LANDMARQ BIOGRAPHY - THE OVERVIEW…
Landmarq are a UK-based neo-
progressive rock band. Since
forming in 1990, they have so far
released a total of ten albums, four
of which were recorded live at
various concerts in the UK and
elsewhere in Europe.
Initially signing to a Dutch record
company, SI Music, then forming
their own label, Synergy Records, the band have established themselves within
the world of progressive rock, though their style may also extend into album-
oriented rock, melodic rock, hard rock and even a slightly jazz edge.
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 the
Netherlands, before deciding to move on. It was at this point that Landmarq
decided to go for a radical change to their sound and recruited the long-time
friend of the band, Tracy Hitchings, who formerly sang with Quasar.
Landmarq have played concerts in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium,
France, Poland, Italy, the US 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, Focus, John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson, Roxy
Music), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Hugh McDowell (ELO, Wizard), Nik Turner
(Hawkwind), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), IQ, Pendragon, Arena and even Suzi
Quatro.
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 music magazines.
The band's first DVD was released in March 2006. Entitled Turbulence – Live In
Poland, it features Landmarq filmed in concert at the Wyspianski Theatre,
Katowice, in November 2005. The DVD was released by the Polish label Metal
Mind Productions and has received some of the band's 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.
Following an enforced break for a few years, Landmarq re-emerged on to the
Prog scene early in 2012 with the release of their eagerly-anticipated fifth album,
Entertaining Angels, a Special Edition double-CD set. This proved to be a
triumphant return for the band as they received many glowing reviews from fans
and music press alike. This was followed up with "Angels On Tour", a series of
live dates through 2012-2013, that saw Landmarq performing in various festivals
and venues again in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Also to
much acclaim and some excellent reviews.
Following on from their gigs in 2012, Landmarq continued their live shows --
dubbed "Angels On Tour" -- with more UK and European dates through 2013,
including the Cambridge and Summer's End rock festivals in the UK and the Rock
Itervoort Festival in The Netherlands. (Live dates info)
Landmarq releasd more new product throughout 2014/15, including
"Entertaining Angels" on vinyl (a double-LP set). Also, a long-awaited compilation
album entitled "Origins - A Landmarq Anthology - 1992-2014" (2-CD set)
featuring vocalists Tracy Hitchings and Damian Wilson. The album also includes
a brand new song, entitled "Origins".
The latest release from Landmarq is "RoadSkill - Live In The Netherlands", a 2-
disc DVD+CD set, filmed and recorded live in 2013 at one of the band's European
shows at De Boerderij, NL, released in 2015.
A major change of line-up occurred once again in 2018 when, due to relocation
in both cases, vocalist Tracy Hitchings and drummer Danny Martin separately
made the difficult decisions to move on from Landmarq. Uwe, Mike and Steve
resolved to continue writing new material
for a proposed new album and also began
the search for Tracy’s and Danny’s
replacements.
Following a series of auditions, the band
returned to full strength with the addition
of vocalist Wolf Campen and drummer
Andy Allen who were thrust straight into
some intensive rehearsals in preparation
for a series of gigs beginning in October 2018. This was followed by various
shows and festivals in 2019 through to the present time, 2022 (excluding 2020,
due to the pandemic). Landmarq are now preparing to play further gigs in 2023
and are also currently writing and recording material for their next album. More
details on this in due course.
November 2022
...Without doubt,
'Entertaining Angels' is the
strongest album of their
career... - Nick Shilton,
'PROG' magazine, UK
All Rights Reserved. E&OE. © Landmarq 1990 - 2023
Dragon art by Ed Unitsky
Click a band member image
to see individual biogs…
Photo by Sam Collins
ABOUT
Photo by Paul Blue
Photo by Kian Raines
In early December 2022, we had to report the very sad news that
our dear friend and former Landmarq singer Tracy Hitchings had
passed away following an on-going battle with Cancer.
(click image to read more…)
MIKE VARTY - PRODUCER / KEYBOARDS / PIANO / VIOLIN / VOCALS
Mike is best known for his internationally popular work on the progressive music scene,
where he is regarded as a technical and keyboard 'wizard'. He received the award for Best
Keyboard Player from the UK’s Classic Rock Society in 2013.
In addition to Landmarq, Mike has a whole catalogue of recordings to his name with
bands including Shadowland, Credo, Infinite Sunday, The Mighty Rooster and the multi-
award winning Janison Edge. He regularly tours UK, Europe and worldwide with these
bands, as well as with Mick Pointer's early Marillion show and DeeExpus.
Mike also runs Gargoyle Studio where various projects have been produced, most
recently the live Landmarq release, new material with Credo and the recent debut CD
from Infinite Sunday – a jazz chill-out project he has also been involved with in recent
years. Mike has a particular talent for arrangement and production which draws heavily
on his classical music training and natural musicianship. He has produced several
albums and other projects, as well as lending his production skills to assist other bands.
He has also written and produced the soundtrack for cult films Foiled, Fluffy the English
Vampire Slayer and the recent spoof blockbuster Big Chimp; and provided original music
for a number of cartoons and shorts. The music originally recorded for Fluffy the English
Vampire Slayer has just been remastered and re-released in 2013 as Espresso Requiem
by Noscaferatu.
Mike is a classically trained pianist and violinist, who started studying at the age of 4; he
also has a degree in electronics; both of which give him the broadest technical and
compositional expertise to underpin his extreme musicianship.
Mike's other bands/projects:
Credo | DeeExpus | Janison Edge | Shadowland | Infinite Sunday | The Mighty Rooster |
Mick Pointer’s Marillion / Script for a Jester’s Tour | Noscaferatu | Mike’s Facebook |
Gargoyle Records.
STEVE GEE - BASS GUITARS / BASS PEDALS / GUITAR / VOCALS
Began playing guitar aged 10. Later helped form first real band, the Prog-influenced 'Artemis', in
1969/70. Started out as lead/rhythm guitarist and subsequently made the transition to bass
guitar at age 15. Supported bands such as Camel and Egg.
Played with many bands in and around the London area. Spent time in Paris recording/gigging
for American singer-songwriter Irvin Mowrey, then played bass for French pop star Danyel
Gerard. Returned home and helped form award-winning Country band, Firewater, recording
both original and cover material and playing many of the Country music clubs and festivals and
touring up and down the UK (1983-89).
Came full-circle back to ‘Prog’ in 1989/90 joining with Uwe D’rose, Steve Leigh, Dave Wagstaffe to
help form Landmarq. The band celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2020.
OTHER STUFF
Lowe and Brzezicki’s ESP is a ‘Prog Tour de Force' collaboration with musicians from Big Country,
King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator, Procol Harum, GTR, Landmarq and more. Written and
Produced by producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and released in 2016, ESP’s debut album, “Invisible
Din”, has been compared to Genesis, King Crimson, Yes, Roger Waters, The Alan Parson’s Project
and Brand X.
MUSICIANS ON THE ALBUM: Tony Lowe, Mark Brzezicki, David Cross, David Jackson, Phil
Spalding, Steve Gee, John Beagley, John Young, Alison Fleming, Yumi Hara, Pat Orchard.
Also bass player for Jazz quartet, Heads Up, and singer-songwriter Jeanette Murphy.
Summary of other artists/bands previously supported/worked with (in no particular order):
The Syn (incl. ex-Yes member Peter Banks), Camel, Capability Brown, Strider, Pacific Eardrum,
Ron Geesin (ex-Roger Waters/Pink Floyd), Larry Adler, Irvin Mowrey, Danyel Gerard, Anton Karas,
Paul Slade, Frank Ifield, Rose Marie, Becky Hobbs, Poacher, The Searchers, The Tremeloes, The
Rockin' Berries, Suzi Quatro... and from the land of Prog: Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Focus,
Marillion, Greenslade, Pendragon, IQ, Clive Nolan's Thin Ice Orchestra, Tony Lowe/ESP.
Steve’s website: www.stevegee.com