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

Meet Johnossi, your new favourite Swedish punk-grunge-blues duo

By Jo Kendall published 21 April 22

17 years in and they're just getting started: Johnossi's new album is inspired by metamorphosis, mental health, and The Joker

Steve Hogarth on Peter Gabriel, Deep Purple, and Marillion's now-or-never new album

By Jo Kendall published 7 April 22

Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth on the inspiration for the band's new album An Hour Before It’s Dark, working with choirs, and 33 years as the new boy

Don McLean: "I don’t like political people. They have all the answers and they don’t know s**t"

By Jo Kendall published 24 March 22

American Pie man Don McLean on a childhood dogged by illness, the struggle to get signed, and keeping the folk flame burning in the wake of 2020’s civil unrest

"I’ve waved the flag in Metallica for Steven Wilson" – Rob Trujillo raves about Porcupine Tree's founder

By Jo Kendall published 21 March 22

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

Introducing DeeOhGee, your new favourite providers of Nashville psych and herb grinders

By Jo Kendall published 11 February 22

"When that switch flips and the bands starts, it’s otherworldly and healing" say harmony-laden Nashville trio DeeOhGee

Spidergawd are ready to usher in the new dawn of hard rock

By Jo Kendall published 21 December 21

Named after a Jerry Garcia instrumental, Motorpsycho spin-offs Spidergawd sound like the New Wave of The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal… but from Norway

Introducing The Velveteers: your new favourite thrift store glam rockers

By Jo Kendall published 17 November 21

Colorado trio The Velveteers on their Dan Auerbach-produced glam-punk-garage debut Nightmare Daydream, and what it was like supporting Guns N' Roses

Gary Kemp: "Close To The Edge and Foxtrot were watershed moments."

By Jo Kendall published 16 October 21

Gary Kemp charts his musical journey from pre-Spandau Ballet days right through to Saucerful Of Secrets, and tells us prog's been there all along...

Imelda May: When I hit number one it was my perfect 'up yours' moment

By Jo Kendall published 7 September 21

Singer-songwriter Imelda May on spirituality, new album 11 Past The Hour, activism and sticking it to music industry ageism

Don Letts: the soundtrack of my life

By Jo Kendall published 29 June 21

Broadcaster, filmmaker, musician and DJ Don Letts picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance, and reveals why we need more people like Joe Strummer

Classic Album Sundays: the healing power of giving yourself over to music and great hi-fi

By Jo Kendall published 10 June 21

We all love to put on a favourite album, switch off the lights and just totally tune in. So does Colleen Murphy, and with her Classic Album Sundays she’s taken the experience further

Andrew Cartmel photographed for Prog Magazine's Record Collection 2021

Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel lets us rummage through his record collection

By Jo Kendall published 7 June 21

The Vinyl Detective Andrew Cartmel takes us through his favourite Pink Floyd, ELP, Jethro Tull, Zappa and Kate Bush records

Matt Berry – Blue Elephant review

By Jo Kendall published 5 June 21

Not yet rated

Actor-musician Matt Berry creates a multipart monster on Blue Elephant

Is The Kinks' Arthur a lost prog classic?

By Jo Kendall published 3 June 21

They might be better known for Lola and Sunny Afternoon, but The Kinks' Arthur had all the hallmarks of a prog album

Black Spiders crowd at Download Festival 2012

The return of Black Spiders: "Every song needs to punch you in the face"

By Jo Kendall published 1 April 21

Fan of Motörhead, Sabbath and/or AC/DC? Then you might want to get caught up in the Black Spiders web

X-Ray Spex: six things you need to know

By Jo Kendall published 18 February 21

X-Ray Spex's “mad glasses”, feminism, bondage trousers and a brilliant, troubled leader made these punk enigmas an alluring prospect

Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in August 1969

What happened when Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf discovered psychedelia

By Jo Kendall published 9 February 21

In the late 1960s Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf turned to the psychedelic rock world in a bid to revitalise their careers. It was a huge gamble. But would it pay off?