Marillion were only a big deal for Brits? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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dr prog

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Posted: June 20 2017 at 14:50

Just sound like another horrible mid 80s band

All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.

The Dark Elf View Drop Down

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Posted: June 20 2017 at 19:03

"Kayleigh" always reminded me of a bad Phil Collins vocal impression over an Allan Parsons' karaoke soundtrack.

I considered Marillion to be one of those eccentric Brit indulgences that no one else got. Sort of like Cliff Richard.

Edited by The Dark Elf - June 20 2017 at 19:12

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SteveG

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Posted: June 21 2017 at 04:33

^ rof!

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Blacksword View Drop Down

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Posted: June 21 2017 at 06:05

The Dark Elf wrote:

"Kayleigh" always reminded me of a bad Phil Collins vocal impression over an Allan Parsons' karaoke soundtrack.

I considered Marillion to be one of those eccentric Brit indulgences that no one else got. Sort of like Cliff Richard.

..and cricket and Morris dancing..?

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

Tom Ozric

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Posted: June 21 2017 at 06:18

WTF ?? I just spun Misplaced Childhood earlier today. I realised why and how much I love these guys........and I'm not British !!!

Nogbad_The_Bad View Drop Down

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Posted: June 21 2017 at 07:24

Blacksword wrote:

The Dark Elf wrote:

"Kayleigh" always reminded me of a bad Phil Collins vocal impression over an Allan Parsons' karaoke soundtrack.

I considered Marillion to be one of those eccentric Brit indulgences that no one else got. Sort of like Cliff Richard.

..and cricket and Morris dancing..?

Hey, careful what you say about cricket!!

Ian

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https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/

miamiscot

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Posted: June 22 2017 at 14:37

I got a promo copy of Script a week or two before its release and have been a fan ever since.

Are they the best band ever? No. But they're pretty damned great.

Don't remember ever selling a copy of any Marillion LP in my entire time at the ol' record store.

(This was Florida and we sold a lot of salsa records...)

(and punk)

TexasKing

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Posted: January 21 2018 at 06:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie95bwwZbfs

Here is a rare audience recording of early Marillion, live at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City opening up for RUSH. Unfortunately the audience was less than receptive and booed the band after most of the songs.

AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down

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Posted: January 21 2018 at 15:28

I guess they regularly play in front of 10-15,000 people in the UK and more like 500-1200 in the US. Yes, they are probably bigger in the UK than anywhere else having mostly just a relatively small cult following in the US(although still much bigger than most other neo bands here). However, from what I understand they are also quite big in South America and even get played on the radio down there(or at least used to).

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - January 21 2018 at 15:30

HackettFan View Drop Down

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Posted: January 21 2018 at 17:12

Prog was big in the suburbs around Buffalo, NY in the 80s, irrespective of the rest of the country (or its urban center, which gravitated toward blue collar rock like Springsteen and Mellencamp). The attraction to Prog there may have been influenced by proximity to Canada and Toronto specifically, which brought Rush to town quite frequently, as it did a Genesis tribute band named Over the Garden Wall. Old Genesis, especially the Lamb, was very highly regarded there. Buffalo just didn't produce many Prog bands of its own, aside from a Jazz-Rock Fusion band that spun off from Spiro Gyra. Marillion always had an enthusiastic reception in the Buffalo region, albeit appearing in smaller venues. I liked them until Misplaced Childhood. I didn't care for that album at all. The first two were quite alright.

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Squonk19

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Posted: January 21 2018 at 17:44

....only a big deal in Britain? Couldn't care less..... Everybody else's loss then.

“Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.”

Magnum Vaeltaja View Drop Down

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Posted: January 21 2018 at 18:23

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

However, from what I understand they are also quite big in South America and even get played on the radio down there(or at least used to).

Quebec, too, as far as I know. Which isn't too surprising, since Quebec has always been a hotbed of prog appreciation in North America, especially with respect to Genesis and other symphonic-oriented bands.

when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents

Blacksword View Drop Down

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Posted: January 22 2018 at 01:35

Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

chopper wrote:

twosteves wrote:

there were some acts that were huge successes in Britain--Marillion and even XTC---but never caught on in the USA----the British always had better taste in music than AMericans---with a much broader sense of good sound

You can add The Jam to that list, though they and XTC are very British. Mind you, The Jam were sent out as a support act to Blue Oyster Cult.

Oh man, that must of been interesting.

IIRC, Blondie supported Rush in the UK on the Hemispheres tour. I don't think they were very well recieved either. An odd combo, although I admit the Jam and BOC doesn't make any sense at all.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

iluvmarillion View Drop Down

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Posted: January 22 2018 at 23:09

The premise that Marillion is only big in Britain is mistaken. They have a big following in Canada where they tour, parts of Latin America and followings in Holland, Germany and Italy. The key to their popularity is where they tour, because they're essentially a live band who don't sell a lot of albums. If they toured to more parts of the globe and more often, their popularity would increase, but the problem is, it costs money to tour and they have to be self financing to recoup the costs of touring, so for instance we never see Marillion touring down this way to Australia and New Zealand.