About the Author

photo Anthony Barlich 2020

Charles Snider has been collecting records since the mid 1970s, amassing one of the most complete archives of progressive rock. “Musically, my love for British music and everything thereafter starts with The Beatles. One of my earliest memories of vinyl was The Beatles single 'Paperback Writer' b/w 'Rain.' Even my daughters are even named after Beatles songs!” He spent his teen years working in a record shop, then in the early 80s, a couple years in Germany while in the service. "Germany was a real eye-opener for me because the Germans were always pushing me to discover their music; thus my love for krautrock (sic) was born."

Snider's self-professed passion for the music “archaeology” continued over the decades, branching out to many other genres of music. “In the mid 90s, Kevin Eden and I curated the WMO label, with the cooperation and support of Wire. The CD was a new format, and we released a lot of hard to find records, as well as unreleased archival material and two very good tribute discs.”

Upon moving to Chicago in 2000, he began writing the first edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock. “I've always loved record guides. Certainly, Ira Robbin’s Trouser Press was the prototype, but growing up in the 70s with magazines like Circus, Creem and of course Rolling Stone, I've always enjoyed the passion that a writer conveys about music.”

While not hosting "Snidings" and listening to prog rock in his man-cave, Snider can be found blogging about personal technology or cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks. Recently he's been touring with Gong in the US as their merch salesman.

The 3rd Edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock was released on March 27th, 2020. Published by Strawberry Bricks.com via Kindle Direct Publishing, an Amazon company.