Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Music Lounge
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - So, Who Exactly is a Member of the Big Six?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

So, Who Exactly is a Member of the Big Six?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 13>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Hercules View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
Status: Offline
Points: 7024 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hercules Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 04:27
Why do we need a Big Six? What mythical power does the idea have over this site?
If you want to rank bands by their influence and importance - fine. Most will be inevitably be 70s bands due to that being the heyday of prog.
There's a group that were undeniably the most influential and commercially successful:
Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull and possibly ELP and Rush, 
There's a small group that were extremely influential but somewhat less commercially successful, probably epitomised mainly by King Crimson.
There's a group which were below the top tier in terms of influence and sales, but still had a large fanbase and had albums in the UK and US charts, like Manfred Mann's Earthband, Camel, Strawbs, Renaissance, Uriah Heep, Barclay James Harvest and Focus.
Then there's the cult bands who never really achieved major sales or chart success like Gryphon, Gentle Giant, Caravan and VDGG, though the latter seem much more popular now than in the 70s, where they were a fairly minor band. (Despite being at university right through the 70s and being heavily into prog, I never met anyone who, to my knowledge, owned a VDGG album and they were never discussed as being particularly significant, having never had a top 40 UK album. Now they seem to have many more fans than then).
Each can have his/her own "Big Six" if they wish. I'm simply not bothered. I have my own favourites and which bands others think are the "biggest" is of no consequence to me.




Edited by Hercules - September 09 2020 at 11:25
A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.
Back to Top
Frenetic Zetetic View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 09 2017
Location: Now
Status: Offline
Points: 9233 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Frenetic Zetetic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 05:35
  1. Yes
  2. King Crimson
  3. ELP
  4. Genesis
  5. Gentle Giant
  6. VDGG

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021
Back to Top
JD View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 07 2009
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 18446 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 07:01
Why does Pink Floyd always worm it's way into this discussion.
They were a Psychedelic and then a Pop rock or maybe a Symphonic rock band, not a progressive band.
I guess I equate Prog Rock more with the Classical and Jazz influenced stuff than just the freaky stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I love Floyd, but never considered then a prog rock band.
Like the Nice, maybe they did things differently in their approach than most bands at the time which might be argued that made them progressive. I find that a bit of a stretch.
Thank you for supporting independently produced music
Back to Top
suitkees View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 19 2020
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 9050 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote suitkees Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 07:17
The Big Six are actually The Big Five plus a sixth one of your choosing. This allows everyone to think that their favourite band is part of The Big Six...


Edited by suitkees - September 07 2020 at 07:18

The razamataz is a pain in the bum
Back to Top
Catcher10 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17845 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 10:31
Originally posted by Hercules Hercules wrote:

Why do we need a Big Six? What mythical power does the idea have over this site?
If you want to rank bands by their influence and importance - fine. Most will be inevitably be 70s bands due to that being the heyday of prog.
There's a group that were undeniably the most influential and commercially successful:
Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull and possibly ELP and Rush, 
There's a small group that were extremely influential but somewhat less commercially successful, probably epitomised mainly by King Crimson.
There's a group which were below the top tier in terms of influence and sales, but still had a large fanbase and had albums in the UK and US charts, like Manfred Mann's Earthband, Camel, Strawbs, Uriah Heep, Barclay James Harvest and Focus.
Then there's the cult bands who never really achieved major sales or chart success like Gryphon, Gentle Giant, Caravan and VDGG, though the latter seem much more popular now than in the 70s, where they were a fairly minor band. (Despite being at university right through the 70s and being heavily into prog, I never met anyone who, to my knowledge, owned a VDGG album and they were never discussed as being particularly significant, having never had a top 40 UK album. Now they seem to have many more fans than then).
Each can have his/her own "Big Six" if they wish. I'm simply not bothered. I have my own favourites and which bands others think are the "biggest" is of no consequence to me.

I look at these band lists as the one's that influenced more than anything, and continue to influence today. A definitive list is tough because you get everyone's favs that are usually obscure, cult type bands that really were never global. I really like Hercules post BTW! Clap.
I think people list these bands to be "different".....that's all. The one band not mentioned that IMO gets a lot of reference even today is CAN, to me they should be one of these big 6, but its tough to list them....For sure they are part of the Big Seven! And I agree bands like VdGG are not only obscure but also obscure as an influence to much bands past 1980.....I don't think bands like them in the 70's influenced anybody at that time.
 
Back to Top
FatherChristmas View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 30 2020
Location: LandofGrey&Pink
Status: Offline
Points: 2457 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FatherChristmas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 10:37
1. Genesis
2. Rush
3. Pink Floyd
4. Yes
5. King Crimson
6. ELP
These are the bands I used in these threads on the most famous/most successful bands threads I posted a while ago, which you might be interested in. 
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123405
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123705


Edited by FatherChristmas - September 07 2020 at 11:46
"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp
"I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten
Back to Top
BaldJean View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10387 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldJean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 10:49
in no specific order:

Van der Graaf Generator
Magma
Gong
Amon Düül II
Embryo
Can


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
Back to Top
Nogbad_The_Bad View Drop Down
Forum & Site Admin Group
Forum & Site Admin Group
Avatar
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl & Eclectic Team

Joined: March 16 2007
Location: Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 20843 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 11:13
Very good post by Hercules.
Ian

Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/
Back to Top
BaldJean View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10387 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldJean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 11:20
for me the big six are not the most influential ones but the most interesting ones


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
Back to Top
questionsneverknown View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 22 2009
Location: Ultima Thule
Status: Offline
Points: 602 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote questionsneverknown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 11:42
Originally posted by Lewian Lewian wrote:

Interesting. When I see the Big Six mentioned I have no doubt about what people mean. ELP, KC, PF, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, in no particular order. I'm not saying that's my choice (although I'm by and large fine with it, even if there's only one overlap with my personal Big Five), and neither am I saying it should be like this, but I'm pretty sure that's the one and only Big Six for those in the know. (If you don't want it to be these by the way, there is no reason to make it six, or to fix any number at all.) 


That's my understanding too. When I hear the Big Six, those are the six I assume people mean. Again, not a matter of personal preferences, I've just assumed those are the six we mean.


Edited by questionsneverknown - September 07 2020 at 11:43
The damage that we do is just so powerfully strong we call it love

The damage that we do just goes on and on and on but not long enough.

--Robyn Hitchcock
Back to Top
lazland View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13627 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lazland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 11:58
Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

Very good post by Hercules.

Yes, it was.
Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!
Back to Top
lazland View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13627 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lazland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 12:00
Originally posted by BaldJean BaldJean wrote:

in no specific order:

Van der Graaf Generator
Magma
Gong
Amon Düül II
Embryo
Can

You could make a fairly convincing argument on the influence VDGG had on a pile of artists, some pretty successful. As for the rest, they strike me as being your favourites, which is not the question being asked. The remaining 5 were influential in their own, pretty small, circle. As far as the outside world was concerned, they were as influential as my wiping my arse of a morning.
Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!
Back to Top
Spaciousmind View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: September 07 2020
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 724 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Spaciousmind Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 12:25
The question of who are the big six raises a lot of other questions with regards to who influenced the creation of Progressive Rock the most, which started in the late 1960s.

If you might consider that Progressive Rock started from Psychedelia in the UK, then you could perhaps name the following as amongst the most influential:

The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
The Kinks
Pink Floyd
Traffic

For early Progressive Rock, hence most influential in the creation of this genre, you then might have the following 6:

The Moody Blues
Deep Purple
Pink Floyd
Procol Harum
Traffic
The Nice

Member of the big 10 might be more appropriate as there are for sure several other names that could be added.
Back to Top
Nogbad_The_Bad View Drop Down
Forum & Site Admin Group
Forum & Site Admin Group
Avatar
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl & Eclectic Team

Joined: March 16 2007
Location: Boston
Status: Offline
Points: 20843 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 12:31
Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Originally posted by BaldJean BaldJean wrote:

in no specific order:

Van der Graaf Generator
Magma
Gong
Amon Düül II
Embryo
Can



You could make a fairly convincing argument on the influence VDGG had on a pile of artists, some pretty successful. As for the rest, they strike me as being your favourites, which is not the question being asked. The remaining 5 were influential in their own, pretty small, circle. As far as the outside world was concerned, they were as influential as my wiping my arse of a morning.


Well u could argue that Magma inspired its own genre (zeuhl), Gong are one of the originators of Space Rock, CAN and Amon Duul II were at the forefront of the German psyche moment. All have been influential just not in mainstream prog.
Ian

Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/
Back to Top
verslibre View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 17061 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote verslibre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 12:48
Originally posted by BaldJean BaldJean wrote:

for me the big six are not the most influential ones but the most interesting ones

Same, and I can't imagine a "Big" anything without Tangerine Dream.
eBay
Back to Top
Dellinger View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 12724 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dellinger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 13:22
For me the big 6 is very clear, though I wouldn't know in which order to put them objectively, so I will try to put them in my own preference:
1. Pink Floyd.
2. Yes.
3. King Crimson.
4. Genesis.
5. Jethro Tull.
6. ELP.

   To make it easier to choose these artists, I narrow it to UK (the most prominent prog country) and the 70's (the most prominent prog decade). However, even though I do love every one of these bands, it isn't my favourite ones. In that case, I have my own favourite 5:
1. Pink Floyd.
2. Yes.
3. Rick Wakeman.
4. Mike Oldfield.
5. Dream Theater.

And then, I can think that Rush would be missing on any BIG list, if it isn't narrowed to Britain. And then, there's the big 3 from RPI (PFM, Banco, and Le Orme). And then, the next tier, which for me would be VdGG, Gentle Giant, Camel, and Renaissance. But then, those are the ones I know, and I think I'm missing things like The Strawbs, Caravan, Soft Machine, Hawkwind. And then, other bands I know that I wouldn't know in which Big list to include, like Focus, Harmonium, The Moody Blues... or some newer ones like Porcupine Tree, etc. So, in the end, to keep it simple, I just go with the 70's British Big 6 I listed first.
Back to Top
progaardvark View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Crossover/Symphonic/RPI Teams

Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Sea of Peas
Status: Offline
Points: 50929 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote progaardvark Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 13:50
I guess this. I don't want to spend too much time thinking about it. There are many variables to consider.

1. Genesis
2. Pink Floyd
3. Yes
4. King Crimson
5. Rush
6. ELP

I do think it would be interesting to poll actual musicians in prog to list their top [insert whatever number] bands or artists that have influenced their music. I suspect that "big six" might be a better clue on which bands have been the most influential.
----------
i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag
that's a happy bag of lettuce
this car smells like cartilage
nothing beats a good video about fractions
Back to Top
BaldJean View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10387 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldJean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 13:53
Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Originally posted by BaldJean BaldJean wrote:

in no specific order:

Van der Graaf Generator
Magma
Gong
Amon Düül II
Embryo
Can



You could make a fairly convincing argument on the influence VDGG had on a pile of artists, some pretty successful. As for the rest, they strike me as being your favourites, which is not the question being asked. The remaining 5 were influential in their own, pretty small, circle. As far as the outside world was concerned, they were as influential as my wiping my arse of a morning.


Well u could argue that Magma inspired its own genre (zeuhl), Gong are one of the originators of Space Rock, CAN and Amon Duul II were at the forefront of the German psyche moment. All have been influential just not in mainstream prog.

and Embryo were more or less the inventors of World Music


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
Back to Top
I prophesy disaster View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4772 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote I prophesy disaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 13:56
Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Originally posted by BaldJean BaldJean wrote:

in no specific order:

Van der Graaf Generator
Magma
Gong
Amon Düül II
Embryo
Can

You could make a fairly convincing argument on the influence VDGG had on a pile of artists, some pretty successful. As for the rest, they strike me as being your favourites, which is not the question being asked. The remaining 5 were influential in their own, pretty small, circle. As far as the outside world was concerned, they were as influential as my wiping my arse of a morning.


Well u could argue that Magma inspired its own genre (zeuhl), Gong are one of the originators of Space Rock, CAN and Amon Duul II were at the forefront of the German psyche moment. All have been influential just not in mainstream prog.
 
But even so, those groups do not compare to Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, King Crimson as far as THE Big Six are concerned.
 
 
No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.
Back to Top
I prophesy disaster View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 31 2017
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 4772 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote I prophesy disaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2020 at 14:02
Originally posted by I prophesy disaster I prophesy disaster wrote:

But even so, those groups do not compare to Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, King Crimson as far as THE Big Six are concerned.
 
So, my answer to the OP's question of who THE Big Six are, without regard to my own personal preferences, is:
 
1. Pink Floyd
2. Genesis
3. Yes
4. ELP
5. Jethro Tull
6. King Crimson
 
 
 
No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 13>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.168 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.