MARILLION

Marillion are one of the UK music scene's best kept secrets; purveyorsof soulful, powerful, and often deeply-moving music, with along-standing reputation for blistering live shows which have earnedthem an impressive and faithful global fanbase.Steve "h" Hogarth fronts the band (original lead-singer, "Fish", havingdeparted in 1988) and brought a new heart and energy to the band when arriving in 1989 andbecoming lead-vocal/lyricist.Predictions of doom were swiftly dispelled, as across a further TWELVEalbums, Hogarth - along with existing members Steve Rothery (guitar),Mark Kelly(keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass), and Ian Mosley (drums) -reinvigorated and constantly redefined Marillion's sound. They forgedinto new musical territories with a succession of inventive, emotionalalbums, displaying little regard to the vagaries of the musical "FashionPolice", or radio playlists. The line-up remains unchanged to this day.After the release of 1999's 'marillion.com' the band banished thespectre of record company pressure once and for all by launching theirown record label (the aptly-named Intact imprint) and freeing themselvesup to produce some of the finest music of their career.Thanks to their much lauded (and much copied) pioneering Internet-basedrock n'roll business model, Marillion have developed a unique andintimate relationship with their fans. From sponsoring entire tours ofthe USA to funding the recording of recent albums, Marillion's globalfan-base is unique in its affection and dedication.As a result, such passionate, wholesale support has allowed Marillion tostep outside of the conventional music industry and find their own path.In 2001 'Anoraknophobia' saw Marillion take the groundbreaking step ofasking fans to pre-order an album 12 months before release. An amazing12,000 people signed up, helping to finance the recording. The band onceagain took pre-orders for the 2004 masterpiece 'Marbles,' but this timethe money was channelled into a campaign fund to promote its launch.When singles 'Don't Hurt Yourself' and 'You're Gone' breached the UK top20 - the latter making it all the way to number 7 - jaws dropped rightacross the music world.Not bad going for a band without major label backing.But it was merely the latest twist in the history of a group who haveheld on to the conviction that what they're doing MEANS something morethan entertainment or selling records.