Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree began as Steven Wilson’s solo project in 1987 and grew into one of English progressive rock’s most discussed cult bands. During an initial career spanning more than two decades, the group earned acclaim from critics and fellow musicians while operating at a distance from the mainstream. Classic Rock and PopMatters described Porcupine Tree as “the most important band you'd never heard of,” a phrase that reflected both its devoted following and its influence on newer artists.

Wilson initially wrote and recorded all of the music himself, but by late 1993 he wanted the project to function as a band. He brought in frequent collaborators Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edwin on bass, and Chris Maitland on drums, while continuing as the group’s lead vocalist and guitarist. This lineup remained in place until February 2002, when Maitland left and Gavin Harrison joined as drummer.

The band’s music shifted substantially over time. Its early work drew on psychedelic, space and experimental rock, before moving toward a progressive and space-rock sound often compared with Pink Floyd. After signing with Kscope in the late 1990s, Porcupine Tree moved closer to alternative rock. By the early 2000s, following a deal with a major label, the music took on a more progressive-metal direction.

Porcupine Tree became publicly inactive in 2010 after touring behind its 2009 studio album The Incident. Wilson focused on solo work, while the other members pursued separate projects. Behind the scenes, however, Wilson, Barbieri and Harrison intermittently worked together over the following decade. Their sessions resulted in Closure/Continuation, released on 24 June 2022.