If you could get rid of one?

At least, this poll had one interest: to question the extension of the PA databse and, furthermore, the definition of progressive rock (a long sterile question, I know).
When I discovered that Miles Davis, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Blue Öyster Cult, Japan, Church and Steely Dan (my mind just went: !!!), I was... Let's say, "puzzled".

Even when knowing these bands were described as "prog related" or "proto-prog", it made me think of an article in a French rock magazine which had an ironic question: does progressive rock start with Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Pink Floyd, the Beatles or Wagner and Debussy?
An easy joke? Maybe. Yet, it can be seen as an interrogation on the aesthetics of popular music (especially rock) and its relations with other musical forms from jazz to "savant music". What is the meaning of "progressive rock"? An avant-garde in pop music trying to expand its musical vocabulary? Then how can and/or does pop music widen this vocabulary? By taking influences from other musics (symphonic rock, jazz-rock, fusion with traditional musics) or trying a new music (electronic, free rock, R.I.O., electric chamber music...)?
Then, it appears that an encyclopaedia of progressive rock should have some limits. I heard of a dictionnary including Kate Bush and Throbbing Gristle! As for the presence of electronic artists I always saw listed as "Industrial Music" artists, now featured in the database of PA: Maurizio Bianchi, Aube, Lustmord... The next step? Stockhausen, Pierre Henry or Coil?
And the same thing can be said about jazz and jazz-rock: Weather Report was rather a straight jazz band to my ears, for an example. So, if Miles Davis is here, PA would have to include Coltrane (for he had a strong influence on some rock musicians) or free jazz guitarist Sonny Sharrock (for he worked with rock musicians, like Bill Laswell).
And I could go on and on about some possible featuring: Sonic Youth? My Bloody Valentine? AMM, Nihilist Spasm Band???

To conclude: I DO think maybe some entries in the PA database should be erased, for they tend to offer a more and more blurred and confusing "photograph" of what is progressive rock.
Of course, it doesn't mean I would make a list of bands to kick off (I won't dare). Yet, for a starter, I really think PA should not keep Miles Davis in its entries.

Angelo wrote: That last one is indeed missing from the list. Each band included here was included for a reason, which makes this poll a bit senseless. Oh well....

No, Greg, that was My Dying Bride... Similar name, though different music!

micky wrote: it is a discussion we have had just recently... this site stopped long ago being a classic prog only site.... as Raff noted... if you go on the narrow 'classic' definition of prog... fully 50% of the database could be eliminated. the site has evolved into a prog rock/progressive rock hybrid. It can't go back... can only go forward..

Maybe because the site is called ProgArchives, not ProgRockArchives, then it means that this site started with the first stuff that was called Prog, then kept on PROGressing until we will reach to New Wave, Punk, Hardcore, Hip Hop, Blues and any other genre you imagine off

PA, keep on PROGressing!!

None of those listed (though I might take up Chris's suggestion and go with DT...) - they were all added for a reason, though people may disagree with it. As you all know by now, I am a very open-minded person, and I would never lose sleep, let alone throw a tantrum, over ANY controversial addition to the PA database. However, if I had to pick up something, I'd say Triumph have a very, very flimsy relation to prog (if even that), and neither Steeleye Span nor Fairport Convention (which I both like a lot) strike me as particularly prog-related. That said, I'm perfectly happy to have them here. There are much more pressing matters in my life that command my indignation.

micky wrote: cacho wrote: micky wrote: it is a discussion we have had just recently... this site stopped long ago being a classic prog only site.... as Raff noted... if you go on the narrow 'classic' definition of prog... fully 50% of the database could be eliminated. the site has evolved into a prog rock/progressive rock hybrid. It can't go back... can only go forward.. Maybe because the site is called ProgArchives, not ProgRockArchives, then it means that this site started with the first stuff that was called Prog, then kept on PROGressing until we will reach to New Wave, Punk, Hardcore, Hip Hop, Blues and any other genre you imagine off PA, keep on PROGressing!! will reach?... we HAVE reached it

You may be right on this one Micky!

micky wrote: Ghost Rider wrote: None of those listed (though I might take up Chris's suggestion and go with DT...) I'd settle for just the fanboys... though we'd keep a few like Teo around

I suppose that I should just keep quiet, but Micky, nice of you to leave us Rush fanboys alone.

^^As much as Steely Dan took a hit when they were added, I'm surprised they're not here.

I voted for Sabbath, but have resigned to the fact that there will always be bands that I don't agree with. If anything, I'm a HUGE Steely Dan fan, so now that they're on it means we can talk about them more often. Right, Micky?

I listened to Alive In America earlier in the week and I still love that one. The live version of "Green Earrings" just rules. Now they need to release a double live disc.

E

Ghost Rider wrote: None of those listed (though I might take up Chris's suggestion and go with DT...) - they were all added for a reason, though people may disagree with it. As you all know by now, I am a very open-minded person, and I would never lose sleep, let alone throw a tantrum, over ANY controversial addition to the PA database. However, if I had to pick up something, I'd say Triumph have a very, very flimsy relation to prog (if even that), and neither Steeleye Span nor Fairport Convention (which I both like a lot) strike me as particularly prog-related. That said, I'm perfectly happy to have them here. There are much more pressing matters in my life that command my indignation.