Giant Electric Pea (often abbreviated as GEP) is an

independent music label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represente ...

based in London and Berlin. Their releases consist of

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", 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 ...

and

progressive metal Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven sound of the former with t ...

music albums.

History

Giant Electric Pea was formed in 1992 by Michael Holmes, Thomas Waber (also founder of European independent music labels,

Inside Out Music Inside Out Music is a German progressive rock record label originally based in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles. In 2009, it formed a partnership with Cen ...

and Superball Music), Laurence Dyer and Martin Orford. The label was originally intended as a vehicle for IQ's 1993 album, 'Ever' but went on to become the first independent music label for progressive rock, quickly establishing itself within the genre by signing new bands such as

Spock's Beard Spock's Beard is an American progressive rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1992 by brothers Neal (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar) and Alan Morse (guitars), John Ballard (bass), and Nick D'Virgilio (drums). Ballard was replaced by Dave M ...

, Jadis and Threshold to the label. GEP have also released albums by established artists such as

John Wetton John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Although he was left-handed, he was known for his skilled right-handed bass playing as well as his booming baritone voice. He was a member ...

and

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

Management

Giant Electric Pea is now managed by four directors: * Michael Holmes – CEO, also known for his work with progressive rock band IQ and solo project The Lens. * Rob Aubrey – Technical Director, sound engineer and owner of recording studio 'Aubitt Studios'. * Peter Huth – Marketing Director and Berlin-based journalist, author and editor-in-chief of German Sunday newspaper ''

Welt am Sonntag ''Welt am Sonntag'' (German for ''World on Sunday'') is a German Sunday newspaper published in Germany. History and profile ''Welt am Sonntag'' was established in 1948. The paper is published by Axel Springer SE. Its head office is in Berlin. ...

''. * Thomas Waber – Business Director. Waber is also founder of European independent record labels,

and Superball Music who are responsible for many of today's Progressive artists.

Artists

* IQ *

Big Big Train Big Big Train are an English progressive rock band formed in Bournemouth in 1990. The current line-up includes band founder Gregory Spawton (bass, guitars and keyboards), along with Nick D'Virgilio (drums, vocals, guitars and keyboards), Rikar ...

* Synaesthesia * The Lens * Steve Thorne * Martin Orford *

* Niadem's Ghost * Threshold *

* Damanek * Southern Empire

References

{{Authority control British independent record labels German independent record labels

History

Management

Artists

See also

References