There are some artists who provide a cerebral conversation, which renews our faith that musicians still exist who deserve more than fleeting attention. Pure Reason Revolution’s Jon Courtney is one of that pool. Perhaps as a result of the band releasing their last two albums in the relatively speedy period of two years, Courtney suffered an understandable, if frustrating, interlude of writer’s block. Assuming that this harmonic obstruction could be cured by sharpening his musical chops, he began concentrating on the more tedious aspects of musical theory.
“I spent a bit of time thinking that I really must improve my guitar and piano playing,” recalls Courtney from his Berlin home. “I started trying to get better with my music theory, thinking it would be helpful with the new compositions. But it didn’t really seem to help. My sight-reading improved a little bit, yet it didn’t broaden the chords I was going to and things like that. Then I had a couple of experiences, which weren’t super-positive ones.”
Those events Courtney references were the grief triggered by the loss of his 17-year-old and much-adored dog, and an unexpected brush with asbestos that generated an overwhelming fear of death. Such fears of impending doom and the death of a home-enhancing pet are feelings that many will be able to sympathetically relate to.
“Yeah, and I think a lot of people will connect with this because they have dogs and cats, and have been through this,” agrees Courtney. “We had this dog here and then had to take him to the vets. You question if it was the right time. I thought I was emotionally prepared for it, but I was just way off the mark. Then maybe eight weeks after this, I had a possible brush with asbestos. I was doing this renovation work and it really tipped me over the edge. It was totally irrational. I really thought that death was imminent.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Issue 153-Ausgabe von Prog.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Issue 153-Ausgabe von Prog.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
JAKKO M JAKSZYK
King Crimson's vocalist and guitarist shares anecdotes from his revealing new autobiography, discusses his lost career as a footballer and reveals what he said when he met the former king of pop.
A Part & Yet Apart
Sheffield-based 80s proggers Haze have returned with a new studio album, The Water's Edge - their third since their 2013 comeback record, The Last Battle. Prog catches up with threequarters of the band to discuss Haze's DIY ethos, the curse of prog and playing to Cumbrian sheep farmers.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
He's about to embark on Dream Theater's 40th Anniversary Tour, but keyboard maestro Jordan Rudess has taken time out to discuss his soaring new solo album, Permission To Fly.
On The Wing
Birds, break-ups, big choruses and the Charlie Chaplin effect can all be found on In Murmuration, the ninth album from Finland's Von Hertzen Brothers. But as they embrace their power pop influences, have the Finns cast off their prog wizard cloaks once and for all? Mikko von Hertzen talks about the Seattle influence, songwriting secrets and sax solos.
Fourth Dimension
The stock of melodic Northumberland-based proggers Stuckfish has been rising since they formed six years ago. Their fourth studio album, Stuckfish IV, represents an important watershed in the band's musical evolution. Co-founders Adrian Fisher and Phil Stuckey tell Prog about the diverse influences that have helped to shape it.
Symphly The Best
In the 70s, Barclay James Harvest almost bankrupted themselves by performing with an orchestra, but, several decades on, they’re celebrating last year’s performance with the Slaithwaite Philharmonic, captured on their latest live record, Philharmonic! The Orchestral Concert. John Lees reminisces over the band’s ambitious early years and bassist Craig Fletcher fills Prog in on JLBJH’s upcoming “progtastic” double album.
We've Not Been Expecting You
The unpredictable Frost* are back with Life In The Wires, a bold double concept album that revisits the mood of Milliontown. Bandleader Jem Godfrey tells Prog why he rolled out the solos on a record he describes as the most fun since their dazzling debut.
FAR HORIZONS AND PANORAMIC AMBITIONS
Dutch five-piece Lesoir have been steadily gathering momentum over the last 15 years, and they hope to build on that with their latest release, Push Back The Horizon. Vocalist/ instrumentalist Maartje Meessen and guitarist Ingo Dassen discuss the creation of their sixth album, working with Muse's production team, and their dream of bringing their intricate music to new audiences.
'I mean, what is classical nowadays?'
Tony Banks reflects on his role as a 21st-century classical composer.
There Can Be Only One!
Never meet your heroes, or so the saying goes, but Opeth have had a blast working with Ian Anderson on their latest, The Last Will And Testament. Bandleader Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson discuss the band's proggiest album to date, the return of the growl and why blood isn't always thicker than water.
