united kingdom

Ex- Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig guitarist.

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

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.

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

Keyboardist and composer of the Zombies and Argent.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Genesis keyboardist and composer

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.