History
Ariel was the brainchild of Mike Rudd and Bill Putt following on from the break-up of their previous band, Spectrum, in April 1973. Ariel's more direct approach encompassed progressive rock, blues, hard rock and pub-rock with country overtones. The band derived its name from the fairy messenger Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

The joyous reggae-rock single `Jamaican Farewell'/`Red Hot Momma' (September 1973; #34 in October) and the accomplished A Strange Fantastic Dream album (December 1973) set the tone for the band's work. The original line-up broke up in April 1974, leaving only Rudd and Putt. John Lee (drums; ex-Sayla, Blackfeather, Dingoes) joined in May, followed by Harvey James (guitar; ex-Sayla, Mississippi) who joined in July. The sturdy `Yeah Tonight'/`(I am the) Laughing Man (for Leo)' single came out in August, and two months later Ariel left for the UK. EMI (England) issued A Strange Fantastic Dream on the Harvest offshoot label, and then booked the band into London's Abbey Road Studios (December 1974). Because EMI (Australia) had rejected Rudd's projected science-fiction concept album The Jellabad Mutant, Ariel came up with the Rock & Roll Scars set. Rudd viewed the album as retrogressive because it mixed re-recorded versions of old Spectrum and Ariel material with only three all-new songs. Nevertheless, the album stood up remarkably well with the band boosting the old songs with a hard rock edge, and delivering the new tunes in the same robust vein. `Keep on Dancing (with Me)'/`I'll Be Gone' came out as a single (March 1975).

Glyn Mason (guitar, vocals; ex-Rebels, Chain, Copperwine, Home) joined in January 1975. Following a UK tour, Nigel Macara returned to replace Lee (who joined UK band Dirty Tricks) in June 1975. The three guitar line-up of Ariel recorded the single `I'll Take You High'/`I Can't Say what I Mean' (December 1975), and appeared on the live, Various Artists album A-Reefer-Derci on the Mushroom label (1976). In March 1976 Ariel brought in Tony Slavich (keyboards; ex-Richard Clapton Band) to replace Harvey James, who left to join Sherbet. The new line-up recorded `I Can Do Anything'/`Cypherland Blues' and Goodnight Fiona. The album was a fine showcase for Ariel's pub-rock, blues and country sound, but it found the band treading water rather than progressing. Nevertheless, it peaked at #19 in Melbourne during October 1976. That same month, Iain McLennan (ex-Richard Clapton Band) replaced Macara on drums.

The band's popularity on the pub circuit did little to bolster record sales. `Disco Dilemma'/`How Do You Do It?' (April 1977) and `It's Only Love'/`It's Time We Said Our Goodbyes' (August 1977) were minor hits. Ariel called it a day with a lavish concert (called Island Fantasia) held at Melbourne's Dallas Brooks Hall on 21 August 1977. The concert resulted in the live albums Aloha Ariel and Ariel Alive!!—More From Before. Rudd produced Melbourne band Daniel's debut album Last Night in the City (August 1978), before teaming up again with Bill Putt in Mike Rudd's Instant Replay, Mike Rudd and The Heaters, W.H.Y., Number 9 and The Burwood Blues Band. Rudd and Putt issued the album Living on a Volcano in 1995. Putt was also part of the 1978 Air Supply touring band. In August 1997, Rudd and Putt reformed the Rock & Roll Scars Ariel line-up (with John Lee and Harvey James) for a series of gigs.

Mason toured briefly with Richard Clapton, and played with the short-lived Loose String Band. He formed The Stockley See Mason Band in late 1978 with fellow veterans Chris Stockley (guitar, vocals; ex-Axiom, Dingoes, Greg Quill's Southern Cross) and Sam See (guitar, vocals; ex-Sherbet, Flying Circus, Fraternity, Greg Quill's Southern Cross). Mason left in May 1980, and went on to play with Tour De Force, The Fabulous Zarsoff Brothers and the Doc Span Blues Band.