1970s

Libra

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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 Motown Records. Strange bedfellows, indeed!

Founded: 1973

Location: Rome, Italy

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Liliental

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.

Founded: 1977

Location: Germany

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Locanda Delle Fate

Latter-day symphonic band from Asti, Locanda Delle Fate ("The Fairy Inn") released one highly-regarded album.

Founded: 1976

Location: Asti, Italy

Website: La Locanda Delle Fate | STORIA

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Long Hello, The

Van Der Graaf Generator, sans Peter Hammill

Founded: 1973

Location: Wales

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Lucifer's Friend

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.

Founded: 1970

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Website: Lucifer's Friend Official

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Mackay, Andy

Andy Mackay's place in history is as the sax player for Roxy Music.

Founded: 1946

Location: Lostwithiel, Cornwall England

Website: Andy Mackay + The Metaphors

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Magma

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 even their first two albums wouldn't prepare the world for the completely over the top epic Mekanik Destruktiw Komanndoh. Sung in Vander's self-created language, Magma's music a cross between Carl Orff, John Coltrane and some dark-ass heavy metal!

Founded: 1969

Location: Paris, France

Website: MAGMA - CHRISTIAN VANDER - STELLA VANDER - SEVENTH RECORDS

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Mahavishnu Orchestra

Founded by guitarist John McLaughlin after his stint with Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu were perhaps the most successful fusion band, both artistically and commercially.

Founded: 1971

Location: New York City, New York

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Mainhorse

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 band shortened their name to Mainhorse, added Peter Lockett and signed to Polydor to release their eponymous album. Drummer Bryson Graham would later join Spooky Tooth.

Founded: 1968

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

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Malherbe, Didier

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" Cahen and in Hadouk, with Loy Ehrlich.

Founded: 1942

Location: Paris, France

Website: DIDIER MALHERBE

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