1. Soft Machine - Third (CBS – 66246) made in UK 1970 original gatefold 1st pressing 2LP-Set | vinyl: NM (mint-) | cover: excelletn (VG++) gatefold 2. Soft Machine – Soft Machine '69 (Priscilla Records – P.R. L.P. 4505) made in Holland 1971 LP | vinyl: NM (mint-) | cover: excellent (VG++) This record was a limited edition, one run only and pressed with permission of Mike Ratledge (Keyboards) 3. Soft Machine – Fourth (CBS – S 64280) made in Holland original 1971 1st pressing LP | vinyl: NM (mint-) | cover: excellent (VG++) Soft Machine are an English rock band from Canterbury, Kent. The band were formed in 1966 by Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Larry Nowlin. Soft Machine were central in the Canterbury scene; they became one of the first British psychedelic acts, and later helped pioneer progressive and jazz rock. Soft Machine's lineup has undergone many changes, and has included Andy Summers, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, John Marshall, Karl Jenkins, Roy Babbington and Allan Holdsworth. As of 2025, the current lineup consists of John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Fred Thelonious Baker and Asaf Sirkis. The band's name originates from William S. Burroughs's novel The Soft Machine. Originating from the band The Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine began as a psychedelic rock band, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1968. Their second album, Volume Two (1969), marked their move towards progressive rock and jazz rock, which was fully realised with the subsequent two albums, Third (1970) and Fourth (1971). By 1971, Soft Machine became a purely instrumental jazz rock band,[4] continuing this direction across their subsequent albums, Fifth (1972), Six, Seven (both 1973), Bundles (1975), Softs (1976), and Alive & Well (1978). English rock & jazz band from Canterbury formed in mid-1966, named after the novel The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. Years active: 1966–1968 1969–1978 1978–1983 (offshot band Soft Head), followed by Soft Heap 1980–1984 1999–2002 (pre-reformation band Soft Ware) 2002–2004 (pre-reformation band Soft Works) 2004–2015 (as Soft Machine Legacy) 2015–present Other offshot bands featuring core members Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean were briefly created during the 2000s: Soft Bounds & Soft Mountain. Current members: ● John Etheridge – guitar (1975–1978, 2015–present) ● Theo Travis – saxophone, flute, piano (2015–present) ● Fred T. Baker - bass (2022–present) ● Asaf Sirkis - drums (2023-present) Guest/Substitute musicians: ● Nic France – drums, percussion (at least for one show: on 26 March 2016 in Sheffield Green, East Sussex, UK; substitute for John Marshall) ● Fred T. Baker - bass (substituted for Roy Babbington for 2022 dates, prior to becoming a full member) Former members: ● Mike Ratledge – keyboards, flute (1966–1968, 1969–1976; died 2025) ● Robert Wyatt – drums, vocals, keyboards, bass (1966–1968, 1969–1971) ● Kevin Ayers – bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards (1966–1968; died 2013) ● Daevid Allen – guitar, vocals, bass (1966–1967; died 2015) ● Larry Nowlin – guitar (1966) ● Andy Summers – guitar (1968) ● Hugh Hopper – bass, saxophone, guitar (1968–1973; died 2009) ● John Marshall – drums, percussion (1971–1984, 2015–2022) ● Elton Dean – saxophone, keyboards (1969–1972; died 2006) ● Lyn Dobson – flute, saxophone (1969–1970) ● Mark Charig – cornet (1969) ● Nick Evans – trombone (1969) ● Phil Howard – drums (1971) ● Karl Jenkins – oboe, saxophone, keyboards, synthesisers (1972–1984) ● Allan Holdsworth – guitar (1973–1975; died 2017) ● Roy Babbington – bass (1973–1976, 2015–2022) ● Alan Wakeman – saxophone (1976) ● Ray Warleigh – saxophone (1976; died 2015) ● Ric Sanders – violin (1976–1978) ● Percy Jones – bass (1976–1977) ● Steve Cook (2) – bass (1977–1978)