Home

united kingdom

Band/Artist Bio
3

Ketih Emerson and Carl Palmer teamed up with Robert Berry and released one album as 3.

Abrahams, Mick

Ex- Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig guitarist.

Albrighton, Roye

Nektar guitarist and vocalist has released just one solo record.

Amon Düül (UK)

Led by John Weinzerl and Dave Anderson, the band's name was of some dubious origin.

Anderson, Ian

Oddly enough, Ian Anderson's lone solo album highlights early 80s keyboard technology.

Anderson, Jon

Following his departure from Yes in 1979, Jon Anderson enjoyed a degree of success in the UK with a string of solo releases and a good touring band, "The New Life Orchestra". His concurrent work with Greek keyboardist Vangelis would even eclipse that success. Yet by 1983, Anderson would return to Yes, where he would remain, in one form or another, the voice of Yes.

Andromeda

John Du Cann's band prior to his joining Atomic Rooster. Also of note are the one-off Five Day Week Straw People and The Attack.

Anthony Phillips & Harry Williamson

Phillips and Williamson teamed up in 1976 to score the soundtrack to Tarka the Otter, a novel written by Henry Williamson, Harry's father.

Argent

Rod Argent and Russ Ballard's 70s rock outfit.

Argent, Rod

Keyboardist and composer of the Zombies and Argent.

Art Bears

Post-Henry Cow project from Fred Frith and Chris Cutler, featuring the insufferable vocals of Dagmar Krause.

Arthur Brown Arthur & Vincent Crane

Believe it or not, but Klaus Schulze is responsible for this!

Asia

Asia marked a new dawn in the era of progressive music.

Atomic Rooster

Always driven by Vincent Crane's keyboards, Atomic Rooster road a firm line between the hard and progressive. Crane and drummer Carl Palmer, first together in Arthur Brown's band, made one album before Palmer was off to ELP. The band hit their stride however after John DuCann and Paul Hammond joined. They released two albums in 1971, with vocalist Pete French joining for In Hearing of, generally regarded as their best. That didn't last, as the band was always beset with personnel changes. Chris Farlowe joined for two albums, which brought a more bluesy and less progressive tilt to their sound. But the Roosters lack of success brought it to a halt by 1974. Crane resurrected the bird in the early 80s, but that too was short lived. Sadly he committed suicide in 1989.

Audience

Combining the talents of Howard Werth on vocals and acoustic guitar and Keith Gemmell on saxophone, with the rhythm section of Trevor Williams and Tony Connor, Audience's second album (first on Charisma) will appeal to most fans of progressive rock.

Auger, Brian & The Trinity

One of London's original rock organists, Brian Auger's early career included work with Steampacket and Julie Driscoll.

Axis Point

Charlie Whitney's post-Streetwalkers group, with Eddie Hardin and Charlie McCraken.

Ayers, Kevin

The Original Mr. Cool. An original on the Canterbury Scene, Kevin Ayers spent the 60s with Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine before retiring to the comforts of Deià, Mallorca. Coaxed away by Peter Jenner, Ayers recorded a quartet of albums for Harvest label, beginning with the amazing Joy of a Toy. His band, the Whole Wide World, comprised of David Bedford, Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield, among many other luminaries, but his work was strictly pop, albiet one combined with an absurdist's sense of humor. By the mid-70s, Ayers was under the care of Elton John's management and Island Records, yet success was ever elusive, and probably planned that way. His later career wasn't really, as he retreated further from the public eye, but records and tours appeared in the 80s, 90s, and the 00s, standing more as postcards so we wouldn't forget, rather than true attempts at a restart. His final 2007 solo album saw a much younger generation lending a helping hand, but a lifetime of excess had already taken its toll. Ayers passed away in early 2013. He stands one of the most original singer-songwriters and persona of the progressive era.

Badger

Ex Yes members featured in the first incarnation of the band. Their debut album, recorded live while supporting Yes, has a slight christian slant to the lyrics. Second album saw the arrival of Jackie Lomax. Recorded in New Orleans with Allen Toussaint the album has ditched the progressive for a very soulful approach.

Bakerloo

Originally called the Bakerloo Blues Line, Dave "Clem" Clempson, Terry Poole and Keith Baker released one album of blues rock for Harvest. Also of note was their "Drivin' Bachwards", an earlier version of Bach's Bourree in E minor than the more famous one recorded by Jethro Tull.

Banks, Peter

Original guitarist for Yes

Banks, Tony

Genesis keyboardist and composer

Barclay James Harvest

Musically, not far off the map from the Moody Blues, Barclay James Harvest led a very long and prolific career releasing mildly progressive music.

Barrett, Syd

Roger Keith Barrett, founding member and primary songwriter of the early Pink Floyd, was a pioneer in the London Underground and perhaps the ultimate psychedelic hipster. Following his release from Pink Floyd in 1968, Barrett would eventually record two solo albums in the early 70s with the help of his former bandmates. His tragic demise, due in part to excessive use of acid, created the mythology of the drug-addled rock star. Look however to his recordings for his sheer genius.

Beatles, The

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 the psychedelic era and the comforts of Abbey Road Studios. While "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is ground zero for art rock, "Revolver" is perhaps the most immediate, "The White Album" the enigmatic, and "Abbey Road" of course, the swan song.