Peter Gabriel was honoured with the “Prog God” award at last night’s Progressive Music Awards.
The annual event was founded by Jerry Ewing, editor of Prog Magazine. Now in it’s third year, this year’s ceremony was hosted by BBC journalist, news presenter and avowed prog rock fan, Gavin Esler.
Having been presented with his award by comedian Bill Bailey, Gabriel said: “Despite prog probably being the most derided musical genre of all time there were – as today – a lot of extraordinary musicians trying to break down the barriers to reject the rules of music.”
Gabriel was a member of prog rockers Genesis until 1975, when he left to pursue a solo career. He enjoyed enormous success with his 1986 album, So, which featured the hit singles “Sledgehammer” and “Don’t Give Up.”
Said Ewing of last night’s ceremony: “At a time when Kate Bush is playing live, a new Pink Floyd album and a King Crimson tour are also helping push progressive music into the public spotlight, a night like tonight really shows the diversity and far reaching appeal of this music.”
The 2014 Progressive Music Awards winners in full were:
Limelight: Messenger
Live Event: Rick Wakeman – Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 40th Anniversary Tour
Breakthrough: Syd Arthur
Anthem: Anathema – “Anathema”
The Storm Thorgerson Grand Design: Fish – A Feast of Consequences
Album of the Year: Transatlantic – Kaleidoscope
Band of the Year: Dream Theater
Outer Limits: Uriah Heep
Virtuoso: Kef Arjen Lucassen
Guiding Light: Sonja Kristina
Visionary: Robert John Godfrey
Lifetime Achievement: Andy Latimer
Prog God: Peter Gabriel
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