Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine

Certainly the covers look intriguing...I've only read one issue so far as explained below:

I was mentioned in issue #29 (on page 24) along with my old "neo-prog" band Janysium (London, 1980's).  I was surprised that we got the reference, and of course it was nice to see, although I was left scratching my head a bit.  Here's why...

You see, there were four members in Janysium:

- Peter Matuchniak:  guitar (me),  Simon Strevens:  drums,  Sean Lewis:  keyboards,  Martin Polley:  bass

Since then, three of the original band members are still actively doing music-related activities today:  Simon writes and records for hire in London, Sean produces classical records in Norway, and I've released three albums recently through the ProgRock Records label (solo album and Gekko Projekt this year, and Evolve IV in 2008).

Only one member bowed out of the public music scene, my good friend Martin.  And who did the magazine write about in greater detail, along with the only modern-day photo of the band members?  Yep, Martin!  But then again he always was the best looking, and that's what it's all about after all, right?  Hehe...

Ah well....

Peter

 

Kind of the opposite of The Wire, who will ditch you after your first 2-3 albums so they can focus on the next new avant big thing..............

How many pages do they do on King Crimson in this issue? i am tempted to buy one more issue

yeah I hear you. I have not missed an issue and cancelled the subscription yesterday after buying one last issue with Foxtrot all over the cover. This was a big decision for me as I have loved the mag since its conception and I have put up with a lot of cruddy issues among the gems. I have enjoyed the reviews especially and the articles on bands I had not been initially interested in.

When I saw Cressida as an album that built prog I was puzzled as i thought I knew all the quintessential nbands. Then I read your comments and it made sense as just another plug for a tour. I noticed a lot of bands in the mag are simply bands that are touring the UK at the time and especially the songs on the CD are from the same lable or UK labels that the mag sponsors. So therefore it is not really a PROG mag that covers the genre but more a mag that covrs the bands that are touring or need more exposure. It works as a mag that compliments and exposes bands that want that so its not a bad thing, its just that i am sick of seeing Steve Wilsons mug on this along with those Goth bands like that demonic one where the band members cover themselves in blood, and of course the articles on Genesis are usually either Hackett or Gabriel spouting off about the glory days. 

The top 50 albums chosen were a bit of a joke, when you compare them to what the prog community are generally listening to. The covers are always displaying popular prog rather than the widespread prog. After the Genesis article there is immediately an ad for their box set, and these plugs occur often, an article designed to sell us the latest CD package. Bands are getting exposure but PROG misses out the German scene, the Italian scene, and Australia apart from the very odd and occasional article but it is never much; it is all UK focussed.

Take the token article of RPI in one of the earlier mags that was jammed in, along with a Krautrock article, and I remember seeing a few reviews of Riverside but nothing special again. Jethro Tull is often in it as are Rush, Yes and Genesis, popular prog, but they forget many of the legends of Prog and instead we get another article on modern prog like Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Marillion or Coheed and Cambria.

They also put in albums from And You Will Know Them by the Trail of Dead... - I bought one Cd they hailed as a masterpiece and had to take it back it to the shop I was so disheartened. To appease the shop owner I had to buy 2 other CDs cos he wouldnt give my money back. That was the first time I began to question the editors taste in what was PROG. There is a lot in the mag that is not Prog at all! 

The CDs have introduced me to some incredible bands such as Diagonal and Motorpsycho among others.  Ihave enjoyed getting each issue and pouring thru its pages and reading about whats happening in the UK scene. I liked the album artwork sections that are now no longer in it. I like Wakemans articles, I like the letters section tho none of mine were published. I liked the cover art, always innovative. The booklets on Prog Rock  and Prog Rock 2 CDs were interesting. There are some great articles ocasionally worth looking at, and the interviews are fresh and informative most of the time. The pictures chosen are usually unique and I always love reading about classic albums and how the editors feel about the reissues. Even the ads hold interest as I can see easily whats the latest out there at the moment.

I will miss it but of course if an issue stands out I will still get that, just not every issue from now on.

It is still quite expensive as magazines go but i guess the circulation will not be huge, so the price has to make it worthwhile to produce.

 

I agree with the comments about it being UK focused and content seems influenced by some key "sponsors", however I kinda feel this is to be expected to a large extent.

 

Prog is hardly widely known thesedays so it needs to appeal to a particular type of audience and reflect demographics etc.

 

As a UK based product, it is not wrong in my opinion to include predominanalty home grown bands ( many of which will be playing live around the country )

 

That is not too say it should cram this down our throats in every edition

 

Yes, they should open it up to reflect more non-UK prog but I guess it will always cater more for its home market ( as would probably be the case in other countries did their own version ? )

 

Overall I would rather a slightly biased offer than no offer at all !!!

 

I agree with the comments about it being UK focused and content seems influenced by some key "sponsors", however I kinda feel this is to be expected to a large extent.

      Yeah, I've been wondering about that too....Ian Anderson got to be the

Prog is hardly widely known thesedays so it needs to appeal to a particular type of audience and reflect demographics etc.

 

As a UK based product, it is not wrong in my opinion to include predominanalty home grown bands ( many of which will be playing live around the country )

 

That is not too say it should cram this down our throats in every edition

 

Yes, they should open it up to reflect more non-UK prog but I guess it will always cater more for its home market ( as would probably be the case in other countries did their own version ? )

 

Overall I would rather a slightly biased offer than no offer at all !!!