[kj] (OT) Marillion

[Jim Harper]

I know they're not exactly cool, but I know there's a few fans on the list.

Glad to see that Marillion's new album, the impressively-titled Fuck Everyone And Run, is cleaning up in the UK charts,and also a Top Ten hit in half of Europe too.

I continue to be impressed by their financial arrangements and the willingness of their fanbase to shell out up front for so much, bankrolling albums and occasionally even tours. I know the Joke faithful are no less dedicated in their loyalty and their financial generosity, but Marillion seem to have everything sorted on the organisational front. In terms of publicity and public visibility, the average new Killing Joke album gets a lot more coverage- and a helluva lot more positive critical opinion- than a new Marillion but somehow Marillion are able to get it all together a bit better. This is not intended as a criticism of the Joke or their management, but given that Killing Joke have achieved classic status and are hailed as a key rock and metal influence (and Marillion are terminally unfashionable 80s prog nerds) they should be doing better than they seem to be.

Just my thoughts on the issue :)

Jim.

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