Towards Finding An 8th Classic Prog Rock Band

Top two most qualified: Gentle Giant, Van Der Graaf Generator
Next most qualified: Camel, Frank Zappa


Not even close: Iron Maiden, Marillon

The Doctor wrote: proggy wrote: King Crimson776 wrote: Gentle Giant by far, they should replace Rush in fact. Rush have even said that they have been influenced by GG. Why the hell is VDGG in the lead? They're ok but they meander way to much and aren't memorable at all. Whatever, more people vote for GG, I would think that people on this site would realize that they are the best choice. I love Camel, but they were heavily influenced by many of the bands on the list, especially Pink Floyd, so to put them on the same list as their influences would be ridiculous. Frank Zappa would have to be my second choice, likely for obvious reasons. Gentle Giant Give me a break. Great Musicians but they are inept songwriters. Replace Rush with them, don't think so. Also, Caravan isn't prog; they are crappy English pop.....   Caravan isn't prog???!!!! Why you!!!  Caravan were part of the founding members of the Canterbury scene and put out great prog epics like For Richard, 9 Feet Underground, Dabsong Conshirtoe, A Hunting We Shall Go, The Love in Your Eye, etc., etc., etc.  And what's with the diss on GG?  Do you even like prog?    It would be a tough call for me, between GG and VDGG, although Camel would also be a great addition.  Maybe we should have a big ten.  Actually, I thought it was only the big 6 and I didn't think Rush was counted among the other 6 groups listed.

I was with you all the way until......

Didnt know you even liked Prog, Doc....

The Doctor wrote: Tony R wrote: The Doctor wrote: proggy wrote: King Crimson776 wrote: Gentle Giant by far, they should replace Rush in fact. Rush have even said that they have been influenced by GG. Why the hell is VDGG in the lead? They're ok but they meander way to much and aren't memorable at all. Whatever, more people vote for GG, I would think that people on this site would realize that they are the best choice. I love Camel, but they were heavily influenced by many of the bands on the list, especially Pink Floyd, so to put them on the same list as their influences would be ridiculous. Frank Zappa would have to be my second choice, likely for obvious reasons. Gentle Giant Give me a break. Great Musicians but they are inept songwriters. Replace Rush with them, don't think so. Also, Caravan isn't prog; they are crappy English pop.....   Caravan isn't prog???!!!! Why you!!!  Caravan were part of the founding members of the Canterbury scene and put out great prog epics like For Richard, 9 Feet Underground, Dabsong Conshirtoe, A Hunting We Shall Go, The Love in Your Eye, etc., etc., etc.  And what's with the diss on GG?  Do you even like prog?    It would be a tough call for me, between GG and VDGG, although Camel would also be a great addition.  Maybe we should have a big ten.  Actually, I thought it was only the big 6 and I didn't think Rush was counted among the other 6 groups listed.  I was with you all the way until...... Didnt know you even liked Prog, Doc....   I don't.  Prog sucks!   That wasn't intended to be a diss on Rush, as they are among my favorite bands.  I've just always heard it as the big 6 and without Rush being mentioned.

Only the Prog Aliens think that way. Led by their looney leader Mork from the planet Micky...

Tony R wrote: The Doctor wrote: Tony R wrote: The Doctor wrote: proggy wrote: King Crimson776 wrote: Gentle Giant by far, they should replace Rush in fact. Rush have even said that they have been influenced by GG. Why the hell is VDGG in the lead? They're ok but they meander way to much and aren't memorable at all. Whatever, more people vote for GG, I would think that people on this site would realize that they are the best choice. I love Camel, but they were heavily influenced by many of the bands on the list, especially Pink Floyd, so to put them on the same list as their influences would be ridiculous. Frank Zappa would have to be my second choice, likely for obvious reasons. Gentle Giant Give me a break. Great Musicians but they are inept songwriters. Replace Rush with them, don't think so. Also, Caravan isn't prog; they are crappy English pop.....   Caravan isn't prog???!!!! Why you!!!  Caravan were part of the founding members of the Canterbury scene and put out great prog epics like For Richard, 9 Feet Underground, Dabsong Conshirtoe, A Hunting We Shall Go, The Love in Your Eye, etc., etc., etc.  And what's with the diss on GG?  Do you even like prog?    It would be a tough call for me, between GG and VDGG, although Camel would also be a great addition.  Maybe we should have a big ten.  Actually, I thought it was only the big 6 and I didn't think Rush was counted among the other 6 groups listed.  I was with you all the way until...... Didnt know you even liked Prog, Doc....   I don't.  Prog sucks!   That wasn't intended to be a diss on Rush, as they are among my favorite bands.  I've just always heard it as the big 6 and without Rush being mentioned.  Only the Prog Aliens think that way. Led by their looney leader Mork from the planet Micky...

Shabzot !

When I was in secondary (high) school (68-73) Zappa was incredibly popular with the cool-kids who use to look down on us Yes/Genesis/Floyd fans with a degree of snobbish distain (something I sure Frank would have found hightly amusing). However, I think his popularity in the UK wained towards the middle of the 70s.

I assumed Big 7 was used in terms of influence.

To me, this type of discussion only proves how it's impossible to pick a select 5 or 8 or 10 or even 15 "classic" progressive rock bands because there is always another one just behind that matches the quality of the previous.  I had to kick Rush and Floyd out of my list and still couldn't make room for Kansas (easily with ELP, Yes,...), Zappa, and the whole Italian and German scenes...and Canterbury if that counts 100%.  All of these bands were crucial to the progressive movement (but excluding Camel...sorry I have to agree with micky here, not original enough, and not popular enough...I like 'em though) and it's difficult to discriminate between popularity and innovation:  IMO Gentle Giant were THE definition of what prog was and is about....but Pink Floyd revolutionized the way music was perceived and listened to over vast audiences; both very important in very different ways, and the same could be said of the rest.

Edited by jimmy_row - November 05 2007 at 01:24

jimmy_row wrote: (but excluding Camel...

jimmy_row wrote: Thandrus wrote: jimmy_row wrote: (but excluding Camel...     They opened new side of prog: flawless, based only and only on sheer beauty.   We're never gonna end this .   you mean like King Crimson in '69, Genesis in '70, and PFM in '72.   nothing against Camel, in fact they are one of my favorite bands, just not in the "premeire league" if you will - they came a few years too late, cursed only by time...we'll just have to disagree here, no harm done

came too late??... if you go by their bio they played from 1971-84 then 1991-....that is the same timeframe for ELP,Genesis,etc. Their only fault would be that they never got as big in America as the others.