Marillion Setlists - 1980

Foreword by the Authors

The site "1980" is a collection of infos, stories and links from different sources - describing and explaining the emergance of a band later known as Marillion. Unfortunately this is all we found in 10 years since we started this project - and there are still many questions left. It seems they remain a mystery - as Bill Frech wrote on his site! Andre and Thomas

Marillion In Words And Pictures (1985) - Carol Clerk

Carol Clarke - Marillion In Words & Pictures (1985)

"The story begins in Aylesbury, Bucks, at Christmas 1978, when drummer Mick Pointer formed a four-piece instrumental group called Silmarillion - named after the book by Lord Of The Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien. After only one gig, the guitarist left, and the band advertised in the music press for a replacement.

One Sunday morning in the summer of 79, Steve Rothery arrived unannounced from Whitby, Yorkshire, and walked into the job. Steve was a self-taught musician whod previously played with a series of school bands.

A local keyboard player - Brian Jelliman - came into the line-up in August and Silmarillion finally began to take shape. They played their first gig at Berkhamsted Civic Centre on March 1, 1980, to a less than ecstatic response from the crowd. Underterred, they agreed on a policy of taking every gig that was going, and chalked up a further 13 dates.

The line-up changed yet again in November with the departure of the bass player. The group, by this time, had decided to recruit a vocalist, so both vacancies were advertised in Melody Maker. Mick and Steve were particularly interested in one call from a couple of chaps in Scotland and duly sent the applicants a tape of The Web (instrumental). Fish arrived in Aylesbury several days later with all his luggage, a complete set of lyrics for The Web and a bassist called Diz Minnett.

Fish worked his way through a variety of small and unsatisfying bands and an even larger number of unsatisfying jobs: a garage attendant, a student with the Forestry Commission, a tree surgeon, a dole office deskman and a quality inspector for garden sprinklers! Marillion, who by now had dropped the Sil, were pleased to offer the former lumberjack and his mate Diz the vacant positions in the band. They went into rehearsal straight away and played their first gig at the Bicester Red Lion on March 14, 1981. They soon came to the attention of a character called David Stopps, manager of the Aylesbury Friars venue, who helped them as support to John Cooper Clarke during Aylesbury Arts Week in May and helped arrange more dates on their behalf."

Fish - In His Own Words

Fish - In His Own Words...

"The band when I was auditioning was called Not Quite Red Fox. The drummer was school friend Gordon Feeney who asked me along to audition as their bass player George who had a great voice wanted to concentrate on his playing.
I auditioned twice but never sang live with them. The closest I got to a stage was passing an acoustic guitar to Steve Moss at Aberdeen University in March 1980. The band said that they liked my voice but thought that I didn't have enough experience. They told me to go away and join another band and when I had some gigs under my belt that they would reconsider me. I was so pissed off at their attitude that I went out immediately and found a gig with Blewitt in Galashiels with the sole intention of proving them wrong. It was Blewitt that gave me my first chance and set me up for the Marillion gig.

Not Quite Red Fox were heavily influenced by Genesis and Gentle Giant and I still have a tape of them somewhere. They won a "most original name" contest in a weekly music paper called (I think) Musicians Only and played in a Battle of the Bands contest at Luton Mad Hatters nightclub where George the singer came to the attention of another band on the bill that night who were looking for a replacement for their bassist/ vocalist. Yep! You got it! Marillion wanted George to replace Doug Irvine. It never happened because they didn't know how to contact him.

In late 80 George had a bad car accident and smashed up his arm and fingers. He disappeared with a bad drink problem. Gordon joined a number of progressive bands after giving up the dream of being the next Budgie (he was a big Banshees fan) and even auditioned for Marillion before Jonathan Mover eventually took the drum stool temporarily. He had become very cynical toward the music scene and I still think that he deliberately blew the audition. He was a great drummer and went on to join one of the Citizen Cain bands in the late 80's. I never heard from him again.

Steve Moss who was the main decision maker in Not Quite... turned up at the Funny Farm studio to record with Avalon a few years back. Never has so much Humble Pie been consumed at one sitting. TBH I had forgotten the 1980 incident as so much had passed under the bridge since then. He was so embarrassed it was embarrassing. I actually sincerely thanked him as without the humiliation of those auditions I would never have been propelled into Marillion. It's a funny old world!!"

More Infos

Jon Collins' book Separated Out - The Complete History 1979-2002 (2003)    PIC: Marillion Family Tree (1977-Present)
A very early member of SILMARILLION - Neil Cockle - now plays keyboards in a band called Bard.    Look them up on these websites for info, tour dates and music samples: www.bard.uk.net and www.myspace.com/ukbard    Thanks to John Highmore

Silmarillion/Marillion Info-Links

Infos taken from:
WEB: The Story So Far... - The Official Marillion Tour History - 1980 - by Bill Frech
PIC: The Web - Issue No. 1 - February 1982
PIC: Bandinfo - Marillion - A History - 1982

Silmarillion - Known Shows and Sessions

22.04.1978 - Hanborough Tavern - Southall, England INFO: First Silmarillion show - all rehearsal sessions took place in a rehearsal studio in Amersham (with the band Camel next door!)

Marillion - Known Shows and Sessions

??.10.1979 - The Enid's Studios - Hertford, England (demo recordings) 01 Lady Fantasy - 02 Alice
01.03.1980 - Civic Centre - Berkhamsted, England INFO: Photo (below) taken from Postcards From The Road by Steve Rothery

Marillion - Known Shows and Sessions

??.03.1980 - The Enid's Studios - Hertford, England (demo recordings)
"There were approximately 14 shows played between March and November of 1980. Most of the locations of these shows remain unknown. Confirmed venues are St. Albans' Mental Hospital and the Watford Street Traders' Fair. In addition, shows are known to have been played in Luton and High Wycombe. The exact dates and locations are for now, and probably will remain forever, a mystery." Bill Frech
??.03.1980 - The Enid's Studios - Hertford, England (demo recordings)
14.11.1980 - Red Lion Pub - Bicester, England INFO: Last show with Doug Irvine
??.11.1980 - Leyland Hill Farm Studio - Gawcott, England (demo recordings) 01 Close INFO: Steve played guitar and bass
PIC: Letter by Stef to Diz and Fish - 10.12.1980

Useful Links

The Story So Far... - The Official Marillion Tour History - by Bill Frech
The Marillion Discography - by Bert ter Steege
Marillion FAQ - by Jeroen Schipper
Explanations Of Song Elements - by Fraser Marshall