Is Steven Wilson making Prog music?

I haven't heard his new one but the previous album is Prog. I have no  doubt about that.

Don't know the guy or his music, but I was with him in a record store of Le quartier Latin in Paris this afternoom. He was there to sign his record. A really nice guy, very simple, very cool. Maybe I should listen to the Raven.

I think you're right about one thing - that Steven Wilson does have a fanbase that has grown outside of the confines of and even indendently of the "real prog fans" as you define them (i.e. fans with prior familiarity/appreciation of the 70s roots of prog). 

Though you might see some rebuttals from people who will latch onto the "real prog fan" statement, I think I understand what you mean, and I'll accept that definition for the sake of argument, even though I don't personally agree there is such a thing. 

Your point, as I see it, is that Wilson seems to have crossed over into more mainstream acceptance (like Dark Side of the Moon, as you said), and you wanted to see if we also see this happening, and if so, does this cast doubt on Wilson's classification as a prog musician?    I'd say yes to the first question, and no to the second, because prog is defined (here, anyway) more as a stylistic term (that is, how the music sounds) rather than a mainstream/underground division (that is, the idea that prog is an underground phenomenon).

Of course, there are dozens of threads each year about what prog is/isn't, so it's evidently a burning question for many people.  I, however, think it's a fairly trivial question in terms of enjoying/not enjoying the music.

It's prog.  It (Porcupine Tree, that is) has elements of alternative rock, because of which it appeals to some alt rock listeners.  Which is just as how prog metal bands like Opeth also appeal to a lot of metal listeners because of the metal side of their music.  Rush didn't depend exclusively on a prog rock fanbase either, so I don't see the relation between the fanbase and whether the music is prog or not.   You'd tend to think prog rock ought to attract some prog fans but that's it, it's not necessarily a strong correlation.  The main reason a lot of prog rock bands have an exclusively prog following is the lack of promotion/awareness of their work outside prog circles.     

I think just the opposite: his fans have only knowledge of the big ones in prog: Yes, Genesis, ELP, PF, etc. But I agree with you when you say he is not a prog genius. I think he is way way overrated.

HolyMoly wrote: I think you're right about one thing - that Steven Wilson does have a fanbase that has grown outside of the confines of and even indendently of the "real prog fans" as you define them (i.e. fans with prior familiarity/appreciation of the 70s roots of prog).

Wilson's (overall) fan-base started outside Prog and moved inward, beginning with No Man and then Porcupine Tree, both of which were picked up by the indie crowd (such as read Melody Maker and The Wire [see image]) before anyone called them Prog.

Edited by Dean - March 08 2013 at 09:46

Very cool pic of Cale.

Guldbamsen wrote: Very cool pic of Cale.

To be honest, Cale on the cover is why I bought the magazine back in 1994 - discovering No Man as a result of that was a nice bonus.

Dean wrote: HolyMoly wrote: I think you're right about one thing - that Steven Wilson does have a fanbase that has grown outside of the confines of and even indendently of the "real prog fans" as you define them (i.e. fans with prior familiarity/appreciation of the 70s roots of prog).  Wilson's (overall) fan-base started outside Prog and moved inward, beginning with No Man and then Porcupine Tree, both of which were picked up by the indie crowd (such as read Melody Maker and The Wire [see image]) before anyone called them Prog.

I guess it would depend on each country: I should check the French Indie press, but I'm ready to bet that the first French fans were metalheads, since I first read about Porcupine Tree in the Metal press (and, yes, I was reading some Indie press from time to time).

HolyMoly wrote: I think you're right about one thing - that Steven Wilson does have a fanbase that has grown outside of the confines of and even indendently of the "real prog fans" as you define them (i.e. fans with prior familiarity/appreciation of the 70s roots of prog).

Edited by jude111 - March 08 2013 at 10:36