Prog

Since its arrival at the tail end of the 60s progressive rock has offered the world some of the most fascinating music ever heard, in varying guises over the years. Prog magazine brings you the stories behind the people who create these astounding sounds and amazing music, be they the classic originators such as Genesis, Pink Floyd and Yes, to the 80s revivalists such as Marillion and IQ, all the way through to those musicians today who have done so much to help rejuvenate the genre such as Muse, Radiohead, Steven Wilson, Opeth and Anathema. In depth and behind the scenes stories of classic albums and tours sit side by side with widespread coverage of what‘s happening at today’s cutting edge of progressive music.

PROG PRESENTS… Discovering

Ed’s Letter

Bloody Well Write

TWEET TALK

Prog

JETHRO TULL’S THICK AS A BRICK HITS 50 • Released in 1972, Tull’s classic ‘spoof’ concept album is getting a birthday vinyl reissue, complete with its original, iconic packaging. Ian Anderson remembers it well.

ELP FIRST SINGLES VINYL BOX UNVEILED • Due in August, the lavish Singles collection brings together the prog giants’ 7” releases.

BANCO HEAD TO ORLANDO FOR THEIR 50TH BIRTHDAY! • The Italian band back with “ambitious” new concept album.

VIRGIL AND STEVE HOWE’S LUNAR MIST • The Yes legend is curating a second album of music written by his son, who died in 2017.

THRESHOLD DRAW THE DIVIDING LINES • The prog rock band to return with 12th album, presaged by new single, Silenced.

BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA CHECK IN WITH NEW ALBUM • The prog duo ponder life and the afterlife on Hotel Utopia.

SWEET BILLY PILGRIM TAKE TO THE CITY • Due in November, concept album Somapolis is the acclaimed duo’s first for four years.

FRONT ROW SEATS FOR GENTLE GIANT • The prog legends’ 10-LP vinyl box set Front Row Center is due for release in September.

IN TRIBUTE TO COLOSSEUM’S BARBARA THOMPSON MBE. • The acclaimed saxophonist died in July after a long illness.

FAD GADGETS • Rhodri Marsden on three of the latest must-have gizmos currently putting the prog in progress.

DEBORAH BONHAM • A lunchtime record swap with a friend led the Bonham–Bullick vocalist to her long-term love for Genesis and Peter Gabriel.

IANAI • Swallow The Sun keysman embarks on mystical adventures on folk-inspired debut.

AUDIOPHILE CULTURE VS COMMON SENSE! • Cosmograf’s Robin Armstrong sounds off…

APOLLON RECORDS • Meet Robin Mortensen, co-founder of the flourishing Norwegian label with its own proggy offshoot.

MARATON • Norwegian alt-proggers venture into poppier territory on their second LP.

WIN! • PORCUPINE TREE BUNDLE!

GHOST OF THE MACHINE • Ex-This Winter Machine members regroup for neo-prog inspired project.

ZERO HOUR • Dream Theater-influenced quartet return with a bold new sound.

Q&A ELMER GANTRY • The Velvet Opera main man reflects on a remarkable career, plotting a line from the nascent UK psych scene to Alan Parsons, by way of Hair: The Musical, Mick Fleetwood, Cozy Powell and Jon Lord.

Who the hell does Robert Fripp think he is? • He’s the serious leader of King Crimson, a hugely influential guitarist and one half of the playful Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch series, but who is the real Robert Fripp? In an often candid interview, the guitar hero sits down with Prog for the very first time to muse over his lengthy career so far, the collaborations that helped make him the master of Frippertronics and his plans for the future, which include several books and even a spoken-word tour.

An Englishman In New York An • In 1976, Fripp relocated to the Big In Apple and embraced its experimental creative scene with some unexpected collaborations that led to...