Marillion Misplaced Childhood

After the album-tour-album cycle of Script for a Jester's Tear, Fugazi, and the subsequent Euro-only release of Real to Reel, Marillion retreated to Berlin's Hansa Ton Studios with Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey to work on their next opus. Armed with a handful of lyrics born out of a self-confessed acid trip, Fish came up with the elaborate concept for 1985's Misplaced Childhood. Touching upon his early childhood experiences and his inability to deal with a slew of bad breakups exacerbated by a never-ending series of rock star-type "indulgences," Misplaced Childhood would prove to be not only the band's most accomplished release to date, but also its most streamlined. Initial record company skepticism over the band's decision to forge ahead with a '70s-style prog rock opus split into two halves (sides one and two) quickly evaporated as Marillion delivered its two most commercial singles ever: "Kayleigh" and "Lavender." With its lush production and punchy mix, the album went on to become the band's greatest commercial triumph, especially in Europe where they would rise from theater attraction to bona fide stadium royalty.

As openings go, they don’t come any more enigmatic than the one that ushers in Marillion’s third album, ‘Misplaced Childhood’. The concept album that was conceived during a 10-hour acid trip is widely regarded as the flagbearer for the entire ‘neo-prog’ movement and features the band’s two most famous singles ‘Kayleigh’ and ‘Lavender’…

1988's The Thieving Magpie is a sprawling double-disc live set which manages to tie up virtually all the loose ends from Marillion's years with charismatic frontman Fish. Like 1984's Real to Reel mini live album, Magpie offers mostly sterling performances packed with both feeling and technical precision, which often times manage to better their studio counterparts thanks to their road-worthy fluidity. But unlike that seamlessly assembled mini live album, it does suffer from the occasional silence between tracks, or even noticeable variations in sound quality, crowd noise, and general ambiance. Sure, most listeners won't give a hoot about such details when faced with the sheer creative breadth (some would say absurdity) of such Marillion magnum opuses as "Fugazi," "Script for a Jester's Tear," and "Chelsea Monday" to name but a few…

Marillion's Made Again is a good live double album; the first disc containing a great live set of tracks from Season's End, Afraid Of Sunlight, Misplaced Childhood and Holidays In Eden. The second disc contains a live version of Marillion's first real neo-prog extravaganza, Brave, performed live in its majestic entirety.

Essential: a masterpiece of Progressive Rock music
“Freaks” is a song by British neo-progressive rock band Marillion. First released in 1985 on the B-side to the number five UK hit single “Lavender”, in November 1988 it was released in a live version on a double A-side single together with the band’s 1985 number two hit, “Kayleigh”.

Marillion emerged from the brief progressive rock revival of the early '80s to become an international recording and touring phenomenon who have sold more than 15 million albums and host fan clubs in ten nations. The band helped pioneer the development of fan-funded music and touring support, beginning in 1997. Marillion's music, while remaining on the progressive, artful side of rock, has evolved to embrace post-punk pop, indie and experimental rock, and even funk and electronica. Each album is different than its predecessor.

After the successful reissue of Marillion‘s 1985 album Misplaced Childhood in 2017, Parlophone will reissue the British quintet’s fourth studio album Clutching at Straws in November.