The Future of Prog

Certif1ed:

I know Phill Collins considered himself above prog, and didn't regard Genesis as being in the same category as Yes & ELP. Of course, he was WRONG, they were! Better IMO, but most definately prog. I guess he just wanted to be a fake soul man.

Tastes a very cyclical. While "prog" as such may never reach its heady heights again, a similar type of music will become popular again, as people strive for something more "challenging".

We should remember that even in its heyday, prog didn't trouble the singles chart much, and the album charts had many other styles apart from prog.

Straight forward pop songs, ballads, dance tunes etc. will always be the biggest sellers, because for many people music isn't meant to be serious. It's something you have on while you're doing whatever else you're doing.

People like ourselves, and indeed those who like classical music, who like to listen to music at a deeper level will always be in the minority, there are simply too many other distractions for most people.

It's a bit like films. I watch a film once, and either enjoy it, or I don't. Either way, I don't watch the same film time and time again. A film buff will watch a classic many times, and get something new from it each time, I don't watch on that level.

I have no fear for the future of prog, (or classcial music), such genres will always be there for people who enjoy concentrating on the music, but I think we have to accept, it will never find great affection with the masses.

Your right threefates,

But still there has to be a first encounter before new listeners will come to know and love prog music. and for that the regular channels (radio/television)would be the most adequate, random search will lead to a lot, but hardly ever what your really searching for. Only after my firts encounters through friends and some radio songs (semi-prog or more sophisticated pop) I got hooked on this prog thing, that made me look further and lead me to organised search on the internet for new bands to try.

buy the way: does anybody know a free (I don't pay for radio, not out of principle, Im just very poor) online radio show that plays neo-prog and symphonic prog, the ones I find always have to be paid for (axtualy I should first check out the ones suggested by Threefates)

Perfect sense, tuxon  Thanks for your reply.

benny bouncer wrote: I mean i could stand on stage for a few hours talking rubbish quickly to a boring beat.....what is the fascination???

Equally, anybody could "write meaningless pretentious lyrics about elves and fairies that drivel on for half an hour".

Don't you see that by criticising another form of music (particularly by using clichés to explain something you presumably have little experience of) you're almost giving adherents of those styles permission to criticise your own without first listening to it thoroughly?

Pixel:

I agree. Although we see dumbing down in every area of culture, we should ask, is it culture that dictates the changes within the record companies, TV stations etc.., or is it changes within the media that precipitate the dumbing down in popular culture..?

In other words, WHO decided that prog had its day? Malcolm McLaren? EMI? Tabloid news papers? The bands were still selling records by the lorry load and filling up stadiums, than all of a sudden BANG! It was all but gone. Why and how? The record buying publics attention span would not have shrunk unles prompted to do so by media manipulation IMO, and it seems unlikely to me that prog fans in the 70's suddenly decided tat they no longer liked long songs, and wanted to hear three minute pop songs. They would have had to have undergone personality changes!!

I hope this waffle makes sense..

I believe Prog will remain 'on the fringe' as people put it. This is not because young people would not take to it, but because big record companies are too frightened to take on bands that are good musicians, will want to stick around possibly for decades and wont be dictated to by the record company. The industry is geared towards acts that can be signed up tomorrow, then chewed up and spat out like bubble gum after just a few years, bands comprised of young boys and girls who just want to be famous and for whom the music is secondary in importance. There's a lot of milage in short terms bands..if you know what I mean. One when goes, four more pop up. Then there's all the TV possibilities that these cute looking acts can be part of. The Pop Idol type progams that make money spinning entertainment out of the selection processes.

Progressive rock was big. Very big!! People wanted to hear it, if they didn't they would not have brought ELP, Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis and Jethro Tull albums by the millions!! But the trend has changed and the record companies want to be pulling the strings. Real musicians with integrity would not allow that to happen to them. Thats why prog will NEVER be big agaian, IMO. Damn shame.