Peter Hammill in Livorno

Peter Hammill is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the principal vocalist and songwriter of progressive-rock group Van der Graaf Generator. Born in 1948, he co-founded the band in Manchester in 1967. His solo work spans progressive rock, art rock and experimental songwriting, including the albums Fool’s Mate, The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage and Nadir’s Big Chance. In the early 1980s, Peter Hammill toured with the K Group, featuring John Ellis, Nic Potter and Guy Evans; concert recordings from that period became The Margin. After those electric-band tours, he returned repeatedly to solo performances built around voice, piano and guitar. He has also toured as a duo with violinist Stuart Gordon, a longtime collaborator on his recordings and concerts.