IQ’S MICHAEL HOLMES
The great and good of progressive music give us a glimpse into their prog worlds.
“I love musicals. My favourite is Urinetown
– I’ve seen it
14 times!”
Where’s home?
Canary Wharf, London.
First prog memory?
Seeing Hawkwind at Southampton Gaumont in the early 70s. They were pleasant.
First prog record bought?
Genesis, Selling England By The Pound, from Henry’s Records in Southampton.
And the most recent?
Planetary Overload Part 1, by the United Progressive Fraternity.
First prog gig?
After Hawkwind it was Barclay James Harvest, again at the Gaumont in the 70s.
And the latest?
Steely Dan at Wembley Arena in February.
Your newest prog discovery?
Imogen Heap’s music for the theatre production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child. It’s a great album and really quite proggy.
Guilty musical pleasure?
The Carpenters. I’ve got a box set of all of their albums. Incredible.
Favourite prog venue?
The Boerderij. It excels at everything – the sound, the lighting, the staff, the crowd. And they always have a late bar!
Your prog hero?
Donald Fagen. Just an incredible songwriter.
Your specialist subject on
Mastermind?
Marine fish. But I did get rid of my aquarium recently because I wanted a bigger TV.
Outside of music, what are you into?
I go to a lot of theatre, and I love musicals. My favourite is Urinetown – I’ve seen it 14 times!
Ever had a prog date?
No. My partner gets dragged to quite a few places but just puts up with it, really.
Most important prog song?
The Gates Of Delirium by
Yes. That’s an outstanding track.
Prog muso you’d like to work with?
Brian Eno. Anything you come up with, he’d say: “Yeah but what about this?” I like people with interesting ideas.
A prog album to get you in a good mood?
Breathless by Camel. It’s got a really great, summer feel to it.
The best prog gig you ever saw?
Genesis playing The Lamb…, at the Gaumont. It had everything – a great story and a great production. Just “Wow”.
Recommend a good proggy read.
Bill Drummond’s 45. People might say The KLF weren’t prog, but they sort of were. Every chapter in this book is a new idea, and you see what they did with it. It’s so interesting.
Your favourite prog album cover?
ELP’s Brain Salad Surgery. The HR Giger artwork is incredible.
What are you up to at the moment?
As we speak, I’m in the studio mixing the new IQ album, which takes forever. Or longer. We’re doing a launch gig at the Islington Assembly Hall on September 7, and the album will come out around then.
See www.iq-hq.co.uk for more information.