This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(November 2013) |
Giant Electric Pea | |
---|---|
Founded | 1992 |
Founder | Michael Holmes, Thomas Waber, Laurence Dyer, Martin Orford |
Status | Active |
Distributor(s) | RSK Entertainment |
Genre | Progressive rock, progressive metal |
Country of origin | UK, Germany |
Location | UK |
Official website | gep |
Giant Electric Pea (often abbreviated as GEP) is an independent music label based in London and Berlin. Their releases consist of progressive rock, neo-prog and progressive metal music albums.
Giant Electric Pea was formed in 1992 by Michael Holmes, Thomas Waber (also founder of European independent music labels, Inside Out Music and Superball Music), Laurence Dyer and Martin Orford. The label was originally intended as a vehicle for IQ's 1993 album, 'Ever' but went on to become the first independent music label for progressive rock, quickly establishing itself within the genre by signing new bands such as Spock's Beard, Jadis and Threshold to the label. GEP have also released albums by established artists such as John Wetton and Renaissance.
Giant Electric Pea is now[ when? ] managed by four directors:
Spock's Beard is an American progressive rock band formed in Los Angeles.
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens. Although the band have never enjoyed major commercial success and had several lineup changes, IQ have built up a loyal following over the years and are still active as of 2022, currently with the original recording line-up. In 2021/22, IQ performed a series of concerts in the UK and Europe celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Neal Morse is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. In 1999, he joined Dream Theater's co-founder and then drummer Mike Portnoy, together with Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas they formed the super-group Transatlantic. In 2002, Neal Morse became a born again Christian, left Spock's Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands with Portnoy, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.
Classic Rock Society, also known as CRS, was founded by Martin Hudson in 1991 in Rotherham, England, at the Florence Nightingale public house, and quickly progressed to become a large and well recognised organisation helping to forward the cause of progressive rock, and classic rock. Between 2001 and 2012, the CRS was operated as a limited company, Classic Rock (UK) Ltd, before reverting to a society. The CRS announced its closure on 7 March 2019.
The Light is the 1995 debut album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. The album features two different covers—one for its domestic release, and one for its European release. "The Light" has since become Spock's Beard's signature song. The album has since been remastered and re-released by Radiant Records.
Inside Out Music is a German progressive rock record label originally based in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles. In 2009, it formed a partnership with Century Media Records and moved its base of operations to Dortmund, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music and became its premier label for progressive music.
GEP may refer to:
Beware of Darkness is the second studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, released in January 1996. The album was the band's first release following the addition of keyboardist Ryo Okumoto. The album was named after the song of the same name, originally written and performed by George Harrison.
Octane is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard, released on 25 January 2005. The first seven tracks form a complete piece of work, "A Flash Before My Eyes", that tells the story of a man involved in a car accident who relives his memories in the moments following the crash.
The Wake is the second studio album by British neo-progressive rock band IQ, released in June 1985 by Sahara Records. Recorded at Falconer Studios in London from March to April 1985, it was produced by Mike Holmes and Tim Esau.
Big Big Train are an English progressive rock band formed in Bournemouth in 1990. The current line-up includes band founder Gregory Spawton, along with Nick D'Virgilio and Rikard Sjöblom. Until 2009, the band were active as a predominantly studio project led by Spawton and co-founder Andy Poole, who departed the band in 2018, with changing line-ups and guest musicians. They have released fourteen studio albums and six EPs.
Tales from the Lush Attic, released in 1983, is the debut album by neo-progressive rock group IQ, following the cassette-only demo Seven Stories into Eight. It was also among the first neo-progressive releases, alongside Marillion's Script for a Jester's Tear, released in the same year.
Martin Orford is an English keyboard player and singer. He is best known as the founder of progressive rock bands IQ and Jadis. He also worked with former King Crimson, U.K. and Asia bassist John Wetton, and has released two solo albums, Classical Music and Popular Songs (2000) and The Old Road (2008). Orford appeared on two Big Big Train albums, Goodbye to the Age of Steam and English Boy Wonders.
Guy Manning is an English multi-instrumentalist and singer, best known for his own album releases (Manning), the DAMANEK band albums and for his membership of progressive rock bands Parallel or 90 Degrees, The Tangent and The United Progressive Fraternity (UPF).
Superball Music is a German independent record label, launched on October 1, 2007. Superball's MySpace page states that
The label’s focus will be on keen, young rock acts with a stylistic range that is centred on independent and alternative music, as well as acts that transcend genres and include a variety of contemporary directions. Superball Music aims to provide a platform and a "home" for these artists by specifically focusing on innovative music with commercial ambitions.
Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep is the eleventh studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard released on April 2, 2013. It is their first album with new singer Ted Leonard and drummer Jimmy Keegan in place of Nick D'Virgilio, while former member Neal Morse co-wrote two tracks, including "Waiting for Me", on which he plays guitar.
Kyros are an English rock and pop group. Their music incorporates elements of progressive rock, art rock and synth pop. Originally a solo project of multi-instrumentalist and singer Shelby Logan Warne in collaboration with guitarist Nikolas Jon Aarland, Kyros evolved into a full band in 2013, and their debut self-titled album was released in January 2014. As of 2020, Kyros have released four studio albums and four EPs.
The Oblivion Particle is the twelfth studio album by American progressive rock band Spock's Beard. It was released on August 21, 2015. It was the last album with drummer Jimmy Keegan, who left the band in October 2016 for personal reasons. This album also features Nick D'Virgilio on one track as a guest musician. Only 3 songs on the album feature writing credits to the band members themselves, with the rest being credited to longtime collaborators Stan Ausmus and John Boegehold.
Synaesthesia is the 2014 debut album by British progressive and alternative rock band Kyros. The album was produced by IQ guitarist, Michael Holmes. All music on Synaesthesia was written originally as a solo studio project by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Shelby Logan Warne, with contributions from fellow Middlesex University attendee, guitarist Nikolas Jon Aarland and further contributions from guitarist, Ollie Hannifan.
Shelby Logan Warne is a British music producer, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, visual artist, video producer and frontwoman of the alternative and progressive rock group, Kyros.