Steve Rothery Credits Rabid Fanbase for Marillion’s Successes: ‘We Were Never Darlings of the Media’

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Marillion is currently touring behind the well-received Sounds That Can’t Be Made, though you’d hardly know it based on radio airplay — even in their native England. Long-time guitarist Steve Rothery says that’s par for the course.

“We were never darlings of the media,” Rothery tells diasderock.com. “We were ignored all the way through our career, so we don’t care.”

Fans have rallied around the group anyway, pushing 23 of their songs in the UK Top 40 — including 1985’s No. 2 hit “Kayleigh” — while snatching up million of albums. With Marillion since 1979, Rothery is joined by Steve Hogarth (who replaced Fish in 1989), and a core group that also includes Pete Trewavas, Mark Kelly and Ian Mosley. Their biggest recent hit was “You’re Gone,” which went to No. 7 in 2004.

“Because we have this amazing fanbase,” Rothery adds, “we’re not at the mercy of the media in the UK — or the radio stations. It’s nice to get played, but it’s not essential.”

Sounds that Can’t Be Made is Marillion’s 17th album — and the first since their acoustic project Less is More, back in 2009.

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