Longtime Kraan and Karthago keyboardist Ingo Bischof passed away this weekend. Our sincere condolences to his loved ones.

Happy 2019. Thank you to all that purchased the book over the holidays, and to everyone following me on Facebook. I'm going to put the book out of print in April 2019, and split it into two editions: The Record Guide - the timeline of 500 albums - will be available again in late 2019.

Everybody loves lists, myself included. What are my favorite progressive rock albums? Here they are, do you have them all?

Essential: 33 Progressive Rock Albums
1. The Nice – The Thoughts Of Emerlist DavJack (Immediate 1967)
2. Soft Machine – Volume Two (Probe 1969)
3. Colosseum – Those Who Are About To Die Salute You (Vertigo 1969)
4. Jethro Tull – Stand Up (Reprise 1969)
5. King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) (EG 1969)
6. The Pretty Things – Parachute (Harvest 1970)
7. Caravan – In The Land of Grey And Pink (Deram 1971)

Former Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason will bring his Saucerful of Secrets band to North America in spring of 2019. The band features Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet on guitar and vocals, former Floyd bassist Guy Pratt, and draws its music from the early Pink Floyd albums, including many of Syd Barrett's compositions. See you in Chicago!

March 12 — Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
March 13 — Seattle, WA The Paramount
March 15 — San Francisco, CA The Masonic
March 16 — Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
March 19 — Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
March 21 — Denver, CO Paramount Theatre

Reggie's Rock Club will host the fourth edition of Progtoberfest beginning on October 18th (pre-party with Chicago-based Porcupine Tree tribute Cloud Zero, District 97 and Ugly Radio Rebellion with Ike Willis) and running through Sunday, with FM and Soft Machine headlining, and Chicago's Lovely Little Girls and a special performance of Bill Bruford's One Of A Kind album! I'll be there selling books, stop by and enjoy a few great nights of music in Chicago!