The definitive biography of this ground-breaking band that played a pivotal role in shaping psychedelic rock, progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion. Based on lengthy interviews with the band and their associates, it recounts the lives of Soft Machine's members, pieces together the band's formation and colourful career, and unravels the truth behind the enigma that was Soft Machine. This revised and updated edition includes over a hundred illustrations, a complete concert file, discography and sessionography. Graham Bennett witnessed many of Soft Machine's concerts in their peak years and has produced a probing and thoroughly researched account of one of the great mythic bands of the Sixties and Seventies. The first edition won an Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections.