THE TOP 50

6

MARK KELLY

kelly was studying electronics and playing with local essex prog rock band Chemical Alice when Marillion came calling in 1981. He’s been with the band ever since, his trademark swirling keyboards very much informing the early Marillion sound. Alongside founder member Steve Rothery, he is Marillion’s longest serving member. He’s also performed with Travis, Ayreon, Deeexpus and edison’s Children, and is credited as being the man behind the crowdfunding proposal for the band’s Anoraknophobia album, which inspired Pledge and other business models.

You Say: “A mainstay of Marillion since the debut album and an unsung hero of the band. He has a great touch and a style that is his own yet reminiscent of Banks and Wakeman in particular. A great player and a solid backbone of the Marillion sound.” – Gary Bowyer

5

JORDAN RUDESS

A Juilliard attendee for piano aged just nine, by his late teens Rudess was more interested in synthesisers and progressive rock. He was offered gigs with both the Dixie Dregs and Dream Theater, initially choosing the former. However, he worked with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy on his Liquid Tension experiment side-project, and in 1999 he replaced Derek Sherinian in the prog metal overlords. He’s been with them ever since, although he delves into his solo career and has also worked with both Steven Wilson and Ayreon.

You say: “He’s my only choice. He continues to create and push new boundaries within the prog universe, implementing new tech and adapting to what’s available. never going stagnant!” – Brad Gale

4

RICHARD WRIGHT

Roger Waters and David Gilmour may have dominated the Pink Floyd headlines, but few will argue against the fact that Wright’s delightful keyboard sound coloured much of what the band produced. He also wrote some of the band’s more memorable pieces of work. He rarely ventured beyond the confines of Floyd, but when he did, it was often more than worthwhile. Famously sacked by Waters during the making of The Wall, David Gilmour brought him back into the fold for 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, while The endless River was Gilmour and nick Mason’s final tribute to their late keyboard player.

You Say: “The most underrated keyboard player of all time. The master of serving the music with his playing. nothing fancy, but always the right choice of notes and chords.”

– Peter Rautell

3

TONY BANKS

Banks formed Genesis with Charterhouse school pals Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips and Chris Stewart in 1967, and remained at the helm of the prog rock giants until they were effectively put into cold storage following a 2007 world tour. He is responsible for many of the band’s lengthy epics, and also for bringing a big symphonic edge to their sound. Although his solo career was not as successful as some of his bandmates, he is often seen as the progressive core of the Genesis sound. He recently worked in the classical realm with three well-received works.

You Say: “His keyboards were more upfront and integral to Genesis songs, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford not being the flashiest of guitarists.”

– Pierre Shepherd

2

RICK WAKEMAN

You can talk about the capes, the ambitious live shows on ice and also at remarkable settings like Hampton Court. But this doesn’t do proper justice to a man who was never afraid of taking huge risks, not just in staging spectacles, but also in his passion for playing great music. Wakeman’s time with Yes helped define prog as we know it, being filled with timeless brilliance, yet he also worked wonders as a hugely in demand session man, with an array of talents from Bowie to Sabbath. He was also a crucial part of The Strawbs earlier in his career, and is currently making a seismic impact with ARW. The man’s style is fluent, and underlines a love of many genres, all cohesively brought into focus.

You say: “The king of keyboards. Rick is the guy who made me want to be in a band, and is a source of influence in almost everything i do.”