In the Prog Seat: The Albums Right After the Split- Marillion & Fish

Join the In the Prog Seat crew for a discussion of 'the albums after the split-who did it better?' between Marillion 'Seasons End' and Fish 'Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors'. #marillion #fish
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[@Metal5678]

Marbles is a masterpiece neverland is one of the greatest songs of all time.

[@ericporter344]

Neverland is amazing live!

[@jaapstolze2020]

Seasons End is an amazing album with beautiful songs. The guitar solo in Easter still gives me goosebumps, one of Rothery's best solos, amazing song !

[@GarryMiller-vc7my]

Rothery just kept getting better

[@adamski101]

Meh. The Easter solo is massively overrated and nowhere near his best.

[@jaapstolze2020]

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions....@@adamski101

[@VincentBautista365]

I've never been a fan of either band. So I'll just kick back with my sparking water and just listen to the crew.

[@garyjoyce2160]

The new SOT shirt / LUIS: “ IF my grandmother had wheels, she would be a “ Bicycle 🚴 “ 👍💯

[@paullowder7932]

When I listen to Season’s End I can hear Fish singing many of the songs in my head.

[@clansome]

I must admit I can see him singing Uninvited Guest even though that song was a new one for Seasons End.

[@mattwhite6291]

Wow how can anyone follow Steven Reid? Lol! Fantastic show wonderful comments by all. I never got into Marillion in the 80’s however my father was and still is a big fan. He saw Marillion a few times in the 80’s. I got into marillion (notice m not capital M) from ‘ Afraid of Sunlight’ album. I loved from that moment the ‘H’ albums including his ‘ice cream genius’ album. Then the reissues came out in the 90’s of Marillion’s earlier albums with Fish, I then started to have a lot of respect for those albums. However to pick between Vigil of a wilderness and season’s end is difficult, I love both albums dearly. But Seasons end gets my vote, and I agree with Pete ‘Season end’ title track is very moving and to me one of my favourite’ H’ marillion tracks. Great show Guys wonderful topic and I’m looking forward to the next show in this topic👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ericporter344]

Thanks Matt

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thank you Matt!!

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Thanks a lot a great in depth show, good to hear some love for Alex Harvey. Who I was lucky enough to see live a couple of times.

[@richardkline4297]

“Phil Collins looks like Timmy from South Park now” the best line of the night - props to Lewis 😂😂

[@booshting3520]

I think both Fish and Marillion started their separate careers very strong. Sadly Fish was unable to really cultivate a musical identity of his own as timewent on. Some might say Marillion kind of threw theirs away by the end of the 90s. Anyway, I like both at the end of the day though I'd drifted away from Fish over the years. I recently re tidied that by buying all his deluxe albums. Great stuff

[@franckbizouard3357]

Was thrilled by both albums, love them equallly. Favourite from SE : Easter-The Space-Season's end-The king of sunset town Favourite from VIAWOM : Cliché-Vigil in a wilderness of mirrors-Genteman's excuse me-The company-View from the hill I can imagine what an extraordinary album we could have had with Fish still in the band, but I'm quite happy they split, we got 2 fantastic discographies since and I still love Marillion and Fish the same. And I'm so happy we have discovered Steve Hogarth thanks to that change of line-up, what a great singer, perfomer and lyricist he is too (in a total different way from Fish). Must say that the recent live versions of Easter and The space from RAH were the best music things Marillion did for years! Fantastic! I'm gonna listen to Season's end right now, you gave me the desire ;-) and Vigil just after that. I can see similarities with Roger Hodgson and Supertramp back in 1984-85 situation with 2 great albums from each. Perhaps you could do another discussion about that ?

[@IsothermeMusic]

I loved Seasons End. My band opened for Marillion at The Chance in Poughkeepsie on the Season’s End tour in 1990 and it seemed a joyous time in the band’s career.

[@kennycraig6769]

Went to the Marillion Leicester weekend last week. Absolutely superb.

[@FugaziPark]

“Seasons End” was a fantastic start to the Steve Hogarth era. As much as I liked Fish as a vocalist, I consider Hogarth to be the best singer ever, in Prog or any music style for that matter. I think it is comparable in quality to any of the previous albums, which is quite an achievement. Marillion would release some even better albums IMO going forward. I rate it a 9/10. “Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors” is a great debut for Fish as a solo artist, although it’s not quite in the same league as any of the Marillion albums that preceded it. I consider “Sunsets to Empire” from 1997 to be Fish’s greatest achievement as a solo artist but even that doesn’t measure up to the best of Marillion, my favorite band of any genre. I would give “Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors” an 8/10.

[@eduardopereira7207]

Seasons End is my favorite Marillion album of all time, so it's a pretty easy choice for me. But I like the Fish album

[@agr7879]

Both are absolutely outstanding albums

[@kirkwoerner1107]

The band on Vigil is fantastic. Listen to the rhythm section on Family Business.. Vigil is in my top 10 albums easily. Fish's vocals are at his peak. Seasons End is solid, but every song on Vigil is tight, memorable, emotional and diverse.

[@ulfskjol]

Really looking forward to the next podcast concerning Genesis/Peter G.

[@EdMelendez]

I have been waiting for something like this for both of these albums. Thanks!!!

[@ericwalker6068]

I was never a massive fan. Liked “Kayleigh”, but I never invested. I heard Fish had left, but they weren’t on my radar then.fast forward to 2004, and a buddy let me borrow Six Of One, Half Dozen Of The Other,…and “Easter” was life changing. First time I ever saw Marillion live was in Montreal in 2009 when they played Seasons End in full, and it was mind blowing. Like Vigil. Love Seasons End.

[@stevefleck7495]

How am I just seeing this now? Bad on me. You guys are all fantastic - if I met the rest of you (besides Pete) we'd be instant friends. Thanks for the Mark Kelly book, Pete, love it and it's got me revisiting all my Marill/Fish stuff (yet again!). Is there ever a time when it's not an absolute pleasure to do so? We all know that answer.

[@timopaakkonen6462]

Simply love Season's End. What a great album! I am not so familiar with Fish's solo stuff so cannot really say much about it. Love also the Fish era Marillion.

[@mikesodl6159]

Wow!!! What a funderful"concept" video starring a six pack of fellow progsters. My vote has to go to "Vigil" as I lived thru the split and leaned toward the Fish camp when the dust settled. I did, however see the first H tour at the Ritz in NYC about a year or so after seeing Fish and the boys during the Clutching tour in the same venue. Ahh, the good old days! Thanx for the fun video and keep up the good work. Take care and stay alive! ;-}

[@henchman3725]

‘Vigil’ for me. Btw, I believe that “15 stone first footer” is a reference to Fish.

[@Claymore5]

Great discussion on two favourite albums of mine. I would agree with Pete that Season's End is the Hogarth album that I keep going back to. I love the flow of the album - yes including Hooks In You (which doesn't really sound like anything Marillion has ever recording apart from Incommunicado.....hence my thinking about it being written as a single only. Vigil on the other hand is a mighty majestic piece that you have to stop, take the time out, put the headphones on and drift through the entire thing in one go. The listing of the album is fabulous - it all works. To me, this is the Fish equivalent of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells or Ommadawn - you have to give it the time and space it truly deserves. As near a masterpiece that he has got to only letdown by not having the same musicians on every track. As someone who bought both these albums on the first day of release a few weeks apart its hard to choose a favourite - if I'm in the car it would Season's End. If I'm at home on my own - it would be Vigil every time.

[@kamranmalik8546]

I love Seasons End it’s one of my favorite Marillion albums. Others Holidays in Eden, Brave and Marbles are my other favorites

[@mvwmark8955]

What a great show. Well done , chaps. Couple of classic openers on each album here with KOST & VIAWOM which are both equal in awesomeness......., but for the remainders, Fish just pips Marillion at the post here for me.

[@wobvandijk555]

Absolutely love talking or hearing you guys talk about Marillion and Fish! Nothing can beat those first 4 Marillion albums for me but i love these 2 as well.....Vigil would be my choice though.....

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thanks for watching!

[@craigsmallman1035]

Looking forward to watching this later after my shift at work. Just been to my first marillion weekend over the weekend at de monfort hall, Leicester. Amazing weekend at a brilliant venue. Absolutely nailed their new record on Saturday night. Also played seasons end (ironically) in full on Sunday night. Quality stuff 👌

[@maddysmith8846]

Much as I like vigil, it’s Season End for me. Clutching was such a brilliant album that almost anything was going to be a let down but absolutely that didn’t happen. Although Fish and H are very different one thing that links them (imo) is that their work over the piece has themes of social conscience and investigates relationships, and looks at our psychological being. Regarding early H Marillion live, I’d strongly recommend Made Again released 96. Two shows stitched together on first CD - Hammersmith 91 and Rotterdam 96. 2nd CD, Brave in Paris 94. Hammersmith’s Splintering Heart into Easter is just sublime, then No One Can, Waiting to Happen, Cover My Eyes, The Space. 30 years later they are still as strong.

[@richardcharlesworth6069]

24 hours after my post below I have revisited both albums. I have also tried to remember their performances in the respective tours (I saw Fish at Manchester Apollo and Marillion at Newcastle City Hall). I'm just going to say I think both albums are still good and I couldn't choose between them!

[@michaelfavreau7617]

I seen Marillion 26 times . 2 times with Fish . Misplaced tour and Clutching. My choice for the topic would be Seasons End . But Vigil is one of may favorite songs ever.

[@charleswhite1201]

Someone complained about the drumming on Script, i never noticed as it's my fav Fish era album, the whole thing is a masterpiece the whole way through

[@GeeVanderplas]

I don't think the drumming on the album was the problem, it was the struggle of the band to get that performance out of Mick Pointer

[@danbretherton]

You guys need to do a specific neo prog show maybe best 5 80s neo prog albums

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Thanks, gents, for some great discussion In The Prog Seat. Not really familiar with either of these albums so took a listen to both. Though first impressions may not mean much, my inclination would be Season's End by Marillion though Luis' discussion of why he would not pick that album certainly comes across even in an initial listening. An interesting show with everyone's history with the band before and after the split, particularly Steven's heavy emotional investment in these artists. Thanks to everyone for your time participating in this episode.

[@ericporter344]

Thanks as always John! Thanks for checking the albums out too

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thanks as ever JMW. Always a pleasure!

[@b1agcq95]

Great show tonight guys. Always love talking Marillion. I did see Fish with Marillion 3 times in Toronto (Fugazi, Misplaced and Clutching). Like everyone else, this was tough choosing between both albums. I thoroughly love both recordings. I will give a very slight edge to Seasons End. Steven, if you're reading this, you must find away to attend a Marillion Weekend. It will leave you with a lifetime of great memories. Words can't describe what fun they are. There is still Lisbon and Montreal this year.

[@terrywalker8446]

Cracking episode gents 👍🏻. Back in the 80s I was a young headbanger and loved Rainbow, Priest, Maiden etc but I did like some of Marillion's stuff and had all the Fish era albums. When they split I was disappointed but nothing like as gutted as I was about Dio leaving Sabbath 😭. For the last 30 years I've heard bits of H era Marillion and it does nothing for me, and heard nothing by Fish but my tastes have been way heavier. Around a year ago I started digging a little deeper into some of the prog bands that I've always "quite" liked and developed a newfound love of Fish era Marillion and some of the Fish solo stuff so this was a really enjoyable episode as you caught me in "prog mode" and I really enjoyed everyone's take on these albums. As a result, I'll give Seasons End a listen tonight as you've all convinced me that it's worth checking out. (I've watched live clips of H era Marillion and they just do nothing for me but I'll try and approach Seasons End with an open mind😇).

[@mbacko1]

I started listening to Marillion right after Fish left and I started with Clutching at Straws and Season's End. I enjoy both albums, but Season's End is one of my favorite Marillion albums of either era. The Space is one of my top 5 Marillion songs across the whole catalog, so I would have to go with Season's End.

[@arejaycee5484]

Saw Fish in a town hall in Lochgelly in the early 90s with about 100 others and it was mind blowing What a performer.

[@jimmypage2843]

Seasons End is amazing. They still regularly play songs from that album 30 years later. I prefer H over Fish anyway and to me he IS Marillion. 33 years and 15 albums later with the same line-up proves me right.

[@sspbrazil]

I really liked both albums, I remember clearly when they both came out and they are quite different from each other, but both solid albums, I was a huge fan of Fish’s solo material too for a good while, but I never find myself listening to him anymore, I’ve listened to his releases when they come out including his last album, sadly I don’t really connect to his music anymore, I am far more of a Marillion fan, but I do watch Fish on Fridays Facebook live chats, so the edge goes to Season’s End for me. Hahaha, it’s Eric’s fault, but great episode despite being so tough. I do agree with Luis though, “Uninvited Guest” and “Hooks In You” are not good songs and I’ve kept them off the album when I made tapes or a playlist of the album and replaced them with “The Bell in The Sea” and “The Release”, so I don’t have to listen to them. Lol.

[@ericporter344]

Agree ssp, Fish lost me, I like some of his stuff to varying degrees, but stopped buying his releases. Marillion have had their ups and downs too, but I like a lot of what they’ve done

[@sspbrazil]

@@ericporter344 I think for me as I’ve grown older I just don’t connect to Fish’s lyrics anymore, as a younger person I did, I think maybe it’s because he’s so wordy and there is a disconnect in my brain now because I’ve matured as a person and I don’t feel like being stuck in that mindset that he exudes in his music, his lyrics are still a bit childish I have to say sadly. While H can be wordy too, I think it’s a different thing all together and it just feels like as he’s grown older his lyrics have matured and he writes about things and observations of a man of his age where as Fish still seems to write like he’s a budding. 20 something poet and I’m past middle age now, so I don’t connect to that.

[@nrood79]

I'm in the Marillion camp. It's very subjective, and depends on your personal experience. I was never really a big Fish Solo era fan. He is a good singer, a great lyricist, and an interesting guy. However, I had Sunsets on Empire back when it was new. There's like 2 good songs. I listened to Vigil today. There are some nice tracks, but also it kinda sounds like the B Sides from Clutching at Straws. It's not really breaking any new ground. Hooks in You is a fun song to play on guitar, for all the crap Pete gives it. King of Sunset Town hits you like a ton of bricks, and the lyrics are still very relevant today. Easter, Seasons End, and the Space are also very strong tracks.

[@jimhawkes]

Really interesting discussion as always gents. I absolutely agree with everything said. For me "Vigil" just about edges it.

[@arunsabherwal6256]

Both are great albums. However we should not forget that an estb band has a safety net especially with Rothery. FISH was on his own and had to gather a bunch of musicians for the Vigil album. Lyrically and tone wise Fish's album is excellent and reminiscent of classic Marillion, whereas SE has sheen , better production understandably so, so there is a general tendency to choose SE over Vigil, however will always be a FISH fan and go with Vigil and this album also indicates the powerhouse that FISH is even on his own.

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thanks for watching and commenting Arun!

[@arunsabherwal6256]

@@TranquilityFireReid Always a pleasure (a) to watch these shows on In The Prog Seat (thanks to Eric Porter for conceiving the idea) and of course (b) corresponding with Steven (here and elsewhere 😂👍)

[@ejc636]

Another fantastic episode. 👏

[@tod3msn]

A lot of talking but misses Steve Rothery’s brilliant talent . This man is a hugely gifted musician. Fish was a typical lead singer who got all the attention but what he did not consider is that the other guys in Marillion were contributing to his being a "big Fish" in a "little pond" that was gaining more popularity in the MTV video era. Steve Rothery is really good and I highly urge Marillion fans to watch the Steve Rothery Band clips on KZbin. This guy had a lot to do with Fish being so popular.

[@elsabolton2410]

Great chat chaps. Fish era Marillion are my favourite band and I love all 4 albums and will play them till my dying day. So when Fish left, it was devastating. I think 4 Fish solo albums and 4 Hogarth era albums are great (Sunsets, Feast, Weltschmerz, Brave, Marbles, Strange Engine) and both these are in those 8, but which do I prefer (today)? Seasons End……….just!,

[@KarlGo]

Idea for the next In The Prog Seat t-shirt: "If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle".

[@ron6927]

Really enjoyed this show even though i know neither album. Back in those days Kayleigh had me kinda lost with Marillion and i didn't pay attention after that. Only the recent ad for the latest Marillion album has caught my attention and must check that out. This makes me want to spend some time with both albums though. Only live encounter was with Fish when he appeared at a SAHB based show when part of the band played as Party Boys, with Dan McAfferty, and Fish. He sang Boston Tea Party and Faith Healer. Did them well enough but Faith Healer for me is one of those songs that should be left alone, a bit like Bohemian Rhapsody. It made sense for him to open with that, as Steven said. Would love to have heard what song Luis was talking about when his mic cut out, and what he was saying.

[@lazarossamaras4427]

Hi guys, for me , the obvious choice is Seasons End. It is an album full of emotion, with peaks and valleys, and everything between. The Space, Hooks in you, Uninvited guest, Easter etc. Top class. I have had no history with Fish's music until 2000 when I listened to Sunsets on empire which is great. So, I went back to his output which is always exciting. But in the end, Seasons End is an album that I have grown up with. Referring back to the softies show, the latest Fish album is superb. Garden of remembrance brought me to tears, having experienced the loss of my mother after a battle with Alzheimer's. Cheers

[@OMW66]

Hi guys! I was 22 back in ‘88 and a huge Marillion-fan. Fish’s lyrics, his unique voice and his ability to always leave his signature on every song. And the band. Steve Rothery and Pete Trewavas, Mark Kelly and Ian Mosley… Five reasons to love the band right there. But most of all it was the songs. One of a kind tunes even if influenced by the likes of Genesis and other prog acts. No-one sounded like Marillion with Fish. So. When Fish left the band i was heartbroken. Both me and my brother. Well. To get to the point. It’s an easy one for me. «Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors» is a much, much better album than «Seasons End». And that’s because of the songs, and the quality of the melodies. The new Marillion became way too poppy for me, and Steve Hogarth just wasn’t my kind of a vocalist. He was way too polished for my taste and sounded nothing like Derek William Dick. That didn’t work for us. I’m a big fan of Fish now and have always been. Marillion doesn’t do much for me i’m sorry to say. The lack of soul and the streamlined smooth feeling. Fish moved in a way more interesting direction, for me. More balls. More substance. More depht and more poetry. Anyway. That’s my take on Marillion and Fish. Great topic, Pete.

[@kingcurry6594]

I take the total opposite view. Seasons End is THE best Marillion album, just better than Fugazi. Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors is a good album, but not a patch on Seasons End. And I have no personal preference between Fish and H.

[@OMW66]

@@kingcurry6594 That’s great. As it should be. We all have our entrances and exits to the music we love. It’s all about who we are.

[@michaelressner2425]

I have the same feeling as you of the Fish and Hogarth era. Probably because we were with Marillion from the beginning and loved them with Fish.

[@OMW66]

@@michaelressner2425 Yeah. That’s probably it. Got to follow Fish.

[@clansome]

@@OMW66 Ironically looking back at all of this 30+ years later and having been through all before a decade earlier with Genesis, yes I am THAT old. I look at the first 4 albums as a whole and regard the Fish era as the "poppier" of the two. The band grew up when h joined imo and became a group of 5 and not 1 + 4. That said I love Seasons End even now, Vigil was a great album but Fish solo was never what he was with Marillion.

[@nikolademitri731]

My body is so ready for that Krautrock show!

[@danlovingmusic1342]

Both bands did very well at first after Fish departure but they pretty much struggled for the rest of the 90’s. I love both their work but nothing has or will ever match Marillion of the Fish era. So much charisma, energy and a total different music

[@henrikkarlsson1088]

With Fish Marillion were the best band on the planet. Saw them live three times in my teens and are still grateful for that. I bought both "Vigil" and "Season´s end" but thought both were missing something. Marillion became boring to me and after Fish next album "Internal exile" I left him also. I have since tried...but no I still find Marillion boring and I envy those who like the H era and It´s my problem, certainly not the musics fault. Fish..caught up with him lately and really dig "Feast" a lot but not his latest. Saw him live twice and it was like an old friend visiting. Still the charisma makes up for his singing. Great topic!

[@michaelressner2425]

I agree with you even though a have followed Fish during the years and listen now more and enjoy some songs of Marillion with Hogarth.

[@johnspokus]

Like both albums, but I'll give Marillion the win in this comparison.

[@matsetizar65]

Fantastic topic Pete.

[@loudrimshot]

Not Prog but Van Halen and David Lee Roth both came out with albums within a month or two of each other after the split. 5150 and Eat Em and Smile. Both tours also happened at the same time as well.

[@mikephillips8810]

Was a huge Marillion fan from 1982, saw them live first in 1982 (and danced with Fish when he jumped into the audience at a student gig). Marillion continued to get better post-Fish, and became better musicians, but in a different direction from older Marillion, and much as I still like them today, not the direction i enjoyed as much. Fish though for me was the spirit of Marillion. He also took Mark Wilkinson with him for the artwork. So for me, Fish felt closer to original Marillion than Hogarth-era Marillion did, even though Fish also diversified his sound. I still like both, but have only seen Fish live post-Marillion, but have not seen Hogarth-era Marillion yet. We are blessed now with a decent back catalogue by both artists.

[@fingersmaster]

Ah, guys, you should really do one on Genesis's members first solo album. Not ranking or which is best, but just tell us what you think about them and how they announce or not each member's future musical direction and also how they contribute or reflect the future of Genesis. Philips : The Geese & The Ghost Hackett : Voyage of the Acolyte Banks : A Curious Feeling Rutherford : Smallcreeps Day Gabriel : Car Collins : Face Value I really think there is an interesting discussion there.

[@jamesthousandkings5406]

'Season's End' is the easy pick. I love Fish, his lyrics and his absolutely larger than life stage presence, but Marillion, to me, is all about the band and the great music they make together. I rank 'Marbles' highest in their catalogue, and have really enjoyed their most recent release 'An Hour Before Its Dark', especially the epic 'Care'. Can't wait to see them in a month for the Marillion weekend here in Montreal!

[@FundamentalsUK]

I saw them on the Script and Fugazi tours, great nostalgia, but the H era eclipses the Fish era imo.

[@pete8020]

Another good discussion. I only saw Fish once, it was at Hammersmith Odeon around 1984 time. He has also done some acting as well. In a series I was watching recently he played a club doorman and he was interviewed 2 or 3 times by detectives about a serious assault. If anybody wants to watch it, it's on youtube. Enter The Bill series 14 episode 44. The episode is called Manhunt and lasts for about 25 mins. Fish first appears around the 6.40 point.

[@t702942]

I love Marillion with H, and even though the Fish album is fantastic, "Seasons End" wins this one for me, easily.

[@richardcharlesworth6069]

I liked both but especially Vigil as it still sounded like Marillion to me. Bizarrely I couldn't get into either in the albums after. The demo song recordings for the 5th album on the Clutching CD makes me think it was a real shame they split. The recording of Story from a Thin Wall is really odd with the lyrics from Family Business and music from Berlin.

[@iainholmes2735]

Great episode. I have often wondered what would've happened had Fish stayed though.

[@jasonburke7031]

Listened to Marillion from the early days but Season's End was so good that the loss of Fish didn't bother me. Like Pete, it's still my favourite H album. Need to listen to Vigil.

[@davecomstock9544]

I also never really knew of Marillion until Incommunicado. Ironically, the first time I saw either Fish or the h-lead Mariilion live was on...back-to-back nights in 1997!!! I saw Fish on August 25, 1997 at a small club in Fremont, CA (and got to meet him both before and after the show), then Marillion the next night at The Fillmore in San Francisco. The East Bay show was the next-to-last show on Fish's Sunsets On Empire Tour, and Marillion was playing just the third date on their fan-sponsored, North American This Strange Tour (I was one of the contributors). My friends and I were even wondering if Fish might make an appearance in SF, since he had a break between before his final SoE date. I've seen Marillion two additional times (Marbles and F.E.A.R. Tours) and Fish in 2008 (13th Star Tour). For me, I'd give the nod to Season's End, but the songs A Gentleman's Excuse Me and Vigil are the equal of anything on the Marillion album. A funny story: I happened to be at another concert in 1990 shortly after Marillion passed through the Bay Area on their Season's End Tour, but I hadn't heard anything off of the album yet: I only knew the band I had just recently gotten into suddenly had a different vocalist. I happened to be standing next to someone with a denim jacket with a huge Season's End patch on the back. I said something like, "I haven't heard anything with the new singer yet. What do you think of him?" And he replied something like, "Steve Hogarth is GREAT! It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I bet you'll really like the new album." I think I bought SE a few days later, and he was absolutely right.

[@ik8034]

I saw Marilion and Fish on both tours at this time. They were both fantastic. Marillion went on to make some great albums. Unfortunately, I struggled with Fish after VIAWOM which is just brilliant. Got Seasons End on vinyl signed by the band at a meet at tower records in London.

[@davidclark2208]

As I told Steven ,I was not listen to the news as that time in my life so when I got the Season End I thought that I got the wrong cd!!, after that with Marillion it was a very long time for me to get back in to them,as with Fish I always like most of his music

[@mickb44]

seasons end is still on my playlist ,a classic album, hogarth took over from a fish fanatical marillion fan base and over the years has changed them into one of the best prog rock bands of all time

[@mre8096]

Fish had massive charisma and stage presents that took a lot of the Marillion fans with him when he left the band, including me. I loved the Wilderness album at the time, and although I purchased Season End it did not get much love. BUT today that has changed, time has given me the chance to revisit Easter, Estonia, The Space et al, and I now fully appreciate what a great album it is. If one took go back in time, I would get the EMI management to give Marillion a break after Clutching. They had been going full pelt for 6 years, and non-stop after the success of Misplaced Childhood. A bit of R'n'R is what Fish needed, who knows if he had got a little time to himself, he just might of stayed with Marillion . Apart they never reached the heights they attained when they were together. (By the way Steve Hogarth is great too, but that's another story ).

[@craigsmallman1035]

Love them both. Love cliche, but ive got to side with seasons. Berlin is so haunting , seasons end Easter are just gorgeous songs. Looking back you'd have to say the split was a good thing as we've ended up with 3 artist's for the price of one effectively.

[@erikscholten5434]

Great show. With all of you missing Marillion live in the eighties I think at the time they never reached in the USA the status they had in Europe. They headlined a Milton Keynes festival with Gary Moore and Magnum supporting for over 50,000 people. Probably the band I saw most in the eighties (next to Dio). So when they split up thousands were very keen to see what happened. I attended both Marillion touring Season's End and Fish touring Vigil. In the begininng it definitely looked like Fish had won (bigger venue, better album for me) But than Fish lost it a bit on Internal Exile, the covers album and Suits. When Marillion gave us Brave and Afraid of Sunlight. Later on Fish came with Sunsets and Marillion downed a bit (.com and Radiation) . In the end I love both, but at the start Vigil was my favorite. Live Marillion were better throughout the years, as they are the better band. Hogarth not singing any Fugazi songs remains a pity. During one of the infamous Marillion weekends in Minehead visitors could vote their favorite song and the band would play the top ten one night. In order to please Hogarth suddenly Dry Land was number nine and I don't think anyone can call that his/her favorite Marillion song.

[@kenl2091]

Never like to argue with the experts but I was there at the time. The second wave of UK prog had been and (largely) gone by the end of the seventies (bands like Druid, The Enid, UK, Alan Parsons Project either borrowed ideas from or had members from the original first wave) whereas Marillion, Pallas, Pendragon, Twelfth Night were inevitably labelled as neo-prog rather than second or third wave. 'Neo-prog' has evolved to identifying the 'sound' that most of these bands embraced, rather than the specific early eighties period but I don't remember 'second wave' ever being used. Meanwhile, Marillion took a few albums to get into their stride post-split whereas Fish started strongly but dwindled thereafter (terrible generalisation but accuracy would take too many characters!)

[@TranquilityFireReid]

I agree Ken, I'd call this era new-prog as well, but I didn't want to start the show with a barney!

[@paullowder7932]

I loved both albums but I soon lost interest in both bands. In more recent times I’ve gone back and fallen in love with the Hogarth era Marillion stuff.

[@paullowder7932]

I’m going to have to step in and defend Hooks In You, but I am more of a hard rock fan than a prog fan. It’s just a great up tempo rock song. Maybe not very Marillion, but still a good song. It fits in the album because it gives it some “oomph” when it needed it.

[@TranquilityFireReid]

I'm a rocker too Paul. I do like "Hooks In You", but for me it was a poor choice to introduce Steve Hogarth to the world, not because he couldn't sing it tremendously well, but because it's not indicative of the album or band. It's cool live as well!!

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

Fish writes lyrics, not music so his albums vary in quality depending on who he collaborates with. "Vigil" is a very strong album and surprised me with its quality back in 1989. Micky Simmonds had large creative input into the music. I remember being very disappointed when "Internal Exile" came out. "Seasons End" is a transitional album. I remember loving parts of it and hating other tunes, especially "Hooks In You". The lyrics of course are lacking with Fish's departure. However, Hogarth slowly won me over on subsequent albums.

[@graemew2600]

Vigil, easily. But that’s because I was the from the beginning with Marillion, and Fish was Marillion. I know he didn’t write the music, but he was the presence that got Marillion noticed. He was the guy that did all the promotion, something that band members, on reflection, said they should maybe have taken more of a share of. I like Marillion post Fish, but its never been the same for me. I have all the albums and went to see them during the Sounds That Can’t be Made tour. I was slightly disappointed, so far on since Fish had left, that H still felt he had to make a comment about Fish. But mention Fish in a Marillion context now and the Uber Marillion fans jump up and down screaming 30 years! A big part of the early Marillion appeal was Fish’s lyrics. That’s possibly why my preference is for Fish’s solo stuff over Marillion. H’s lyrics can be hit or miss for me - some great lines but some cringe ones, too, and sometimes in the space of the same song.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Hey guys , The Uninvited Guest is a very creative drum track. Like Ian`s 50 Way`s .

[@glynlewis5512]

Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors for me - the songs are much more memorable and interesting compared to Seasons End. I've rated each song of both albums out of 10. Vigil In A Wilderness of Mirrors: 84%; Seasons End: 69%.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Moving forward with this topic , I hope you experts do a Supertramp episode. Brother Where You Bound & In The Eye Of The Storm. Both incredible albums . We`re lucky these 2 records were made.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Great idea!

[@slainteron4027]

Lady Nina got pretty good rotation in Virginia on a station called B106.7

[@markbelluo8841]

Vigil is an amazing cd

[@markfoster2858]

Not even close for me. Season's End still holds up whereas Vigil never did.

[@lifeofbryon]

They play The Space almost every tour

[@EdMelendez]

Here is an impossible question. How about this. What would the answer be if the decision were not between Marillion and Fish, but two bands that had nothing to do with each other?

[@alnitak208]

I loved both VIAWOM and SE, but I gave up after those two great albums. I was really disappointed by the next albums by both Marillion and Fish. The magic was no more, and never came back.

[@chiragchittar4179]

I really like seasons end it's my favourite marillion album, I think the Hogarth era though more moody definitely has a very a unique sound that makes them stands out. I like albums like the misplaced childhood from the fish era but it doesn't do much to me overall (also maybe cause of the production). I do find that my enthusiasm vanes as I hear those albums from start to finish. I have never been a huge fish fan as I also find him quite similar to Peter gabriel. I have to give his latest solo albums a shot but for this battle it has to be seasons end.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

I prefer Seasons End to the Fish album which I also like, I think this Marillion album even tops Clutching at Straws that's how brilliant it is and the special mood it creates. Holidays in Eden is okay too but it can't touch the first one with H.

[@chiragchittar4179]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 completely agree I listened to this a lost during the onset of covid. There is nothing in prog or rock history that sounds like this imo. Hogarth also has a unique style. My favorite marillion album as well!

[@stephenbrown4211]

Devestated when Fish left. Seen them five times up to that point. But when the respective new albums came out, I was there. Seasons End I liked, ok it wasn’t Fish but I liked Hogarths voice. The songs were good (After Me and Easter are still favourites). It did lack the passion of Fish though. Vigil was great though and the subject matters were more hard hitting than Fish era Marillion. I like both. Saw them both live in their new eras. Marillion were a let down. Fish was great. Never saw Marillion again. Still bought the albums but although I like the direction they’ve gone in they’re not the same

[@ShinDSER]

Seasons End is good. Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors is my second favourite album of all time. No contest here.

[@johncarr2806]

Fish is still on every Friday.

[@madjock-ig5bv]

Easy. Vigil. Lyrically it is utterly tremendous.

[@delorangeade]

I'm firmly in the Season's camp on this one. As a vocalist Hogarth won me over the moment the chorus of King of Sunset Town kicked in. It took the musical possibilities of the band to a whole different level. On the subsequent tour I found him to be a very engaging presence on stage as well. I think over the years he has also become a more evocative and emotionally direct lyricist then Fish as well. Vigil, I played a lot when it first came out, and I went to see Fish on tour as well. It was good, but not as good as Marillion, and I soon lost interest in Fish's solo career. The first four Marillion albums are good for an occasional nostalgia trip, but they sound quite dated and irrelevant now. Marillion went on to better things.

[@tod3msn]

Marillion were better. Musicianship was superior to Fish.

[@EdMelendez]

I don't think the musicianship of "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" gets the respect it deserves.

[@qroqqle]

orange is the new yellow

[@franciskocher200]

😄👍

[@johnnyjohansson1736]

First song I heard with Hogarth on vocals was Uninvited guest. I loved it imidietly and got the single, but to me Matillion lost something when Fish left. My brother came home with Vigil and my, how good it was. Both albums are great but to me Vigil is number one. I've always go to the Fish albums of Marillion and I have more Fish solo albums than I have Hogath Marillion. I like them but to me Fish is better and the Fish era of Marillion beats them all.

[@gordonmcinnes8328]

The thing that splits them for me? Fish is lyrically better. Some of the Marillion lyrics are a bit 'teenage poetry' ish. Fish is more articulate, deeper and more imaginative with the lyrical possibilities.

[@Sal-7777]

Season's End gets my vote! Marillion w/ Steve h is BETTER than Fish's solo.

[@lh5942]

Sin dudas Season End es el mejor trabajo de Marillion incluyendo la era Fish.

[@mvancha]

Hi Guys. I once suggested a theme of "what album to listen to first if you don't care for a band but hope you could"....This applies to me for Marillion, among other bands. I am a longtime musician and I like all kinds of music, including prog, classical and even big band music. However, I have never heard anything that interests me by them. Pete says is he bored by most of their past 20 years of output, except for their latest few albums but I am bored by everything I have heard by them. What would someone recommend for me to start with? I have tried getting into their "classic" albums but I cannot find a single song that I like. Thanks. Mike