Marillion Offer Free Taxi Rides to Promote New Album

Marillion announced a scheme to offer free taxi rides across London, England, as a way of promoting their latest album An Hour Before It’s Dark.

Fans who quote the LP title when they jump aboard Hackney cabs featuring their artwork will be able to travel without charge. The promotion began yesterday (Mar. 4) marking release date, and runs until Mar. 14.

“Any lucky Marillion fan who spots and flags down one of the taxis can ask the cabbie to take them anywhere in London for free,” the band said in a statement. “These special taxis will be on the streets [and] any Marillion fan that sees [one] simply needs to say the album title,’An Hour Before It’s Dark,’ to the driver as a password, and their trip will be entirely complimentary. Additionally, they will be asked to take a photo of themselves (or let the driver take a photo), to post on socials, whether inside or next to the car.”

The band noted: “Marillion’s 20th studio album is anticipated to be one of the highest new entries in the U.K. album charts and is already being discussed by critics as a major landmark in their career.” When the record was announced, the earMusic label said: “Whether it's the last hour you were allowed to play outside as a child before you had to go home, a reference to the fight against time in relation to the climate crisis or the last minutes in a person's life, Marillion once again put their finger on the pulse of time,. Be it social, political, or personal issues, Marillion have never minced words and have always found a way to combine them with their own unique sound, known for incredible songwriting, melodies and top-notch musicianship, while swimming against the tide, not bending to norms and limitations.”