Steve Hogarth - Vocals
Steve Rothery - Guitars
Peter Trevawas - Bass
Ian Mosley - Drums
Mark Kelly - Keryboards



Formed back in -81 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire deeply inspired by the progressive bands of the seventies, such as Genesis and Yes. In fact many critics saw Marillion as some kind of happy pop version of the Gabriel-era of Genesis. This first line-up contained Fish (vocals), Steve Rothery (guitars), Pete Trevawas (bass), Mark Kelly (keys) and Mick Pointer (drums). After intensive touring, the band signed a deal with EMI (oct 82) and debuted with the single "Market Square Hero", followed by the album, "Script For a Jesters Tear". After this relase Pointer left the band (now in Arena) and was replaced first by Andy Ward (ex-Curved Air) but later on by Ian Mosley (drums).

The bands' name is based on J.R.R Tolkiens' "Silmarillion", and with a superb lightshow their liveshows was indeed almost like a fairy-tale. Fish was the great entertainer and lyricist of the band, especially live. There were even scenes where he committed suicide, or slapped people from the audience. Finally, Fish left the band.......

New vocalist would come to be Steve Hogarth (ex-The Europeans), and the task to fill in for Fish as the lead figure of the band wasn't easy of course. But he managed to do it.... Lyrically, Steve is a lot different thatn Fish but indeed very good. A new style went into Marillion, and you can call it a little softer style. Around 90 the band found themselves on higher ratings on the charts, being more popular that ever. The album "Afrid of Sunlight" featured lyrics about fame, regarding the death of Curt Conain (Nirvana), John Lennon and O.J Simpson. On "This Strange Engine", Hogarth writes a lyric called "Estonia", and of course it's about the great loss of human lives in the accident of Estonia. In -98 Marillion releases "Radiation" and get's quite a lot awared of where they have their fans. A true fan is always a fan.....

Magnus Florin,  Feb -99