Michael Pointer (born 22 July 1956) is an English drummer. He is known for his work in the

neo-prog Neo-progressive rock (commonly abbreviated neo-prog) is a subgenre of progressive rock that developed in the UK in the early 1980s. The genre's most popular band, Marillion, achieved mainstream success in the decade. Several bands from the ge ...

bands

Marillion Marillion are a British neo-prog band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the mo ...

and

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

Career

Pointer was the original drummer and a founding member of Marillion. He appeared on the band's debut EP '' Market Square Heroes'' (1982) and debut LP '' Script for a Jester's Tear'' (1983). He was sacked from the band following the album's UK tour and ultimately replaced by Ian Mosley. Lead singer

Fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

later told ''

Classic Rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

'' that Pointer had been dismissed because he had "never liked Mick's drumming", "his timing was awful" and "everybody was developing except him". After his acrimonious departure from Marillion, Pointer did not perform music for another ten years. Instead, he became a kitchen designer, something he had served an apprenticeship in as a teenager. Pointer eventually founded the British progressive band

, in which he continues to play with keyboardist

Clive Nolan Clive Nolan (born 30 June 1961) is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the development of progressive rock. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (band), Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowla ...

(from Pendragon). He is Nolan's business partner in his record label. Pointer later gathered a band for "Mick Pointer's ''Script for a Jester's Tear'' tour", comprising Brian Cummins (Carpet Crawlers) on vocals, Nick Barrett (Pendragon) on lead guitar, Mike Varty (Credo) on keyboards and Ian Salmon (Arena) on bass guitar, to perform Marillion's debut album for its 25th anniversary. Pointer had originally intended to call it "Mick Pointer, ex-Marillion"; however, the remaining members of the band objected to him using the name, and threatened him with legal action.

References

External links

Official site of Arena
1956 births Living people British male drummers English rock drummers Marillion members Arena (band) members {{UK-drummer-stub