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Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s.
This is an introductory page to timelines of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. While this page shows the formation of significant bands in the genre, the detailed timeline is presented in separate articles for each decade.
Jun 7, 2021 · Since the 1960s, progressive rock has pushed the boundaries of rock n' roll music to incorporate longer song forms, conceptual lyrics, and advanced composition techniques.
- Early Progressive Rock
- The 1970s
- The UK Scene in The 1970s
- Progressive Rock Subgenres
- Rock in Opposition
- Zeuhl in France
- The International Scene
- Fantasy Artwork
- The Influence of Electronic Instruments
- Late 1970s Decadence
Although there are different perspectives about the beginning of progressive rock, early pioneers included the Moody Blues, Soft Machine, The Nice, and Pink Floyd. Experimentation by the Beatles, including one of the early uses of mellotron on “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and ambitious song suites for the second half of Abbey Road, was also highly ...
The early 1970s produced some of the most iconic and memorable progressive rock acts of all time. Leading artists in the 1970s encompassed British groups Genesis, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Yes, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Renaissance, Caravan, Jethro Tull, Curved Air, Gong, Camel, Greenslade, and Barclay James H...
A few British record companies played an important role in the development of progressive rock. These were primarily Charisma Records, Manticore Records, Vertigo Records (as well as its parent company, Phillips), Harvest, Chrysalis, Deram, and Virgin Records. Charisma Records released albums by Genesis, The Nice, Van der Graaf Generator and Rare Bi...
Progressive rock subgenres include avant-garde rock, Canterbury, jazz-rock and fusion, Krautrock, neoprog, post rock, progressive folk, progressive electronic, progressive psychedelic, rock andaluz, Rock In Opposition (RIO), rock progresivo italiano, space rock, symphonic rock, and Zeuhl.
Rock in Opposition, also known as RIO and Avant Progressive, representes a mix of progressive rock acts, artists inspired by Frank Zappa’s combination of humor and virtuosity, as well as avant-garde and experimental progressive music bands in the late 1970s that joined to promote its members and shared their opposition to the recording industry tha...
A French band called Magma astonished the progressive music world with its powerful mix of rock, jazz, operatic vocals, and contemporary classical music. The band used lyrics written in a rare new language called Kobaian that was constructed by its founder, drummer, composer, and vocalist Christian Vander. Magma became a popular underground act and...
Aside from the UK and Italy, other nations produced significant progressive rock acts: Argentina: Alas, Arco Iris, Bubu, Crucis, Espiritu, La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and MIA (Músicos Independientes Asociados). Australia: Sebastian Hardie, Mario Millo, and Windchase. Austria: Eela Craig, Isaiah, Paternoster. Belgium: Cos, Isopoda, Machiavel, and U...
The cover artwork of many LPs of the era reflected an interest in fantasy and science fiction. Roger Dean’s designs fascinated fans with colorful, highly creative album covers for artists such as Yes, Gentle Giant and Greenslade, and even African music group Osibissa. Another famed illustrator who worked with progressive rock album cover artwork wa...
The arrival of new technical gear and electronic musical instruments played an essential role in the development of progressive rock. Early synthesizers were originally enormous modular devices that were practically impossible to carry on tours. Companies like Moog and ARP miniaturized synthesizers and made them portable and affordable. Progressive...
Several factors contributed to the decadence of progressive rock in the late 1970s. Some of the leading groups suffered musical transformations and notorious desertions. When Genesis lost vocalist Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, it changed direction, shifting to pop, and became a chart topping band. Another iconic act, Yes, eliminated it...
Oct 10, 2023 · The origins of progressive rock are inextricably bound up with the seismic changes in the British music scene that took place in the mid-60s, when bands that had hitherto forged their reputations play.
- Hugh Fielder
Jul 6, 2019 · One of the more prominent subgenres of rock music to emerge from the 1960s was undoubtedly progressive (or ‘prog’) rock. While rock itself was becoming an increasingly sexual fusion of electric blues and 50s rock and roll, the more adventurous groups began to add classical and jazz elements to the mix. By its peak, the genre had become an ...
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Progressive Rock, or simply “Prog,” emerged in Britain during the late 1960s from a specific set of musical, social and technological trends. Early Prog Rock drew on many sources, combining elements of Rock and Roll, Psychedelic Rock, Jazz, Folk, and Classical music.
