|
Ikarus |
1971 |
Hamburg band led by Jochen Petersen released one album of superb progressive rock. |
Germany |
|
Illusion |
1976 |
Mark I Renaissance reformed in the mid-70s for a couple of albums. |
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 |
|
Inner City Unit |
1979 |
"Punkadelic acid rockers"? Musically defying all description, Inner City Unit remains one of the most unique offshots to the Hawkwind family tree. Founded by Hawkwind's Nik Turner, ICU combined the talents of Dead Fred... |
United Kingdom |
|
Invisible Opera Company Of Tibet (Tropical Version Brazil) |
1993 |
Brazilian version, led by guitarist Fabio Golfetti, with Renato Mello on keyboards and Claudio Souza on drums. See Violeta De Outno |
Brasil |
|
Island |
1977 |
British-influenced prog rock band from Switzerland released one fantastic album, produced by Claudio Fabi. |
Switzerland |
|
Isotope |
1972 |
Gary Boyle's jazz-rock fusion band. |
United Kingdom |
|
Jack Lancaster And Robin Lumley |
1976 |
A precursor to Brand X |
United Kingdom |
|
Jackson Heights |
1970 |
Lee Jackson's post-Nice, pre-Refugee band. |
United Kingdom |
|
Jade Warrior |
1968 |
One of the most original of the British progressives, Jade Warrior were one of the first bands to incorporate "world" elements into their unique sound. |
United Kingdom |
|
Jane |
1970 |
One of Germany's most idiosyncratic rock bands, the slow burn rock of Jane remained a constant through most of their career. |
Germany |
|
Jarre, Jean Michel |
1948 |
French synthesist, popular |
France |
|
Jethro Tull |
1967 |
Led by Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull was the first group from the progressive era to score resounding chart success. Originally their music was based in rhythm and blues, but punctuated with Anderson's flute playing and... |
United Kingdom |
|
Jobson, Eddie |
1955 |
Violinist and journeyman, Eddie Jobson has one of the longer resumes in prog rock. |
United Kingdom |
|
Jon & Vangelis |
1979 |
Along with a US Top 50, the single "I Hear You Now" rose to the UK Top 10, propelling Jon & Vangelis' first album to a UK No 4. The duo - balancing successful solo careers simultaneously - would continue their... |
United Kingdom |
|
July |
1968 |
Notable for members Tom Newman (producer), and John Field and Tony Duhig, both later in Jade Warrior. |
United Kingdom |
|
Kaipa |
1973 |
Named after a Swedish stone age chieftain, Kaipa were founded by keyboardist Hans Lundsun and bassit Tomas Eriksson in 1973. Guitarist Roine Stolt, though only a teenager at the time, was an original member. |
Sweden |
|
Kansas |
1972 |
Kansas' legacy is undoubtedly as America's greatest progressive rock band, and their oeuvre would become the blueprint for a new breed of prog-metal bands that emerged in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. |
United States |
|
Kayak |
1972 |
|
Netherlands |
|
Khan |
1971 |
Steve Hillage's first group following his completion of studies at Canterbury. Second incarnation with Dave Stewart never recorded (he guested on their only record). |
United Kingdom |
|
Kin Ping Meh |
1969 |
Hailing from Mannheim, heavy progressives Kin Ping Meh first few albums were produced by Achim Reichel for his Zebra Records. |
Germany |
|
King Crimson |
1968 |
From their debut album and striking cover art, constantly shuffling lineup, groundbreaking music, never-say-die reformations, no band epitomizes the "British prog" ethos better than King Crimson. |
United Kingdom |
|
Kingdom Come |
1971 |
Arthur Brown's post-Crazy World band. Third album made early use of drum machines. |
United Kingdom |
|
Kluster |
1969 |
As Kluster, Conrad Schnitzler and Hans-Joachim Roedelius, were pioneers of sound from a slightly older generation, using traditional instruments in the most untraditional ways to craft their art. They founded the Zodiac... |
Germany |
|
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 |
|
Kornelyans |
1971 |
Kornelyans, aka Korni Gruppa, a singles band from Yugoslavia, was led by its namesake, Kornell Kovach (Kornelije Kovač). In 1974 they recorded and released an excellent album of prog rock for the Italian Ricordi label. |
Yugoslavia |
|
Kraan |
1970 |
Happiest band from Germany. When will the "jam band" audience find them? |
Germany |
|
Kraftwerk |
1970 |
From early free-form improvisation to the perfection of electro-pop, Kraftwerk reign as one of the most musically influential groups from the 70s. However, the Ralf & Florian and Autobahn era should appeal to most... |
Germany |
|
Kravetz, Jean-Jacques |
1947 |
Keyboard player for Frumpy, Atlantis, Randy Pie and more. |
France |
|
Kristina, Sonja |
1949 |
Sonja Kristina got her start singing in the musical Hair before joining Curved Air. She was also married to Stewart Copeland of the Police. |
United Kingdom |
|
La Düsseldorf |
1975 |
Brothers Klaus und Thomas Dinger, along with Hans Lampe founded La Düsseldorf following the dissolution of Neu!. There records were highly successful in their native Germany, reputedly selling over a million copies. |
Germany |
|
Lake, Greg |
1947 |
Singer and bassist for King Crimson MK 1, and then on to prog supergroup Emerson Lake & Palmer. Incredibly sappy solo albums defy description. |
United Kingdom |
|
Lard Free |
1970 |
Founded by drummer Gilbert Artman, Lard Free was similar to Richard Pinhas' Heldon; French, unconventional, experimental, but, incredulously, a rock band. Later albums would draw parallels to the cosmic side of the... |
France |
|
Latte E Miele |
1971 |
Classically-inspired prog trio from Genoa. |
Italy |
|
Leb i Sol |
1976 |
Featuring the guitar work of Vlatko Stefanowski, the Macedonian based Leb i Sol ("bread and salt") were one of Yugoslavia's best known fusion groups. |
Yugoslavia |
|
Led Zeppelin |
1968 |
It is impossible to underestimate the impact of the early Zeppelin recordings. |
United Kingdom |
|
Lees, John |
1947 |
Founding member of Barclay James Harvest, Lees' lone solo album was recorded in 1972. |
United Kingdom |
|
Libra |
1973 |
Libra's beginnings were typical enough; their debut album was recorded by Claudio Fabi, in both English and Italian. But after a tour supporting Banco, they packed up and moved to Detriot, Michigan and signed with... |
Italy |
|
Liliental |
1977 |
One of the many amazing albums recorded by Conny Plank during the 1970s. This one included members of Kraan, Harmonia and a young Asmus Tietchens. |
Germany |
|
Livgren, Kerry |
1949 |
The songwriter of Kansas, and member of Proto-Kaw |
United States |
|
Locanda Delle Fate |
1976 |
Latter-day symphonic band from Asti, Locanda Delle Fate ("The Fairy Inn") released one highly-regarded album. |
Italy |
|
Long Hello, The |
1973 |
Van Der Graaf Generator, sans Peter Hammill |
United Kingdom |
|
Lucifer's Friend |
1970 |
Ostensibly a studio group, Lucifer's Friend debut album is a standard of heavy rock for the 70s, while their second effort is there most progressive. Later albums drifted towards hard rock. |
Germany |
|
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 |
|
Mackay, Andy |
1946 |
Andy Mackay's place in history is as the sax player for Roxy Music. |
United Kingdom |
|
Magma |
1969 |
Perhaps most idiosyncratic of all progressives, Christian Vander's Magma documented the other-worldly parables of the planet Kobaia. The early side project Univeria Zekt album The Unamables is great introduction, but... |
France |
|
Mahavishnu Orchestra |
1971 |
Founded by guitarist John McLaughlin after his stint with Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu were perhaps the most successful fusion band, both artistically and commercially. |
United States |
|
Mainhorse |
1968 |
Swiss-born Patrick Moraz and Jean Ristori formed the band with vocalist David "Kubie" Kubinec (ex World Of Oz) and Bryson Graham, as Integral Aim, and later Mainhorse Airlines. Yugoslav Kubinec departed in 1970, the... |
Switzerland |
|
Malherbe, Didier |
1942 |
Aka Bloom-Dido Bad-de-Grass, Didier Malherbe's post-Gong work included the vastly underrated fusion outfit Bloom, before continuing into the 80s on a world-fusion path, which included work with Zao's François "Faton"... |
France |
|
Man |
1968 |
Wales' favorite sons, Man rose to fame as a live act in the early 70s. As with any band on the United Artists label, the Manband are top shelf rock band. |
United Kingdom |
