Latest articles by Nick Shilton
“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
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
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
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"
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
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
In 2013 Sound Of Contact released their debut album Dimensionaut to much fanfare. This is the story...
Spock's Beard: The story behind Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep
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
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
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
Norwegian art rock sextet Gazpacho discuss their 2010 concept album Missa Atropos
The Top 10 Essential 80s Prog Albums
If prog ruled the world in the 1970s, then the 80s found it retreating to take stock. But it still produced some classic albums – and these are the 10 best
The 10 Essential 70s Prog Rock Albums
Epic soundtracks with intricate, melodic harmonies or gratuitous, overblown tosh? No other rock genre - even in the 70s - divided opinion like Prog
Big Big Train and the making of English Electric Part 1
With a stunning new album, English Electric, and an ever- growing line-up, Big Big Train are powering ahead.
Two of a kind: the story of Squackett
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
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
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
John Wetton - A Personal Tribute
Prog writer Nick Shilton knew John Wetton well for many years. Here he recalls his personal journey with the late musician's output...
Kansas's Phil Ehart on the realities of COVID for the live music scene
Kansas drummer Phil Ehart explains the financial realities of COVID and socially distanced shows.
The story of Pallas' major label debut The Sentinel
The Sentinel was supposed to make Pallas stars. Instead it's a tale of ill fortune and a fabled producer whose eye came off the ball
The story of Spock's Beard and Snow
How the US proggers made sixth album Snow, under the shadow of 9/11 and with their lead singer on the verge of quitting for God!
“This is far and away the best thing I’ve done for as far back as I can remember." Rick Wakeman and The Red Planet
The Red Planet sees keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman go prog with a capital 'P'
John Wetton and me, by friend and Prog writer Nick Shilton
Nick Shilton was both a fan and a friend of the late John Wetton. He looks back on his friendship with Wetton and the wide-ranging influence of his music
I, Robot
Lonely Robot is a solo project featuring a who’s who of prog stars, John Mitchell tells us, “It’s the most refreshing thing I’ve ever done.”
