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Marillion man keeps the faith for United
Marillion singer Steve Hogarth shares some common ground with incoming Manchester United manager David Moyes... with both men having to replace a successful and famous Scotsman as legions of loyal fans await the outcome.
But while the new boss at Old Trafford is a compatriot of Sir Alex Ferguson with many years of his own in the spotlight, Hogarth was a little-known English musician when he replaced Fish, the band's charismatic Celtic frontman and the voice of their biggest chart hit Kayleigh. Steve lived to tell the tale, however, and is still recording and touring the world with Marillion twenty-four years later.
"I think the only thing you can do when you replace an imposing Scotsman (!) is be yourself and do your thing, while making sure you bear in mind the legacy of what it is you’re arriving into," advised Hogarth, in an exclusive interview with ManUtd.com.
"I think the only thing you can do when you replace an imposing Scotsman (!) is be yourself and do your thing, while making sure you bear in mind the legacy of what it is you’re arriving into," advised Hogarth, in an exclusive interview with ManUtd.com.
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"Sir Alex was like a rock here. If anyone could have taken on that mantle and the legendary status of Sir Matt Busby, he has done it, if not gone beyond it."
Hogarth has been a United fan since George Best was first dubbed the 'fifth Beatle' and the parallels between music and the beautiful game still resonate for him today, with Marillion boasting a football-esque fanbase.
Devotees from as far afield as Brazil and Poland flocked with their national flags to see the band's UK dates in April, and Steve was heard to say on stage: "Who else has got what we have between us (band and audience)? Maybe Man United?"
The singer told us, "We do have this passionate, passionate following globally. I don’t think ours is as big as United's, ha! But it’s alright and that faith never goes away."
Hogarth has been a United fan since George Best was first dubbed the 'fifth Beatle' and the parallels between music and the beautiful game still resonate for him today, with Marillion boasting a football-esque fanbase.
Devotees from as far afield as Brazil and Poland flocked with their national flags to see the band's UK dates in April, and Steve was heard to say on stage: "Who else has got what we have between us (band and audience)? Maybe Man United?"
The singer told us, "We do have this passionate, passionate following globally. I don’t think ours is as big as United's, ha! But it’s alright and that faith never goes away."
Music's equivalent of a season ticket has helped Steve's band to survive and thrive; like thousands of United fans committing to the campaign ahead, Marillion followers will pay for the next album without hearing any songs.
"It all started in the mid-Nineties when our American fans heard we didn't have the funding for us to tour over there - so they set up a bank account and an internet campaign, and paid for us to go," recalled Steve.
"It all started in the mid-Nineties when our American fans heard we didn't have the funding for us to tour over there - so they set up a bank account and an internet campaign, and paid for us to go," recalled Steve.
"After that, we started the tradition of putting our albums on pre-order - we were the first band to do it but the likes of Madonna have done it since.
“Our fans have even been known to buy our records before we’ve written them. It's always very touching when people do that, especially when they have worked hard for the money. Like the bloke buying season tickets for himself and his son, it's an act of faith.”
Steve Hogarth will perform twice in Manchester later this year - with Richard Barbieri in September and Marillion in November. For tour dates and details, see www.marillion.com.
“Our fans have even been known to buy our records before we’ve written them. It's always very touching when people do that, especially when they have worked hard for the money. Like the bloke buying season tickets for himself and his son, it's an act of faith.”
Steve Hogarth will perform twice in Manchester later this year - with Richard Barbieri in September and Marillion in November. For tour dates and details, see www.marillion.com.
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