The early works of Marillion contained Fish's poetic and introspective lyrics melded with a complex and subtle musical tapestry to create a sound that reflected the band's influences, notably Queen, early Genesis, Pink Floyd, Van der Graaf Generator, Rush (specifically from the late 1970s), and Yes.

Marillion was formed in 1979 as Silmarillion, after J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Silmarillion, by Mick Pointer, Steve Rothery, and others.

Several bandmembers are currently active in UK music industry bodies - amongst them the FAC (Featured Artists Coalition), whilst Mark Kelly was elected in November 2009 to both the Performer and Main Boards of the UK's PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited).

By their own admission, Marillion have never been fashionable in the eyes of the media. The band have been prepared to send up their unfashionable status, naming their 2001 album "Anoraknophobia" and printing T-shirts with the logo "Marillion: Uncool as F*ck."