Did You Think Prog Was Dead?

I certainly did! For awhile there I thought all the creative bands out there had totally gone away. Yes, Van Der Graaf, Pink Floyd, you know the rest... I thought they were all one of a kind and their type of music was never to be heard again after prog disentigrated away from the popular music scene. Then one day, quite awhile after I had given up on looking for new prog CDs, I wondered across a band called The Mars Volta (interesting band to start with) and realized prog was still alive and well! After awhile I saw how silly the Mars Volta really was compared to other bands that were keeping prog alive such as Porcupine Tree, the Flower Kings, and actually Frogg Cafe were some of the first modern prog bands I found. From there my interest in finding new music was replenished and I was sooo happy. Did anyone else here think that prog had died? I know some of the younger people won't but interested to hear some stories.

Never thought it was dead.  Just not as good as the 70s.  And now it's pretty juicy again though nothing tops the classic period.

Yes and VDGG and a host of other top-notch classics are still around to keep the flame burning. While hapless imitators bumble about making inordinate noises, the real prog artists of yesteryear remind us how great the golden age truly was.

It was like Jazz.  It wasn't dead, it just smelled funny, to quote FZ.

Prog is not dead!If it were to die,It would come back to life like Dark Phoenix.

good for you.. I was lucky that my reinvigorated interest in prog occurred around 2000 when this great second prog age had really begun to take hold, suddenly all these forgotten groups and album started to resurface on CD   ..enjoy it while it lasts

paulwalker71 wrote: The re-emergence of prog was surely largely due to the rise of the Internet. I think without the Internet I'd have long since given up even looking for decent music

I can't even imagine how you would find out anything about progressive music if it weren't for the internet. Seriously, what would you do? Stay tuned to the least commercial radio station available 24/7 and hope that once every year or two you hear something by a band you like? Honestly, if China take down the internet one day I am gonna be so pissed.


Edited by Firdous e Bareen - August 27 2009 at 06:22

In the good old days of prog, we had to rely on friends suggestions and artists interconnections (so and so played with so and so and then went on to play with so and so).  The internet did change things.  My first round of major new discoveries came from finding AOL's streaming progressive "radio" station.  I discovered PA while Googling an artist (I forget who).  PA is pretty much only source now for new discoveries.  And I'm in that 95% or higher for buying stuff off the internet.  Less hassle than going to the store and requesting a special order.

I lost touch for awhile and came back after hearing DT's Falling Into Infinity.  I went back to the independent record store I bought it at and asked for "more like this only with a less annoying singer."  He directed me to a list that Mike Portnoy had in the current issue of Modern Drummer of all his favorite bands.  There I found Spocks Beard and some others.  After that I found all this great new stuff on the internet.  Up until then I satisfied my prog jones by listening to all my old 70s records.  What's great is that through the internet, I have discovered more wonderful bands from the 70s that I somehow missed the first go 'round.

paulwalker71 wrote: The re-emergence of prog was surely largely due to the rise of the Internet. I think without the Internet I'd have long since given up even looking for decent music

You sir get a gold star.