Political Prog - Progressive Rock Music Forum

When it comes to politics the first that comes to my mind is Area. Their debut album is totally political. "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre Nero" is about Palestine and is opened by a poetry in Arab.

Stormy Six, before becoming an avant/RIO band (one of the founding members of RIO) was deeply into politics.

But Italy in the 70s was on the edge of a civil war, so there's a reason why many artists were on politics.

Thinking to the Italians present on PA, One of the most important is Fabrizio De Andrè, his album "Storia di un Impiegato" is about the "French May" of 1968.

Another band completely into politics is Assemblea Musicale Teatrale. I think I can find dozens of Italian artists of the 70s with political contents in their lyrics. Not on PA, very important are Giorgio Gaber and Francesco Guccini.

Interesting thread. I'm into politics as well, but I promise to stick on the musical aspects of the thing.

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Unlike punk most prog bands stay away from politics probably out of fear of alienating their listeners.

I can't imagine it was the case in the politics-happy '70s, but maybe more in the '80s and afterwards.

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

David_D wrote:

It would be nice if telling the artist name, song and album titles, and maybe year too.

Marillion, White Russian, Clutching at Straws, 1987 :)

“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong

I see most of the "communist" musicians are mentioned (Wyatt, & Henry Cow)

Most of the original RIO bands were very much strong left wing, including Art Zoyd and Stormy Six, but Etronfou as well.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

There were a number of so called politik-rock prog bands in the 70s primarily in Germany and Sweden.

Checkpoint Charlie, Floh De Cologne, Ton Steine Scherben, Lokomotive Kreuzbuerg, Ihre Kinder, Schmetterlinge, Oktober, Kernbeisser were some of the most blatant almost punk rock types of dissent although many progs in the Italian scene expressed their political views as well

In Sweden bands like Hoola Bandoola Band, Älgarnas Trädgård, International Harvester and others

Even the mainstream bands did it more subtly with albums like The Wall standing out

For the most part prog was more sublte in its political jabs but some offered a punk brashness before punk existed

Mmmmhhh!!!... Floyd started being political from DSOTM, IMHO... And of course Ol' Rog has been political ever since

To me a lot of Jethro Tull was rather political in their acerbic comments on society (namely TAAB)

As for the Krautrock groups mentioned, I believe (From Asbjornssen's books) their original pigeonhole was actually Polit Rock (no "ik" at the end)

And for the Swedish, it was called Progg Rock (I think it had to to do with Propaganda derivation)

https://www.progg.se/

not sure the site is still active, though.

.

let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword

Sean Trane wrote:

To me a lot of Jethro Tull was rather political in their acerbic comments on society (namely TAAB)

Certainly agree in the case of stuff like "Aqualung" and

Who would be a poor man, a beggar-man, a thief
If he had a rich man in his hand?

from "Cross-eyed Mary", Aqualung (1971).

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

The entire Gentle Giant album The Power and the Glory is sort of a political concept album about the corruption of power.

1992: Roger Waters - Amused to Death - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ka1U3tes8Atdy1A_8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ

A political prog blog wouldn't be complete without at least one Roger Waters song, and so, with that said, here's two songs for the price of one. You know it all makes Perfect Sense, Rodney. Smile

Perfect Sense - Parts 1 & 2 (1st version)

Perfect Sense - Parts 1 & 2 (2nd version)

There's a third version of Perfect Sense too, but I didn't post it here for obvious reasons. Wink

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 09 2024 at 06:27

"Gaza" by Marillion from the album Sounds The Can't Be Made. Does it get more political than that?

This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.

Utopia's "The Road to Utopia" is a track that addresses political and societal issues, reflecting on the journey towards progress, a better world, a more ideal society, or utopia.

1968: The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLycVTiaj8OI80AsTGjYJAPi7-i8kTH-Bq

The Beatles - Revolution