One of the treasures of British indie rock, Peter Hammill got his start in music in the famed progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Active during the '70s and into the '80s, Van der Graaf Generator is remembered as being an instrumental pre-punk band during this dynamic period in music history. Hammill is known mostly as a vocalist, however his work as a guitarist and pianist have come to light throughout his later work as a solo artist. In recent years, he has extended his artistic reach into new musical ground, working as a producer and experimenting in new genres, including opera and avant-garde.