Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree live at Arena, Poznań, Poland (28 November 2007).
Background information
Origin	Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England
Genres	Progressive rock progressive metal post-progressive psychedelic rock alternative rock
Years active	1987–2010
Labels	Delerium, Snapper, Lava, Transmission, Roadrunner, Atlantic, WHD, Headspin, Peaceville, Kscope
Associated acts	No-Man, I.E.M., Bass Communion, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion, Continuum, Opeth, Japan, iamthemorning
Website	www.porcupinetree.com
Past members	Steven Wilson Richard Barbieri Colin Edwin Chris Maitland Gavin Harrison

Porcupine Tree were an English rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The band began essentially as a solo project for Wilson, who created all of the band's music. However, by 1993, Wilson desired to work in a band environment, and so brought on frequent collaborators Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edwin on bass and Chris Maitland on drums as permanent band members. With Wilson still in charge of guitar and lead vocals, this would remain the lineup until 2001, when the band recruited Gavin Harrison to replace Maitland on drums.

Porcupine Tree's early sound evoked a style of psychedelic rock comparable to that of progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Upon signing with Kscope record label in the late 1990s, the band approached a more mainstream alternative rock sound. By the early 2000s, the band signed to a major record label and shifted their sound again, this time in a more progressive metal direction.

After the release and tour in support of their tenth studio album, The Incident, the band became inactive as Wilson committed himself to his solo work, and other members began working on their own separate projects. Wilson hasn't ruled out a reformation, but has no particular plans for it either, his most recent words were simply that the band "no longer exists".

Porcupine Tree originated in 1987 as a collaborative hoax project by Steven Wilson and Malcolm Stocks. Partially inspired by the psychedelic/progressive bands of the 1970s, such as Pink Floyd, that had dominated the music scene during their youth, the two decided to form a fictional legendary rock band named The Porcupine Tree. The two fabricated a detailed back-story including information on alleged band members and album titles, as well as a "colourful" history which purportedly included events such as a meeting at a 1970s rock festival and several trips in and out of prison. As soon as he had put aside enough money to buy his own studio equipment, Wilson obliged this creation with several hours of music to provide "evidence" of its existence. Although Stocks provided a few passages of treated vocals and experimental guitar playing, his role in the project was mostly offering occasional ideas, with the bulk of the material being written, recorded, played and sung by Wilson.