The Beatles And Prog Rock

Ringo had a fantastic feel for what he was doing in the context of the incredible song-writing masterclasses that John and Paul gave the rest of the world.

Sure it's "less is more" - but many if not most of the greatest drummers could learn a thing or two from Ringo. Over-busy drumming in music can kill songs for all but the most ardent drum fans, and drum solos are often the times that the bar is busiest at most gigs I've been to.

Prog rock is not virtuoso music, otherwise the Satrianis and Malmsteens would be in the archives.

The Beatles were the greatest influence that pop/rock music has ever had, enormously creative and experimental - but prog rock owes its creation to other sources as well;

The Byrds, who practically invented psychedelia, and the psychedelia/garage scene.

John Mayall/Alexis Korner and the British Blues movement of the early 1960s.

Folk music generally and the folk-rock that sprang up around the same time as psychedelia - especially Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan - later including bands like Love, who melded the two genres.

In all the above, the Beatles were probably catalysts for major changes in the genres, but there are also sources of prog rock inspiration in which the Beatles' influence is far, far lower;

Jazz - and later fusion, notably Miles Davis,

"Classical" music - Rakhmaninov particularly, but few eras left unplundered.

...so I don't think the Beatles started the whole thing, but they were, of course, incredibly influential.

Butterfleef wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!   Could play their instruments?! I will admit that Ringo isn't the greatest drummer ever, but as I've read in a different thread, he was the king of "less is more" drumming. Paul McCartney was one of the best bassists ever, in my opinion, and a lot of my defense comes from Abbey Road. Not only that, but he drummed on quite a few songs that were too complex for Ringo such as Back in the USSR, and others. Furthermore he played guitar AND piano on quite a few songs. The acoustic guitar solo at the end of Wild Honey Pie on The White Album was Paul. George is a whole different story. Not only is he one of my favorite guitar players of all time, he can play the sitar, and every brass instrument. His arrangements on Love You To and Within You and Without You are extraordinary. John, too, was a very good guitar and piano player and should be credited as highly as the other two.

Just a quick mention:Ringo owns Carl Palmers old Stainless steel drum kit.

NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!

Could play their instruments?! I will admit that Ringo isn't the greatest drummer ever, but as I've read in a different thread, he was the king of "less is more" drumming. Paul McCartney was one of the best bassists ever, in my opinion, and a lot of my defense comes from Abbey Road. Not only that, but he drummed on quite a few songs that were too complex for Ringo such as Back in the USSR, and others. Furthermore he played guitar AND piano on quite a few songs. The acoustic guitar solo at the end of Wild Honey Pie on The White Album was Paul. George is a whole different story. Not only is he one of my favorite guitar players of all time, he can play the sitar, and every brass instrument. His arrangements on Love You To and Within You and Without You are extraordinary. John, too, was a very good guitar and piano player and should be credited as highly as the other two.

marktheshark wrote: Karnevil9 wrote: marktheshark wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!! You trying to tell me Tomorrow Never Knows, She Said, She Said and Strawberry Fields Forever (and these aren't the only examples I can come up with)are pop songs?!   Tommorow never knows...well steve hillage did a great cover Really. The only cover I knew was Phil Collins. I'll have to check it out.

Whoops!Sorry my mistake Hillage covered ''Getting better' & ''All too much''

The band :801 did it though.

While were on it..Pip pyle covered 'Strawberry fields'

marktheshark wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!! You trying to tell me Tomorrow Never Knows, She Said, She Said and Strawberry Fields Forever (and these aren't the only examples I can come up with)are pop songs?!

Tommorow never knows...well steve hillage did a great cover

Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely.

If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!