Readers Poll: The Best Prog Rock Bands of All Time

Rolling Stone Magazine ^ | 7-21-2011 | Andy Greene

[MarkL]

Another "Supergroup" that hasn't been mentioned so far is "Asia!" I caught them on tour two years ago as the opening act for Yes. Steve Howe played both sets! I don't think I've ever seen a concert where although the headline act was anticipated with great excitement, there was a huge disappointment when Asia left the stage. They played a terrific set of Asia's songs, but the roof of the Uptown Theater was nearly blown off when the "solo songs" were played: Geoff Downs had "Video Killed the Radio Star" which was a lot more fun than I thought it would be; Since Steve was going to play with Yes, he did an acoustic solo. For Carl Palmer we were treated to "Fanfare to the Common Man;" But I thought the place had exploded when we heard the opening for "Court of the Crimson King" for John Wetton.

I'm also rather shocked that Todd Rundgren, and specifically Utopia (certainly V1 with M. Frog Labatt, if not V2) haven't been mentioned!

Mark

[BufordP]

They hadn't played together in years. They practiced for about 10 months in preparation. Hell of a show. Even at their age. They got such an awesome reception that they decided to stay together and produce more music. But I haven't bought any more music except for the remastered Remember the Future they were selling at the venue.

[mylife]

I am glad to see this sort of collaboration still exists in the music world.

[mylife]

Todd really did a lot to open up how music was produced.
An unsung hero.

[mylife]

Yes, I have the 2000 reunion DVD

[dfwgator]

[mylife]

Geezers!!!

Roye is so cool, and Ron Howden just rocks!

~ Desolation Valley

[Osage Orange]

Gentle Giant.

[dfwgator]

Also....

Marillion (with Fish)
Alan Parsons Project
Pat Metheny Group

[mylife]

MY fave LP is still “Sounds Like This”

Live to two track in the studio at 3 am. No dubs.
Just a straight document of the jam.

[dfwgator]

Todd really did a lot to open up how music was produced.

He produced one of my favorite all-time albums, XTC's Skylarking.

[MarkL]

“I’m talking to myself, I’m talking to myself!”

Here’s another one I just thought of...

What about Primus and the many bands of Les Claypool? He’s been heavily influenced by both Pink Floyd and King Crimson, and these can easily be heard on his “Flying Frog Brigade” albums, where he does some really terrific covers of both PF and KC songs. In fact, I’ve got their CD where they did an amazing cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals.

Colonel Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains is a really cool band too...

I also remember seeing some footage of one of Claypool’s bands doing Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath.” It wasn’t this version, which is by Frog Brigade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zHt1DSAEqE

The video I saw didn’t feature a guitarist. Instead, the guitar parts were played on a marimba!

Mark

[Revolting cat!]

I'm looking for Reg(ressive) rock bands.

[BufordP]

No, I bought the CD not the DVD. Is part of the vid have a large group of people standing on the steps of the War Memorial Theater? They were walking around all weekend with a video camera and filming a lot of video. I'm the tall guy medium build salt and pepper hair.
;-)

In the vid of course - not the pic.

[mylife]

Nektar "Sounds Like This" ~ 1 2 3 4 pt1

1 2 3 4 pt2

[dfwgator]

I didn't know Benny Hill was in a band.

[mylife]

No war memorial in on the DVD
I forget the venue. They did a bunch of mingling with the crowd signing things and such.
They did a bunch of flash back stuff and then just played the concert.

[mylife]

The old guy is gonna slap you on top the head!

Slappaslappaslap....

[MarkL]

Todd really did a lot to open up how music was produced. An unsung hero.

As far as popular music goes, I think that two of the most important people in the last 50 years for songwriting and production have been Todd Rundgren and Carol King.

Mark

[mylife]

I dont know anything of Carol King other than her hits.

I’ll tell ya this.
Todd had millions of people experimenting with sound.