Via a press release:

Volker decided to step back from the lead singer position. However, he is still in the band and wants to concentrate on his instrumental skills instead. For the upcoming shows Poverty's No Crime will therefore perform with Peter Pietrzinski as lead singer. Peter has been the singer and guitarist of the Bremen-based Progressive Metal band Ancient Curse for many years and is the perfect back up for the band.

Written and recorded between Autumn 2007 and Spring 2008, Schoolyard Ghosts is No-Man's sixth official studio album and its first since 2003's Together We're Stranger.

A distinctive combination of beautifully detailed songwriting, haunting melodies and inventively cinematic production, schoolyard ghosts sees No-Man’s core duo of Tim Bowness and Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson expanding the band's sonic palette by collaborating with, amongst others, Californian pedal steel ace Bruce Kaphan (American Music Club), saxophonist/flautist Theo Travis (David Sylvian/Nine Horses), drummers Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) and Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), and the London Session Orchestra (arranged by Canterbury legend, Dave Stewart).

Featuring the sweetly hypnotic Wherever There Is Light, the warped dynamics of Pigeon Drummer, the outsider lament of All Sweet Things, and the subtly evolving explorations of the uplifting semi-orchestral epic Truenorth, Schoolyard Ghosts reveals the band taking its accessible and ambitious blend of Post-Rock and Singer-songwriter influences to an even more focused and personalised place than before.

Following the release of the album, the band will be embarking on its first European tour since 1993 (line-up and dates tba).

Hybrid Recordings and the legendary progressive rock band Nektar have entered into an agreement granting Hybrid worldwide rights (excluding Germany, Switzerland, and Austria) to digitally distribute Nektar’s entire catalog.

“We are thrilled to have Nektar’s remastered catalog available digitally through Hybrid Recordings,” says Al Cafaro, co-CEO Metropolitan Talent, Inc. “Our hope is to have their catalog revitalized through this process maybe leading us to work together on a new Nektar release.”

Formed in Hamburg, Germany, in 1969, Nektar was one of the first rock bands to introduce concept albums and full-album-length suites. Among the group’s storied successes are three gold-certified albums, “Remember the Future,” “Down to Earth” and “Recycled.” Nektar has continued into the present day with new albums and world tours.

In October 2003, Nektar negotiated full rights for its entire back catalog outside of Germany and began a full remastering campaign. April 2004 saw the release of the classic albums “Journey to the Centre of the Eye,” “A Tab in the Ocean,” and “Recycled” (all with previously unreleased bonus material). That month, a special, remixed CD boxed set of the band’s entire August 1974 concert at New York City’s Academy of Music was also released on the band’s own Dream Nebula imprint, part of the UK label Electric Discs.

The above albums and all future releases – remastered from the original tapes, using the highest standards – are available via download from sites such as iTunes. Hybrid Recordings is a subsidiary of Metropolitan Talent, Inc., a multifaceted entertainment company led by co-CEO’s John Scher and Al Cafaro. The company’s concert division, Metropolitan Talent Presents, produces live events throughout the Northeast. An artist management division (Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat, Art Garfunkel, the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir & RatDog) and the independent Hybrid imprint (Johnette Napolitano, Gin Blossoms, Assembly of Dust, Jen Chapin) are also under the Metropolitan umbrella.

New York progressive metal pioneers DREAM THEATER are set to unveil their maiden voyage of "Progressive Nation", a package tour they will headline that will also feature the talents of OPETH, 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

The tour is the brainchild of DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, who explains, "I've been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I've been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk."

While DREAM THEATER co-headlined 2005's Gigantour alongside MEGADETH, as well as embarking on previous co-headlining runs with both QUEENSRŸCHE and JOE SATRIANI, they have primarily built their 22-year career on the road playing solely to their own audience. Portnoy comments: "I've always prided myself on personally hand picking new and exciting opening acts for DREAM THEATER in the past. Bands such as PORCUPINE TREE, SYMPHONY X, SPOCK'S BEARD, FATES WARNING, PAIN OF SALVATION and KING'S X. In all of these cases, it was important for me to pick bands that I admire and respect but also ones that I know our fans will enjoy. And I think playing with DT has helped expand all of those band's fanbases as a direct result. I am hoping Progressive Nation will continue to do the same thing in offering an audience for more daring and experimental acts that otherwise may not get the mainstream exposure they so rightly deserve."

Joining the bill for this inaugural run is Sweden's legendary OPETH who have been enjoying an ever-growing and expanding audience of their own for many years now. DT's Roadrunner Records labelmates will be ready to unleash their new album come next spring and Progressive Nation should be a great launching pad for their next world tour cycle. Guitarist/Vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt comments: "We're very excited about this upcoming tour with DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we're doing in support of our upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. It's quite intimidating to be on the bill with such amazing musicians but obviously we'll try and give them a run for their money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we'll need to practice a little bit for this....how boring! Yet, I can't wait for this tour to start and I'm sure we'll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other bands on the bill!"

Also on the bill with their unique blend of pop, funk and hard rock is upstate New York's 3 who issued the following statement: "3 is very pleased to announce its participation in the Progressive Nation tour. For well over a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new record 'The End is Begun'. This package will rock and awe fans everywhere as one of the most important tours of the year. It's a progressive way of music, a progressive way of life....welcome to the Progressive Nation tour."

North Carolina's BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME are enjoying rave reviews and critical acclaim for their latest CD "Colors" and are looking forward to sharing the stage each night with both DREAM THEATER and OPETH. Vocalist/keyboardist Tommy Rogers comments: "We are very excited to be touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears."

DREAM THEATER are currently in the middle of their "Chaos In Motion" world tour which has already traveled extensively throughout Europe and North America in support of their latest Roadrunner Records CD "Systematic Chaos". The world tour will continue throughout 2008 hitting Asia, Australia and South America before concluding with Progressive Nation returning to North America in April/May 2008.

Portnoy hopes that this first venture of Progressive Nation will prove to be a success that can enable himself and DREAM THEATER to continue the package into future years and begin a tradition that musicians and fans alike can count on for quality musicianship and artistic integrity on future tours.

Hellooo.. and... Greetings from the studio!

Well, the cycle has started once again.. We're back in the Racket Club oiling up the Marillion machine (or strange engine..) for the erratic journey to ALBUM FIFTEEN (!) and the ideas are really flowing now. We're here jamming and experimenting with new ideas while Mike Hunter runs around trying to record it all and feed back his own suggestions and enthusiasm. We're pleased to report some very interesting music is still emerging. This should see the light of day next Summer.. AND it will be another double album!

It's an inspired and exciting time for the five of us as artists, but also - with our "Intact" record company hats on - a time to reflect on the successes and failures of the last album release. We have had a lot of feedback about the lack of a "pre-order" or any kind of special packaging, extra material, or the popular "my name in the credits" versions of the last album. We thought you might have got tired of the idea, but the majority of you told us we were wrong!

So here's what we've decided to do..
You're going get what you asked for: We are planning to create an exclusive Special Edition of Album 15 which we are making available as a PRE-ORDER directly from us. Based on the success of the "Marbles" pre-order, we plan to make 2 different versions available: a 'Deluxe Campaign 2CD Edition' in super-sexy packaging with YOUR NAMES in the album credits - this will be priced at £29.99 and only available to pre-order; and also the Standard Release - the double album split into Volumes 1 & 2 available separately as 'normal' 1CD-in-a-box releases priced at £9.99 each.

When will it be released? What will be on it? Will there be extra music? When can I order? What about a tour?
Yes, you have questions, and we already have (some) answers. Just like previous pre-orders, we have set up a page on our website to answer all of these, and will continue to add to the list as we get feedback from you by email and on our Forums.

What we CAN tell you, though, is that we expect the album to be ready some time between July and September 2008 (but are not setting a firm release date as with previous pre-orders!) with an extensive tour to follow starting in September 2008 (more information about the tour on the website, but the album WILL be out before the tour.)

You are able to pre-order the album NOW, and each pre-order for the Deluxe Campaign 2CD Edition will enter you in to a variety of prize draws - including sound check/front row passes to the Snow-where Else tour, a visit to the Racket Club studio, gift vouchers, meet-and-greets, MORE sound check/front row passes to the Album 15 tour, and the STAR PRIZE (wooo..!) of an all expenses paid trip to the Marillion Weekend 2009... PLUS more as we think of them - phew!

Why do we want your money so far in advance? Many of you may be aware that the writing sessions for "Somewhere Else" were prolific, but there came a point where we had to decide which ideas to follow through for the album, and which to put to one side to develop to their full potential later on. Well, even though we do have several songs "on the shelf" which are close to completion, we've also recently hit something of a creative streak and have a lot of exciting new ideas that we're developing, and these inevitably entail a few months locked away in the studio. Once ready, we need to let people know about the album and the tour with advertising, posters, interviews... and of course we have the small task of manufacturing one hundred thousand albums, too.. (!)

By being part of the Album 15 Pre-Order Campaign you will once again be acting as our "global family record company" by contributing to the recording, manufacture and marketing of the album without us having to resort to the inevitable headaches which happen when we get into bed with "blokes in suits". Frankly we'd rather make this album with you. We did it before, and it felt good. It also inspired a few other tasty bands to "a better way of life" too..

So there you go - your pre-order is back! If you have any QUESTIONS, please, PLEASE go to www.marillion.com/preorder (where most issues will already be addressed) before writing to us. It'll be quicker, and you can also join the discussions on the Marillion Online Forums if you have any outstanding queries.

As we said earlier, things are going really well in the studio and there's much excitement here over the music we're making, so we'd better get on with it. We'll see you very soon - perhaps on the "Snow-where Else" tour at Christmas.. Good luck with the draw - we hope you win a prize or two!

One love,
One family,
One Better Way Of Life.
Toodleoo,
h, Ian, Mark, Pete, Steve