Latest articles by Sid Smith
Why Kate Bush, David Sylvian, Tim Buckley and John Martyn all loved bass icon Danny Thompson
The late folk-prog bassist’s compendium of collaborations came about through a creativity and commitment that – as he admitted himself – had a dangerous downside
Fame and fortune called when Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin released a pop cover. Did they sell out?
Previously regarded as purveyors of complex art, their 1981 version of 60s weepie It’s My Party spent a month at No.1. The “intelligent pop” couple explain how it affected their later output
The story of Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera, Quiet Sun and their sly posthumous album
Guitarist’s mid-70s juggling act proved his previous band’s worth via their LP Mainstream, assembled in a rush while he was tracking solo debut Diamond Head
“I used Steven Wilson’s Mellotron in exchange for me guesting at his show!” Soft Machine’s efforts to make Thirteen
Theo Travis on tempting fate, revisiting a tradition, being the best-tempered line-up since the beginning in 1966, and adding a posthumous appearance by co-founder Daevid Allen
Pop icon’s label wanted a pop solo album. He gave them a prog record. They suppressed it for three years
Maybe the fact that King Crimson’s Robert Fripp had been hired to produce and play on the 1977 project was enough to scare the suits
What happened when Be-Bop Deluxe founder Bill Nelson formed an improv trio with Soft Machine and Gong members
The prog polymath felt Orchestra Futura’s performances should be left as one-off experiences. But Theo Travis and Dave Sturt persuaded him to release Live At Nelsonica & Clothworkers Hall
Why Steve Howe didn’t join The Nice or Atomic Rooster, and didn’t even go to his Jethro Tull audition
Yes guitarist looks back on starting to play without learning to read music, the wide range of career options he had, and names the album he regards as his greatest achievement
Why ELP drummer Carl Palmer’s musical icon is a trumpeter
He explains his lifelong passion for innovator’s style and attitude – while a member of Steven Wilson’s band offers another perspective of the man at work
King Crimson’s rock star moments: A unique marriage proposal, a food fight and an adult movie soundtrack
John Wetton recalled a unique proposal in Italy as he argued that the band had plenty of edgy adventures – they just didn’t get caught
“I blame The Beatles for me getting a whacking!” Derek Shulman’s path to Gentle Giant
Singer and future A&R icon recalls what the Fab Four meant to him, why Hendrix made him break up his first big band, and the truck stop where he met Syd Barrett, Eric Clapton and others
Some of Roxy Music hated Virginia Plain, but its producer loved it
Former King Crimson man Pete Sinfield tried to balance prog and pop sensibilities on the 1972 single, and had answers for the criticisms levelled at it
Terry Bozzio asked a question when he joined Frank Zappa. He asked it again when he left
Drummer, composer and painter recalls his experiences with Captain Beefheart, UK and others, names the best band he’s ever been in and reveals how long it takes to set up his Big Kit
Unofficial Peter Hammill biography Rock And Role is perfect companion to recent box set
500-page exploration includes input from its subject along with new interviews with music and business colleagues, and an ex
“When he gave the family car back, his dad sold it as ‘formerly driven by Frank Zappa’”
He developed his own form of expression at 9 years old, taught himself to compose music at 11, and hated the Summer Of Love, drugs and lack of effort. Here’s why there’s no such thing as an ex-Zappa fan
In 1971 Greg Lake enraged Keith Emerson, who immediately quit ELP. The result was acclaimed album Tarkus
Carl Palmer recalls a crisis meeting, arguments over time signatures, and playing the whole album top to bottom in the studio – only to discover their engineer had taken a break
10 great psychedelic songs that’ll shake any prog fan’s tree (but aren’t by Pink Floyd)
Revolutionary music from Yes, John McLaughlin, Pretty Things, Tangerine Dream, Strawbs and more, including a song that was prog even before prog was prog
What members of Marillion, Dream Theater, Asia and more think of Yes’ Tales From Topographic Oceans
It was the double-album that split critics, fans and the line-up who recorded it. We asked a range of prog stars for their thoughts on the 1973 release
The secret to making King Crimson work by Peter Giles, who helped make it happen
He recalls The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles Giles & Fripp and the Brondesbury Tapes to 21st Century Schizoid Band, making music with his wife and winning athletics medals at 80
Darryl Way’s Wolf: Cadenza box set proves they should never have been out of the spotlight
3CD set shows the Curved Air man’s underdogs had plenty of bite in Canis Lupus, Saturation Point and Night Music
“Dispense with prog expectations and enjoy the fun”: Alan White’s Ramshackled
The drummer decided to make a simple album with a good band, featuring guest spots from Jon Anderson and Steve Howe. With the exception of an ill-advised cod reggae track, it’s all good – if undemanding
Yes created longer songs than Close To The Edge, but none with as much impact
Classical music, Eastern mysticism and the River Thames came together to inspire the 19-minute title track from their fifth album in 1972
The forthright attitude behind Roger Dean’s album art for Yes
Inspired by real-life landscapes and knowing what he didn’t like, the forthright creator of remarkable worlds explains his partnership with Yes
Every Jethro Tull album ranked from worst to best
Jethro Tull's 24 albums have taken in English folk and baroque instrumentation, plus enough thunderous riffs to keep hard rock fans happy
What Judy Dyble did for Fairport Convention, Robert Fripp, and me
The late singer-songwriter found fans in every genre she stepped into. For those who knew her, her joyful personality and optimism in the face of adversity was even more admirable, says Sid Smith
“Robert Fripp said he wanted to revolutionise rock’n’roll with us. I wasn’t sure, given what I’d just heard. But they were about to throw us out the squat”: The League Of Gentlemen led to Beat-era King Crimson
The band lasted only seven months, and felt like a bad movie for some of those involved – but the musical experiment inspired Fripp to reform King Crimson for their 80s brilliance
