Author:Andrew Wild
Subtitled The Progressive Rock Revival 1984 to 1989, this super book is a sequel and companion to last year’s excellent A Mirror of Dreams, which covered the years 1981 to 1983. Very engagingly written, it continues to trace the then resurgent UK prog scene through the lens of six key bands, Marillion, Pallas, Solstice, Twelth Night, IQ and Pendragon. All seemed to have a bright future ahead of them, with a combined 400 gigs played in 1984 alone, and it appeared the whole new prog scene was about to really break out in a big way. Alas, it wasn’t to prove as simple as that, with only Marilllion really making the transition from a cult following to a more mainstream rock audience. Perhaps it was that trying to update the archetypal progressive rock of its seventies heyday into a more modern sound made the music more difficult to categorise and market, and all important radio play was to prove nigh on impossible to come by. As the years slipped by, most of the bands to a greater or lesser extent began to fade, as ultimately did the once burgeoning and vibrant scene itself. One wonders what might have happened had the internet and social media outlets that are available today for hearing new music and connecting with other fans been around back then, but that’s all hypothetical of course and unfortunately there is no happy ending on offer here for most of the key players. This is however an excellent book, obviously a labour of love for the author, that is beautifully presented on high quality glossy paper with numerous photographs of bands, memorabilia and general ephemera, and it carries extensive quotes from the bands themselves, managers, promoters and many other major figures involved in and around the scene at the crucial time. Forensically researched and painstakingly put together, it spares no detail and must, together with its predecessor, form the definitive account of those heady new prog years that initially seemed so full of promise and possibilities but ultimately ended in bitter disappointment. Not all is doom and gloom though, as it should be noted that a number of the bands mentioned still have a working musical career, albeit on a smaller lower key level, forty years later, and retain a devoted following who continue to loyally buy their albums and fill their shows.
Length of Read:Long
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Essential reading for fans of the genre.
One thing you’ve learned
Longevity trumps a flash in the pan soon forgotten career.
Thanks for the review, I’ll be investigating and most likely investing in this.
Yes, thanks for pointing me towards this. Marillion are probably my favourite band, and I keep planning to investigate the bands that joined them in that early 80s scene. This book sounds like just the thing.
Of the acts mentioned, Pendragon have left me cold (although some of their cover art is great and none-more-prog), but what about IQ? Can any members of the Word massive point out the IQ albuns that are worth a punt?
I have a few IQ albums (which to be honest I haven’t played in a long time). The one that stands out / would recommend is Subterranea – which I think is generally regarded as their “masterpiece”
I’ve not listened to them all but “The Wake” from 1985 I think, has been a favourite album of mine for nearly 40 years. It’s very much “of its time”, but is still a great listen, IMHO.
I’m not 100% sure, but they may have been the first band I ever saw at Rock City, in the same year. I was right at the front, arm on the monitor, and have a very clear memory of the setlist being propelled off the grille by the speaker within for the whole gig.
Thanks, both. I’ll check them out.
Another nod to ‘Subterranea’, and Martin Orford’s solo album called ‘The Old Road’ may also tweak your keys.
I always associate this era with the pirate radio station, Alice’s Restaurant. Can’t remember who but they had one weekend DJ with 3 hours of the “new Prog”.
https://www.amfm.org.uk/pirates/alices-restaurant.html