This is about an artist who did something extraordinary and rather unique in the rock-business: He retired.
In 2009, Martin Orford, one of Britain's most respected keyboard players and founding member of IQ, decided to end his career in music. Only a few months after he left that band, he played his final solo concert, making very clear that he never would return to either studio or stage.
It was not the lack of new ideas or fading love for music that forced Orford to leave it all behind, but an enemy he couldnt beat: the Internet.
According to him, illegal downloading was the sinfall of the music scene and he decided to make his point clear. Very clear actually. If people won't pay for music anymore, so was Orford's conclusion, there would be just one way to teach them: don't produce anymore music.
Man of strong convictions he is, there's no doubt that his latest album on GEP, 'The Old Road' marks the final chapter in an outstanding career.
After joining The Lens in 1978 he and guitarist Mike Holmes formed IQ in 1981. In the early 90's, Orford supported Jadis on keyboards and was a member of John Wetton's (King Crimson, Asia, UK) live and studio band.
His first solo album Classical Music and Popular Songs dates back from 2000 and it took him nine years to work on it's successor, The Old Road, which now has to be seen as the heritage of a man who rated his conviction higher than his art.
A truly unique story in the world of rock music...
