[1] The band was formed in Guildford, Surrey, in 1971 by guitarist Andrew Latimer, drummer Andy Ward, bassist Doug Ferguson and keyboardist Peter Bardens.

Latimer, Ward, and Ferguson had performed in the Guildford area as a trio named Brew, and in 1971 they auditioned to be the backing band for singer-songwriter Phillip Goodhand-Tait.

The four travelled to Ireland to fulfil outstanding contractual obligations Bardens had with his previous outfit On, after which they renamed themselves Camel.

[5] Their live debut with the name followed at Waltham Forest Technical College in London in December 1971, supporting Wishbone Ash.

[7] The album's success led to a prestigious appearance at Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra in October 1975.

Drummer Ward was pushing for a move into jazz, which caused bassist Ferguson to quit the band in early 1977.

[11] Richard Sinclair (formerly of Caravan) replaced Ferguson, and Mel Collins joined the band in an official capacity.

The Sinclair cousins both left the band after the tour, replaced by keyboardist Kit Watkins and bassist Colin Bass.

[15] Without a band, but with a contract to fulfill and pressure from Decca for a hit song, Latimer was joined by an array of guest and session musicians at Abbey Road Studios in early 1982.

[16] Another lineup featuring keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel (of Dutch prog-rock band Kayak) and drummer Paul Burgess (ex-10cc) released the album Stationary Traveller in 1984.

The album was dedicated to former member Peter Bardens, who had died early that year,[21] The group was inactive for much of the following decade as Latimer received treatment for myelofibrosis.

[26] The band continued to tour throughout the decade, and a live DVD recorded at Royal Albert Hall was released in early 2020.

[29] Predominantly instrumental, Camel's music combines elements from rock, pop, jazz, blues, folk, classical and electronica.