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Originally Posted by Louis Louie I 100% disagree. It's just so wrong-headed I don't know where to begin. It's idealistic nonsense from someone who's made his money and reputation by playing the record industry game.
"Mediocre talent"-this is from a member of Marillion, for fuck's sake! This from a band that sub-letted the Genesis Home Of Pseudo-Muso Wankery and made some of the most godawful music of the 80's. |
Except for the fact that Steve Hogarth wasn't in the banduntil 1989 so that tag doesn't really follow him. Hogarth's best stuff is possiobly his solo stuff where he does work with some superb musicians, people from XTC, Stone Roses, Massive Attack, Porcupine Tree, Japan etc, these people don't really fall into the preconceptions you have of him. Whereas i disagree with much of what Hogarth says especially in this case, you can't deny that when it comes to the music industry Marillion have been one of the bands in the forefront of using the new medium of internet to market and sell their stuff.
Hogarth actually had a reputation from 2 bands before Marillion, a band called the Europeans and a band called How we Live.
They were the first band to presell and finance an album via the fanbase and the internet allowing them to seek a distribution only deal with EMI and keeping complete commercial control. They were also amongst the first bands to finance a tour by the fans contributing, the 1997 US tour was completely financed by fans and the band themselves never made a penny from ticket sales, all the people who contributed to the tour fund got a signed Live CD from the tour. The only occasiona this was done befroe was by their ex lead singer Fish who presold a live album to help finance a US tour. They also hold the record for quickest music DVD release when 2 years ago they recorded a concert on the Friday and had the DVD pressed and for sale by the Sunday lunchtime. The band have been at the forefront of using new medium to sell themselves for years, they were amongst if not the first band to use Electronic Press Kits too, which are now commonplace amongst bands.
You may not like the music, but the music they're producing now has little in common with Genesis and nothing wrong with wearing your influences on your arm for your first release, after that there was no similarity at all, they now have more in common with Radiohead (who were big fans and were listening frequently to the Marillion album Brave which they requested from EMI as a prerelease whilst recording OK Computer) than Genesis. The art of preselling albums is known throughout the music world now as 'doing a Marillion' and has been done by many bands including the Levellers, Toad the Wet Spriocket and a load of others.
They are without a doubt one of the most innovatively marketed bands out there, and they have done a lot to help change the way the internet is used for the smaller bands.
In this case i think Hogarth is being idealistic but to write off his opinions based on the fact he was with a band you don't think much of is a bit stupid seeing what they've achieved.
Cheers
Stuart