Punk: A Logical Extension of Prog?

Did I ever say that? No I did not. I have already acknowledged that Punk existed in other countries, including the former Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. Like in all other countries it seems that quickly morphed into other forms of music that are not Punk Rock, all the examples you have shown are from later than 1977 - things moved on and they moved on very quickly. How difficult is it for you to grasp this simple fact?

I'm happy to break anything, including preconceptions.

Srđan Gojković Gile, the front-man of the band Električni orgazam, defines his own view of the Yugoslav music scene in the early eighties: "We thought of Bijelo dugme [a great band, already in PA prog-related section] or Riblja čorba as rural (primitive) bands. We viewed them in the same way in which Sex Pistols probably viewed the bands like Yes or Genesis. We were just kids, punkers and our main philosophy was that everything before us was sh*t, that history began with us. It was not true, of course, but it was what it looked like to us back then. The sensibility that both Bijelo dugme and Riblja čorba possessed was too rural for us but that was precisely the key ingredient of their success"

I believe that view is too simplistic.

Punk Rock was not a reaction to Progressive Rock (or any other form of technically demanding music). As we have shown, its origins (Protopunk) run a parallel course to the emergence and development of Prog Rock. Since both timelines have their roots firmly embedded in the mid-60s underground and homeground music scenes, there is even evidence of a shared appreciation of some of the psychedelic bands of that time.

Any opposition to more technically demanding music was an after-the-event justification for what already existed, however, it was not a reaction to the technical complexity of the music, but an anti-establishment rally against the status quo. Pink Floyd were not singled out because they were technically demanding ('cos they ain't) but because they represented the Music Industry establishment, just as Pejr's points out in his example of a few years later from Yugoslavia: the"rural" music of Riblja čorba represented the established music scene and not necessarily a more technically demanding style of music. Basically, Prog was an easy target with no inclination to fight back. 

The reason they went for Prog as opposed to Glam, Funk, Hard Rock or Disco or any of the other even more popular forms of music prevalent at that time is because none of those styles of music were being covered by the "serious" music press (they could be found in teen magazines such as Jackie, Blues & Soul or Disco'45 - not quite the readership demographic that was going to appeal to Punk Rock and vice-versa). 

Absolutely. Thou' it wasn't a case of carrying on regardless but of continuing on regardless (of the lack of press and/or popular support). Irrespective of anyone's opinion of the quality of music represented by Progressive Rock in the period from 1977 through to the early 80s it didn't suddenly go through a drastic overhaul or period of self-examination. Trends that had been prevalent since the hay-day of 1973 continued, whether that is seen as a decline, a simplification or more displays of excess (erm, that's sounds like a potted history of the decline and fall of ELP, but it could apply to any of the bigger names in prog). With or without Punk I suspect that trend would have continued. I have no proof of that of course, other than natural entropy that afflicts most forms of music that have been around for any length of time - they stagnate or they decline but are rarely able to replicate their former glory. That all of the "big six" (or whatever the number currently is) continued on into the 80s with a modicum of commercial (if not critical) success without becoming self-tributes or embarrassing parodies of themselves is indicative of something - while some decry the pop success of Yes and Genesis, they didn't completely divorce themselves from Prog Rock. The point is (if there is one) is that they didn't simply shrink back into the woodwork.

 

 Well said. Carry on Guv'ner.