
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.
Latest articles by Jo Kendall

Long before Gary Kemp joined Nick Mason’s band, he ensured prog infiltrated Spandau Ballet
By Jo Kendall published
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

How Peter Gabriel talked actor Adrian Lukis out of signing a music contract
By Jo Kendall published
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

Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, and the creation of See Emily Play
By Jo Kendall published
Written by co-founder Syd Barrett, See Emily Play gave the fledgling Pink Floyd their first UK Top 10 single

10 things you need to know about May Pang
By Jo Kendall published
May Pang famously accompanied John Lennon on his lost weekend: She also got a Christian songwriter to work with Judas Priest

Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe’s passion for Rush
By Jo Kendall published
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

Legendary Old Grey Whistle Test host Bob Harris: The soundtrack of my life
By Jo Kendall published
Old Grey Whistle Test legend 'Whispering' Bob Harris picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

Anvil's career has taken them to unexpected places, but now they've got everything they ever wanted
By Jo Kendall published
Anvil's career has been a masterclass in perseverance, and they're back with studio album number 20

Yes’ Steve Howe was the middle ground between Moby and his punk-hating guitar teacher
By Jo Kendall published
Electronica, ambient and rock artist still listens to Close To The Edge once a month

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats have made a soundtrack for an Italian movie that doesn't exist
By Jo Kendall published
After six years without a new record, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats return with one inspired by 70s Italian murder-mystery cinema

How Chess Records and Muddy Waters invented psychedelic blues with Electric Mud
By Jo Kendall published
In the late 60s, Chess Records persuaded legendary bluesmen Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf to hop on the psychedelic bandwagon – with mixed results

The stories behind Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets' new Set The Controls setlist
By Jo Kendall published
Warning: Contains spoilers

The Dandy Warhols might prefer claret to ecstasy these days, but they're still experimenting
By Jo Kendall published
James Bond, Black Sabbath, Slash, white and pink noise? All things that have inspired the new Dandys Warhols album

How comic book artist Mark Buckingham became Peter Gabriel’s stunt double for Sledgehammer
By Jo Kendall published
Fables, Hellblazer and Miracleman creative’s prog journey includes ELO, Stackridge, IQ, Magenta, all the King Crimson he can buy… and The Wombles

“I thought, ‘Why not give him my record collection?’” The soundtrack to Inspector Rebus’ life
By Jo Kendall published
Hi-fi freak who never got over Hawkwind explains what he listens to while he works – and revels in the joy of putting a Mogwai joke in one of his books

“I wanted to be XTC or Talking Heads”: Haircut 100 man Nick Heyward’s passion for prog
By Jo Kendall published
Singer-songwriter recalls feeling like he was reading a book when he discovered A Trick Of The Tail, and that’s why his solo work has become more progressive over the years

The Wilson & Wakeman comedy duo get serious(ish) on Can We Leave The Light On Longer?
By Jo Kendall published
Arena and Black Sabbath men’s bond of brotherhood is full of laughs, but latest album Can We Leave The Light On Longer? manages to deal with deeply personal issues

Stackridge’s Goon Show-like experience with The Man In The Bowler Hat
By Jo Kendall published
A unique band with a comedy edge, they couldn’t believe it when Beatles producer agreed to work with them in 1973 – but their luck didn’t hold

Robert Plant loves them. So does Joe Bonamassa: Meet Ferris & Sylvester
By Jo Kendall published
Think: Johnny Cash and June Carter, with balls

How Big Big Train picked up the pieces after tragedy
By Jo Kendall published
Continuing after the death of their frontman was an emotional struggle for Big Big Train, but their first album without him is something he would have been proud of

10cc’s Graham Gouldman: We used humour – there’s no humour in chart music now
By Jo Kendall published
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and briefly drummer went from writing hits for The Hollies and Yardbirds to success with ‘The Worst Band In The World’

Anthony Phillips’ Strings Of Light reissue defies his claim that he’s not a brilliant player
By Jo Kendall published
Celebratory 2CD set defies former Genesis guitarist’s claim that he was never a brilliant player

"At the end, Jimmy says to me: 'I want you in my band'. I say: 'But I've got a maths exam in the morning!'": Rick Wakeman, and the blues records that changed his life
By Jo Kendall published
It all started with a love of trad jazz and Etta James – plus a baptism of fire in an after-school session with R&B star Jimmy Thomas

"This man said, ‘I’ve brought my wife for a night out and you’re the worst band I’ve seen in my life. You’re crap.’” How the Moody Blues finally came good with Days Of Future Passed
By Jo Kendall published
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.

Hello Cleveland! What's wrong with being sexy? Eleven ways in which Spinal Tap changed the lexicon of rock
By Jo Kendall published
The improvised lines from Spinal Tap that have been assimilated into common rock parlance and beyond

“Someone’s spiked Derek Sherinian and Bumblefoot’s cornflakes – their virtuosity is hotwired for the next gen”: Whom Gods Destroy’s Insanium
By Jo Kendall published
Not yet ratedSons Of Apollo offshoot deliver a jawdropping and sometimes preposterous prog-metal storm with their debut release
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