The Marillion Round Table

I can only talk about 2 bands as I didn't listen to most ''Neo Prog'' back in the 80's. It was 'IQ v Marillion' and that was it for me. IQ - The Wake and Marillion's debut album pretty much define the genre. It's Genesis without the wimsy replaced by a more hard edged post punk style. Neither band churned out the same thing though. Marillion's first 7 albums are all different, a constant reinvention that seems more and more impressive as the decades roll on. IQ started out a lot closer to the Genesis template with Tales From The Lush Attic but evenually ended up on the AOR/Pop side of the genre by the back end of the 80's. The only other remotely 'neo' band I noticed in that decade was It Bites but they seemed more pop than anything. However Francis Dunnery has just recently popped up on Dave Kerzner's 'reimagining' of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and does a solid stab at Peter Gabriel's vocal internations. Shows he was probably a Gabriel era Genesis fan if nothing else. Personally I would 'retire' the whole Neo Prog genre label as it was an historical thing and not a real musical genre. 'Crossover' is adequate enough and has more or less replaced it imo.

Marillion are making funny jokes on facebook

I then took a look, prompted, at the Marillion app I downloaded a wee while ago. I was there directed to a new streaming service by the band of lots of fine stuff for a seven day free period, before signing up to a pay view service of £5.50 per month.

Now I love this band, as you all know. I have a pile of dvds charting all periods of the band live career, and have also downloaded from the band’s website a couple of gigs I attended in person.

I will not, however, take up this offer. Even though I could afford this, it strikes me as being quite expensive. Amazon Prime only sets me back some £7-odd per month, and Netflix about £10. Sky and BT Sports and movie packages quite a bit more.

I would, in truth, struggle to justify this sort of expenditure to the Mrs General, although I might add that I am sure she wouldn’t say a thing against it. It is me. I have spent quite a bit of dosh on this band and it’s personnel over the years, and there is something about this that strikes me as being a request for money too far. It might have been a bit different had they included other acts such as IQ, Pendragon, and etc., making it a sort of British talent streaming service. Then I would be straight in.

Anyhow, what do you think? Is Laz being a little bit of a tight arse with the cash, or do I have a point?

Wow nice to see an "old timer" posting or at least visiting for a bit , we need more of that here (PA)!

There are a few of us still waving the Marillion banner, as Steve (Laz) mentioned. They remain in constant rotation when I sit and spin some records.

I love many parts of FEAR, with some I can skip but I don't move the tonearm once it hits the record, I listen to full sides. 

So much of their catalog hits different parts of what I like....

Cheers!

Hmm, interesting re FEAR. My review said it all, really, but, in respect of energy, The Leavers just has tons of it, IMO.

With regard to management, the only real contact I have had is after I conducted my interview for this site with Pete and Eric aka Edison’s Children. It had some good feedback, so I wrote to her asking if the band would be interested, given the utter lack of h-related stuff here. I didn’t receive a response, which I thought a bit queer, but didn’t pursue.

Nice to hear about Steve, and I hope you drop by more often here. You are missed.

They are jamming and preparing as we speak. Hopefully, next year.