Daryl Easlea

Daryl Easlea has contributed to Prog since its first edition, and has written cover features on Pink Floyd, Genesis, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel and Gentle Giant. After 20 years in music retail, when Daryl worked full-time at Record Collector, his broad tastes and knowledge led to him being deemed a ‘generalist.’ DJ, compere, and consultant to record companies, his books explore prog, populist African-American music and pop eccentrics. Currently writing Whatever Happened To Slade?, Daryl broadcasts Easlea Like A Sunday Morning on Ship Full Of Bombs, can be seen on Channel 5 talking about pop and hosts the M Means Music podcast.

Articles by: Daryl Easlea

xPropaganda - The Heart Is Strange: "a compelling listen"

By Daryl Easlea published 20 May 22

Not yet rated

Triumphant return for reconfigured 80s art-pop outfit.

Midlake: For The Sake Of Bethel Woods cover art

Midlake - For The Sake Of Bethel Woods: "Nursery Cryme-era Genesis meets Crosby, Stills & Nash"

By Daryl Easlea published 18 March 22

Not yet rated

Enigmatic Texans Midlake return from the wild on their latest album

Tears For Fears - The Tipping Point: "elegant pop prog"

By Daryl Easlea published 25 February 22

Not yet rated

Reunited duo serve up elegant prog-pop on first album in 17 years

Raving and drooling: how Pink Floyd made Animals

By Daryl Easlea published 21 January 22

Pink Floyd's Animals was released in 1977, but its themes continue to strike a chord in the modern day

Jack Hues - Electro-Acoustic Works 20:20: "a truly heartfelt album"

By Daryl Easlea published 24 September 21

Not yet rated

Elegant protest album from the man who once implored us to have fun tonight

The making of Peter Gabriel's So

By Daryl Easlea published 19 May 21

In 1986 Peter Gabriel released his fifth studio album So. It was a huge international hit. This is how it happened.

Kayak - Out Of This World review

By Daryl Easlea published 7 May 21

Not yet rated

Another stellar instalment from Holland’s premier pomp proggers.

Jon Anderson montage with an illustration from Olias Of Sunhillow

Jon Anderson - Olias Of Sunhillow (Expanded & Remastered Digipak Edition) review

By Daryl Easlea published 26 March 21

Not yet rated

Yes icon’s much-loved solo debut gets new sparkle.

Downes Braide Association - Halcyon Hymns review

By Daryl Easlea published 5 February 21

Not yet rated

Superior concept album revelling in a distant past.

Kevin Godley - Muscle Memory

By Daryl Easlea published 4 January 21

Not yet rated

Belated solo debut from the former leader of 10cc’s art wing, Kevin Godley

How Pink Floyd made The Final Cut and learned to hate each other

By Daryl Easlea published 24 June 20

The last album Roger Waters made with Pink Floyd was set against the backdrop of the Falklands Conflict, with the band's own break-up on the horizon

The 50 greatest Pink Floyd songs ever

By Fraser Lewry, Rob Hughes, Jerry Ewing, Henry Yates, Hugh Fielder, Mark Blake, Daryl Easlea, Glen Povey, Tim Batcup published 15 April 20

From underground clubs to sold-out stadiums, Pink Floyd's path through rock has been revolutionary and stunningly successful. Here are their 50 best songs

How Genesis made Selling England By The Pound

By Daryl Easlea published 12 October 19

Examining the magic behind the enduring appeal of Genesis's 1973 album Selling England By The Pound

Gentle Giant: "We were never being serious musos – we just wanted to entertain"

By Daryl Easlea published 20 December 17

Prog takes a trip to witness Gentle Giant being inducted into the Portsmouth Hall Of Fame, and to discuss the early days with the band to mark the release of new album Three Piece Suite

a portrait of peter hammill stood under a tree

Peter Hammill: "I've been doing what the hell I like for 50 years"

By Daryl Easlea published 16 November 17

Evocative of his late-70s solo work, From The Trees is an album that only Peter Hammill could make – and it’s his 35th solo one at that. We catch up with him to find out about the new album

a shot of david gilmour in pompeii: then and now

David Gilmour on touring, Pompeii and the future

By Daryl Easlea published 4 September 17

As David Gilmour: Live At Pompeii reaches cinemas ahead of its release on DVD, CD and vinyl, the Pink Floyd man joins Prog for a chat

The inside story of Pink Floyd’s classic Live At Pompeii

By Daryl Easlea published 4 September 17

A maverick filmmaker, a band reaching the peak of their powers, an iconic venue steeped in history, and a singing Afghan Hound: this is the inside story of Pink Floyd’s Live At Pompeii

It's Prog, Jim, But Not As We Know It: David Gates

By Daryl Easlea published 2 August 17

Arguing the toss for David Gates – First's addition to the prog canon

Just how progressive was 1980s pop music?

By Daryl Easlea published 1 August 17

To mark Steven Wilson's new 80s-inspired album, we re-explore his cultural references and discover just how progressive the 1980s actually were…

Genesis Play Spot The Pigeon

By Daryl Easlea published 20 May 17

Genesis’ three-track Spot The Pigeon EP gave the band their first Top 20 UK singles chart hit, but you won’t find its songs on a greatest hits set…

Mike Rutherford: "Prog is brave people trying to do something challenging"

By Daryl Easlea published 24 April 17

Mike Rutherford’s Mike + The Mechanics are back with Let Me Fly, a soaring new album. The man himself talks about his pop connections, life on the road and being in a ‘man band’

Taking A Break. Genesis, L-R: Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks.

Wind & Wuthering: Genesis look back on their boldest prog statement

By Daryl Easlea published 22 April 17

It was the album that one writer claimed made Yes and Pink Floyd redundant - Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and co-producer David Hentschel recall making Wind & Wuthering

Peter Eden, shot for Prog in Hadleigh, January 2017

The managers that built prog: Peter Eden

By Daryl Easlea published 21 February 17

He’s one of music’s most unassuming characters, yet Peter Eden has enjoyed one of the most fascinating careers. Here he looks back at his time as a manager, songwriter, producer and more

Mike Oldfield: "I used to think 'What's gone wrong with the world?'"

By Daryl Easlea published 14 February 17

On the verge of his Return To Ommadawn album, Mike Oldfield talks to Prog about the importance of location, surviving hurricanes and how to avoid pop porridge

The managers that built prog: Peter Jenner

By Daryl Easlea published 13 February 17

We talk to the man who turned Floyd into stars, established prog rock in the consciousness of the public and has enjoyed a 50-year career in the music business