DudeS For tHouGHt

Some of prog’s leading lads discuss their views on women in prog…

Devin Townsend

“i try to work with as many women as i can, because as a man i can represent half of what i want to represent: it’s the human thing that i’m interested in. in my role of trying to represent something that is human, if i can get any help from those who know what it means to be on the other side and all the things that come with it, that’s how you make it complete.”

Rick Wakeman

“Prog now has many genres as it has spread its wings so much in its 50 or so year life. many of the current artists weren’t even born when it first came to be, so they can look at prog from a unique standpoint. it’s taken time for women to really be recognised in prog, and it’s long overdue. especially vocally, where they seem to add amazing textures that suit the music so well.”

Steve Rothery (Marillion)

“in the early 80s, the only female-fronted new wave prog band i was aware of was solstice. i formed the wishing tree with vocalist hannah stobart in 1995 (the same year as mostly autumn formed). we had some success with the first album Carnival of souls but i did feel at that time that not all prog fans were interested in listening to a female vocalist. i think this definitely changed over the years and now there are a lot of great prog bands with women.”

Einar Solberg (Leprous)

“i always found it strange to be distinguishing so much between men and women in music. to me, it doesn’t make any difference if the band consists of men or women as long as it’s good. i don’t think equality comes from making a sensation out of it every time there is a woman in a prog band, but rather to just regard it as something normal and obvious.” HMK