Ariel is an Australian band descended from the remnants of Spectrum/Murtceps. Spectrum was an Australian progressive rock band which formed in Melbourne in 1969 and remained in existence until 1973. ...

Originally formed circa 1973 consisting of Mike Rudd, Bass Bill Putt, drummer Nigel Macara, guitarist Tim Gaze and keyboard player John Mills. Mike Rudd is a New Zealand born musician and composer who has been based in Australia since the late 1960s , and who is best known as the leader of respected Australian progressive rock bands Spectrum and Ariel in the 1970s. ...

The band released two albums, the first of which was heavily promoted and had a more accessible commercial sound.

The album "A Strange Fantastic Dream" (produced by Peter Dawkins) included the hit "Jamaican Farewell" and the dark song "Confessions of a Psychopathic Cowpoke". Peter Dawkins is a New Zealand-born record producer and sometime musician, who has been based in Australia since the early 1970s. ...

The second album "Rock & Roll Scars" had some success.

The band lost members regularly with Pitt and Rudd continuing to form the nucleus until it finally died around 1975.

While Rudd and Pitt made great music the era of Skyhooks and 'Living in the seventies" blew away the style of clever introspective lyrics which were the band's signature.

The emergence of Countdown as a venue for commercially oriented bands to gain exposure assisted in the consignment of Ariel to music history.