Please tell us very briefly your history as a writer and publisher about rock?
Back in the 80s I was a huge fan of Jethro Tull and subscribed to the A New Day fanzine run by David Rees. In my search for things Tull I had come across references to the band Carmen, and wrote a letter to Record Collector asking about the band which Dave saw, and he asked if I would write a piece for AND. These were my first scribbles.
Fast forward a few years and I joined Mensa, and then the Rock Music group within that. I started writing for the newsletter, and then when the editor stepped down after #5 in 1990, I took it on, turning it into a fanzine. Over the next 16 years I released more than 80 issues of Feedback, as it was soon known: more than 11,000 pages of print. By 1991 I had become aware of the underground progressive rock scene, and soon started writing about it and searching out more information. In turn I was contacted by bands and labels from all over the world, as there were so few people writing about this style of music in a positive manner.
What do you hope to achieve with the Progressive Underground volumes?
In short, to shine a light on artists who have never received the recognition they deserve. I hope people will use these as a guide to discover bands and albums they just didn’t know existed, and in turn try to find out more information about them. Some of the bands are still in existence, many musicians have changed bands since then, while other bands are only remembered by a few, yet hopefully readers will be engaged enough to seek them out.
Why do you so love progressive rock?
Although I am known for writing about progressive rock, I actually cover from jazz and blues through to the most extreme types of metal noise. I am as happy to attend a Napalm Death concert as I am Spock’s Beard, and a few years ago I flew back to the UK just to attend Fairport Convention’s fiftieth anniversary at Cropredy. I just really like music played by real musicians.
Do you think punk/new wave damaged prog? Do you feel angry about this?
Only in the eyes of the media, as there were still great bands coming out of the scene – Pendragon have just celebrated their fortieth anniversary, while IQ have been around nearly as long. But with little or no positive information coming out about prog very few broke through. It looked like Marillion was going to kick open the door but unfortunately it seemed to slam shut behind them, and groups like Twelfth Night and Pallas never got the cut through they deserved. There is nothing to be angry about: musical tastes and media interest is always changing.
What are your very favourite albums?
If I were to choose just two albums from the underground scene, then undoubtedly it would be Spock’s Beard with Snow and IQ’s Subterranea. I can’t imagine ever not having those albums to hand. But if I am allowed a third, let’s also include Clive Nolan’s Alchemy, as he has moved away from his more well-known progressive travails and has moved into musical theatre.
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