Marillion was founded in 1979 as Silmarillion by Steve Rothery, Doug Irvine, Brian Jelliman and Mick Pointer. The group named itself after the book The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. In 1980, the name was changed to Marillion to avoid problems with Tolkien's heirs. The towering Scot Fish (Derek Dick) joined the band as lead singer in 1981. In 1982, the group signed their first record deal and shortly after released Market Square Heroes as their debut single. The debut album Script For A Jester's Tear was released in 1983, followed by Fugazi in 1984.
1985 was the year of Marillion's big breakthrough with the album Misplaced Childhood, whose ballad Kayleigh reached high positions in the charts. This is also one of the few major hit successes the band achieved. The next album, Clutching at Straws from 1987, still contained the hit Incommunicado, but sold about 30 percent less than its predecessor. Fish left the band in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and the remaining band members recruited Steve Hogarth from the bands The Europeans and How We Live as the new lead singer.
On 22 September 2019, Marillion was our "guest" at the Sunday Morning Classics.
Source: Wikipedia Photo: PSParrot
