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Jon Anderson of Yes to be Honoured as 2016’s Prog God.
Voting Now Open at www.progmagazine.com/awards. Every Voter Is Entered Into A Free Prize Draw To Win A Bumper Goodie Bag featuring Something From Every Nominated Band
One of the world’s foremost innovators of progressive rock and frontman of the legendary Yes during the band’s most classic era, Jon Anderson, will be the recipient of the Prog God Award at the 2016 Progressive Music Awards in association with Currencies.co.uk.
Taking place at the Underglobe at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on Thursday 1 September, the awards have become one of the best attended and most anticipated events in the musical calendar. From those acts making their first tentative forays into the wider musical world, to the prog overlords who have been there, done it and are now receiving a well deserved slap on the back for their endeavours.
The Prog God award is an accolade bestowed to music’s innovators, deities without whom the musical landscape would be a much poorer place and there is no one more deserving of that accolade than Yes’ Jon Anderson. With one of the most recognisable vocals in rock, Anderson was the driving and creative force behind Yes who have sold over 30 million albums. He found mainstream success between 1979 and 1991 through his collaboration with Vangelis, and the duo (known as Jon & Vangelis) released four acclaimed albums. Still creating music and touring, he recently released album ‘Invention of Knowledge’ with Roine Stolt under the name Anderson / Stolt to huge acclaim (including a nomination for Album Of The Year at this year’s awards) and you can exclusively watch their new video for ‘Knowing’ here https://youtu.be/scVF-gF3pIM. He has also announced that after a 25 year hiatus, he has reunited with Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman and will tour this definitive Yes line-up in October as ARW.
Jon Anderson says, “After all these years, it’s just wonderful to be getting this very special award. Music has guided me along to this point in my life and I’m forever excited about the new and progressive musical adventures I am given by the ‘Gods of Music’. Making music is like breathing to me, and I am blessed to be able to create music every day. A very grateful and humble ‘thank you’.”
Jerry Ewing, Editor of Prog Magazine, says, “I suspect I speak for many Prog readers when I say that Jon Anderson has been at the very forefront of the progressive world that we’ve grown up with over the past 50 years. Either as a singer with the truly groundbreaking Yes, or as part of his series of albums with Vangelis, or as a solo artist in his own right. In today’s musical world, his new album with Roine Stolt and his linking back up with Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman continue to thrust him to the forefront of the genre and send ripples of delight and intrigue amongst his millions of fans. He remains one of progressive music’s key figures and a more than fitting recipient of the accolade Prog God.”
Previous recipients of the Prog God Award are Rick Wakeman, Ian Anderson, Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks.
In its short but illustrious five year history, some of the best-selling artists of all time have attended and been honoured at the awards including Rick Wakeman, Genesis, Pink Floyd and Roy Wood. Matthew Wright, star of Channel 5’s flagship show The Wright Stuff, and prog uber fan, returns as the host.
There are 14 categories in total with seven voted for by the readers of Prog Magazine. Voting for the awards is open now at www.progmagazine.com/awards. This year sees Big Big Train, Dream Theater and King Crimson lead nominations with all receiving three nominations each, and going head to head for Live Event and Band/Artist of the Year. Ten artists including Steven Wilson, Opeth, Riverside and TesseracT all receive two nominations each in what looks to be one of the most unpredictable years yet.
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