Prog and the younger generation

King Crimson776 wrote: There's a poll here somewhere that shows that the vast majority of people on this website are "young people".

that's mainly because young people don't know THAT MUCH of Prog and this Site is very helpful. For the older guys(no offense) it's a chat room, of course, they discover new bands, etc, but they're not NEW at this. Young people mostly are new.

I was literally raised on prog rock. My mom worshiped Yes, and my dad would sell his soul to go see Pink Floyd. My earliest memory is sitting in our car, listening to Echoes on a cassette, and I loved it (I got scared in the screechy middle part :P)

I am now 16, and over the last good 4 years, I have established myself a good prog collection.

I would like to point out, that many people do like prog, but do not even realize that what they are listening to is in fact Prog. People are stubborn, Example:

Me: Listen to this

-5 seconds later, after not even trying to listen-

Kid: Bleck, don't like this "prog", but you should definitely listen to Pink Floyd, they rock! And Roundabout is a kick ass song

Me: Slaps head.

OzzProg wrote: I was literally raised on prog rock. My mom worshiped Yes, and my dad would sell his soul to go see Pink Floyd. My earliest memory is sitting in our car, listening to Echoes on a cassette, and I loved it (I got scared in the screechy middle part :P) I am now 16, and over the last good 4 years, I have established myself a good prog collection. I would like to point out, that many people do like prog, but do not even realize that what they are listening to is in fact Prog. People are stubborn, Example: Me: Listen to this -5 seconds later, after not even trying to listen- Kid: Bleck, don't like this "prog", but you should definitely listen to Pink Floyd, they rock! And Roundabout is a kick ass song Me: Slaps head.

The conversation is understandable but could have been a little better :P

I agree, but that's really a low percent, we must both agree on that, right?

When I started listening to Prog at age of 12 or 11, I didn't know that what I was listening was 'Prog', and very well your conversation describes. I listened to Yes and Pink Floyd mainly, but I really couldn't see what was so AWSOME about their music as I know now. It was just different music that attracted me with some kind of magnet and well see me now, a Consumed,14 year old boy, by Prog(Music in general)

stonebeard wrote: These kids with their torn jeans and leather jackets can just go back to the godless Europe where they came from. Just yesterday I was trying to get a prescription of medical cocaine filled at the local drugstore, when I was suddenly accosted from behind by two of these gangster hoodlums. I turned around and saw them with their long godforsaken barbarian hair and was just scared to death. I felt my heart get tense and I stumbled, as I had forgotten to grab my solid ivory cane to whip these young punks with. They grabbed my cane and advanced on me, but I think I passed out. It was the good Lord sparing me the pain of being beaten by these gangsters while conscious. I woke up in the carriage as it pulled up to my plantation, thanked the driver, and settled down for a nice spot of laudanum. It was all I could do after the ordeal to get my nerves again. I immediately went to our telegraph room and sent a message to my wife Judith in Newport; it's not even safe to be out at daylight with these rabble-rousers mucking around unchecked! Hrumph!

You just won 10 internets, my dear sir. It is just sad that this kind of riff-raff is at loose here in the new world, right my dear friend?

cacho wrote: DJPuffyLemon wrote: cacho wrote: King Crimson776 wrote: There's a poll here somewhere that shows that the vast majority of people on this website are "young people". that's mainly because young people don't know THAT MUCH of Prog and this Site is very helpful. For the older guys(no offense) it's a chat room, of course, they discover new bands, etc, but they're not NEW at this. Young people mostly are new. Not to sound superior or anything, but I feel as though I know of more music than older people do, due in large part to this site, which has helped me find lots of new music. I feel as though the generation that grew up with Genesis and Yes still only listens to Genesis and Yes, and every now and then will pick up a Coldplay CD. I have no idea but my impression is that 96 percent of older prog bands snuff at new prog. You start saying something and finish saying another thing. First you say that you know more than older people but at the end you say the older people(mostly) don't listen to new prog. And for what you said at the end, I would care a damn if the old one stays with the 70's and 60's, I think it's even better in some ocassions. To not listen to new prog doesn't mean you don't know about prog, or that you know less. I'm telling this at cause of my father, which he WAS a Prog Lover in the 70's, unluckily he didn't have lot of money and didn't live in a place where all the records were there, ask Ivan(Melgar) to tell you about Peru in those times. Also much of Prog Heads will agree that the Best Prog is in the 70's. And I wouldn't consider it close-minded, just a way to play safe. And BTW, in the 70's there's a really good bunch of bands to be discovered. As you may notice, I completely disagree of what you said.

Fiar enough to disagree, but I kept on the same topic during the post, that being that I think I know more prog bands than the older prog fans. Its a mathematical fact:

I guess it all depends how CURIOUS you are about different musical genres. The majority of people will always be listening to mainstream music, whether they're 15 or 55! But there's lots of people eager to try different musical genres. Suppose you buy (or steal or borrow) one of those books entitled 1000 RECORDS YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE. They can be highly informative and stimulating. And usually several prog albums are included, e.g. CLOSE TO THE EDGE, FOXTROT, LARKS' TONGUES... Such books are another gateway through which tomorrow's curious 14-year old may reach the hallowed halls (and slippery alleyways) of Prog.

keiser willhelm wrote: i think prog is kind of hip right now. its cool to know obscure, artsy bands. bands like the mars volta and radiohead, though they arnt the most progressive band ever, are becoming more and more popular. people are experimenting. bands are experimenting. i think that close to 3/4 of the people i know enjoy this style of at least semi progressive music much more than hip/hop rap etc. and i think that this is a growing trend.

I have mixed feelings about this.

I hope most of these people get into prog because they understand it and appreciate it, not because listening to obscure music makes them feel "hip". I guess that by making a post like this, I might myself be falling into that very pitfall of treating music like some sort of yuppie status symbol ... but it's not an unknown phenomenon that rather "high concept" bands feel they're throwing pearls before swine when they become popular. Also, when a genre becomes a fad it risks becoming oversaturated with substandard bands getting record deals and wide distribution because their style has suddenly become easy to market. I know this has happened with glam rock in the seventies+eighties, grunge in the nineties and retro-rock here in the 21st century (okay that's not really a genre but still a useful category) so it's not just mindless snobbery on my part. Like with what I mentioned, too, it's neither unthinkable that these new prog fans will lose interest when the "next big thing" comes around and it'll be the late seventies all over again.

Fortunately, from your choice of words it looks like many people one might call "bandwagon-jumpers" or "Johnny-come-latelies"  - or at least the ones you know - develop an actual appreciation for prog as in one beyond it being fashionable or because they think it's "funny". If I seem somewhat ignorant of what's going on in prog right now, I'll admit to this being very much the case as I'm more interested in checking out those of the classics I'm not familiar with yet.

Oh, and Radiohead might be artsy, but obscure is the last word I would use to describe a band popular enough to have headlined this year's Roskilde Festival.

fusionfreak wrote: Actually I just needed ignition,it happened 2 times:discovering Jimi Hendrix and a concert by Magma in 1999.

A question: How popular are Magma in France? In Denmark they're total unknowns, but I know that a lot of Danish rock bands (even those who sing in English!) aren't too famous outside Scandinavia so it wouldn't be surprised that Magma are at least well-known in their native country.

I'm afraid to say that in Europe (at least in France, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain) where my band - Silver Lining - played (as guest or during festivals), the public is between 25-60. No teenagers then. Same situation in Italy.

Thierry wrote: As for Magma. They're known by specialists. Prog and jazz fans. Older than 30 years old... A cult band drawing about 200 persons at each concert.

Okay, thanks then... makes it a bit surprising they would serve as a gateway band!