EDITORIAL

So the Prog World is finally thawing out from its winter hibernation. Smelly, lanky haired, young men (and old, fat and bald old men) are waking up from their slumber to see what the year ahead holds. And what a year we have in store! It's already looking like being a great one for prog rock releases. We've already had Pallas's excellent XXV, and forthcoming blockbusters include the wonderful Blackfield's new one as well as Passion from Pendragon. I've had a sneaky listen to Passion and I reckon it'll be blowing peoples socks off when it comes out.

And with tours by big guns like Rush, Roger Waters and Touchstone to look forward to too, it's all enough to give any self respecting progger wood.

IQ-a-go-go

The IQ merry-go-round rotates at full speed once more with the surprise return of bass player Tim Esau and a new keyboard player, the technical wizard Neil Durrant. Neil is well known to proggers already for his incredible ability with complex 13/8 'Pythagoras time signature' arrangements that made Sphere impossible to dance to at the disco. He also used to run the "It All Posts Here" mailing list, back in the days when the internet wasn't full of trolls and tossers.

It is also great to see Paul Menel back in the spotlight, fronting his new band Menellium.

He was at the helm of IQ for two of their best albums way back in the mid 80s, briefly returning in the 90s with some great solo tunes including 'Lets Hear it for Freedom'.

Paul and his band have just played a sell-out show at The Peel in London and are about to set sail for Europe.

Nobody could have predicted that John Jowitt would jump ship from IQ to join Paul Menel's new band. It is all very exciting.

One thing about IQ is that they always have quality members,

What Else?

The Olympic Park Stadium is currently being built in East London. But this 80,000 capacity arena is being sold off before it has been completed and before it has even been used for 2012.

Most people agree that athletics is a pointless sport where the fastest runners always seem to win and the longest javelin throw is guaranteed a medal. Most of them take drugs, and not the sort of recreational ones normal people take either. Athletes cannot be trusted, and even have to be watched while they urinate into a jar. For fun.

The Olympic Legacy means that after the games (in just over a year's time) there will be a stadium up for grabs.

Tottenham Hotspurs are considering knocking it down and building a proper football stadium in its place, without the running track. They'd need to change their name as Tottenham is over six miles away, and stop criticizing their illustrious neighbours who also moved ground nearly 100 years ago.

West Ham United FC are more deserving as it is almost in their neighbourhood. They also have quality celeb fans, such as Russell Grant and his wife Katy Brand, while Spurs have failed computer salesman Alan Sugar and Andrew Ridgley.

One option that has been over-looked is using the venue for prog concerts.

Silhobbit and the Classic Rock Society could join forces with the House Of Progression mob and make a joint bid to take over the stadium in 2012 and get bands such as Marillion, Porcupine Tree and Frost* to play to big audiences.

Mattfest is currently annually held at The Peel in Kingston. This popular annual festival should not consider being held at the Olympic Stadium as this would be a break from tradition and you cant put a price on prog-heritage.

And Also

The prog transfer window is back in full swing again. We've already mentioned the Jowitt/Esau switcheroo at IQ, but we should mention smaller bands such as Bristols Crimson Sky who have been on the look out for a drummer and keyboard player as well as a female singer to replace Janey Summer. Latest news is that Martin Leamon has filled the bass and widdly-widdly positions, and is just looking for a chick to play up front.

And news reached us this weekend that Maple Syrup proggers Saga have brought former singer Michael Saddler back.

Finally

People from all walks of life often ask us why does silhobbit.com's editorial always finish with images of beautiful girls in bikinis or underwear? Surely it is time to move on from such 70's sexism where women are seen purely as sex objects.

Exploitation has no place in the modern 20th century, especially on a progressive-rock based website.

Maybe Silhobbit.com should follow the example set out by the leading anti sexism media outlet Sky.com who recently sacked two of their leading lights for making lewd comments about a female linesman.

I personally would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Tracy Hitchins, Christina Magenta, Anne-Marie Helder and Jennifer Melons.