Is the original Prog left-wing?

60's and 70's?

It's rather rare to see an artist who spend most of his time on weed and/or acid being conservative. Especially in Europe.

Frank Zappa might be an exception?

presdoug wrote:              Then there was the obscure band German Oak from the early 70s, musically sort of in the style of early Amon Duul 2; but they  went so far as to include a few little excerpts of Hitler speaking in between songs, and their debut album was recorded in an old WW2 Bunker. Again, this was in a sort of leftist spirit ridiculing and mocking the older generation and the extreme right wing, fascist Nazis, who were still  a thorn in that younger generation's side.

Lewian wrote: In Germany in the late sixties and seventies, certainly conservative leanings were associated with a conservative stance on culture, and all rock music, all that smelled remotely of excess, questioning values like "work hard, earn money, found a normal family and shut up" and perhaps, god forbid, of not respecting some laws (drugs!) was left to the lefties, although some of them were not that much into politics. (I'd guess it was similar in the UK and most European countries, although perhaps not as extreme as in Germany.) Michael Karoli (Can) once said: "What made us different from all the other bands was that all the others had some kind of message and we didn't, we just wanted to play music." This is an attitude I love because I listen to the music for the music only; still they were up against the conservative establishment through the culture that was associated with it.

A very interesting scene created by early prog bands in Germany, and as you put it, what they were up against. Symphonic Prog band Wallenstein used to be called "Blitzkrieg", in total defiance and ridicule of their countries' Nazi past. (They kept the name for the title of their first album.)
             Then there was the obscure band German Oak from the early 70s, musically sort of in the style of early Amon Duul 2; but they  went so far as to include a few little excerpts of Hitler speaking in between songs, and their debut album was recorded in an old WW2 Bunker. Again, this was in a sort of leftist spirit ridiculing and mocking the older generation and the extreme right wing, fascist Nazis, who were still  a thorn in that younger generation's side.
                     A little later came Triumvirat's concept album Spartacus, depicting the story of the famous gladiator who tried to overthrow the Praetorian spirit of Imperial Rome. It kind of has a somewhat leftist feel to it, to me.
                  

The origins of prog were, I believe, firmly rooted in protest to the Viet Nam war, arms race between USA and USSR (in which Great Britain was swept up), and other largely left-wing causes.  

In Germany in the late sixties and seventies, certainly conservative leanings were associated with a conservative stance on culture, and all rock music, all that smelled remotely of excess, questioning values like "work hard, earn money, found a normal family and shut up" and perhaps, god forbid, of not respecting some laws (drugs!) was left to the lefties, although some of them were not that much into politics. (I'd guess it was similar in the UK and most European countries, although perhaps not as extreme as in Germany.)

Michael Karoli (Can) once said: "What made us different from all the other bands was that all the others had some kind of message and we didn't, we just wanted to play music." This is an attitude I love because I listen to the music for the music only; still they were up against the conservative establishment through the culture that was associated with it.

The original Rock In Opposition bands had a collective charter that mandated socialist principles - along with equally mandatory musical complexity.

As for the Bryan Ferry one, from what I gather he hard remarked that 1940s German architecture (described as fascist) was impressive. Well, you can't really have fascist architecture that isn't. Just wouldn't have the desired intimidation inducing effect. Bit like cathedrals and other buildings designed to instill a suitable feeling of imposition upon the proletariat. From this observation the left branded Ferry a Nazi. As Porcupine Tree name checked Albert Speer (Nazi era architect) I'm surprised no hysterical lefty has gone bug eyed with accusations based on less than nothing. The more extremist politically correct use fascist tactics (labeling, simplification and stereotyping) to impose their own values. Still, as bad as that is I would still value a discussion among the left (who at their worst I would see as having an excess of intellectualism as opposed to the right who most evidently, do not).

maybe this is as good a time and place as any for anyone who can help me understand the content of PFM's Passpartu booklet. My Italian is limited in the extreme but the mood of the music is in some contrast to the content of the booklet. Not sure what the lyrics are about either. Looks like lots of terrorist  depictions in there. The 1970s (when Passpartu was released) were a strange time of terrorism, plane hijackings, extreme nationalism, oil problems, Middle East tension, US political scandals, migrant problems and more unlike today where clearly we have learned... oh no, no. We haven't. Plus ca change plus ce'st la meme chose.

Interesting topic. Glad it's up for discussion.

Wow, came as quite a suprise to me that so many of them are actually right-leaning. I feel bad for being a leftist and listening to Prog right now. But really, I always thought about Genesis, King Crimson and especially Soft Machine as quite leftist acts, hence the lyrics.

Left-leaning prog musician:

well, there are very few artistes in any fields (mailnly public performing arts) who claim to be right-wing, if only to preserve their reputations and airplay space in the medias...

But let's face it, some of those dudes were so hard-up to succeed , they'd try almost anything to make it big... That's not very left-wing, though.

Painters, sculptors and other "plastic arts" artistes mostly build a wealthy address book, so sucking up with the rich & powerful, I suppose you don't vote communist

Warthur wrote: micky wrote: A good case in point. There was once a 70's band, that exibited some quite right wing views.  They were ostracized in their country and were reduced to playing shows for their lunatic followers. Fast forward 40 years and that band came up for discussion for addition here to PA's.  Were they included? Which band was this? (PM me if you don't want to stir the argument up again.)

Don't know who micky is thinking of (Rush does seem to fit his description), neither does The Nuge, but The Jam's Paul Weller spoke for Ta/Bitcher politics









Edited by Sean Trane - January 16 2016 at 16:54