Articles by Jo Kendall

Jo is a journalist, podcaster, event host and music industry lecturer with 23 years in music magazines since joining Kerrang! as office manager in 1999. But before that Jo had 10 years as a London-based gig promoter and DJ, also working in various vintage record shops and for the UK arm of the Sub Pop label as a warehouse and press assistant. Jo's had tea with Robert Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's favourite flute (!), asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under a leather catsuit, and invented several ridiculous editorial ideas such as the regular celebrity cooking column for Prog, Supper's Ready. After being Deputy Editor for Prog for five years and Managing Editor of Classic Rock for three, Jo is now Associate Editor of Prog, where she's been since its inception in 2009, and a regular contributor to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental and psychedelic music-based word amid unsuspecting students at BIMM Institute London, hoping to inspire the next gen of rock, metal, prog and indie creators and appreciators.

Articles by: Jo Kendall

Andy Fairweather Low posing for a photograph in 1968

“Our manager overheard one of Pink Floyd say something about our keyboardist and he threatened to break their legs”: Andy Fairweather Low’s wild tales of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and Tom Jones

By Jo Kendall published 1 March 25

From Hendrix’s backing vocalist to George Harrison and Roger Waters’ right hand man, Andy Fairweather Low is one of rock’s secret MVPs

“ELO, Judas Priest, my dad’s piano playing – that’s prog!” Tennis hero Pat Cash discovered Saga in Steve Harris’ private pub, introduced Tony Iommi to Bigelf and got Robert Plant to take up his sport

By Jo Kendall published 27 February 25

Travelling the world with his Walkman, the young Australian moved on from his family’s opera and folk to Rush, Steven Wilson, Brian Eno, Francis Dunnery and Anathema, and adopted his chequered headband in honour of Cheap Trick

“I’d get up in the morning, practise scales at my piano, go off dancing, and then in the evening I’d come back and play the piano all night.” The story of Kate Bush's debut album The Kick Inside

By Jo Kendall published 17 February 25

The story of how 19-year-old Kate Bush became one of the world's biggest music phenomenons, with a little help from David Gilmour and Emily Brontë

"A towering two-hour concept work on a Norse saga scale." Motorpsycho and Ståle Storlokken's The Death Defying Unicorn is a "battered, barnacled beauty."

By Jo Kendall published 10 February 25

Norwegian prog trio hook up with Elephant9 keyboard player for epic saga

“Ninety per cent of drummers are interchangeable, but you definitely know when he’s playing… I wish I could be as creative as him”: If a Skindred show slumps, Phil Collins saves the day

By Jo Kendall published 30 January 25

Welsh metal band’s drummer Arya Goggin hails the Genesis icon and reveals some of his secrets

“He was wearing a red satin suit and he’d closed his eyes to do existential-style doodles. Then he got ink on his suit and was pissed off”: Why Captain Beefheart is The Primevals frontman Michael Rooney’s prog hero

By Jo Kendall published 15 January 25

Scottish singer met Don Van Vliet a number of times, and the eccentric American’s influence extended through his own career

"To connect with a little band called Body Count says a lot about David Gilmour": Ice-T on Law & Order, not blowing up the planet, and breathing new life into a Pink Floyd classic

By Jo Kendall published 8 January 25

A quiet word with Body Count's Ice-T

Cardiacs: A Big Book And A Band And A Whole World Window by Aaron Tanner

“As pictorial histories go, it’s as smart and surprising as Cardiacs themselves”: A Big Book And A Band And A Whole World Window by Aaron Tanner

By Jo Kendall published 3 January 25

The idiosyncratic English art-rockers’ history is detailed in a pleasingly DIY limited-edition chunky read.

“People would say, ‘He took a trip and now he’s weird.’ He wasn’t weird at all”: Mick Rock’s “surprisingly simple” friendship with Syd Barrett, and other psychedelic adventures

By Jo Kendall published 2 January 25

Often called ‘the man who shot the 70s,’ the photographer experienced unforgettable moments with Pink Floyd, Kevin Ayers, Arthur Brown, Genesis and more

Cracking prog, Gromit! Some of Aardman Animations’ best-loved movies were made to a soundtrack of Jeff Wayne, Tangerine Dream, Focus, Goldfrapp, Alan Parsons and more, says veteran sculptor Jim Parkyn

By Jo Kendall published 25 December 24

“We had a clunky old vinyl player and people would bring in odd records…” Minds open to limitless music helped build a legacy leading up to Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

“The Doctor Who theme was just a fraction of what she could do… She felt sound very deeply – things that haunted her came out”: Actress Caroline Catz on hearing Delia Derbyshire’s unreleased archive

By Jo Kendall published 18 December 24

Doc Martin and DCI Banks star’s record collection also features krautrock, space rock, acid folk, Canterbury and metal music

"I see reviews saying: 'The band were great.' Yeah, the 'band' is me": Joan Armatrading on her new music, riding an elevator with Leslie West and walking with Nelson Mandela

By Jo Kendall published 17 December 24

Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading talks about inspirations, what her famous key was about, her popularity with freedom fighters and more

The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2024

By Classic Rock Magazine published 13 December 24

A-listers, established artists, up-and-comers, previously unknowns and more

“We were limited by venues, by the number of people in the band. We wanted to play louder. Everyone had been talking about going electric as Dylan had. None of us had the budget…” Maddy Prior’s history of Steeleye Span

By Jo Kendall published 4 December 24

From breaking out of local clubs to touring with Jethro Tull and attracting guest spots from David Bowie and Peter Sellers, the leading light of British folk looks back – and forward

Rosalie Cunningham - To Shoot Another Day

“Confident, comfortable and definitely for her own amusement… one of 2024’s most playful and individual records”: Rosalie Cunningam’s To Shoot Another Day

By Jo Kendall published 25 November 24

Former Purson leader’s third solo album is far more self-assured than her first two outings, with a loose concept that lets her imagination run wild

The Fierce And The Dead – Live at Ramsgate Music Hall '24

“Satisfying fuzz crunches and out-there solo runs… there’s an extra layer of atmosphere and weight”: The Fierce And The Dead’s Live At Ramsgate Music Hall ’24

By Jo Kendall published 12 November 24

Psych-prog-stoners at their best on seaside rendezvous stage

“Trump’s got more felonies than all my criminal friends put together.” We asked Ice-T about the US election and he gave us one of the more thoughtful takes we've seen so far

By Merlin Alderslade published 30 October 24

The Body Count leader and Law & Order: SVU star sounds off on Trump, Harris, partisan politics, local government and weed

“I came down absolutely not knowing what to expect – and I came out a different person”: Robert Trujillo took profound inspiration from Steven Wilson, and believes Metallica would feel the same

By Jo Kendall published 23 October 24

The infectiously groovy Metallica bass player RobTrujillo was floored when he discovered Steven Wilson

“A wild pivot resulting in a pretty impressive psychedelic rock record”: Inspired by Pink Floyd, Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here is no dismissible Rap Side Of The Moon

By Jo Kendall published 21 October 24

Determination to pay tribute to his influences prove he’s a risk-taker with a thirst for growth – which is very prog

“Every time my parents went out, Supper’s Ready went on the turntable so I could listen uninterrupted”: Long before Gary Kemp joined Nick Mason’s band, he ensured prog infiltrated Spandau Ballet

By Jo Kendall published 16 October 24

Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd were the guitarist’s early purchases – making more sense of his presence in Saucerful Of Secrets than it may have seemed

“I took off my apron. My manager said, ‘You’ve got tables to serve,’ and I said, ‘I’m talking to Peter Gabriel!’” How actor Adrian Lukis was talked out of signing a music contract by his Genesis hero

By Jo Kendall published 23 September 24

After connecting with fellow public schoolboys, he went on to admire Pink Floyd’s intellectualism, appreciate Curved Air’s sexiness, and get lost in Jean-Luc Ponty while on acid

"John Lennon doesn't have to do this, why should I?": Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, and the creation of See Emily Play

By Jo Kendall published 18 September 24

Written by co-founder Syd Barrett, See Emily Play gave the fledgling Pink Floyd their first UK Top 10 single

John Lennon and May Pang in New York City on October 17, 1974

"I was 23 years old and my first boyfriend was John Lennon": 10 things you need to know about May Pang

By Jo Kendall published 23 August 24

May Pang famously accompanied John Lennon on his lost weekend: She also got a Christian songwriter to work with Judas Priest

“For a supposed prog band they put their musicianship through the pop grinder and come out on top”: Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe’s passion for Rush

By Jo Kendall published 15 August 24

Hooked when he heard Tom Sawyer on local radio, the metal singer remains amazed at the trio’s ability to make a story engaging – even if you don’t understand it

Bon Harris in 1973 sitting with some HiFi equipment

"I love Blackberry Smoke. They're the Status Quo of country": This is the soundtrack of legendary broadcaster Bob Harris's life

By Jo Kendall published 5 August 24

Old Grey Whistle Test legend 'Whispering' Bob Harris picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

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Jo Kendall

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