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Proto-Prog

Clouds

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 Paul Simon's "America", the arrangement Yes nicked for their version. Bassist Ian Ellis, keyboardist Billy Ritchie and drummer Harry Hughes changed their name to Clouds when they signed to Island Records in 1967.

Founded: 1966

Location: Edinburgh, Central Scotland

Website: Clouds

Cressida

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Atypical Vertigo label signing, Cressida produced two proto-prog albums in the early 70s, the latter released posthumously.

Founded: 1968

Location: London, England

Website: The Official Cressida Web Site

Deviants

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Led by Mick Farren, one of the original "underground" bands to come out of Ladbroke Grove.

Founded: 1967

Location: Ladbroke Grove, London

Website: Webcite query

Egg

Founded: 1969

Location: London, England

Website: Egg Archive

Ekseption

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The mother of all Dutch symphonic bands

Founded: 1967

Location: Haarlem, The Netherlands

Website: Ekseption - Home

Farren, Mick

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Musician, author, journalist but most of all agent provocateur of London's Underground

Founded: 1943

Location: Cheltenham, England

Frumpy

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Hamburg's finest, Inga Rumpf, Jean-Jacques Kravetz, Carsten Bohn, and Karl-Heinz Schott, blazed as Frumpy before morphing into Atlantis.

Founded: 1970

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Website: INGA RUMPF & FRIENDS

Giorgio Gomelsky, RIP

Giorgio Gomelsky, first manager of the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, and owner of the legendary Crawdaddy Club, died today in NYC after a battle with cancer. He was 82. The Georgian born Gomelsky was instrumental in the career of many progressive musicians, serving as the manager/impresario/sevengali to the Soft Machine, the Blossom Toes, Gong, Vangelis and Magma. RIP, Giorgio.

Gods, The

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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 albums amoungst numerous personnel changes, including Greg Lake, Mick Taylor and Lee Kerslake, and eventually morphed into the band Toe Fat, while Hensley and Paul Newton would form Spice/Uriah Heep.

Founded: 1965

Location: Hatfield, England

Gracious

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Founded: 1968

Location: Esher, England