The Soft Machine was a pioneering English psychedelic, progressive rock, and jazz fusion band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene.[LINK: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=633] Soft Machine biography at www.progarchives.com[LINK: http://www.progarchives.com/subgenre.asp?style=12] Canterbury Scene definition at www.progarchives.com Biography Beginnings: from psychedelic pioneers to post-Ayers jazz fusioneers The Soft Machine was formed in 1966 by Robert Wyatt (drums, vocals), Kevin Ayers (bass, guitar, vocals), Daevid Allen (guitar) and Mike Ratledge (organ) plus, for the first few gigs only, American guitarist Larry Nowlin. Allen, Wyatt and future bassist Hugh Hopper had played in the Daevid Allen Trio, occasionally ac