Arena

Arena was founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan (Pendragon) and Mick Pointer (Marillion), as well as guitarist Keith More, vocalist John Carson, and bassist Cliff Orsi. Orsi was soon replaced by John Jowitt (IQ) in 1995, while Carson and More left the band in 1996 and 1997, to replaced by Paul Wrightson and John Mitchell (Frost*, Lonely Robot).

Both Jowitt and Wrightson left the band in 1998, replaced by Ian Salmon and Rob Sowden, creating the band's most stable lineup to date (from 1998 until 2010). This lineup came to an end with Paul Manzi replacing Sowden in 2010. In 2011, Jowitt rejoined the band to replace the departing Salmon, leaving again in 2014 and being replaced by Kylan Amos. In 2020, Manzi was replaced by Damian Wilson (Ayreon, Threshold). At the end of 2026, Wilson will in turn be succeeded by Manzi.

Most of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan, though Pointer contributed lyrics to Sirens and other tracks on the first two albums.

Musically, the band's style ranges from symphonic to hard rock. 

AllMusic called them one of the dominant neo-prog groups of the 1990s