What Is The "Greatest" Prog Rock band?

What's the greatest prog rock band in your opinion?


  • Total voters
    100

grahamce

New member
I would say the two best prog bands are CAN and Magma. CAN for having influence that reached tremendously far both within and without prog, and Magma for inventing a completely new style of music.


2nd that.

Ege Bamyasi is one of my favourite albums...why is Rush even on the list...I kid I kid
 

intet_at_tabe

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret.)
Difficult choice but my vote landed on PINK FLOYD from the election above. I was born in 1954 and part of the Youth Rebelion at that time from 1968, and completely enfatuated with English Rock Music post The Beatles from 1963.

When the PINK FLOYD-album UMMA GUMMA was released in Europe in 1969, I skipped public school for a full week, with my buddy from school Rene´ and four of his friends from his home street, all guys familiar with marijuana and having lots of it. We left Copenhagen after lying our teeth off to our parents telling a sweet story that the class should go to Nord Sjælland for a week.

We did go to Nord Sjælland for a week, but not with the school class.

My connection untill then with PINK FLOYD was their second album "A Sauceful Of Secrets" from 1968, which realy opened my eyes to PINK FLOYD.

Instead 6 guys with dirty long hair in weird looking clothes on ilegal fast running mopeds went to a borrowed summer house to honour PINK FLOYD, like people today wish to pay money for two minutes with Dalai Lama in Tibet (quite impossible though), and of course to listen to the new album UMMA GUMMA.

At that time, not many young people my own age in Denmark were able to comprehend and understand the content of this incredibly innovative double album UMMA GUMMA in the year 1969. The Rock reviewers called it Acid Rock, an expression they also used about The Grateful Dead from the USA in 1969.

I got hooked seriously on PINK FLOYD and having seen them later in concert performing the album realy - made the cut. I guess a form of an addiction.

I still enjoy PINK FLOYD albums from time to time, because they just got better and better, except for the double album The Wall, which never glued to me.

Of course the whole story about PINK FLOYD and the former guitarist and lead singer Cyd Barrett, who took one acid trip too many, according to drummer Nick Mason, Cyd left this planet intellectually and mentally because of this dangerous drug - acid trips.

Instead David Gilmour entered the band as guitarist and second singer.

Unfortunately as we all know, PINK FLOYD, the band from the 1970´s for instance from "The Dark Side Of The Moon" parted up, and Roger Waters (lead composer, lyricist, el. bass and lead vocals) took the rest of the guys to court, because he thought he owned the name PINK FLOYD. The Magistrates Court had a different opinion though, and Roger Waters lost his case and went solo after "The Final Cut". Sad ending of a truely prog.rock band, but the music from that time in my life and most of the albums I still keep and I still enjoy the music.
 
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John Watt

Member
Jazzis! You're right! But in the rock world, it goes way beyond pissing. And progressive rock music has to be seen as electronic technology first, or even Johnny Winter ($500,000 1967 Columbia Records signing bonus) would still be sitting there like everyone else with an acoustic. I'm still waiting to hear another rock guitarist play the solo from "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and The Comets. I'm still waiting for another songwriter like Buddy Holly, producing himself and writing strings and horn arrangements rock'n'roll people bought. The first eight-track dubs, Les Paul. Phil Spector and his "wall of sound". Tower of Power horns, Philly Soul, Motown and Muscle Shoals songs, bringing R+B. James Brown brought funk into it. Bob Marley brought raggae. The Sir Beatles imbedded English and German pub and The B.B.C. studio orchestra, showing to the world how not being able to sound like your songs live can break up the biggest act. Shure's hi&lo impedance public address systems and mikes. Whoever made the first 1,000 watt "three-way" P.A: Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, Heathkits, Belmont, Kent, Traynor, Stuart, Rogers, Ludwig and Gretch. Roto-toms. The first wah-wah, phasing, flanging, volume feedback, the most detailed headphone stereo mix, Stratocaster and Marshall stack use, creating an axis of sound even in arenas, an enduring hit, Jimi Hendrix. Frank Zappa wrote it down. Elvis broadcasts first with satellite uplinks. Steely Dan showed you could have chart-toppers without touring. Queen showed how overdubs become proprietary content. The Doobie Brothers helped make it public. Mick Fleetwood showed how a great English drummer can become a hit L.A. coke opera. Electric Light Orchestra with live strings. Rush showed how a stalled recording career could be remastered, recycling old songs as new material for a double live album. Nirvana up fronted classic rock innuendo, showing you could tour big time even if you couldn't stand up onstage or play lead guitar, marrying a stripper, only smelling teen spirit. Michael Jackson enhanced sex'n'drugs denial. Guitarists adding a lower bass string and playing down there. Jeff "Mutt" Lang taking Shania country made rock production something else Nashville had to copy. Sting regifted Nashville by writing "Every Breath You Take", using six very cliche chords almost everyone could get, winning a first Grammy and becoming the "divorce" song. Milli Vanilli took anonymous album credits and upgraded to Grammy exposure, only lipsynching. Tupac and Biggie scratchin'n'spinnin' showed how you could rap inside a coffin to make comeback history. "Comedy is the new rock and roll". Wrestling "The New World Order" now headlines arena revenues. A reElviscarol take hits #1 in England, tying Beatles for #1's in The New Millennium. As we sit, The Hollywood and Disney formats proliferate, being fantasy and literal cyberspace overtaking actuality. 50's Comic book characters are the biggest draws. "The Medium is the Message", said by Professor Marshall McCluhan in the 60's. With "The Global Village" he's more accurate than ever.
A rock'n'roll prophet? Maybe for the third stone from The Sun.

I'm going to regret signing off, and/or with no disclaimers, still glad to be alive and free. But this got me thinking what my ten favourite hard to soft rock foods are. Black cherries, peaches, bananas, cherry pie and apple pie, salami, hot wings and legs, strange fruit, drive-thru takeout, ketchup, spray whipped cream, water hoses, watermelon, suga'cane, subs, makin' bacon, canoli, hash brownies, munchies, fries, seeds and nuts, spring onions, yeah... pass me one of those.
I need to crunch some green numbers.
 
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Askanishkillo

New member
I have to go with Pink Floyd, even that I'm only 20 years old, I grew up with their music, because of my father XD, but I also thing Jethro Tull is great, I played their version of Bouree in my bass final exam at the Yamaha Music Academy =P
 

sunwaiter

New member
nice bass part in Bourée! did you play the solo as it is on the record? i played it too when i had more time to practice bass.

if you don't like what is going on in this video, then there are some things we won't share. i know it's not what you could call progrock, neither funk, jazz, metal, classic, reggae or whatever label you can think of. one three-letter word will come to your mind when hearing this, but it makes me think of a five-letter word used for qualifying the music that was born in cotton fields.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbwdAOogBw

concerning the initial topic: i like genesis, camel, magma, king crimson (RED!), atoll, ange, jethro tull, gong,... i voted for crimson just because of the album mentionned.
 

the_drumminator

New member
When I think of pure Prog ROCK, RUSH is where its at, they are the very definition of Progressive Rock and THE true pioneer of the genre. I will admit that I am biased as I have been a hardcore fan since my early high school years and I am a drummer-so liking RUSH goes without saying. BUT, I also equally enjoy listening to YES, TULL, ELP, and many others. I am surprised that KANSAS has not been mentioned as frequently...one of the best Symphonic Prog bands ever. TOOL is also a very interesting band to listen to- more metal than the rest but equally as brilliant.
 

Art Rock

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
When I think of pure Prog ROCK, RUSH is where its at, they are the very definition of Progressive Rock and THE true pioneer of the genre. I will admit that I am biased as I have been a hardcore fan since my early high school years and I am a drummer-so liking RUSH goes without saying. BUT, I also equally enjoy listening to YES, TULL, ELP, and many others. I am surprised that KANSAS has not been mentioned as frequently...one of the best Symphonic Prog bands ever. TOOL is also a very interesting band to listen to- more metal than the rest but equally as brilliant.
All else is personal opinion, but to state that RUSH is THE true pioneer of the genre, with their first album (and not even a really proggy one) released as late as 1974, is simply incorrect.
 

the_drumminator

New member
Art Rock,

Obviously there were other prog rock bands that came out before them and yes, they were just a hard rock band for their first few releases. But in terms of HARD ROCK that was truly progressive at the same time, they set the bar.
 

elpless

New member
i would think Pink Floyd are the ultimate 'greatest' prog rock group, certainly judging by the interest that their reforming for that concert created, only the 'reformation' of Led Zeppelin caused similar interest and perhaps only the The Beatles (if they were all alive) 'comeback' would have been greater.

also i recall many years ago in the sixth form common room circa 71-73 Pink Floyd were the most familiar name heard!
Cheers Elpless
 

Art Rock

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Art Rock,

Obviously there were other prog rock bands that came out before them and yes, they were just a hard rock band for their first few releases. But in terms of HARD ROCK that was truly progressive at the same time, they set the bar.

Uriah Heep did progressive hard rock years earllier (and better, but that is subjective).
 

Yessongs

New member
I know it's a difficult (maybe even impossible) question because there are so many great ones, but I'm still making this poll just for fun, so let's se how it turns out
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(heh... is it ProgRock, Prog Rock, or Progressive Rock? Probably should do a poll on that too
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)
1-YES
2-JETHRO TULL my 2 best prog bands ever
 

John Watt

Member
As a survivor of the sixties and a pro player from the 70's, and not racist at all, Miles Davis' lineup for Bitches Brew is the most progressive and influential album from these art-rock times. Being influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Miles wanted to make a similar statement. He invited Herbie Hancock to play keys, only making him use a Fender Rhodes, an electric piano, for the first time. Herbie later found his own synth fame. Miles also had Chick Corea on keys, who went on to jazz-rock fame with Return to Forever. Just look at the other musicians who all went on to greater musical styles and fame after that musical eruption. John McClaughlin on guitar, for example.
If all you do is add up the various album sales and band poll wins, this album is it. What Jimi did with his own overdubs, and Stevie Winwood on keys, Miles created with live musicians. Electric Ladyland and Bitches Brew, what a two.
 
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