Prog Features

“None of us agreed on any of it”: The story of Marillion’s upbeat lockdown album An Hour Before It's Dark

By Dave Everley published 4 March 26

Covid, a spider bite, a missing guitarist, barring one member from the tour bus – nothing could have prepared them for the challenges they faced in making the follow-up to FEAR

With Mike Portnoy’s help, Bigelf battled back from tragedy to make Into The Maelstrom

By Stephen Humphries published 3 March 26

Leader Damon Fox’s ambition was to turn his band into “the Radiohead of metal.” But their fourth album, released in 2014, has been their last word to date

“He denied ever hearing the album. I find that hard to believe”: Did Jethro Tull inspire a character in Spinal Tap?

By Malcolm Dome published 3 March 26

British prog icon wonders if his American fans really got the humour in 1972 album Thick As A Brick – because they all laughed at the wrong moments

“People say, ‘This isn’t Yes!’ Where did we say this was Yes?”: Arc Of Life’s struggle to self-identify

By Nick Shilton published 2 March 26

Featuring three members of the prog giants, their 2021 debut received mixed reactions. But Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen decided to focus on the follow-up record rather than fight with a few armchair generals

“It was us, tears down our cheeks, trying to be manly”: How Big Big Train survived David Longdon’s death

By Polly Glass published 1 March 26

He was the energetic hub of the band until his sudden passing in 2021. Faced with oblivion, they regrouped behind Alberto Bravin and made The Likes Of Us, a record for anyone who’s ever felt left out

“What Keith Moon did on drums, he did on keyboards”: When Geoff Downes first saw Keith Emerson live

By Malcolm Dome published 1 March 26

The Yes man hails ELP counterpart as a musician and entertainer

How German proggers Everon made their first new album in 16 years!

By Nick Shilton published 28 February 26

A light-hearted comment with their record label saw German proggers Everon make their first album for 16 years, although it wasn't all plain sailing

Cool new proggy sounds you'll want to hear from Anneke Van Giersbergen, Gazpacho, Einar Solberg, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and more in Prog's brand new Tracks Of The Week

By Jerry Ewing published 27 February 26

Great new prog you must hear from Heavy Axe, Antariksh, Hedvig Mollestand Weejuns, Dennis Atlas and more in Tracks Of The Week

“Mike got back with Dream Theater and I started praying”: Neal Morse Band return with L.I.F.T. (and Portnoy)

By James McNair published 27 February 26

Despite concerns their drummer wouldn’t find time to take part, fifth album has been compared to their 2016 virtuosic victory, and they’re planning to tour it with the complete studio line-up

Steve Howe on Yes’ new album, his solo career, and his honest take on those massive box sets

By Stephen Lambe published 26 February 26

Guitarist outlines what he and his colleagues want to achieve in the year ahead, and explains why musicians who refuse to listen to their own recordings are cheating themselves

“My songs might have been successful if somebody else had done them”: Peter Hammill has calmed down

By Mike Barnes published 25 February 26

Prog visionary and punk inspiration reflects on his overclocked solo shows and admits: “Two to three hours was maybe too much Hammill for anybody!”

“I wanted it to be different from what I’d done with Genesis”: How Peter Gabriel made his solo debut

By Daryl Easlea published 25 February 26

Determined to cover new ground, including barbershop and blues, the singer chose two members of the band who made 1977’s Car, with producer Bob Ezrin trusted to bring in the others

South African prog hitmaker tried to tackle apartheid, but admits he failed

By Malcolm Dome published 24 February 26

Creator of a concept album that arrived three years before Graceland insists it doesn’t deserve any respect

Rush’s journey from the last aftershow party of 2015 to the big comeback of 2026

By Philip Wilding published 24 February 26

Prog writer Philip Wilding – who once played Neil Peart’s drums – remained in contact with Lee as a dark decade exploded into new light

Why Steven Wilson’s new album is designed to be slightly shambolic

By Dave Ling published 23 February 26

Martin Barre was as surprised as Metallica when Jethro Tull won a Grammy

By Chris McGarel published 22 February 26

Prog giants weren’t there when controversial 1989 moment came, because they were certain they wouldn’t win. So the guitarist’s wife concocted a last-minute midnight party to celebrate

“We were like, ‘We can’t record this! Oh, wait a minute…’”: The Stranglers’ Golden Brown started as a prog suite

By Jerry Ewing published 21 February 26

As JJ Burnel dispelled myths about the alleged prog-punk wars of the 70s, he revealed a fascinating fact about his band’s highest-charting single

“I wish we’d had the skills to help him”: The tragedy of Spirit prodigy Randy California

By Chris Roberts published 20 February 26

Respected by Jimi Hendrix and signed at 17, the mercurial guitarist’s heart was broken by the relative failure of his best album, says bassist

Great new prog you need to hear from Neal Morse Band, I Built The Sky, worriedaboutsatan and more in Prog's new Tracks Of The Week

By Jerry Ewing published 20 February 26

Cool new proggy sounds you need to hear from Pothaums, Oli Duerden, Wildernesses and more in this week's Tracks Of The Week