Marillion

Marillion formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1979. The band initially took their name from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion.” Emerging from the early 1980s progressive rock revival, Marillion quickly gained a following through extensive touring and headlining venues like The Marquee in London. They signed with EMI and released their first single, “Market Square Heroes,” in 1982, a minor hit that year. In 1982, readers of Sounds magazine voted them “Best New Band.” Their debut album, “Script for a Jester’s Tear” (1983), reached number 7 on the UK chart, despite comparisons to Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, and featured hit singles like “Garden Party” and “He Knows You Know.” The band’s consistent touring efforts helped them build a dedicated fanbase.

After a lineup change in 1983 which saw Ian Mosley join as drummer, their second album, “Fugazi” (1984), reached the Top 5 and produced hit singles “Punch and Judy” and “Assassing.” Marillion achieved significant commercial success with “Misplaced Childhood” (1985), which became their only chart-topping album in the UK. This album included the top 5 singles “Kayleigh” (No. 2) and “Lavender” (No. 5). The follow-up, “Clutching at Straws” (1987), reached number two on the album chart and featured the Top 10 single “Incommunicado.” Later, Marillion played to over 150,000 people as special guests to Queen at a festival in Germany in 1986. Following the departure of original vocalist Fish in 1988, Steve Hogarth joined as lead singer in 1989, marking a new phase for the band. Their first album with Hogarth, “Seasons End,” was another Top 10 success.

In the late 1990s, Marillion pioneered crowdfunding after their mainstream popularity declined. In 1997, their US fanbase collectively raised $60,000 to fund a US tour. This model was formalized with “Anoraknophobia” (2001), where fans pre-ordered over 12,000 copies, funding its recording and release. This approach allowed them to retain rights to their music while maintaining commercial distribution. Their 2004 album, “Marbles,” saw similar fan support, receiving 18,000 pre-orders and producing the Top 10 single “You’re Gone.” In 2013, they were awarded “Band of the Year” at the Progressive Music Awards. Their 2016 album, “Fuck Everyone and Run (F E A R),” reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, their highest position since 1987. In 2022, “An Hour Before It’s Dark” reached No. 2, marking their highest chart position in 35 years. Marillion has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and was ranked 38th in Classic Rock’s “50 Best Live Acts of All Time” in 2008.