Which contemporary band will make the history?

The Dark Elf wrote: None. Music is now too diffuse and segmented, and prog too much of a niche to matter over time. In 20 years, none will be mentioned - except, of course, for the few old farts still posting on this forum.

With Wilson already mentioned i wud toss in:
Cynic
Agalloch
Kayo Dot
Gorguts
Deathspell Omega

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: I don't really think many (any?) of the above mention specific bands will be remembered in the same leagues as the originators, instead rather the particular musicians involved in them will be. Steven Wilson absolutely will be - not just for one of the higher profile modern prog bands - Porcupine Tree - and his well-received solo works, but for the status his name brings to all those classic-prog album reissues - ie `The Steven Wilson mixes' of those classic discs by Yes, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Caravan, etc. I guarantee, there's a ton of fans of those groups that couldn't give a toss about Ptree or Wilson's own music, but they know the guy is a go-to fella for superior production, etc. I honestly don't believe acts such as Transatlantic, Spock's Beard, Riverside, Haken, etc (as much I love and enjoy their music just fine) will ever have a hope of being placed alongside the `big ones' of prog. But...I do think the likes of Neal Morse, Clive Nolan, Roine Stolt, Tomas Bodin, Mariusz Duda, etc THEMSELVES will be considered important and influential musicians of the current wave of prog music (even though I know some of them are hardly young fellas anymore!). Hope that ramble kind of makes sense?!

I guess it boils down to two things in the end:  a) X band gets so big that history naturally spreads it's legs. b) X band reinvents the wheel and adds to the genre something unequivocally new and unique.

I agree with both of you. I cited Haken, riverside and etc, only because they are among the most rated contemporary bands and I believe they are still too young to predict if they can be remembered. They do really awesome things, especially haken who released 4 albums rated of 4 stars in this website but they haven't reivented the prog yet.

You're comments brought me to think to all the famous bands from the past, how much many of them are remembered for their side projects, or frontman charisma, that is an indicator of their capabilities.  For example, I love Queen, but  I don't think Queen are remakable for their music, they followed the trend (prog in the beginning, then glam rock and hard rock)  but more their capabilities and their concerts. I think Maynard has all the above mentioned charactestics to be remembered.

Atavachron wrote: Lewian wrote: Battles are cool. To become a classic they need to become more multi-faceted over time, though. Good call--  and yes they require improvement if they're to fulfill their destiny though I don't know if more facets is what they need as much as more focus.   But nice to see a few here appreciate them (especially La di da di ).

Discussing how some bands should improve/develop would probably make an interesting thread on its own. Anyway, when I saw them live earlier this year I found them pretty focused but I thought that more variety and contrast would be needed, not so much in style, rather in speed and intensity, if they wanted to play a 2h+ show and keep the audience in suspense throughout like a really big act. (I admit that some of my other favorites don't fit that description either, though.)

siLLy puPPy wrote: As far as A band, i agree that none will ever be The Beatles or capture that kind of monopoly of attention, but maybe a diverse palette of artists will do so, so perspective for the changing of the times might be needed

I'm a political moderate and I've always voted democrat before this election, but I think what some are saying about multiculturalism being at times a suspect virtue may be one reason why this "progressive rock" idea is floundering a bit.  I realize you have to be a bit free to say certain things, because of knee jerk reactions, but I don't think European culture is held in the same high regard as it was in the 60s and 70s, and many people are trying to run from it, trying to prove that they are accomodating to others who don't share the same heritage.  The dumbing down and sexualization of music that has happened in the last 30 years really would be, and is,  appalling to a lot of people of older generations.  Maybe it's just that people need to focus on old books, old art, and so on to get a sense of what great music is again.  I was a cultural anthropology major at one point so I'm aware of all the reasons to love and respect people regardless of differences, but that doesn't make me love and respect European culture and heritage any less. 

brainstormer wrote: I'm a political moderate and I've always voted democrat before this election, but I think what some are saying about multiculturalism being at times a suspect virtue may be one reason why this "progressive rock" idea is floundering a bit.  I realize you have to be a bit free to say certain things, because of knee jerk reactions, but I don't think European culture is held in the same high regard as it was in the 60s and 70s, and many people are trying to run from it, trying to prove that they are accomodating to others who don't share the same heritage.  The dumbing down and sexualization of music that has happened in the last 30 years really would be, and is,  appalling to a lot of people of older generations.  Maybe it's just that people need to focus on old books, old art, and so on to get a sense of what great music is again.  I was a cultural anthropology major at one point so I'm aware of all the reasons to love and respect people regardless of differences, but that doesn't make me love and respect European culture and heritage any less.  It's clear that some think that certain bands will be remembered historically, but it's also clear that there isn't much of a group consensus that these bands are of that quality.   Maybe the force of prog rock slowed down because society around it slowed down.  That's just a personal choice, however, but when I listen to the pop music of the 60s and 70s, the feeling I get isn't really that different than the prog of that time.  But when I listen to the pop music of today, the feeling is very different.

Well said. Myself I consider myself your typical European centro-left-wing voter (prog rock grew out of people with similar views). Anyway, I sadly do share your belief as to sexualization of music and more importantly the forgetting of European art traditions (on which prog relied on, didn't it?). I would like to believe that it is a natural order of things, that new musical generations come and go. But, I really feel like people saying there are no more musical subcultures, that would be connected by one strong belief or so, do have a point. I feel like most of resources have been used and a) we are going to repeat the same things over and over again or b) there is going to be a huge musical revolution, which would reevaluate and shift the subjective sense of modality in the western culture. The b option is of course near to unlikely.

I wouldn't want to sound grumpy and all, but I can quite confidently say that there will never be glorydays for progressive rock again (I'm talking the clearest form of progressive rock, not tech/extreme metal or other related stuff).

Thanks for the post!

Many bands will mean a lot to small numbers of enthusiasts.

However I don't think any bands now, not even Wilson or Radiohead, will be as "known and popular" generally speaking, in 50 years, as Floyd/Genesis/Zappa/Beatles/etc are to us right now.  Due to the changes in the industry and habits, I just can't see the Swans or Toby Driver or Steve Wilson being akin to Floyd (now) in the year 2066. 

They'll be respected by a few but they won't be household names like the 60/70s guys are now. 

Sigur Ros are around for some time already, but anyway, they seem to be pretty iconic to many people, also outside "prog" fan circles, and I think their music has the power to stand the test of time.

The Neal Morse Band.