COTM - #239 - Step into the Arena
 

This week we feature a supergroup from the mid 90's, Arena. The members were all part of some of the earlier Neo-Prog groups from the UK. We start with Keyboardist Clive Nolan from Pendragon, Marillion's Mick Pointer on Drums, Guitarist Keith More of Asia, John Carson on vocals, and Cliff Orsi of Neronia on Bass.

That was the line-up for their debut album Songs from the Lion's Cage, released in 1995. The band would evolve through the years and members would include John Mitchell (Kino), Rob Sowden (Red Mercury), John Jowitt (Frost*), Ian Salmon (Threshold and Shadowland).

Songs from the Lion's Cage will join The Visitor as the two albums from Arena that I will feature this week. By the time The Visitor was released in 1998, the line up featured Paul Wrightson as lead vocalist. Paul only recorded this one album as personal issues rose with the band members and he was dismissed. Paul would kick around for a decade and was part of the renown Deep Purple cover band, The Purple Project. In 2005 Paul would work with Kalle Warner of RPWL and be reunited with John Jowitt and John Mitchell forming Blind Ego. They made a resounding performance at the 2008 ROSfest, which I was fortunate to catch.

So, swing by this week and step into the Arena.