Marillion - The Fish Years 1983-86 (various videos)

After the break I’ve left the text file with the contents of this unofficial collection of Marillianea, which covers the early years of a band that even if I wouldn’t consider myself much of a fan now, I once was, and they were definitely very influential to my musical path in the late 80s. And so for some reason I’m continually interested in checking out items I never got to see in the pre-internet age, as at the time I only saw things like this in books.

Part of this I already know, the 3/12/84 gig following up Fugazi that shows up everywhere. Of the Fish albums, Fugazi is probably the one I find the most tedious, even though despite it’s antagonistic, spiky and depressing vision might make it the most original of the bunch, in at least that the band’s obvious Peter Hammill/VDGG roots come out here along with the Genesis. And there really are a lot of clips covering this period here, which meant I had to sit with Assassing as an ear worm for about a week after (this, however, doesn’t offset the Marillion earworm record, which I’d give to a month-long invasion of Heart of Lothian). Also prevalent is a lot of early Jesters Tear work, as well as the rather awful and rare traditional rendering of “Margaret.”

The most hilarious part of the whole collection is spying a Genesis record in Fish’s collection, particularly when I remember them downplaying this influence in interviews. He knows, you know…

Solaris - Rio Art Rock Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 9/12/96 (video) 

If I had one concert in my life that I may have regretted walking out early on, it would be seeing Solaris at Progfest in 1995 (or thereabouts). At the time the group of people I was with all unanimously were turned off by the bludgeoning loud sound and reliance on 80s technology and tones, and even though I really do like their Martian Chronicles album, I agreed at the time. So in many ways, checking out this video was like seeing what I missed. And my conclusion after watching it, at a great surprise to me, was that I didn’t really miss out on much. Quite frankly I was surprised at how many mistakes this band made (particularly the flautist who may have been having a rough night) and how repetitive and predictable the song structures are. Opinions of their other albums have made me return to Martian Chronicles only for my positive opinion to be confirmed, so I’m somewhat baffled at my lack of empathy with just about everything else the band has done. My guess is this Brasilian concert might have been a worse night than the show in LA, but at least I’m not regretting my decision to leave now.

The Fish Years

Disc One: (Running Time - 44:12)

[01] Forgotten Sons
[02] Margaret
Open-air Festival, Roskilde, Denmark, 1 July 1983

[03] He Knows You Know
Oxford Road Show, Manchester, UK, 21 January 1983

[04] Forgotten Sons
Old Grey Whistle Test, London, UK, 20 May 1983

[05] Punch & Judy
Oxford Road Show, Manchester, UK, 10 February 1984

[06] Assassing
Oxford Road Show, Manchester, UK, 10 February 1984
Disc Two: (Running Time - 82:13)

[01] BBC Sight & Sound In Concert (Introduction, Assassing, Script For A Jester’s Tear, Incubus, Fugazi, End Credits)
Goldiggers Club, Chippenham, UK, 12 March 1984

[02] Assassing
Pinkpop Festival, Geleen, Holland, 11 June 1984

[03] Misplaced Childhood Edit (Pseudo Silk Kimono, Kayleigh, Lavender, Garden Party)
Nurburgring Festival - Adenau, Germany (’Rock Am Ring’ Open-air Festival), 26 May 1985

[04] Assassing
Maimarktgelände, Mannheim, Germany, 21 June 1986

[05] Fish’s Record Collection
(Interview by Steve Blacknell) BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, London, UK, 27 November 1984

[06] Excerpts from “Lavender & “Childhood’s End”
Eissporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany, 5 November 1985