Articles by Nick Shilton

Nick Shilton has written extensively for Prog since its launch in 2009 and prior to that freelanced for various music magazines including Classic Rock. Since 2019 he has also run Kingmaker Publishing, which to date has published two acclaimed biographies of Genesis as well as Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly’s autobiography, and Kingmaker Management (looking after the careers of various bands including Big Big Train). Nick started his career as a finance lawyer in London and Paris before founding a leading international recruitment business and has previously also run a record label.

Articles by: Nick Shilton

“The priorities of the first Asia were to make it a success. Yet when we had it, we were so stupid it was unbelievable:” How the supergroup admitted mistakes and worked them out via their patchy Phoenix album

By Nick Shilton published 11 April 24

It was the first studio project featuring all four original members since their gradual disintegration in the 80s. And even if it wasn’t their best work, it was an essential element in moving forward

"By the time we reach our dotage we should be throwing out an album every few minutes!" How Credo prepared to take on the world!

By Nick Shilton published 27 March 24

Back in 2011 Credo released their third studio album Against Reason full of optimism...

“There was just so much circus along the way. It felt like the album was cursed”: Having kids, splitting with one member, nearly splitting with another - small wonder it took Moon Safari a decade to deliver Himlabacken Vol. 2

By Nick Shilton published 29 February 24

Barely able to believe the record has finally left their hands, and often doubting it would, Swedish sextet take stock as the reactions roll in

"The middle of the day was Marillion. Mornings and evenings DeeExpus." What happened when Mark Kelly joined North East prog rockers DeeExpus

By Nick Shilton published 21 February 24

The rise of DeeExpus has been swift. Now with their second album King Of Number 33 and Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly in tow, prog stardom awaits.

“If there’s a message it’s live every day as if it’s your last. I went through a very sticky patch… The freedom of not being enslaved by addiction is marvellous”: John Wetton’s return from the darkness

By Nick Shilton published 31 January 24

With Asia on the rocks and a scuppered solo deal, the singer found himself struggling with alcohol in the 90s - before he finally earned himself a reprieve

“Every album is different, but this one was a strange process." The Neal Morse Band's Great Adventure

By Nick Shilton published 25 January 24

Prolific prog rocker Neal Morse sat down with Prog in 2019 to talk about the latest Neal Morse Band album The Great Adventure

"We were never motivated purely by money – that idea was knocked out of us many years ago!” Landmarq and the story of Entertaining Angels

By Nick Shilton published 23 January 24

UK prog rockers Landmarq released Entertaining Angels in 2012, their then first new album for 14-years against a backdrop of line-up shifts, outside commitments and ill health...

“21st Century Schizoid Man – the first track on the first prog album – is a political protest song! Anyone who says prog and politics don’t belong together never realised what it was about”: The Tangent’s Andy Tillison on why prog should challenge you

By Nick Shilton published 16 November 23

Self-confessed “raving leftie anarchist” gave the subtitle “A protest, a reflection, a couple of regrets and a rant” to The Tangent’s 10th album for good reason

“It’s an homage to all the fans who stayed with us for all these years.” Galahad and the story of The Last Great Adventurer

By Nick Shilton published 24 October 23

Galahad's first new album for five years, The Last Great Adventurer, showed the prog veterans to be in particularly fine fettle..

“I’ve always said it’s not just ‘progressive anything’. It’s progressive rock and it needs to rock." How Glass Hammer turned it up to 11 with Skallagrim – Into The Breach

By Nick Shilton published 15 October 23

If anything epitomised the ambition of progressive rock, then surely US proggers Glass Hammer's Skallagrim trilogy was it. Here's the story of 2021's second instalment

“It was brutal. I would wake up and not get out of bed. I couldn’t face having to tell the guys what was going to happen… that God wanted me to leave”: Neal Morse’s struggle with his final Spock’s Beard album

By Nick Shilton published 28 September 23

9/11 brought turmoil just as the benign dictator had decided to completely rewrite the record that would become Snow - but there was even more turmoil to follow

"There are keyboard players who are way better than me who have made albums that aren’t as good as mine!" - The Tangent, Andy Tillison and Auto Reconnaissance

By Nick Shilton published 21 August 23

Long standing UK proggers The Tangent discuss the creation of their eleventh studio aobum, 2020's Auto Reconnaissance

IQ and Frequency: "It's one of our best pieces of work"

By Nick Shilton published 25 May 23

Having endured the loss of founding keyboard player Martin Orford during the writing of the album, IQ returned with their powerful tenth album Frequency in 2009

Spock's Beard and the story of Noise Floor

By Nick Shilton published 25 May 23

US prog rockers Spock's Beard released their thirteenth studio album, Noise Floor, in 2018. It remains their most recent studio release...

The story of Sound Of Contact and Dimensionaut

By Nick Shilton published 18 May 23

In 2013 Sound Of Contact released their debut album Dimensionaut to much fanfare. This is the story...

Spock's Beard stand in front of city lights with their hands in their pockets, circa 2013

Spock's Beard: The story behind Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep

By Nick Shilton published 3 April 23

Spock’s Beard's first album with Ted Leonard on vocals was always going to divide fans. Here, the band share the story behind 2013's Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep

“So much prog is prog by numbers". How John Mitchell launched Lonely Robot

By Nick Shilton published 23 February 23

Guitarist and singer behind some of prog's most popular modern day acts John Mitchell discusses new solo venture Lonely Robot

“This is my vision of what Keith Emerson and I could do, according to what he and I talked about.” The story of 3.2, Robert Berry's project with Keith Emerson

By Nick Shilton published 12 February 23

US prog rocker Robert Berry recalls his friendship with ELP legend Keith Emerson and working with him on 3 and the rebooted 3.2

Gazpacho and the strange saga of Missa Atropos

By Nick Shilton published 24 November 22

Norwegian art rock sextet Gazpacho discuss their 2010 concept album Missa Atropos

Big Big Train and the making of English Electric Part 1

By Nick Shilton published 3 September 22

With a stunning new album, English Electric, and an ever- growing line-up, Big Big Train are powering ahead.

"Size doesn't matter!" How Echolyn made 2012's self-titled echolyn album

By Nick Shilton published 19 June 22

Echolyn guitarist and vocalist Brett Kull discusses 2012's echolyn alb um, the band's first for seven years at the time

Two of a kind: the story of Squackett

By Nick Shilton published 1 June 22

In 2009 old friends Steve Hackett and Chris Squire teamed up to make the lone Squackett album A Life Within A Day

Introducing Meer: the Norwegian pop-proggers you need to hear

By Nick Shilton published 8 April 22

Norwegian chamber prog octet Meer make a quantum leap with their second album, The Playing House

Dracula, Mike Oldfield and Moogs: Magenta visit the dark side on Masters Of Illusion

By Nick Shilton published 8 April 22

Welsh proggers Magenta have returned to their signature sound on Masters Of Illusion. Robert Reed discusses marrying his pop background with prog, horror actors and the perils of social media

Kansas's Phil Ehart on the realities of COVID for the live music scene

By Nick Shilton published 23 August 21

Kansas drummer Phil Ehart explains the financial realities of COVID and socially distanced shows.