Latest Features on Prog
Ian Anderson: Jethro Tull’s one-legged hammy past and their potential stripped-down future
Latest Jethro Tull album Curious Ruminant has Ian Anderson reflecting on his hammy stage performances of the past, working with William Shatner and Mikael Åkerfeldt, and how the band could have a back-to-basics future
Procol Harum didn’t expect 50th anniversary album Novum to be their last
When Procol Harum released 50th anniversary album Novum in 2017, vocalist Gary Brooker and lyricist Pete Brown made it clear they weren’t expecting it to be their last
How Mike Portnoy reinvented himself after the trauma of leaving two massive bands
In 2011, while trying to find homes for his enormous collection of Dream Theater drumkits, Mike Portnoy was planning a new direction with Flying Colors, Adrenaline Mob, PSMS and Transatlantic
From bitter experience, Maynard James Keenan aims to keep knuckleheads away from his music
Maynard James Keenan explained why he does what he does when A Perfect Circle staged their surprise return in 2018 with Eat The Elephant
Mikael Åkerfeldt’s peers list the reasons they like and admire him
Steven Wilson, Mike Portnoy, Steve Hackett and Arjen Lucassen list the reasons they like and admire Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt
“Steven Wilson changed the way I write”: Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach loves Porcupine Tree
Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach chooses his favourite Porcupine Tree song, and gives some love to Pink Floyd and Mikael Åkerfeldt
A prog band won the Mercury Prize – did you notice? English Teacher are as prog as it gets
English Teacher might sound like another cookie-cutter post-punk NME-frendly group, but debut album This Could Be Texas proves they’re about as progressive as it gets
Tiles’ Chris Herin gathered Alex Lifeson, Peter Frampton, Martin Barre for his solo album
An Alex Lifeson track worthy of an alternative mix, a digital reunion of former Jethro Tull members and a delightful solo from Peter Frampton colour Chris Herin’s solo album Hiding In Plain Sight
Claudio Sanchez reveals the truth behind some of Coheed And Cambria’s latest songs
Coheed And Cambria’s latest album The Father Of Make Believe brings completion of the Amory Wars saga within sight, and has leader Claudio Sanchez pondering his future along with his past
When Curved Air released the first rock band picture disc
Curved Air’s 1970 debut album Air Conditioning was also the first rock band picture disc album. Singer Sonja Kristina recalls how it came about.
What happened when The Struts’ Luke Spiller worked with Mike Oldfield
Luke Spiller and Mike Oldfield collaborated on 2014 album Man On The Rocks, giving the Struts singer a new appreciation for the Tubular Bells mastermind
“Don’t be afraid. Be stubborn. Demand respect”: Kate Bush’s advice for forging a career
When Kate Bush released 2011 album 50 Words for Snow, she offered a few words of advice on creating the kind of maverick career she’d made for herself
Tony Levin on the differences between Peter Gabriel and Robert Fripp
Veteran bassist Tony Levin, who met Peter Gabriel and Robert Fripp on the same day in 1976, compares and contrasts the two band leaders
Inspired by Pink Floyd, Marillion made a film out of their album Brave. It didn’t go well
Marillion’s attempt to make a full-length move to accompany 1994 concept album Brave went so badly that the director disassociated himself from it
Sepultura’s Andreas Kisser explains his love for Yes and Steve Howe
Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser cares so deeply for Yes that his band named an album after one of the prog giants’ songs
Matt Berry on whether he prefers making music to comedy
Matt Berry’s Heard Noises coincided with the end of What We Do In The Shadows and his 50th birthday – making it the most confessional album of his career
Richard Thompson’s battle with barking dogs, planes and leaf blowers to make Acoustic Classics
Richard Thompson thought 2014 solo album Acoustic Classics would just be a nice product for his merch stall – until he’d got over his reluctance to make it
