What makes the difference between a band and a cult band? A charismatic frontman, able to seduce the audience with a single tip of his finger? A mastermind, conducting his fellow geniuses to sheer excellence? A following, dedicated and addicted for nearly three decades? An outstanding live concept combining stage charisma, true emotions and selfironic humor?
Take it all, add a catalogue in which every new entry is described as 'the latest masterpiece' and you get IQ.
Arising from the ashes of The Lens in 1981, the original line up of Peter Nicholls, Michael Holmes, Martin Orford, Paul Cook and Tim Esau formed a band achieving the impossible: The combination of such contrarious styles as prog, punk and jazz even reggae. Their first cassette album, later re-released as Seven Stories into 98 by GEP, is still an outstanding example of that. Both their first vinyl albums, Tales From the Lush Attic and The Wake, gained instant classic status in the second wave of british progressive rock. Soon the band became a regular in London's world famous Marquee club, performing more than 200 gigs each year and earning them a strong, heavily addicted following in the UK.
After being signed by Polygram they recorded Nomzamo with the debut of new lead singer, Paul Menel and featuring the single Promises which made it high in the Dutch charts. European tours and the album, Are you Sitting Comfortably followed, but then Menel and bass player Tim Esau left the band.
What could've been the end was nothing but the beginning. Nicholls rejoined and was welcomed back enthusiastically at concerts in London and Paris. At the same time GEP was founded by musicians and associates of IQ with the rarities album J´ai Pollette d´Arnu becoming the label's debut release.
In 1993 IQ's comeback album Ever thrilled fans old and new with a modern and yet traditional interpretation of progressive rock. A storming tour of the UK and mainland Europe followed, with acclaimed festival appeareances in the USA und South America.
In 1997, IQ released Subterrenea, a classical concept album with a very fresh approach which stunned both critics and fans alike. Brought on stage with a stunning visual show, featuring light, dias, films and theatrical action, it set standards not only for IQ but to any other group in the progrock vein.
Just when everybody thought IQ couldn´t push it any further, again the band convinced the public with the opposite: The Seventh House (2000) and Dark Matter (2005) are musical gems, featuring some of the strongest songs IQ have written. Their latest album, 2009's Frequency, marked another highlight in an outstanding career and was presented to a large audience in the UK, Germany, Holland and the USA.
Aside from the studio works, GEP released or re-released a set of live performances by IQ on audio and video that give an insight of the fantastic work the band does on stage. The timespan reaches from their mid-80´s performance with the Live in London DVD to the celebrated Ever show in Kleve/Germany to a double feature from the Dark Matter Tour along with IQ20, a magical night in London to celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary.
2010 marks the 25th anniversary of IQ's classic album The Wake and this occasion is celebrated by a very special limited edition deluxe edition of this fantastic album.
