Landmarq is a very  talented band in the neo-progressive vein that  combines strong composition, excellent muscanship and vocals.

      In 1990, Landmarq was formed  in 1990 by Steve Leigh (keyboards),  Uwe D'Rose (guitar), and  ex-Quasar vocalist Bob Daisley. Steve had replaced  Mark Kelly (who had left to join Marillion),  in the band Chemical Alice. Session bassist Steve Gee (member of  Artemis (toured with Camel and Capability Brown), joined shortly.

Another ex-Quasar member- drummer  Dave Wagstaffe (ex- Thin Lizzy, Lindisfarne), -joined the band, now called Landmarq (by Steve Gee).

Landmarq recorded some demos for the Dutch 'S.I.' label in 1991.  Bob Daisley suddenly decided to return to his  rock roots and was replaced by Rob Lewis-Jones for the recording. Rob was, however, reluctant to turn his back on his busy acting career and chose to stay with that... so the band still had no vocalist.  Ex-Quasar member Tracy Hitchings was approached to fill Daisley's role (she was willing), but the label-  S.I., having just released her own debut solo album, vetoed the idea. Engineer, Karl Groom recommended Damian Wilson and the band immediately asked him if he would like to do the album. Damian agreed.

In 1992, 'Solitary Witness' was finally and Landmarq's first European tour followed.  Damian added his voice to the first `Threshold' album, and garnished Classic Rock Society's 'Male Vocalist Of The Year' award.

The end of 1992  the recording of the second album, 'Infinity Parade', also for S.I., was released and included extensive promotional touring. Luxembourg-based band `LaSalle,' who had a major recording deal offered Wilson  a lucrative deal to join them and he left the band  amicably.

Numerous auditions later, the band discovered  Ian  Gould, whose powerful vocal style was used for shows  at London's Marquee with Pendragon and then for Holland's '2nd Uden Progressive Rock Festival' (with Steve Hackett, IQ, Porcupine Tree and many others). Gould also won Classic Rock Society's 'Male Vocalist Of The Year' but because of musical differences, his stay was  brief and the band was without a singer once again.

Damian Wilson, not happy with  LaSalle, came back to help Landmarq for their third album-  'The Vision Pit' (on  S.I./Roadrunner in 1995), recorded with help from the production/engineering team of Clive Nolan. Karl Groom helped provide drums and guitars.

Later in the year, Dave, Uwe and Steve Gee had the opportunity of  forming John Wetton's backing band to tour  Holland and Germany, performing songs by Asia, King Crimson, UK, and John's solo album 'Battle Lines', with the addition of Martin Orford (IQ) on keyboards and  Tracy Hitchings on backing vocals. Two weeks after returning, Landmarq were again in Europe to promote 'The Vision Pit' album.

The  S.I. label collapsed and Landmarq was  without a label for two years. Wilson recorded a solo album- 'Cosmas', at  drummer Kenney Jones' studio, Steve Leigh. Gee and D'Rose  continued writing material for their fourth album.

In 1998, the talented vocalist Tracy Hitchings was once again asked to take over on vocals as Damian Wilson wanted to concentrate on a solo  career. The album- 'Science Of Coincidence' was released on the band's own Synergy label. After touring n the UK and Europe in 1998/99, (including gigs with Marillion and Threshold)... hence a live album was released- entitled 'Thunderstruck,' this was a single album showcasing new and classic Landmarq tracks from the '98/'99 concerts; now with the beautiful voice of Hitchings.

Landmarq's first ever trip to the USA took place in  October 2000, as they  performed at the  ProgDay 2000 festival in North Carolina; the show has been promoted and organised annually by Peter Renfro and friends since 1995. Held over two days and featuring ten acts, Landmarq headlined the Saturday show and were extremely well-received. The year after, the band performed  at the  BajaProg festival held annually in Mexicali, Mexico, to an enthused crowd and good reviews.

New material for the next Landmarq studio album is coming together slowly but surely and they hope for a  release early in 2002.  Meanwhile, the projected release date for the  follow-up to `Thunderstruck,' -  part two of the live album- entitled- `Aftershock,'  will be released  on September 23,  2002 released on Mystic Records.

       Tracy Hitchings recorded  a solo album in  1991 entitled- 'From Ignorance To Ecstacy',  with help by producer Clive Nolan.  She has also performed  with Gandolf, Olliver Wakeman's `Jabberwocky,' (helped out by Dave Wagstaffe),  and Strangers on a Train. 

      Damian Wilson, Landmarq's ex-vocalist has not been idle. He has worked extensively with the  bands  Aryreon and Threshold. Recently, he has toured with  Rick Wakeman  and the New English Rock Ensemble. Wilson  will be recording with work-mate  Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon),  before the end of this year on a  metal album. The tentative title is- 'Arjen Anthony Lucassen.  

       On a personal note, both Steve Gee and Steve Lee were very helpful and such nice people. Looking at the interviews, it shows that  many Prog musicians are  quite intelligent,  thoughtful people. Thanks gentlemen, you are surely that!

Nov. 2002, Steve Leigh leaves the band. He seemed to not like the musical direction which Landmarq was heading. This may be the last spike in the progressive part of Landmarq's  history... hope not....  who knows- we'll have to wait and see.

LANDMARQ DISCOGRAPHY

`SOLITARY WITNESS' I 1992

Debut album.

Track list: Killing Fields, Forever Young, April First, Foxing The Fox, Terracotta Army, Freefall, Tippi Hedren, After I Died Somewhere, Suite: St. Helens, Borders.

'INFINITY PARADE'

Second album.

Track list: Solitary Witness, Gaia's Waltz, Landslide, Ta' Jiang, Tailspin (Let Go The Line), The More You Seek The More You Lose, Embrace.

6. 'Infinity Parade'

1994

'THE VISION PIT'

Third album.

Track list: Cutting Room, Pinewood Avenue, Infinity Parade, Game Over, All Performers Stand Alone, Narovlya, Ten Million And One, Bed Of Nails, Hanblechia (The; Vision Quest), Do Or Die (hidden track).

'SCIENCE OF COINCIDENCE'

Fourth album.

Track list: Science Of Coincidence, The Vision Pit, Heritage, Summer Madness, Lighthouse, Between Sleeping And Dreaming, More Flames For The Dancer, The Overlook.

'THUNDERSTRUCK'

Live album.

Track list: Pinewood Avenue, Intro/Solitary Witness, Science Of Coincidence, Tailspin..., The Overlook, Between Sleeping And Dreaming (incl. 'Reprise' from 'Suite: St. Helens'), Borders, Summer Madness.

`AFTERSHOCK'

Live album

Track List:  The Vision Pit, Heritage, After I Died Somewhere, Medley: Ta Jiang/Narovlya, Lighthouse, Embrace.