I had the pleasure of seeing Yes this past Tuesday, for the opening night of their 50th Anniversary tour at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL. Led by the invincible Steve Howe, the band, with Geoff Downes on keyboards, Billy Sherwood on bass, Jon Davison on vocals and Jay Schellen on drums, tore through an amazing set. Alan White took to the stage later in the evening, providing drums for a particularly rockin' "Yours Is No Disgrace," while original member Tony Kaye joined the band for their three encores.

If you ever wonder why I spent the time to write a book like The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock, it's because I love it when others discover the music I'm so passionate about!

MMP 540 CELESTE - IL RISVEGLIO DEL PRINCIPE out in Autumn 2018. CELESTE is a very important name within the vast world of Italian progressive rock. Like many other bands, they disbanded after only one self-titled LP released in 1976, but thanks to that beautiful album we can consider Celeste among the greatest Italian prog groups.

This year I will be travelling to Mani Neumaier's annual open air music festival in Finkenbach. The two day festival on August 10th and 11th, features an amazing lineup: Epitah, Faust, Amon Düül II and Marblewood on Friday, and Embryo, Birth Control, Kraan, Guru Guru, Jane and Vibravoid on Saturday. SEE YOU THERE!

"Charles Snider’s The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock is essential reading for any fan of classic Progressive rock. The book is over 600 pages worth of prog rock history, interviews with fundamental and important progressive artists, and hundreds of concise, excellent album reviews. I first heard of Charles Snider when I cited him heavily in a paper I wrote in college on progressive rock, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I had the honor of asking him a few questions about his book."

From Planet Rock:
"Pink Floyd legend Nick Mason has formed an intriguing new band called Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets.

The five-piece will solely perform Pink Floyd’s early work including songs from 'The Piper At The Gates of Dawn' and 'A Saucerful Of Secrets’ at four ultra-intimate shows in London next month.

They kick off with a date at the 500-capacity Camden Dingwalls on Sunday 20th May and follow it with a trio of 250-capacity shows at The Half Moon in Putney on the Monday (21st), Wednesday (23rd) and Thursday (24th).

All tickets are now sold out."

David Cross (who played violin / mellotron with King Crimson from '72 - '74) and David Jackson (sax player with VdGG during their classic '70s era as well as their '05 reunion) have teamed up for a new twelve track CD of original music. The CD is released by Cherry Red Records and can be ordered through the official Cross & Jackson website below.

Just in my inbox, the Pledge Music site has launched offering the vocal re-recording and remix of Yes' 2011 Fly From Here album, by the "Drama Lineup". Seems it's not really exclusive to the Fan Convention after all. I for one am eagerly awaiting this new release, the title track written by the former Buggles Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes.

Tracklisting:
Fly From Here – Overture
Fly From Here Pt 1 – We Can Fly
Fly From Here Pt 2 – Sad Night At The Airfield
Fly From Here Pt 3 – Madman At The Screens
Fly From Here Pt 4 – Bumpy Ride