IQ

A stalwart of the British prog-rock scene since its inception, IQ was formed in 1981 by guitarist Mike Holmes and keyboardist/vocalist Martin Orford, who left in 2007. Although the other founding members Peter Nicholls (vocals), Tim Esau (bass) and Paul Cook (drums) are still in place, the band has undergone several changes over the course of its existence, which has been punctuated by a series of albums, the most popular of which are Ever (1993) and Dark Matter (2004). Since Seven Stories Into Eight (1982), the band's commercial success and inspiration have continued unabated, and in addition to some fifteen original albums, the band regularly presents live recordings and archives, as well as compilations featuring rare or previously unreleased material. Back on stage after the Covid-19 pandemic, IQ returned to the studio to release a successor to Resistance (2019), entitled Dominion (2025).