long time lurker/new poster

WiguJimbo wrote: Welcome!

Indeed

Well, I thought since I finally posted I should introduce myself...

I am a 39yo ex-roadie originally from Indy now living in the Metro Detroit area. I moved here about a year ago to be closer to my girlfriend. I used to travel with some midwestern bands back in the late 80's early 90's, then worked in the local Indy music scene until I moved here.

My introduction to prog was about 10 years ago when I heard .... uhm.....dont flame me.....Dream Theater. I had appreciated bands like Genesis and Yes, but wasnt really "into" them, I was more of a metal head. I love Queensryche for example, and think Operation:Mindcrime is a masterpiece, but DT bridged the "gap" for me and made me look into thier influences and previous prog. (yes, I think DT is prog, no, not "classic" prog, but prog nonetheless) Some bands I got into because of DT:

Spock's Beard
Ice Age
Yes
Genesis
King Crimson (great live, no matter what you read in other posts!)
Peter Gabriel (INCREDIBLE live, Tony Levin is a monster)
Pink Floyd
Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I am also a voracious reader, I love fantasy, sci-fi, suspense, etc. Recently read authors would include:

Dean Koontz
Raymond Feist
Kim Harrison
Robert Heinlein
Gordon Dickson
Mark Anthony
Richard Laymon
Mercedes Lackey

Well, I think thats enough for now. I look forward to exploring the new (to me) bands that I read about here and expanding my "progness" more.