Latest articles by Jo Kendall
Stackridge’s Monty Python-like experience with The Man In The Bowler Hat
A unique band with a comedy edge, they couldn’t believe it when the Beatles producer agreed to work with them in 1973 – but their luck didn’t hold
The story of Meet On The Ledge, Fairport Convention's most stirring, emotive anthem
Richard Thompson used to think Fairport Convention's Meet Me On The Ledge was “immature, juvenile" - now it's a much-loved communal singalong
"The band that knocked me over was the Mahavishnu Orchestra." Prog takes a look inside Bill Oddie's Record Collection
From being wowed by US fusion instrumentalists to being honoured on a Soft Machine album, Bill Oddie's record collection tells some tales...
The story of the Steely Dan classic starring Jimmy Page's favourite guitar solo
From 1972’s debut Steely Dan album Can’t Buy A Thrill, Reelin’ In The Years accidentally benefitted from an engineer who neglected to run the tape
“My first boyfriend introduced me to The Wall. It was the only interesting thing about him”: Joanne Harris’ prog stars
She explains why prog makes her think of Barnsley, lists some of her favourite records and recalls taking her daughter to a Genesis tribute show only to hear her say: “Ah yes, Mastodon!”
How Bonnie Tyler became the ultimate power ballad diva thanks to Total Eclipse Of The Heart
With over a billion streams across YouTube and Spotify, Bonnie Tyler's hair-raising classic Total Eclipse Of The Heart might be the biggest power ballad of them all
“This mysterious fog looked like God was up there. It was tobacco smoke”: Nick Harper on growing up around Pentangle
He recalls discovering what Bert Jansch was really like, leaving Danny Thompson on stage, and the band’s artistic connection to Jimi Hendrix
Meet Jayler, the West Midlands quartet with big dreams and even bigger plans
Jayler are big in Brazil, have gigs lined up with Deep Purple and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and their debut album only came out last month
This Kinks album was snubbed for five decades. Then the world realised it was a prog masterpiece
They were pipped to the rock opera post by The Who’s Tommy. A commercial flop at the time, it’s a perfect commentary on today’s political climate
“Band dynamics are good when times are hard”: Why Japan split and their reunion flopped
The Porcupine Tree keyboardist explains the ambition behind his earlier band’s acclaimed fifth album Tin Drum, and what he really thinks of their later reconnection as Rain Tree Crow
The prog band who made A-ha’s Morten Harket into a musician
Norwegian pop singer remains impressed by his British heroes’ songwriting, which made him feel like he’d come home when he first listened
“I thought, ‘I’m getting the message’”: Richard Barbieri on the much-needed Porcupine Tree hiatus
Keyboardist admits he wasn’t such a nice person in the run-up to their 2010 hiatus, explains what changed when they released 2022’s Closure/Continuation, and hints at what might be next
"He said, ‘I’ve brought my wife for a night out and you’re crap.’” Moody Blues came good with Days Of Future Passed
In 1967, a new line-up of The Moody Blues embraced their symphonic influences to create a groundbreaking album that not only pushed them in a new musical direction but also brought about the birth of progressive rock.
I was Peter Gabriel’s stunt double for Sledgehammer
Working on the award-winning 1986 music video incorrectly convinced the future comic book creative that he’d have a career with Aardman Animations
Tori Amos on her new concept album, social commentary, women in music and covering Slayer
In Times Of Dragons stars a billionaire Lizard Demon, a Gay Witch from Brooklyn, the Celtic god Lugh of the Long Arm... and Tori Amos
Suzi Quatro's stories of Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Phil Lynott, Peter Frampton and more
Suzi Quatro shot Alice Cooper, sang with Donovan, starred on Happy Days and toured with Noddy Holder and Phil Lynott: These are just a few of her stories
Japan’s Richard Barbieri on blue hair, lipstick, a fingerless glove and the unusual reason he joined the band
Future Porcupine Tree member recalls being put off playing keyboards by Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, and feeling culturally homeless before the new romantic era
Psychedelic substances led Rival Sons’ Jay Buchanan to the Mahavishnu Orchestra
The vocalist found inspiration in John McLaughlin’s ability to make different pieces feeling like different drugs
Dave Brock slams BBC film suggestion that Hawkwind stole Paul McCartney's long-lost bass
Paul McCartney: The Hunt For The Lost Bass tells the story of the former Beatle's long-lost Höfner violin bass
“There would be no Holiday In Cambodia without Hawkwind”: How Jello Biafra discovered space rock
The former Dead Kennedys leader admits he hasn’t loved every line-up of Dave Brock’s outfit, but that doesn’t affect their impact over the years
The prog stars who influenced a comedy musician’s career – and made him become a milkman for a while
Graham Fellows, creator of Jilted John and John Shuttleworth, started out with ELP before finding Yes, Focus, The Enid and Pink Floyd (although he has no time for The Dark Side Of The Moon)
Kavus Torabi on the new adventures of psychedelic rock, jazz, space-rock and more collective Gong
Since being handed the role of Gong gatekeeper by late founder Daevid Allen, Kavus Torabi has guided the band through a trilogy of albums
No compromise: How Joan Armatrading made the album that set her on the path to stardom
After accidentally getting a start in the London production of Hair, Joan Armatrading made the demo that (eventually) changed her life
