The Progressive Underground Volume Three - Softcover

Rowland, Kev

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1908728906 ISBN 13: 9781908728906

Publisher: Gonzo Multimedia, 2020

Synopsis

Contrary to popular belief, progressive rock didn't disappear with the advent of punk, and the lack of media support didn't prevent new bands from forming and new music being created, it just drove it underground. It is hard to imagine these days, with everyone being permanently connected, but there was a time not long ago when communication was by word of mouth and letter. With no coverage by much of the media, it was down to fanzines and independent magazines to spread the word of what was actually happening in the scene, what was being released, and who was worth going to see in concert.

Most of these magazines survived for just a few issues, while others continued for many years, all having their part to play in spreading the word. One of the most important during this period was Feedback, which initially started as the newsletter of Mensa's Rock Music Special Interest Group in 1988, but when Kev Rowland became secretary in 1990 he determined to turn it into a magazine promoting music which often wasn't being written about in the mainstream press. Feedback soon became one of the key promoters of the underground progressive scene, and Kev one of the most well-known reviewers. He also became a contributor to Rock 'n' Reel, as well as later writing for the Ghostland website in the early days of prog on the web.

The world had moved on by the time he emigrated to New Zealand in 2006, at which time he stopped running Feedback (which has just celebrated it's thirtieth anniversary, now renamed Amplified). It was now possible to discover information about bands and releases through the internet and the many progressive rock sites which had been set up, and even the mass media had decided that maybe there was something in this prog thing after all.

But the period when Kev was running Feedback was very special in many ways, a time that has now long gone. This volume captures reviews undertaken by Kev when he was running Feedback, here from bands T-Z, written within the context of the period by someone who was very close to the scene. This volume also includes small reviews, compilations, DVDs, and gig reviews as well as exclusive interviews with some of the greatest luminaries of the scene. Along with the other two volumes in this series, this shines a spotlight onto a period when there were very few writing about the music in a constructive manner. Finally, it is again possible to discover some great music from wonderful bands, and this should be used as a guide to expand collections and understand that prog rock really didn't die, it just went underground.

About this title

About the Author

From 1990 - 2006 Kev Rowland ran Feedback fanzine in the UK, often writing about bands that were never covered in the mainstream press. He built close ties with many of the British prog groups in particular, including writing the newsletter for Freewill, getting gigs for Credo and writing the introduction to Galahad's OCMDII compilation. During this period he reviewed literally thousands of cassettes and then CDs from bands from throughout the world, and was lucky enough to interview many of them. He also contributed to the French progzine Acid Dragon, and wrote for Rock 'n' Reel, as well as the Ghostland website.

In 2006 rowland moved to NZ, and stopped running Feedback (which was then renamed Amplified on his departure, at his request) having produced over 80 editions with more than 11,000 pages of print and heaven knows how many reviews and interviews.

Although he stopped writing and reviewing when he came over to NZ, Rowland was gradually brought back into the scene and started contributing to many different sites and magazines. He is heavily involved with Prog Archives, wrote the booklets for the Red Jasper reissues, and generally tries to be as involved in the scene as he was previously. However, this all stopped in 2014 when he started to compile all his progressive reviews and interviews from Feedback into a digital format - remember, when he originally started it was using a typewriter and many of the reviews were only available in hard copy. It took more than two years to complete the initial draft, which contained more than half a million words, and Gonzo Media decided to have the text broken into three volumes and also include artwork of the covers in full cover. 

When he isn't listening to music, writing about music, or thinking about music, then he can be found on his lifestyle block in Canterbury with his wonderful and long-suffering wife Sara, and their 8 cats, 5 dogs, chickens, sheep, lambs, calves and cattle. Oh, apparently he has a day job as well. 

From the Back Cover

Kev, while editing, writing and contributing, was the man behind 'Feedback' magazine. This magazine was immeasurably important for bands such as Jadis back in the early 90's, and after the release of our album 'More Than Meets The Eye' it was the likes of Kev who were flying the flag for this new emerging bastion of Progressive Rock. His enthusiasm, passion and dedication for reviewing gigs and albums was well known with most of the progressive bands paving their way at that time. This was well before the wider use of the internet and social media so word of mouth was the order of the day. This is a "must have" for Progressive rock fans looking for in depth detail, reviews and facts.

Gary Chandler (Jadis)

When Jump began a near thirty year journey in 1990, our model for success was to take on any and every gig that came our way. We knew that the mainstream music media certainly wouldn't be interested in a hybrid, left-field bunch of musicians like us. In those pre-internet days, the opportunities to connect with a new audience outside our relentless gigging schedule were few: 'Feedback' was one. Kev's dedication to connecting bands like ours with a wider world was not only heart-warming and admirable - it was productive, too. Many of the bands he reviewed so passionately and in such detail are still out there producing wonderful music, supported by fans who first took a chance on buying a CD or going to a gig as a result of one of Feedback's album or live reviews. Looking back, Kev's contribution was immense. Here's the proof...

John Dexter Jones (Jump)

From the Inside Flap

Foreword

I met Kevin long before the era of the Internet. We used towrite letters to each other, exchanging the latest news from the world ofprogressive rock. From time to time, we would send each other cassettes withthe music of British and Polish bands. However, what I did most, was read thefanzine Feedback that was edited by Kevin, and even today, I still have all theissues in my archives. Back then, when I was reading Kev's reviews, I wassurprised to learn that there were so many artists scattered around the globe,playing valuable music. I was also impressed that Kev could write about it insuch a fascinating way. I admit that the work that he did for Feedback was aninspiration for me when I was founding the website mlwz.pl for my radioshow.

Kev and I used to meet often in the 90s. Any time I was inLondon or nearby, he would always take me to his house in Dorking where I methis charming wife Sara and their fantastic daughters. We would also go to gigstogether. I remember the group Sphere played in his local pub sometime in the mid-90s,and some twenty years later I met the keyboard player Neil Durant during thePolish show of IQ, and surprisingly he remembered that first meeting of ours.

Thanks to these visits, shows, countless letters andFeedback magazines, but also thanks to the CDs and tapes sent from Poland wewere discovering many new bands and a lot of great music together. We had a lotof fun; those were great days. Today, although Kevin lives in New Zealand,practically nothing has changed. Well, maybe we do not see each other so often,but Kev's passion for discovering new music and sharing his impressions andopinions with the readers has always impressed me very much, both now and 25years ago. The proof of this incredible hobby is this book, which I devoured inone night. I know that I will be coming back to this book often and I thinkthat so will other readers.

ArturChachlowski, mlwz.pl




I first met Kev in 1991 when my band Legend had released ourdebut album. This was greeted by the majority of the music scene with completederision. Progressive rock was at that time considered at best a totalirrelevance, at worst an abomination in the face of god! But in the wildernessthere were a handful of supporting voices, first and foremost being KevRowland. He gave a young andimpressionable Legend hope, which was precious beyond measure!

He proved that there were people out there who still lovedProgressive Rock in its myriad forms. Indeed over the years Kev has served theProgressive Rock community in countless ways, helping bands to network withother bands and with the various underground publications and societies thatwere out there and interested. He has tirelessly promoted the genre, with hisinsightful reviews and measured criticism, designed to nurture rather thancondemn, all with a boundless enthusiasm and wit, fuelled only by the love ofthe music and his encyclopaedic knowledge of the genre.

Kev has always been generous with his time, devoting manyhours to putting together Feedback Magazine and attending gigs, writing indepth reviews, talking to artists and fans alike. And all of this to help bringthe Prog Community into its rightful place in the pantheon of music genres. Heis driven purely by the love of the music and the creativity with no thought ofpersonal gain and I am proud to call him, and indeed, his wonderful family, myfriends.

Stephen Paine, Legend

Edition details

• Publisher: Gonzo Multimedia
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1908728906
• ISBN 13: 9781908728906
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 366