Should Be Toto in PA?

Though I am not a fan of AOR/stadium rock/arena rock/pomp rock (call it whatever you like), I'd like to point out something that many people seem to overlook: if there is a subgenre of rock that deserved the tag of 'prog-related', this is it. Check what Edward Macan says on page 154 of his book Rocking the Classics (an essential read for any prog fan, even if I don't necessarily agree with everything he says):

"...the American stadium rock style, which essentially involves a progressive rock/heavy metal fusion..."

And on page 186:

"Stadium rock bands especially admired progressive rock's virtuosity.... Indeed, certain stylistic elements of progressive rock were used over and over again by these bands until they were reduced to clichés: toccata-like organ and synthesizer solos, sudden juxtapositions of acoustic and electric sections, and three- or four-part vocal arrangements dominated by high tenors."

If this doesn't clearly spell 'prog-related', I wonder what does. I'd also like to remind people that some bands included here, and considered fully prog by most (Kansas and Starcastle, for instance) are held by others to be AOR/pomp rock rather than prog.

All of the above, anyway, has the main purpose of playing devil's advocate - I have never been overly concerned with what is added or not, and have never thrown tantrums over any addition.

Logan wrote: I've read that quote before -- very good point, Raff. {Irrelevant, but what I've wished with prog-related (and particularly proto-prog which I consider a much more important category) was a diverse and reasonably well-balanced representation of bands/artists related to the various "progressive" movements listed in the archives, but this would involve a different way of approaching the categories.  I think it could turn this into a much better research site. It's too mainstream-oriented, I feel.}

100% in agreement with you, Greg - since I started reviewing for another site I've been exposed to a lot of music that would probably never find a place here, but which is absolutely worth exploring, as well as authentically progressive. However, I am afraid it's not going to happen in the short term at least.

Great group, but nothing to do with prog, even if Jeff Porcaro played in Gilmour's about face. Too few to be prog.