r
gg
April 2017 - p.35
Andy Edwards’ decision to leave the band soon
after led to the return of original drummer Paul
Cook, and in 2010 IQ marked the 25th
anniversary of their seminal album ‘The Wake’
with the release of a deluxe 4-disc collector’s
box set featuring a host of previously unheard
studio outtakes, demos and live tracks. The
accompanying tour resulted in a live DVD of the
album performed in its entirety, filmed in
Holland. At the end of the year, Mark Westworth
and John Jowitt both announced their
departures from the group.
2011 was IQ’s 30th anniversary year. With the
arrival of keyboard player Neil Durant and the
welcome return of bassist Tim Esau, the band
were able to celebrate this landmark in their
illustrious career with four original members in
the line-up. IQ performed successful live shows
throughout Britain and Europe.
In 2012, IQ celebrated the 15th anniversary of
‘Subterranea’ by re-staging the original show in
full, updated with improved technology and
production values, and the following year, they
set about writing material for their new album,
previewing work-in-progress versions of the
songs at concerts in April and December.
2014 saw the release of IQ’s eleventh studio
album, ‘The Road Of Bones’, which met with
unanimous critical acclaim and has become the
band's fastest-selling album to date, topping
many End Of Year polls that year. Concerts
throughout Europe and a return to Canada
consolidated the group's position as one of the
most dynamic and exciting progressive bands
in the world today.
2017 finds them celebrating their 36th
anniversary, with the release of the major
motion picture adaptation of their 'Subterranea'
album and work beginning on the follow-up to
the highly successful 'The Road Of Bones'
RGG have a pair of tickets to give
away for this gig at The Robin on
22nd April. Just send an email to the address
below with ‘IQ’ in the subject title to be in with a
chance of winning.
of ‘Ever’ (1993). The sumptuous live box set
‘Forever Live’ was released in 1996, followed in
1997 by the band’s magnum opus, the
monumental
double
concept
album
‘Subterranea’. This was supported by a
completely new multi-media live presentation,
featuring the album performed in full, which
earned the band unanimous acclaim.
In 2005, Paul Cook left IQ after 23 years’
service. He was replaced by Andy Edwards (ex-
Robert Plant Band) who features on the 2-DVD
live set ‘Stage’, filmed in the USA and Germany
that year. Another line-up change followed in
2007 with the departure of Martin Orford after
26 years. The band enlisted Mark Westworth,
formerly with Darwin’s Radio, and, after a short
autumn tour in 2007, work continued on IQ’s
ninth studio album, ‘Frequency’, released in
2009. It was a musical tour de force which
received universally positive reviews.
r
gg
21
YEARS
1995-2016
With a 35-year history, IQ are
widely regarded as one of the
world’s most highly respected
progressive rock bands.
