By Jim Rowland
By the end of the 1970s, many would have you believe that the punk revolution had killed off the ‘dinosaur’ of progressive rock. That was certainly not the case, as the start of the ’80s saw a new revolution of progressive and proud bands lurking in the shadows and ready to pounce, a movement often dubbed ‘neo-progressive’. This new book charts the early years of that movement in quite some detail.
‘A Mirror Of Dreams’ is the first of two books by Wild which provide the definitive account of the intertwined stories of the six bands which led the progressive rock revival, namely Marillion, IQ, Pallas, Pendragon, Solstice and Twelfth Night. Kicking off with a 2,000 word foreword by ‘Prog’ magazine editor Jerry Ewing, the book is built around interviews with no fewer than 85 musicians and other participants in the early 1980s progressive rock scene. These interviews included most of the members of all the aforementioned ‘big six’ bands as well as some of the lesser known bands that formed part of the movement, or bands that subsequently took inspiration from it. There’s also input from managers, promoters and venue managers, all of whom made valuable contributions to the scene.
Over the course of not far short of 300 pages, ‘A Mirror Of Dreams’ goes into considerably detail covering the formation and early evolution of the key bands, their gigs, tours and festival appearances, their early recordings, the DIY ethic, their inspiration and the connections between them. Of course the ‘mecca’ of the old Marquee Club in Wardour Street, which played a pivotal role in building the momentum of the movement, features prominently. The 1983 Reading Festival (this writer’s very first festival experience!) also features, as the line-up that year was also pivotal in that five of the ‘big six’ bands appeared that year, with Marillion’s set being particularly high profile and crucial.
Aside from the words, there’s a whole host of rare photographs, press ads, posters, flyers and tour dates to add to the story. The book ends with the line ‘to be continued’, as indeed 1983 was really only the start. There were crucial albums yet to be made or released, line-up changes to come, for some, a move to a more commercial approach to the music, and for some an upturn in fortunes and commercial success. That’s all to be covered in part two of this book, due next year.
For keen fans of this era of progressive rock, ‘A Mirror Of Dreams’ is set to become the definitive text on the subject. For those with a more passing interest, the level of intricate detail, much like the music, could be a little overwhelming. Still, for what the author set out to achieve, it’s a job extremely well done.
- ‘A Mirror Of Dreams‘ is out now.
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