howlin
Tele-Afflicted
Actually, it was an experiment by MI5 gone horribly wrong due to the underlying influence of an alien culture known as the Progs (not to be confused with the Troggs, which were another thing completely).
who invented prog rock?
- Thread starter fuzzbender
- Start date
xMercury69x
Friend of Leo's
Punk, maybe? Art rock? They weren't prog. Too much guitar, not enough keyboards.
HOLY COW, prog rockers among us...almost innumerable hours of proggy goodness here:
www.archive.org > Audio > Community Audio > search for "Kind Stranger".
You're welcome.
www.archive.org > Audio > Community Audio > search for "Kind Stranger".
You're welcome.
suthol
Friend of Leo's
Certainly not the first prog rock band but I think Gentle Giant must be very close to the ultimate prog rockers with their complex arrangements and instrumentation mix.
From there we went to fusion groups such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever etc.
From there we went to fusion groups such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever etc.
Anyway.
Try this BBC radio documentary, if it's available where you live.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076xpc
Try this BBC radio documentary, if it's available where you live.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076xpc
I'm not real knowledgeable about or a fan of (what I assume to be?) progressive rock... but to me, I never considered that song to be progressive rock.
Paleolith54
Tele-Meister
Emerson Lake and Palmer is who comes to mind. Someone frequently left out of the discussion is Jethro Tull, but I think they belong in the "Pioneer" group.
Nigel Plushbottom's first solo album in 1959. He was ahead of the curve, using an accordion hooked up to an Esquire with all the parts recorded and played backwards.
Radspin
Friend of Leo's
I have to respectfully disagree with those who think progressive rock is pretentious twit music. I consider Genesis' "Watcher of the Skies" to be a work of astounding brilliance, to name one example, and would much rather listen to that than three-chord blues-boogie. To each his own.
I remember them well. We were also from Tigard and were in competition for gigs (this was around 1972-74). They had a nice jumble of influences in their music, which gave us confidence to do more experimental stuff, as well.
Did I just say "experimental?" Hmm. I just remembered John Winters' Progressive Blues Experiment LP from 1968. I think a record label took a live tape and slapped a name on it.
Mr Perch
Tele-Afflicted
EllroyJames
Poster Extraordinaire
This man
Wyzsard
Friend of Leo's
No one invented it. The term came long after bands were grouped into a certain genre.
First name that came to mind was Zappa, followed by Pink Floyd and King Crimson.
Two bands that certainly wouldn't be considered prog rock pioneers but deserve mention are Flash (Peter Banks) and Badger (Tony Kaye).
First name that came to mind was Zappa, followed by Pink Floyd and King Crimson.
Two bands that certainly wouldn't be considered prog rock pioneers but deserve mention are Flash (Peter Banks) and Badger (Tony Kaye).
What made Yes (up through Close To The Edge) so great was having one of the most British-sounding drummers and one of the most American-sounding guitarists in rock.
Plus a busy bassist, great hooks and no one really paid attention to the lyrics (a good thing) which were there simply so JA had something to sing.
I loooooove Foxtrot-era Genesis but the only one of theirs that can hold a candle to primo Yes is Lamb.
The rest are good but sound ridiculously creaky compared to other music of the era.
Another reason we're all so familiar with them (Yes) is that they played the game - touring America constantly - back when that would net you both airplay and a loyal audience.
Plus a busy bassist, great hooks and no one really paid attention to the lyrics (a good thing) which were there simply so JA had something to sing.
I loooooove Foxtrot-era Genesis but the only one of theirs that can hold a candle to primo Yes is Lamb.
The rest are good but sound ridiculously creaky compared to other music of the era.
Another reason we're all so familiar with them (Yes) is that they played the game - touring America constantly - back when that would net you both airplay and a loyal audience.
Vanzant
Tele-Afflicted
Swampash&Tweed
Friend of Leo's
Its like asking who invested 2 hand tapping. Eddie wasn't the first but he made it famous.
Same goes for RUSH IMO. Maybe not the first , but certainly the best and most famous. I remember watching the latest documentary with them and chuckling when Geddy Lee said when they were touring with KISS as a support band in the 70's he played Caress of Steel for Paul Stanley. He said......he had the most confused look on his face and just didn't get what we were going for........
Wish I could have seen that exchange. DuncanAngus
Tele-Afflicted
As far as the term Prog or Progressive, I don't think I heard it until the very late 70's or early 80's. Almost about the time it seemed to be winding down. There were still bands playing it, but Punk was hitting hard.
About that time Yes had put out Drama, ELP Love Beach, Moody's were w/o Pinder and Patrick Moraz had redesigned their sound (or at least gone in a new direction), Genesis wasn't Genesis. Rush, Kansas, and a few others were carrying on, but seemed New Wave was the new wave.... I guess about that time I heard the term Prog.
As an aside, I saw Yes in Boston last month and Syd Arthur opened. Young and very interesting band!!! Very listenable and talented.
About that time Yes had put out Drama, ELP Love Beach, Moody's were w/o Pinder and Patrick Moraz had redesigned their sound (or at least gone in a new direction), Genesis wasn't Genesis. Rush, Kansas, and a few others were carrying on, but seemed New Wave was the new wave.... I guess about that time I heard the term Prog.
As an aside, I saw Yes in Boston last month and Syd Arthur opened. Young and very interesting band!!! Very listenable and talented.
