Theatrics Not Necessary
I have a confession to make. I am a fan of Prog Rock. I have been buying albums and going to concerts since I was quite young and to me, Prog Rock is like classical music, either you love it, or you don’t (but you can at least acknowledge the skill involved).
I can remember so many great concerts, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Rush, The Who, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, among so many other greats. If you have never experienced Peter Gabriel’s stage creativity or the Pig Flying above your head, then perhaps, you may not experience the same rush I have when listening to these bands. But, I digress, Prog Rock is not about the theatrics or the capes and flashy stage displays, there is a marvel of skill involved in the music itself.
From bass players, to drummers, to song writers, to lead guitarists, to poet singers, Prog Rock has produced some (I stress some, I make no claim of all) of the best in the music industry. Keith Moon and Neil Peart on drums, Syd Barrett and his genius level poetic musings on Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins in Genesis for poetic interpretation (Carpetcrawlers, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway). I must also discuss Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Geddy’s bass and Lifeson’s extended solos sealed Rush’s fate as one of the quintessential Prog Rock bands (not to mention Neil Peart’s percussion and singing, which elevated Rush to one of the best Trios in the world). The combination of the three masters of Rush’s lineup created music that to this day stands the test of time. As for The Who and Pink Floyd, there is nothing I could say that has not already been said. I will say that without The Who or Pink Floyd, I do not think Prog rock would have been the same as their early influences were crucial in the formation of the genre, at least in my opinion.
A Prog Rock confession would not be complete if I did not mention Keith Moon of The Who. His wild abandon was unforgettable. If you ever saw The Who when Keith Moon played, you could not take your eyes off his playing. It was like the embodiment of the sixties all rolled into one drummer and set on fire. Wild, free, empowered and incredibly trippy. His joy was infectious. You just felt it all, every beat.
At its best, Prog rock has it all, Blues, Classical, Rock, Jazz and perhaps a cowbell or two. I love all music; there is really nothing I will not listen to when it comes down to it. I have a vast music collection and while I am not a musician or a student of music, I am a lover of good music. I do not claim to have all the knowledge in the world, but for me I let my ears do the talking, if I find something I like, it gets added to my library.
This post is not a comprehensive article on Prog rock by any means; it is my confession. I am a fan. I have many albums of this genre and it is my go to for listening on mornings, days, nights when I want to escape and just relax. I’ve attached some of my favorites to this post.
I have enjoyed the MAG forum here at DU and I have been exposed to many great bands and music that I have never heard before, so I thank you all for that.
Thank you for taking the time to read my OP, I hope you enjoy the music I added to this op, or if not, feel free to let me know. I appreciate all comments in this diverse world. All things make me grow. Feel free to add your favorites to the post.
Love, cayugafalls.
