Wizard's Convention

The name given to the first gathering of musicians by Eddie Hardin. It included several members, ex-members, and associates of Deep Purple. It was a one-off under this name, and subsequent gatherings (and line-ups) were called "Eddie Hardin's Wizard's Convention 2", and "Eddie Hardin's Wizard's Convention 3". Having worked on a similar project with Roger Glover in 1974, called 'The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast', Hardin decided that instead of producing the standard solo album, he would write his songs, with the help of Ray Fenwick, and then invite a group of his friends to play them with him. It was initially released in December 1976, but has since been re-issued several times.