The Death Of Prog In The UK

Is it me or is prog virtually dead and buried in the United Kingdom?

I'm finding it harder and harder to see, hear or even buy prog in one of the places that gave birth to the form. When was the last time you saw a new prog act (that isn't an offshoot of an establish band) form in the UK?

With the exception of Marillion, even a lot of the established acts (IQ, Pendragon, Jadis, Galahad, etc) have a tough time pulling a big crowd in their native country unless it's part of a festival. Most now appear play abroad to keep the wolf from the door (a startling similarity to the UK Jazz scene of the late 70’s/early 80’s).

 Is it that people just don't want to be in a prog band because they cannot see much opportunity to reach an audience or maybe that the lack of small live venues in the UK (and especially London) stops them from getting that 'first' gig? Possibly the average prog fan in Britain is too old and comfortable to bother going out as the lure of a quiet night in with a beer and a DVD has become overwhelming?

Personally, I think the problem might lie in the fact that there is no progressive grass root level anymore. The counter culture of Britain doesn't seem to see it as exciting avenue of exploration anymore.

All around the world I can see (courtesy of the archives) prog finding new audiences and discovering fresh talent to fuel the music and that is great, as a fan I couldn't be happie. I'd be even happier however to be proven wrong about my assumptions regarding Britain but sincerely doubt it.

UK Prog R.I.P?.

I wouldn't say it was dead, but it could be in better health.

The problems as I see it are: -

a) prog doesn't get played on the radio (that is, the mainstream radio stations)

b) prog albums are hard to find in the major retail outlets.

c) prog is still derided in most music press.

However, while bands like Pendragon and IQ are still going and producing CDs like "Dark Matter" then there's still life in the old dog.

We need prog guerillas to sneak 'round London one night strategically placing hi-fi systems around the city.  Wake everyone to "....All Good People".....they won't be able to keep prog on the shelves.

Actually, in all likelihood the poor prog freedom fighters would be shot down and prog would become even more vilified than before.  Damn you Uncut magazine!

Dead? Well, it was coughing up blood last night....

Right -- I'll have the dead, unjugged Fish-prog.

Cor! That was really 'orrible!

Moan moan moan -- you're always complaining!

What's for afters?

Well, I dare to post to this forum, although I'm not British or English native speaker, but I admire British culture and spent my best holidays twice in United Kingdom. Terry Pratchett is among my most favourite writers.

Progressive music started as British music and it defined this style. It couldn't start without British heritage and attitude and will stay British till the end of the world. We owe you everything.

Sadly, the British people don't appreciate it. It was British critics who brought punk rock (be this name damned forever!!) into pedestal, declaring prog artists as dinosaurs. But you may call London as equivalent in musical mainstream to Paris in fashion about clothes, therefore you dictate the passing musical modes. There was punk, then new wave, then new romantic, then Manchester, then brit pop, now he have new guitar revolution. Bear in mind that prog was declared passe almost thirty years ago.

However, UK changes itself IMHO. Could you find people nowadays, who might fancy songs rooting to British heritage like Jerusalem or Jack In The Green? or bother themselves with Beowulf told from Grendel's point of wiev? How many people you know, who may indicate connections between "Firth of Fifth" and T.S. Eliot's "Wasteland" ? (but there is no water... who will heal progressive Fisher King?) I wish I'm wrong.

And can you imagine Harry Potter (which is quite amusing) bringing forth as much musical inspiration as Tolkien's masterpieces? Lord Of The Rings was even filmed in New Zealand.

And stop dreaming about Pink Floyd coming back. They will never do. However, I believe, there exist an obscure British band, who one day compose a catchy tune like "Lucky Man", "Roundabout" or "Market Square Heroes" and will be discovered by someone like deceased people from Charisma (where are they, btw? They lacking is main purpose IMHO for current state of british prog), who will bring them into "Top of the pops" (is it true you have songs like "Christmas all around us" shown in "Love Actually"?) and we will have another prog band in mainstream. There is still hope for Waste Land, Grail is yet to be found. 

Porcupine Tree - a modern english prog band the uk should be proud of. I believe that this band should be an inspiration for young prog listeners to make music, make a band and learn to write songs. The nowaday prog scene in the uk needs more such bands like PT, who are able to move the good old brittish prog forward in a modern way and create something own. The brittish prog isn't dead yet.