“I said, ‘I quit!’ He said, ‘Take six months off, then I’ll call and find out if you’ve still left.’ When he called I couldn’t remember what we’d been arguing about”: Steve Hogarth, Marillion and several false starts

Steve Hogarth in 2026.

Steve Hogarth endured a series false starts to his musical career – and came close to becoming a milkman before an old friend encouraged him to apply for Fish’s former role in Marillion. Since then he’s released 16 albums with the band, toured as a solo artist and collaborated with countless others. “I did always imagine I’d be a star by the time I was in my mid- 20s,” he tells Prog cheerfully. “It took rather longer than that. Some would argue it’s yet to happen.”

What was your first musical instrument?