Steve Rothery: The Roaring Waves and Pompeii
Rothery previews The Roaring Waves, Marillion's Pompeii concerts and a possible May release of the band's 21st studio record. News for fans wanting fresh material.
Steve Rothery — Marillion's guitarist — has a new collaborative album, The Roaring Waves; interview published 12 September 2026. Fans should care because Rothery is balancing two big stories at once: a cinematic duet record with Steve Hackett and a Marillion run that will include filmed shows at Pompeii plus fresh songs on a UK tour.
Why it matters
The Roaring Waves is positioned as a mood-driven, instrumental album intended to conjure seascapes and filmic imagery. For long-term Marillion listeners, it signals Rothery taking time to explore atmospheric, non-lyrical work while remaining central to the band's next phase of activity. At the same time Marillion are rolling out a 14-date UK tour starting 12 September, prepping two Pompeii shows that will be filmed — rare, high-profile performances that promise both spectacle and setlist intrigue.
Tour, Pompeii and new Marillion music
Rothery says the band are finding a live balance between old favourites and new material. Each night they've been testing a new song called "Rhythms And Lace," a slow-building piece with a long guitar solo. If mixing finishes in December, Rothery expects the band's 21st studio album to appear the following springtime: "Maybe around May," he says.
Pompeii brings its own pressures: Rothery admitted nerves about heat affecting gear and joked that his valve preamps might have to go "in a bucket of water." He also revealed the Pompeii nights will include surprises and that recent German shows have functioned as rehearsals for those filmed performances.
The Roaring Waves and side projects
The Roaring Waves grew from nine years of collaboration with Steve Hackett, with the main bulk written during a two-day 2018 jam at the Racket Club. Rothery says the nautical concept comes from his Whitby upbringing and that the pair aimed for cinematic instrumentals that let listeners make their own mental films.
On wider band prospects Rothery is candid about longevity.
"At our ages, I don’t see us working beyond maybe six more years." — Steve Rothery
Despite that realism, Rothery is optimistic: Marillion will keep touring while they can, Rothery has more ideas for a second Hackett collaboration, and fans can expect new material live and in the studio over the coming months.
Rothery discussed these plans in an interview with Classic Rock.
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