LANDMARQ - BIOGRAPHY, INFO, REVIEWS, etc SINCE it's formation in London in 1990, where the band is still based, Landmarq have so far released seven CD albums, two of which have been recorded live at various concerts in the UK and Europe and a third live CD album taken from the DVD 'Turbulence - Live In Poland'. Initially signing to a Dutch record company (SI Records) then forming their own label, Synergy Records, the band soon firmly established itself within the world of Progressive-rock, though their appeal extended beyond these boundaries to a more mainstream audience. Landmarq’s original vocalist Damian Wilson left the band after three very well-received albums to concentrate on his solo career and the band found a replacement in Ian ‘Moon’ Gould. ‘Moon’ spent a year with the band, playing various gigs in the UK and Holland, before deciding to move on. It was at this point that Landmarq decided to go for a radical change to it’s sound and recruited the excellent voice of award-winning vocalist and long-time friend of the band, Tracy Hitchings. Landmarq have played concerts in the UK, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, the USA and Mexico; both as support and as headliners at various festivals and music venues. The band have worked with many well-known artists including Marillion, John Wetton (ex-Asia, Roxy Music, etc.), Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis), Hugh McDowell (ELO), Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), IQ, Pendragon, Arena and even Suzi Quatro plus many others. Apart from making strong in-roads into Europe and America, Landmarq have reached further territories worldwide, as far afield as Russia, eastern Europe, the Far East, and Australia through various magazine/webzine articles, interviews, radio air-play and also compilation CDs from various afore-mentioned music magazines (see the Discography and Reviews pages on the bands website for full details). Meanwhile, the bands very first DVD was released in March 2006. Entitled 'Turbulence – Live In Poland', this features Landmarq filmed in concert at the Wyspianski Theatre, Katowice, November 2005. The DVD was released by the Polish label Metal Mind Productions and has received some of the bands best reviews to date. The DVD also comprises a wealth of bonus material including audio and video archive tracks, an interview with the band, a huge photo gallery and much more. A serious setback was to hit Landmarq in 2007 when singer Tracy Hitchings revealed she had been diagnosed with two forms of Cancer. This was a major blow for everyone – not least for Tracy herself – and the ongoing recording of the bands next album was put on hold. Thankfully, following a strict regime of holistic and dietary treatments, plus sheer determination, Tracy was able to deal with her condition and following further tests was given the ‘all clear’. In the meantime, feeling better in mind, body and voice, she returned to the studio to lay down the final vocal tracks for the new Landmarq album. In 2008 and early 2009, aside from continuing with production of the long-awaited new studio album, some of the members of Landmarq also became involved with other projects. This included drummer Dave Wagstaffe joining Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash for some extensive touring in the UK and Europe. Keyboardist Mike Varty was also invited to tour with ex-Marillion drummer Mick Pointer for his celebratory 'Script For A Jesters Tour' gigs. At the time of writing, the new album is close to completion and the band look forward to its release as soon as possible as well as performing a series of live dates in support of the new release. - Line-up: Tracy Hitchings - lead vocals Uwe D'Rose - guitars Steve Gee - basses Mike Varty - keyboards Dave Wagstaffe - drums - Landmarq CD product: 1. Solitary Witness (1992) 2. Infinity Parade (1993) 3. The Vision Pit (1995) 4. Science of Coincidence (1998) 5. Thunderstruck (1999) – live I 6. Aftershock (2002) – live II 7. New studio album (due 2007) - Landmarq DVD product: 1. Turbulence - Live in Poland (2006) - Other CD products featuring Landmarq: 1. SI 10th Anniversary Compilation Disc SI Music SIMPly 7 1991 First-ever CD featuring Landmarq. This compilation from the bands first record label in Holland features the abridged version of 'Suite: St. Helens' 2. SI (Germany) Compilation Disc Too SI Music SIMPly 22 1992 features track not used for first studio album 'Solitary Witness', entitled: 'Borrowed Mind'. This track was later included on the Japanese release of 'Infinity Parade'. 3. SI Music Sampler 'Progressive & Melodic Rock Vol.1' SI Music SIMPly 24 1993 features 'Terracotta Army' 4. SI Music Sampler 'Progressive & Melodic Rock' Vol.3 SI Music SIMPly 49 1994 features 'Gaia's Waltz' 5. Master Volume Perfect Compilation Series Vol.5 Zero Corp. XRCN-1145 1994 Japanese compilation CD - features 'Embrace' 6. 'Classic Rock' (promo only) compilation CD SI Music SIMPly 10001 1994 features 'Embrace' 7. Hard Rock Magazine ‘Ltd Edition’ compilation CD CNR Music 3007672 1996 (features 'Cutting Room' & 'Bed Of Nails'). French magazine sampler CD also includes Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Aragon and others. (Promotion only) 8. 'Mellotron 20' CD Sampler 20 1998 Compilation CD from 'Mellotron' magazine (Argentina) featuring 'The Overlook', taken from 'Science Of Coincidence'. (Other bands featured include The Flower Kings and Collage). 9. ‘Music From The Underground’ sysy CD-0398 1998 Compilation CD from German magazine ‘Eclipsed’ (Pink Floyd/Art Rock specialist). Features track ‘The Vision Pit’ from CD ‘Science Of Coincidence’. 10. ‘ProgAid - All Around The World’ F2-2005035 2005 Not a Landmarq track, as such, but a CD single released in aid of the victims of the 2004 Tsunami disaster. Featuring many Prog-based artists including Tracy, Steve and Dave from Landmarq plus other artists including Neal Morse, Ant Phillips, Oliver Wakeman, Pete Trewavas and others. 11. ‘The Hawke Chill-Out Sessions’ n/a 2006 CD compiled by radio presenter and DJ Terry Hawke with artists he has featured on his show on Harborough FM Radio. Includes the track ‘Heritage’ from the live CD ‘Aftershock’. 12. 'Mellotron 35 - Decimo Anniversario' CD Sampler 35 2006 10th anniversary compilation CD from 'Mellotron' magazine (Argentina) featuring 'Thunderstruck (live)', taken from 'Turbulence - Live in Poland'. (Also included are Steve Hackett, Frost, Magenta and others). ------------------------------------------------------- Review extracts for DVD 'Turbulence - Live In Poland': ------------------------------------------------------- "...Landmarq is (one of) the leaders of the British neo-progressive scene...Here you'll find majestic guitars and keyboards, sophisticated compositions and Tracy Hitchings' beautiful, mighty voice!..." Amazon.com Editorial "...Tracy Hitchings's soaring voice rises above the lavish guitars and keyboards in Landmarq's 2005 live performance in Poland. This release contains rare and previously unreleased tracks from one of Britain's leading neo-progressive rock bands..." CD Universe "...UK prog-rockers LANDMARQ give a dynamic, passionate performance in Poland...Best new progressive music I've heard in years!..." Amazon.com customer review by Jeffery K. Matheus (Indianapolis, IN United States) May 4, 2006 Amazon.com "...Fans of the band and everybody who likes superb neo progressive rock music will enjoy this splendid live performance filmed the best possible way. Let’s hope that the new studio album will be of the same high level..." 4* Henri Strik - Background Magazine (Summer Edition 2006) "...It is quite a treat to get to watch and listen to a great Neo Prog band like Landmarq in a live setting, even more when it is excellently filmed and recorded..." Proggnosis 2006 "...An important contribution is made by Tracy Hitchings, putting her impressive vocal talents against the background of a very fine theatrical performance. The ideal progrock vamp, no doubt..." Rating: 9/10 - 'Choice of the Month' (May 2006) Prog-Nose.org ------------------------------------- Review extracts for various CD's etc. ------------------------------------- "...As a presenter of a prog rock show on local radio, I can't think of anything better than playing Landmarq on the show!..." Dave O'Neil - Phoenix FM 93.7 (UK), 2006 "...one of Europe's most evocative and emotional bands..." Terry Hawke - Radio Harborough FM 95.1 (UK), 2004 "...This six-track live album...provides an opportunity to hear interpretations of 'After I Died', the sumptuous 'Embrace', as well as a thrilling instrumental medley of 'Ta Jiang' and 'Narovlya'..." Nick Shilton, Classic Rock Magazine (UK), Issue 50, February 2003 "...The fact that the guys had been playing together for many years certainly show as they have a total understanding of what they are about and with Tracy giving it her all, this captures one of the UK’s most under-rated prog bands at their best..." Kev Rowland, Feedback Magazine (UK), Issue 73, March/April 2003 "...Landmarq is in many ways the most interesting and original neo-progressive band of the decade..."; "...Tracy Hitchings vocals are great, strong and interesting, no whining here..." Reviews from Amazon.com (USA) Editorial Team and customers, 'Thunderstruck', 2000-2002 "...Plenty of punchy percussion and sweet guitar...there's much cheery neo-prog, sometimes veering to harder rocking..." Tim Jones, Record Collector Magazine (UK) Issue 277 Sep 2002. "...the band can be very proud with this new album...again a CD which is one of the best of 1998..." Henri Strik, Background Magazine (Holland) Issue 65, Summer 1998, ‘Science of Coincidence’ CD review. "...Thunderstruck presents the best side of the band. The atmospheric album is a great addition to your Landmarq collection, or a great starting point for new fans.... Thunderstruck probably is the best live album of the year. 9 out of 10..." Jan-Jaap de Haan, DPRP website (Holland), January 2000. "...'The Overlook' is the records pearl...this song is a landmark of the ’90s and a grand finale of a great record – an indication of a great future placing them along with the biggest bands of the nineties..." Thunderstruck review by Andres valle ‘Mellotron’ magazine (Argentina), July 1998. "...'The Vision Pit' is a beautifully crafted album and gets better with subsequent listening..."('Science Of Coincidence') "...If you do nothing more this year - beg, steal or borrow a copy of this album. You won't be disappointed". Reviews of 'Science Of Coincidence' and 'The Vision Pit' Bryan Dray, 'New Horizons' website (UK), March 1999. "...I spent a cold winter's weekend typing this up and I enjoyed revisiting these amazing albums..." Terry Tucker, 'European Progressive Rock Reviews' Part of reviews of all four Landmarq studio albums, 1999. --- Visit Landmarq’s official website, 'The Spiral Staircase', for the complete biography, discography, photos, reviews, audio and much more... Website: www.landmarq.net Email: info@landmarq.net MySpace: www.myspace.com/landmarq ©Landmarq 2009