Prog Rock - The influences

Written by Pierre Dulieu, BELGIUM
http://www.dragonjazz.com/progrock.htm
Improved and adapated in English by Scott McBeath/Easy Livin, SCOTLAND

Well, is PROGRESSIVE ROCK far from jazz…? Undoubtedly… Nearer to mainstream rock, to folk, even to symphonic classical music, that is certain! But the connections with the jazz-rock exist nevertheless, in its binary and thus most energetic format. The musicians for example are often virtuosos (which leads to the problem of egos that very often prevails among progressive rock groups) perfectly able to improvise during a concert. Some of them will flirt on the occasions with the jazz or even in certain cases, carry out a double career. Thus, the drummer Bill Bruford of YES and KING CRIMSON regularly records fusion albums with Django Bates and their group EARTHWORKS. He also uses of the acoustic jazz style of OREGON (‘’If Summer Had Its Ghosts’’, 1997 with Ralph Towner and Eddie Gomez). Phil Collins was at the same time drummer of GENESIS and of a fusion group named BRAND X (‘’Livestock’’, 1977) before gathering at the end of the 90’s a big jazz band and interpreting some of his compositions in the style swing of the BUDDY RICH ORCHESTRA and the 40’s (‘’A Hot Night in Paris’’, 1999).

Certain progressive groups are obviously closer to the jazz rock than of others. Starting from their second album, SOFT MACHINE's music moved increasingly in the direction of improvisation and jazz and even ended up completely in jazz rather than conventional rock with the arrival of the guitarists Allan Holdsworth and John Etheridge (‘’Bundles’’, 1975 and ‘’Softs’’, 1976). Not to mention groups like MAGMA (zeuhl), AMON DUUL II (krautrock), the MOTHERS OF INVENTION and Frank ZAPPA (rio/avant-prog), and others who, while offering elements jazz, still remain unclassifiable today.

Progressive rock, for which it is difficult to give an exact definition, includes many of other influences among which are:

- Electronic music, whose development is related to the invention of new equipment, is explored by groups like TANGERINE DREAM (‘’Rubycon’’, 1975) not forgetting KRAFTWERK and POPOL VUH.

- The space-rock music of PINK FLOYD inspired the groups like HAWKWIND, OZRIC TENTACLES and PORCUPINE TREE. ...

One of the best rock bands in modern days, calling what PORCUPINE TREE does nowadays prog rock might be stretching it a little. Steven Wilson has morphed from an experimental PINK FLOYD disciple to a fantastic singer/songwriter, sounding more like RADIOHEAD (or even later PINK FLOYD) than anything else.

PORCUPINE TREE offer a rich mix of early prog rock with ...

- Classical music is largely incorporated, not always advisedly, in the works of Keith Emerson's groups: The NICE (‘’Five Bridges’’, 1970) and ...

- The symphonic music of GENESIS and YES inspired the groups like ANGE, ANGLAGARD, BARCLAY JAMES & HARVEST, GROBSCHNITT, KANSAS and The TANGENT: their music includes ...

''Close to the Edge'' by YES and ‘’Nursery Cryme'' by GENESIS, both released in 1972, are the key albums of symphonic progressive rock which would return one decade later in the form of neo-progressive. This was simpler and more commercial with sets like MARILLION (‘’Script For A Jester's Tear’’, 1983), PENDRAGON (‘’The Jewel’’, 1985) or of groups like IQ, ARENA and PALLAS who returned in force with good releases like ‘’Subterranea’’ (1997), ‘’The Visitor’’ (1998) and ‘’The Cross And The Crucible’’ (2001).

- Folk music is an important component of progressive rock played by groups such as JETHRO TULL, ...

- Progressive Metal which integrates the characteristics of Heavy-Metal in sometimes symphonic complex structures highlighting the virtuosity of the musicians (AYREON, DREAM THEATER or PAIN OF SALVATION); ...

The results gave a sub-genre in which established itself during the Seventies and Eighties through bands such as Canadian group RUSH ...

- OPETH (‘’Blackwater Park’’, 2001), SYMPHONY X (‘’V: The New Mythology Suite’’, 2000), THRESHOLD (‘’Hypothetical’’, 2001) - and even resulted in the emergence of record labels of entirely reserved for this kind of music, such as Magna Carta, Inside Out, Giant Electric Pea, Verglas and Radiant Records.

And finally what is called sometimes post rock/experimental prog which gathers anything and all that cannot be classified elsewhere like the unpredictable and changeable music of GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR (‘’Top Spin Your Skinny Fist Like Antennas To Heaven!’’, 2000) and The MARS VOLTA (‘’Frances The Mute’’, 2005).

The named groups illustrate the majority of the influences and the above mentioned styles from 1966 to the present day. For certain groups, one will find their complete discography and/or a selection of their best albums. The bands are listed in chronological order of their appearance on the scene: the year noted in parentheses is the year in which their debut album appeared.

Please note: This is NOT meant to be a complete list of all bands, just an example of some, so don’t be offended if I leave your favourite one out!

And now, to summarise…
Frank ZAPPA (66) - SOFT MACHINE (68) - AMON DUUL II (69) – BARCLAY JAMES & HARVEST (70) - MAGMA (70) - TANGERINE DREAM (70) - ANGE (72) - GROBSCHNITT (72) - GRYPHON (73) - HARMONIUM (74) - KANSAS (74) - UNIVERS ZERO (77) - PALLAS (81) - OZRIC TENTACLES (85) - ANGLAGARD (92) - SYMPHONY X (94) - OPETH (95) - GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR (97) - The MARS VOLTA (03) - The TANGENT (03)