An early progressive rock band, of Canterbury lineage. Formed by beatnik-turned-hippie Daevid Allen (guitar/vocals), Robert Wyatt (drums/vocals), Mike Ratledge (organ), and Kevin Ayers (bass/vocals), it was a fusion of rock with jazz, poetry, and 60's druggie foole-ishness. Various troubles with The Man took Allen and Ayers out of the picture; a nucleus of Wyatt, Ratledge, and Hugh Hopper (bass) did the group's best work. Wyatt left (along with the last vestiges of foole), and the Softs became a plain (but still cool) fusion band.