People like this are called mavericks because they cut their own unorthodox path through crowded fields, only branding Judge Smith in such a way would be wrong. Often mentioned as a cofounder of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, Smith took care of transforming his ever-so-important role in the classic ensemble’s creation into a mere reference in his genre-defying oeuvre, and Judge’s solo albums are remarkable in their thematic and stylistic scope.
Still very much active, the veteran nevertheless decided to take stock of his textual output in 2024 and published a book of lyrics – and reading it can provide a peek into Judge Smith’s personality, too, while speaking to this artist shines even more light on his brilliant mind.
