After Dinner Speakers: Marillion, John Nichol, Gene Kranz

British progressive rock group Marillion dates back to 1979, when Mick Pointer(drums), Doug Irvine (bass/vocals), Steve Rothery (guitar) and Brian Jelliman (keyboards) formed the instrumental space-rock group Silmarillion, the name taken fromJ.R.R. Tolkien's final novel. By 1980 the band had changed their name to Marillion toavoid copyright problems, and spent much of the next two years gigging around Britain.After Jelliman and Irvine left the band in 1981, the group added Derrek "Fish" Dick onvocals, Pete Trewavas on bass and Mark Kelly on keyboards. Marillion recorded itsfirst single, "Market Square Heroes," for EMI in 1982; the single marked thestart of the band's relationship with fantasy artist Mark Wilkenson, who created thecovers for all of their albums and singles until 1987 (later working with Fish duringhis solo career). Following the release of their 1983 full-length debut Script for a Jester's Tearsthe band went through a succession of drummers before settling on ex-Curved Airpercussionist Ian Mosley, who first appeared on the 1984 album Fugazi. By this point Marillion had built up a devoted following in Britain, despite the waningpopularity of "progressive rock" as a whole, largely due to their constant touring; theband's live sound was captured on 1985's Real to Reel. In 1986 Marillion released their biggest album to date, Misplaced Childhood,an emotional concept album which reached No. 1 in the U.K. The British hit single "Kayleigh" also charted in the U.S., earning the group a cult following stateside.Unfortunately as the band gained notoriety its members began arguing over artisticand personal issues, and following the release of 1987's Clutching at Strawslead singer Fish left to pursue a solo career. After auditioning many vocalists,the group settled on ex-Europeans frontman Steve Hogarth; as the revamped Marillionprepared new material, EMI released the 1988 live album The Thieving Magpie,a collection of cuts from the band's period with Fish. The new Marillion returned in late 1989 with Seasons End, followed by1991's Holidays in Eden, 1994's Brave, and 1995's Afraid ofSunlight. Though the group maintained its following during this period, it failed to score any hits outside the U.K., and some fans missed the poetic lyrics of Fish, whodeveloped a fan base of his own. In 1997 Marillion turned in their latest effort, This Strange Engine.