gig. The Sequoias were playing at the UFO club in London, and Jamie, in the beginnings of a psychotic break showed up late and in unusual form. People in attendance differ in their descriptions of that performance. Some considered it a total disaster. However, many others report a band wildly morphing and  improvising as if animated by some greater story that was fighting to emerge through their songs that night. Unable to function as a group afterward, they soon went on extended hiatus but legends about that night at the UFO club circulated around London for months.

Ladies & gentlemen, we are now happy to introduce to you…. The Sequoias of Sulfur!