NEW YORK (Dead Ringer Records) - 21 years after the release of their first album 'script For A Jester's Tear' in 1983) MARILLION are releasing their 13th studio album, 'Marbles,' on October 5, 2004 (Dead Ringer Records). 'Marbles' is a CD packed full of atmospheric and stirring songs. Intense, deep-seated and musically rewarding, the CD had a pan European release May 3rd through their own label Intact Records with international distribution and licensing handled by Absolute worldwide.
The single 'You're Gone' charted at No 7 in the UK (the week's second highest entry) and at No 8 in Holland, earning the band a slot on Top Of The Pops. The airplay on the single 'You're Gone' has been phenomenal from all areas of the press throughout Europe.
MARILLION have a unique relationship with their fans. In 1997 the fans learnt via an email newsletter that, due to lack of record company support, the band could not afford to fund a US tour. One of the fans instigated a whip-round and raised $60,000 enabling the tour to take place.
The release of the album 'Marillion.com' in 1999 flagged their newly launched website (and record label) and this online source of information became an open conduit between band and fans.
At that point the band decided to adopt a completely new approach to the way their albums were funded and their 12th album 'Anoraknophobia' hit the headlines in 2001 when more than 12,000 fans pre-ordered, and paid for, the record 12 months before it was released. A similar campaign has been launched to fund 'Marbles' with 13,000 fans ordering the record in advance, but this time all the money raised is going into a campaign fund to promote the album.
MARILLION have sold more than 14 million records, released 13 studio albums (4 with Fish as lead singer '82-'88, 9 with Steve Hogarth) had 8 UK Top 10 albums, played more than 1100 gigs to well over 2 million people, and released 22 UK singles - 19 were Top 40 of which 3 were top 10.
The band completed a 43-date tour in May 2004, playing in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Italy, Poland and Switzerland.
Here's what the British press have lavished upon MARILLION's latest masterpiece, 'Marbles', released domestically on October 5th:
'Highly dramatic, emotional, dynamic stuff' - The Guardian
'There are a million bands who kick ass, but just a few, like Marillion, who really move people' - Kerrang
'A study in mature brilliance. 'Marbles' is indubitably a heavyweight contender for album of the year.' - Powerplay Magazine
Marillion 2004 North American Tour dates are as follows:
Friday 24th September Mexico City Metropolitan
Saturday 25th September Mexico City Metropolitan
Monday 27th September Los Angeles House of Blues
Tuesday 28th September San Francisco The Fillmore
Thursday 30th September Denver/Boulder TBC
Saturday 2nd October Chicago House of Blues
Sunday 3rd October Cincinnati Bogart's
Monday 4th October Cleveland Odeon
Wednesday 6th October New York Irving Plaza
Thursday 7th October Washington 930 Club
Friday 8th October Philadelphia Theatre of Living Arts
Sunday 10th October New Haven Toad's Place
Monday 11th October Boston Paradise Rock Club
Tuesday 12th October Montreal Spectrum
Wednesday 13th October Quebec City Olympia Theatre
