Hillage, Steve |
1951 |
A mainstay in the progressive scene, Steve Hillage's earliest work goes back to the Middle Earth club in the late 60s with Arzachel, playing alongside bands like Pink Floyd and Tomorrow. After a break to attend... |
United Kingdom |
Synergy |
1951 |
Larry Fast, one of the pioneers of electronic music and technology, released an exemplary series albums for the Passport label in the mid to late 70s. In addition to production for artists on the label, he has also... |
United States |
Phillips, Anthony |
1951 |
Founding member and early guitarist of Genesis, Anthony Phillips began a solo career in the mid-70s. Latter work concentrated on library music and soundtracks. |
United Kingdom |
Eroc |
1951 |
aka Joachim Ehrig. Drummer of Grobschnitt and much later, remaster engineer for many Repertoire and SPV reissues. |
Germany |
Pinhas, Richard |
1951 |
Pinhas' contribution to the Parisian progressive music scene cannot be underrated. Also, a professor of philosophy at Sorbonne. |
France |
Walsh, Steve |
1951 |
The voice of Kansas. |
United States |
Manzanera, Phil |
1951 |
Born Philip Targett-Adams, Phil Manzanera is best know for his role in Roxy Music. |
United Kingdom |
Hoenig, Michael |
1952 |
Michael Hoenig was a founding member of Agitation Free. He also filled in for Peter Baumann in Tangerine Dream in 1975. |
Germany |
Blake, Tim |
1952 |
Aka Hi T. Moonweed, Tim Blake is best known as Gong's synthesizer player. His post-Gong work saw him working with light-artist Patrice Warrener, and later with French musician Jean-Philippe Rykiel. Tim was part of the... |
United Kingdom |
Göttsching, Manuel |
1952 |
One of the true pioneers of what would eventually be called techno, house, electronic etc. His work as a solo artist represents some of the most seminal works from the progressive era. |
Germany |
Hattler, Hellmut |
1952 |
Bassist for Kraan, one of the world's finest. |
Germany |
Pohjola, Pekka |
1952 |
Bassist for Wigwam, his solo albums showcase his compositional skills. Worked with Mike Oldfield. |
Finland |
Wagner, Adrian |
1952 |
Great-great grandson of "the" Richard Wagner, Adrian Wagner was a collaborator with Robert Calvert, as well as a Charisma recording artist and inventor of the "Wasp" keyboard. |
United Kingdom |
Tolonen, Jukka |
1952 |
Finnish guitarist and founder of Tasavallan Presidentti |
Finland |
Oldfield, Mike |
1953 |
Multi-Instrumentalist, Mike. |
United Kingdom |
Baumann, Peter |
1953 |
Member of Tangerine Dream's classic lineup, Peter Baumann emigrated to the US, where he went on to become a great producer and label-head of Private Music. He is currently the founder and director of The Baumann... |
Germany |
Jobson, Eddie |
1955 |
Violinist and journeyman, Eddie Jobson has one of the longer resumes in prog rock. |
United Kingdom |
Rustici, Corrado |
1957 |
Italian guitarist was just 17 when he became a member of Cervello. By the mid 70s, with brother Danilo of Ossana fame, he started fusion band Nova. The 80s saw Rustici move to the USA for a prolific career as a session... |
Italy |
Rutles, The |
1959 |
The Pre-fab Four. |
United Kingdom |
Beatles, The |
1960 |
The most influential band ever? The very essence of "progress" in rock music is charted with The Beatles musical journey. In early 1966, the Fab Four left Beatlemania and three minute pop songs for the inner space of... |
United Kingdom |
Zombies, The |
1961 |
One of England's earliest and most creative bands, they found their biggest success posthumously. |
United Kingdom |
Koobas |
1962 |
Originally called The Kubas, the band had its same roots in Liverpool. They spent time in Germany, and toured with The Beatles in the UK. Despite high profile appearances (The Who, Jimi Hendrix), their singles never... |
United Kingdom |
Pretty Things, The |
1963 |
One of the 60s most underrated bands. From their badder than bad, raucous R&B early in their career, the band shifted gears in the underground, first with freakbeat then psychedelia. Their tenure at Abby Road,... |
United Kingdom |
Groundhogs, The |
1963 |
Named after John Lee Hooker's song, "Groundhog's Blues," The Groundhogs were founded by brothers John and Pete Cruickshank and guitarist Tony McPhee. Drummer Ken Pustelnik joined in 1965, and the by the end of the 60s,... |
United Kingdom |
Who, The |
1964 |
From their beginnings as a r&b-influenced singles band with a Mod image, The Who quickly rose to the very top of England's rock elite by sheer virtue of their live performances. Along the way they penned many... |
United Kingdom |
Wilde Flowers, The |
1964 |
The genesis of the Canterbury scene lay within the ranks of The Wilde Flowers; Ayers, Sinclairs, Hoppers, Coughlan, Hastings, and Wyatt all start here. |
United Kingdom |
Group 1850 |
1964 |
One of Holland's famous sons, Groep 1850 regrouped in 1968 in Amsterdam, recording two fantastically original psychedelic records, before disbanding on a regular basis. Even more exciting for the progressive fan was... |
Netherlands |
Pink Floyd |
1965 |
Perhaps Britian's finest psychedelic son, Pink Floyd became one of the world's premier rock bands by the end of the Seventies. Originally founded by acid casualty Syd Barrett, the Floyd rose to the top of the British... |
United Kingdom |
Gods, The |
1965 |
Formed by Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep, Brian and John Glascock (latter would join Jethro Tull) and Joe Konas, The Gods were the successors of The Rolling Stones at the Marquee Club in London in 1965. The band released two... |
United Kingdom |
Syn, The |
1965 |
With Pete Banks, Chris Squire as a core, The Syn were the pre-cursor to Maybel Greer's Toyshop (and Yes), releasing a handful of singles in the late 60s. The latter-day reformation was primarily a vanity project for... |
United Kingdom |
Moody Blues, The |
1966 |
The Moody Blues had rather humble R&B beginnings before discovering the Mellotron and making the switch to art rock. Although they became the first widely accepted progressive band, only their lyrics transcended... |
United Kingdom |
Tomorrow |
1966 |
In the beginning there was psychedelia - inspired by the liberation of drug culture, supported by the new "Underground" and musically, and bringing novel invention to music. Tomorrow were one of London's darlings during... |
United Kingdom |
Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, The |
1966 |
Combining Arthur Brown's soulful voice and stage theatrics, with Vincent Crane's masterful organ tone and Drachen Theaker's drumming, the Crazy World lit London's Underground on fire. However the flame was brief; after... |
United Kingdom |
Soft Machine, The |
1966 |
One of two Canterbury bands formed from the Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine's earliest days were in the psychedelia of London's underground of the late 60s. By Third however the band matured into one of Britain's finest... |
United Kingdom |
Orme, Le |
1966 |
One of Italy's first and finest progressive rock bands, featuring the talents of Aldo Tagliapietra, Michi Dei Rossi and Tony Pagliuca. |
Italy |
Balletto di Bronzo, Il |
1966 |
Led by Gianni Leone, the band's second album stands as one of the finest and darkest prog rock albums from Italy. |
Italy |
Hansson & Karlsson |
1966 |
Organ/drum duo from Sweden, Hansson & Karlsson were early jazz-rock pioneers. Despite having Jimi Hendrix as fan and jam partner, recordings were near-impossible to find outside their native country. Hansson would... |
Sweden |
Trip, The |
1966 |
Originally called Maiocchi and the Trip, The Trip were an Anglo-Italian band based out of Italy. Early member included Ritchie Blackmore (later of Deep Purple fame). After their first album, later albums featured more... |
Italy |
Move, The |
1966 |
Hailing from Birmingham, The Move scored many hit singles during the psychedelic era, but unfortunately their albums, split between the rock-n-roll of Roy Wood and the classical inspirations of Jeff Lynne didn't chart.... |
United Kingdom |
Mabel Greer's Toyshop |
1966 |
A precursor to Yes (and post-Syn), the band was revived in 2014 by originals Clive Bayley and Robert Hagger, with Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood. Both songs "Beyond And Before" and "Sweetness" appeared on the first Yes... |
United Kingdom |
Delivery |
1966 |
Originally a vehicle for Miller brothers Phil and Steve, the band became the backing group for blues singer Carol Grimes. Pip Pyle was also an original member. |
United Kingdom |
Clouds |
1966 |
Formed in 1966 and known as 1-2-3, the members of Clouds were one of the first proponents of organ-driven rock and their residency at the Marquee Club influenced many would-be prog rockers. Their set included a cover of... |
United Kingdom |
Incredible String Band, The |
1966 |
Fronted by Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, The Incredible String Band were one of the earliest folk bands to incorporate psychedelic music into their sound. Massively influential, the band were a major live attraction. |
United Kingdom |
Eyes Of Blue |
1966 |
Eyes Of Blue were a Welsh band that had their start in the early 60s. By 1966, the lineup included vocalists Gary Pickford-Hopkins and Wyndham Rees, keyboardist Phil Ryan, guitarist Ray “Taff” Williams, bassist Ritchie... |
United Kingdom |
Nice, The |
1967 |
The Nice were originally the backing band for P.P. Arnold, however they gained renown quickly with Emerson's keyboard antics. The Nice were one of the first bands to incorporate classical motifs in a rock context. O'... |
United Kingdom |
Procol Harum |
1967 |
Procol Harum's formative years were in an R&B based band called the Paramounts. Named after producer Gary Steven's cat, Harum released their first single and to instant world-wide success. Immediately afterward,... |
United Kingdom |
Traffic |
1967 |
Steve Winwood was already well known as the voice behind Spencer Davis Group before he started Traffic. The band always kept its R&B roots as it moved from the psychedelic pop of the first two studio albums into... |
United Kingdom |
Fairport Convention |
1967 |
For those interested in British folk rock, look no further. |
United Kingdom |
Family |
1967 |
Musically somewhat akin to Traffic and trademarked by the growl of Roger Chapman, Family was one of the most original and rewarding bands of the era. They avoided almost every cliche of the genre while remaining one of... |
United Kingdom |
Giles, Giles & Fripp |
1967 |
The precedent of King Crimson. |
United Kingdom |