BIG FIVE

ultra plinian wrote: I can't limit "A BIG LIST" to just five bands/artists. It's impossible. You can't list five without severely undermining the importance of the remaining most valuable contributors that's not included. I'd say go with the The BIG 10 of progressive rock bands that established and defined the genre between 1968 and 1978, and even then, you're still leaving out someone vital. I have a hard time not including Van Der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Mike Oldfield, but clearly you've got to draw a line somewhere. Otherwise, I'd make it 15 and maybe include one of the more obscure bands like Magma and Goblin that were also very influential. King Crimson Pink Floyd Genesis Yes Jethro Tull ELP Rush Camel Frank Zappa et al. Amon Düül II As for a MODERN BIG 10 list (bands/artists that began after 1978): Steven Wilson et al. Opeth Spock's Beard Queensrÿche Änglagård Marillion Dream Theatre Tool Riverside The Flower Kings

Alright! We've gotten away from the arbitrary number five, but keep in mind ten is an arbitrary number too.
Incidentally, it's self evident that we have to include Big Big Train. Maybe Gentle Giant too. Giants are big.

Hi,

Edited by moshkito - June 29 2014 at 10:46

Well I do prefer Can and Faust to Genesis and have many more of their albums, but still agree with the OP.

Ultra pinian, I believe your original top 10 list is practically indisputable. I'm not a fan of ELP, or most of Rush, but one has to recognize their significance. I'd have to include Black Sabbath in my list because of their massive influence on later hard rock/metal bands. However, including them as one of the cornerstones of PROGRESSIVE rock is definitely open to debate. In conclusion, great list fellow newbie!

Can
Tangerine Dream
GonG
Hawkwind
Amon Duul II

SteveG wrote: akamaisondufromage wrote: CanTangerine DreamGonGHawkwindAmon Duul II Your showing your age AK.

By the way, I think I'll listen to Warrior On The Edge Of Time later. It's been awhile.

Svetonio wrote: richardh wrote: moshkito wrote: Hi,   I was more thinking that it should be the "Big 100 in Progressive Music" and list 100 bands.   This discussion about which _______________ we like or dislike, will never get the music definition and discussion off the ground.   It already feels like the Bud Light commercials of old! But we need to add someone saying that warm beer is better to the commercial, so them Brits don't feel left out! There is a quite a lot of agreement though on the Big Five although in reality there is an unchallenged 'Big 3': Yes Genesis King Crimson (...) I agree. That's true, actually.

If there should be an indisputable Big something, I think it should be Big 4, because as far as I understand, ELP were huge too (though admiteddly I wasn't around yet to say if from experience). Somehow it seems ELP's reputation has declined the most from the 4 bands, but back in the time I guess they might as well have been bigger than King Crimson and Genesis. Still, I insist I would make it a big 6, including Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull.

addictedtoprog wrote: Pink Floyd Genesis King Crimson VDGG Mike Oldfield

You might like VDGG more than Yes, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull (I assume given you list), but there's no way they were bigger or more succesful than any of those bands (and I do like them a lot too). Mike Oldfield might have been bigger than Yes and/or Jethro Tull, but somehow he is usually left aside when talking about the great prog artists.

musitron wrote: Big 5???? You mean big 6.