For over 30 years Steve Babb has been the mainstay of American veterans Glass Hammer. In 2022 – across the time the band launched At The Gate, and he revealed his first Skallagrim novel – he supplied Prog a glimpse inside his world.
The place’s house?
Chattanooga, Tennessee. All of the band members dwell inside just a few miles of one another.
What’s your earliest prog reminiscence?
Once I was 17 a pal was moving into punk, having determined prog was too pretentious – he gave me his complete assortment of Sure and ELP albums.
First prog album you got?
Rush’s Fly By Night time, round 1976. I used to be a Tolkien fan, noticed the identify Rivendell on the again and needed to seize it.
And the final?
Other than the 1,000 copies of Glass Hammer’s At The Gate I simply paid for?Most likely Lunatic Soul’s By means of Shaded Woods.
What was your first prog gig?
Rush on their 1977-78 Farewell To Kings tour, at Chattanooga’s Memorial Auditorium. I used to be within the entrance row, straight in entrance of Geddy Lee.
And the newest?
We performed the 2018 Cruise To The Edge and I clearly keep in mind having fun with Haken.
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Greatest prog gig you ever noticed?
Sure on their Masterworks tour, in Nashville, 2000. Chris Squire was on fireplace that night time.
Latest prog discovery?
Kaipa’s newest album, Urskog. I hadn’t heard something from the band shortly, and this one’s so uplifting.
Any responsible musical pleasures?
I’m an enormous 80s pop fan – would The Human League depend? Then there’s a contemporary dance/electronica duo referred to as Sofi Tukker; they’re actually cool.
What do you accumulate?
Tolkien particular editions and field units. I’ve bought a shelf stuffed with his extra obscure books, like The Kids Of Húrin and The Fall Of Gondolin.
Favorite prog venue?
Patriots Theater on the Battle Memorial, in Trenton [New Jersey]. We recorded Dwell At NEARfest there in 2003. It seats about 2,000, and the view from the stage is superior.
Your prog hero?
Rush – all three of them. The wall of sound they created as a three-piece, and their loyalty to one another and their followers, is simply superb.
Outdoors of music, what do you do?
I get to a Florida seashore as usually as attainable, I like to learn historic fiction, and I additionally go on the occasional hike.
Suggest us , proggy learn.
Something by Bernard Cornwell, and there’s all the time my e book! Skallagrim – In The Vales Of Pagarna is a straight-ahead sword and sorcery/heroic fantasy novel that began as a brief story and become 180,000 phrases. It’s the primary in a four- or five-book challenge.
Have you ever ever had a prog date?
My spouse Julie! I hadn’t been together with her lengthy earlier than I found she had a duplicate of Rush’s Caress Of Metal, and she or he’s an enormous Genesis fan too. She’s a uncommon one…
Which prog muso would you most wish to work with?
I set to work with Jon Anderson on our 2007 album Tradition Of Ascent and he taught me some issues about songwriting. I’d like to do it once more.
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Which prog album will get you in temper?
Genesis’ Foxtrot, significantly Supper’s Prepared. We take heed to it very often at house round supper time.
Favorite prog album cowl?
Jon Anderson’s Olias Of Sunhillow. That drew me to the album earlier than I’d even heard it. I like it.
A very powerful piece of prog music?
For me Sure’ Awaken is the head of rock music. In some magical means that track transcended rock music and soars above it. I’m taken to rapture each time I hear it.
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