In care se vorbeste (canta) despre o anumita parte a rock-ului

First topic message reminder :

Incep astazi sa trec in revista niste baieti care ma incanta de ceva vreme (ok, s-au strecurat si ceva fete ) prin zgomotele care le produc. Dati-le o sansa, chiar daca initial nu va spun mare lucru.

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Mentionez ca ma voi inspira aproape exclusiv de pe site-ul de capatai al progului (desi bineinteles ca puritanii spun ca deja a virat-o spre fateta mai comerciala a abordarii), http://www.progarchives.com/
Aici veti gasi detalii despre trupele prezentate de mine, discografii, componente, exemple de piese sau videoclipuri etc. Feel free to explore !

INDEX

A

AFTER CRYING
AGALLOCH
AKKERMAN, JAN
ALCEST
AMON DÜÜL
AMOS, TORI
ANATHEMA
ANDROMEDA
ANEKDOTEN
ANYONE'S DAUGHTER
APHRODITE'S CHILD
AREA
ARSENAL
ASIA
ATHEIST
AVALON
AYREON

B

BACAMARTE
BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
BARRETT, SYD
BEATLES, THE
BECK, JEFF
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
BELIEVER
BJÖRK
BLACK SABBATH
BLACKMORE'S NIGHT
BLOTTED SCIENCE
BLUE OYSTER CULT
BLUT AUS NORD
BOWIE, DAVID
BUCIUM
BYRON

C

CAMEL
CAN
CANVAS SOLARIS
CARAVAN
CELELALTE CUVINTE
CHICAGO
CHROMA KEY
CICCADA
COLOSSEUM
CRIMSON GLORY
CULT OF LUNA
CURVED AIR
CYNIC

D

DARKWATER
DAVIS, MILES
DEAD CAN DANCE
DEATH
DEATHSPELL OMEGA
DEEP PURPLE
DEUS
MCLAUGHLIN AND DE LUCIA DI MEOLA
DI MEOLA, AL
DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE
DREAM THEATER

E

ECHO
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
ELOY
EMERSON LAKE & PALMER
EMERSON, KEITH
ENO, BRIAN

DEAD CAN DANCE


Prog Folk • Australia

Dead Can Dance biography
In 1980 guitarist Brendan Perry left the Australian
punk group THE MARCHING GIRLS and began experimenting with electronic
music, particularly tape loops and rhythms. In 1981, Perry formed DEAD
CAN DANCE with vocalist Lisa Gerrard, bassist Paul Erikson, and drummer
Simon Monroe. By 1982, Perry and Gerrard decided to relocate to London;
Erikson and Monroe decided to stay in Australia. Since then, DEAD CAN
DANCE effectively worked as a duo with many session musicians and
collaborators helping them record in studio and perform live.

In
the spring of 1984, and with Erikson on bass they released their
eponymous debut album on 4AD label, which showed the British Post-Punk
and Gothic Rock influences. By the end of the year, the group had
released an EP called "Garden of the Arcane Delights". In 1985, DEAD CAN
DANCE released their second album, "Spleen and Ideal". The album
presented a change of style, experimenting more with the elements of
mediaeval, European folk and Worldbeat/Ambient music. It helped build
their European cult following, peaking at number two on the U.K. indie
charts.

"Within the Realm of a Dying Sun", the group's third
album, appeared in 1986, while in 1988 the band released their fourth
album, "The Serpent's Egg", which both rank among their best works.
After their fifth album "Aion", in 1990 the group toured America for the
first time, earning rave reviews. In 1991, the compilation "A Passage
in Time" was released on Rykodisc, making it the first American release
of DEAD CAN DANCE music. In the fall of 1993, the group released "Into
the Labyrinth", which became their first proper studio album to receive
an American release. It was followed by another American and European
tour, which was documented on the 1994 album and film, "Toward the
Within". In the summer of 1996, DEAD CAN DANCE released "Spiritchaser"
and embarked on an international tour. The duo officially disbanded in
1999, with Gerrard and Perry continuing work as solo artists.

In
2001, Rhino released the band's first comprehensive box set, "Dead Can
Dance 1981-1998". Gerrard and Perry reunited for a world tour 2005 while
Rhino once more recognized the duo with a greatest hits collection.
"Memento: The Very Best of Dead Can Dance" appeared in October 2005.

DEATH


Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • United States

Death biography
Chuck Schuldiner founded Death in the early 80s as an extreme metal
band, not knowing that in the years to come the band would be celebrated
by many as the band which created the genre of Death Metal. During the
years the lineup changed frequently, with Schuldiner as the constant
element. Their music got more and more complex in the 90s, and their
last releases Individual Thought Patterns, Symbolic and The Sound of
Perseverance are the reason for their inclusion in the archives. The
music on these albums is what is today often referred to as "Progressive
Death Metal", and it influenced many other bands in the following years
which further explored the possibilities of this new kind of music.
Eventually Schuldiner founded the band Control Denied, which essentially
continued Death's evolution towards a more experimental music - their
first release is very similar to Death, minus the typical Death Metal
vocals. After the release of that album in 1999 Schuldiner was diagnosed
with brain-stem cancer, and due to this disease both Control Denied and
Death were put on hold, and in 2001 Schuldiner lost his battle with his
illness.



Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
Death
can be seen as the founding fathers of two genres: Death Metal and
Progressive Death Metal. While their first 4 studio are not progressive,
the remaining 3 show an amazing development of more and more
experimental structures.



Discography:
Scream Bloody Gore (1987)
Leprosy (1988)
Spiritual Healing (1990)
Human (1991)
Individual Thought Patterns (1993)
Symbolic (1995)
The Sound of Perseverance (1998)
Live in L.A. (2001)
Live in Eindhoven (2001)

DEATHSPELL OMEGA


Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • France

Deathspell Omega biography
DEATHSPELL OMEGA is a Technical Avant-Garde Black Metal band from
France. They are one of the best known bands in the Norma Evangelium
Diaboli movement among brethren including Watain, Antaeus, and Funeral
Mist. The identities and locations of the band members are currently
unknown. Furthermore they have never played any concerts and no pictures
exist of the band. It should also be known that DEATHSPELL OMEGA has no
official Myspace page, does not intend to have one, and is not in touch
with the people who opened the currently existing and absolutely
unauthorized pages. Their early records, EP's, splits, and demo were raw
and simplistic black metal in the vein of Darkthrone, early Immortal,
etc. Since then, their music has greatly progressed to include highly
technical, experimental, and even some ambient/post elements into the
mixture. They have also adapted to a cleaner and better produced
aesthetic.

Though the band members identities are unknown, they
have given a small amount of interviews on their beliefs and such. Their
lyrical content deals primarily with the concepts of religion on a
metaphysical level and more specifically Satan, God, and their
relationships with man in everyday life. They are often praised for
being lyrically more thorough and 'advanced' than most other black metal
bands.

Their two full length releases: Si Monumentum Requires,
Circumspice (Latin for If you seek His monument, look around you), and
Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum (Latin for Divine law - Depart
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire) are the first two serials in a
conceptual trilogy. Though the two albums are linked by concept, they
are both musically unique. The trilogy proclaims the relationships of
God, Satan, and man. The first installment 'Circumspice was focused on
the concept of Satan, Fas' was conceptually based around man, and the
third yet unreleased installment will theoretically be based around God.
Because of their religious groundings in their lyrics, they are often
referred to as 'Orthodox', 'Puritanical', or 'Religious Black Metal'.

DEEP PURPLE


Proto-Prog • United Kingdom


Deep Purple biography
The archetypal hard rock band, hugely influential,
and still alive and well after almost 40 years, DEEP PURPLE were formed
in Hertford (England) in 1968. Their earliest line-up (known as Mark I)
featured guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice (who was to be
the only constant member in all the numerous incarnations of the band),
keyboardist Jon Lord, bassist Nick Simper and vocalist Rod Evans. Their
first album, "Shades of Deep Purple", included a cover of JOE SOUTH's
"Hush", which became a big hit in the USA. The following two efforts
were definitely more progressive in tone, especially their third,
self-titled album, which saw Lord's masterful, classically-influenced
use of the B3 Hammond organ steal the limelight.

In 1969, Evans
and Simper were fired, to be replaced by two former Episode Six members,
bassist Roger Glover and legendary vocalist Ian Gillan, who had also
starred in the lead role in the original version of Andrew Lloyd-Webber
and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar". This line-up, which is widely
known as DEEP PURPLE Mark II, gave the band international renown - even
though their first album, Lord's pet project "Concerto for Group and
Orchestra" (recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) was poorly
received.

With Gillan and Glover on board, DEEP PURPLE recorded
a series of extremely successful albums, which saw them blend the
progressive stylings of their first three albums with an increasingly
harder-edged approach, like 1970' ground-breaking "In Rock". Their sound
featured lengthy, dazzling duels between Lord's Hammond and Blackmore's
Stratocaster, punctuated by Gillan's sky-high screams - nowhere better
embodied than in their stunning, 1972 live album, "Made in Japan". In
the same year, they released "Machine Head", one of the essential rock
albums of all time, which featured the seminal riff of "Smoke on the
Water" (inspired by a true episode happened during the recording of the
album itself in Montreux, Switzerland), as well as other classics such
as "Highway Star" and "Space Truckin'".

Evident, in cazul trupelor cu greutate, e greu de sintetizat biografia in cateva propozitii. Mult mai multe se gasesc pe site-urile oficiale sau progarchives.com .

DEUS


Prog Related • Belgium


dEUS biography
It all began in 1994. A small but vibrant Antwerp
music scene meant that most alternative bands were incestuous, liquid
beings; with each musician being as likely to be in five bands as one,
but a mutual love of all things alternative and underground, melded six
talented musicians and performers into dEUS. Tom Barman (vocals,
guitar), Julle de Borgher (drums), Stef Kamil Carlens (bass, vocals),
Klaas Janzoons (violin, keyboards), Craig Ward (guitar), Rudy Trouve
(guitar). Debut album 'Worst Case Scenario' with the gonzoid punk chant
of first single 'Suds & Soda' to the off kilter pop sensibilities of
'Via' and onwards to the gentle introspective elegance of 'Hotellounge
(Be The Death Of Me)', emanated from the streets of Belgium across
mainland Europe and stone skipped its way across the Channel to knock on
the door of the musical psyche of a continent.

Backed up by
powerhouse live performances through Europe, dEUS had successfully
launched themselves into the burgeoningly healthy indie scene of the
mid-90s and achieved it with a hybrid of intelligence and
experimentation that perhaps was lacking in some of the more
back-to-basics, past-reverential sounds of their contemporaries. A band
that spent the next six years producing a body of work that,
chameleon-like, was able to array it's colour shifts of musical style
and tone in dazzling kaleidoscope but, in shape, was eternally,
indisputably and unmistakably dEUS.

With the exception of the
release of their singles collection 'No More Loud Music', which
underlined their position as one of the most creative bands of the last
decade and desperately compounded the heartfelt desire for their return,
dEUS became a collective of individuals pursuing fresh vistas and ideas
- a five year long busman's holiday if you will.


imi place de numa piesa asta.

MCLAUGHLIN AND DE LUCIA DI MEOLA


Jazz Rock/Fusion • Multi-National

Bineinteles, fiecare are si o cariera solo.
McLaughlin and De Lucia Di Meola biography
Though it would be anything else than a normal
collaboration between artists, considering any one of the three
musicians (being a normal character of jazz
recordings/performances/outlined "gatherings" etc.), it's an event (or
just as well a phenomenon) that speaks beyond words, it's interpreted
above notes and means much ahead of impressions or symbols. The
musicianship of AL DI MEOLA, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, PACO DE LUCIA (an order
which doesn't really count, each one was, at least once, "first up the
order") is a most refined example of how great minds think alike and how
great souls can play on the same symbolic chord. Without a deep glance,
the entire character is appointed upon the collective music effort,
slightly upon a mix of style and personality (McLaughlin being a
jazz/fusion/(world) artist, Meola being also on the jazz-rock tone, but
slightly more titrated and De Lucia being a flamenco jazz artist) and
upon the occurrence of great taste. The trio is in its entire eclectic
and distinguished.

In 1979, Larry Coryell formed "The Guitar
Trio" with jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin, and flamenco guitarist
Paco de Lucia and toured Europe briefly, eventually releasing a video
recorded at Royal Albert Hall in London entitled "Meeting of Spirits".
In early 1980 Larry was replaced by Al Di Meola, due to drug addiction..
The point of view is obviously focused on the "later" Guitar Trio (not
that its prestige would be unfounded as the prime effect, major result,
etc.). The essence is the virtuoso talents of all three musicians being
equally on display

As far as style is concerned, the combined
powers make out of the trio's music a flamenco essence jazz. Besides
that, the best to notice aspect is the dazzling virtuosity of guitar
play and the eccentric subtlety of jazz interpretation, improvisation
and such to think of. Within their last album, there is a piece
exploring bossa nova.

Two releases stand as the reflection of
their works, within the 80s. Friday Night in San Francisco , of 1981, is
a best-seller, a fabulous performance, a most accomplished recognition
and a fantastic masterpiece. Passion, Grace and Fire is what followed up
in 1983, being a studio-recording only. After this 13 years of silence
and of inactivity made out of the trio a select thing. The Guitar Trio,
of 1996, is the reunion release and the last reference till present
time.


sunt meseriasi !

AL DI MEOLA


Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States

---

Al Di Meola biography
Intense, that's the best word to describe the
character of the music that took hold at the outset of the 70's. Powered
by stacks of amplifiers, propelled by rock backbeats, fueled with
unbridled passion, and full of the spirit of jazz improvisation, this
so-called fusion music coalesced into a full blown movement with the
arrival of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, Larry Coryell's
Eleventh House, and Chick Corea's Return to Forever. We can feel the
intensity in Di Meola's playing in his debut with Return o Forever,
1974's «Where Have I Known You Before», or their 1975 follow-up, the
Grammy-winning «No Mystery». That power-house formula of dizzying speed,
demanding unison lines, and rock intensity continues on the group's
1976 Columbia debut, «Romantic Warrior» and carries over to Di Meola's
debut as a leader, «Land of the Midnight Sun», released the same year on
Columbia. His signature sound, the ringing sustain of a Les Paul played
through a Marshall stack is an integral part of al those projects.
Guitar Player magazine named Di Meola «best new talent» for 1975 on the
strength of his playing on «No Mystery». It awarded him «Best Jazz
guitarist» for 1977 and also named his «Elegant Gypsy» «Best Guitar Lp»
for that year. Al went on to dominate the Best Jazz Guitarist» category,
winning five consecutive years through 1981, while also earning «Best
Guitar Lp» awards in 1978 for «Casino» and in 1980 for «Splendido
Hotel». With those impressive credits, Al was instantly inducted into
Guitar Player's Gallery of the Greats, becoming the youngest player in
the magazine's history ever accorded that honor.

At the outset
of the 80's, Di Meola put his Les Paul on the shelf and turned to the
acoustic guitar, touring and recorded with a superstar trio including
McLaughlin and Spain's flamenco master, Paco de Lucia. He returned to
his old electrified ways briefly with 1982's «Electric Rendez-vous» and
its follow-up, «Tour De Force Live». In 1983, the same year he recorded
the bravado studio album «Passion, Grace & Fire» with the acoustic
trio, De Meola had a brief reunion tour with his old RTF mates, Corea,
drummer Lenny White, and bassist Stanley Clarke. Though the tour proved
that the intensity was still very much alive, no record was released of
this powerhouse fusion unit, together again for the first time since the
1976 breakup.

DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA


Progressive Metal • Sweden

Diablo Swing Orchestra biography
The Diablo Swing Orchestra is an avant-metal band
from Sweden. The origins of their name are explained on their website,
though the story has more to do with fiction than with fact. According
to it, in the 16th Century there was an orchestra in Sweden that "played
like no other" and that defied the ruling, wealthy, powerful Church
with music that give the people a "new view" of life. The Church deemed
the music satanic, calling the ensemble "the Devil's Orchestra". As the
influence of the ensemble proved hard to eliminate, according to the
story, its members were finally framed for murder and forced to hide.
After a reward was offered, the orchestra's members were finally caught
and hanged.

The legend says that, before being captured, the
orchestra's members "signed a pact saying that their descendants were
given the task of reuniting the orchestra in 500 years and continue
their work of spreading thought-provoking music". Thus, a few centuries
later, two of the current Diablo Swing Orchestra's members, supposedly
descendants of the original 16th Century members, reunited in a local
music shop and start talking about music, which only lead them to
discover that they were the ones meant to resurrect the Orchestra of
old. And this is how The Diablo Swing Orchestra came to exist. (quotes
from the band's MySpace site).

The music they play is a highly
original avant-metal. Lots of jazz, (swing), some funky tones, but also a
big classical influence (with operatic vocals) and, of course, rock and
metal. The orchestration of the songs is also very unique, with all
kinds of keyboard, wind instruments and percussion. If one moment one
can think the music is just plain metal (even power metal), it only
takes one second for the band to switch to styles as varied as flamenco
or jazz, or go for more atmospheric, gloomy passages. If there's one
band that truly deserves to be called "avant-metal", then this one is
it.

The music this band plays is absolutely progressive,
trascending genre barriers and also creating a unique, incredibly
original experience.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN


Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • United States

The Dillinger Escape Plan biography
Founded in New Jersey in '97 by the original core
members guitarist Ben WEINMAN, drummer Chris PENNIE, and bassist Adam
DOLL, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN has already cemented their status as the
'cream of the crop' concerning underground metal acts and has lately
begun breaking through to larger audiences. Their music displays the
energy of technical metal, the readiness to experiment and epicness of
their songs which can be attributed to the likes of progressive rock,
and the dissonant chords and breakdowns found in jazz. Their dedication
to touring and unending effort to leave an impression on their audience
with their amazingly energetic live shows is a testament to the fact
that 'hard work pays off' as their fan base continues to grow.

Their
disography dates back to '97 with their self-titled six song EP. The
critically acclaimed three song EP entitled "Under The Running Board"
gained much attention in '98 and '99 saw the release of their first full
length album "Calculating Infinity". When original vocalist Dimitri
MINAKAKIS left the band they released their "Irony Is A Dead Scene" EP
which featured Mike PATTON of Mr. Bungle and Faith No More fame on
vocals, this move certainly did nothing to hurt their popularity.
Notable on this particular release is the amazing and epic "When Good
Dogs Do Bad Things" and their fun cover of APHEX TWIN's original song
"Come To Daddy". Afterwards, Greg PUCIATO was recruited as new permanent
vocalist and in 2004 their second LP "Miss Machine" was released.

While
the band constantly displays virtuosity with both their instrumental
prowess and ability to keep up with frightening time signatures/changes,
their music may be difficult for the usual prog fan to digest. Repeated
exposure to their material is advised and seeing their live show is
recommended to potential fans interested in something new and exciting
in progressive metal. Not since the early 'progressive rock' era of the
late '60s has a band produced music so fresh, unique, and exciting as
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's.


It
is my understanding that prog archives covers progressive music in all
of it's glorious guises so I feel that the norm deviating virtuousity of
'The Dillinger Escape Plan' should be a welcome addition.

DREAM THEATER


Progressive Metal • United States

Dream Theater biography
Originally formed as Majesty, the core of DREAM THEATER was mainly John
PETRUCCI(guitar), John MYUNG (bass) and Mike PORTNOY (drums). They had
their breakthrough on MTV with the song "Pull Me Under" from "Images And
Words". Former singer Charlie DOMINICI was replaced by James LABRIE.
Their
music can be described as progressive metal, taking influences from
bands such as METALLICA, QUEENSRYCHE and RUSH. Some pure progressive
lovers will find it perhaps too metal, but they have made a lot of epic
songs. On the first album with LABRIE "Images And Words", the musicians
show impressive abilities on their respective instruments. Good
songwriting and also Kevin MOORE on keyboards.
Their third album "Awake" is much darker, with complex song structures and again a major contribution by PORTNOY and PETRUCCI.
MOORE
left the group and was replaced by Derek SHERINIAN on keyboards on "A
Change Of Seasons", an EP with the 23-minute epic title song and a
medley of covers of PINK FLOYD, QUEEN, JOURNEY, DIXIE DREGS and GENESIS.
"Scenes From A Memory" (1999) was a progressive concept album, with
different
songs over 10 minutes and long instrumental parts. Jordan RUDESS
appears on keyboards for the first time. This album was later recorded
live on "Live Scenes From New York", an album which will be remembered
also for the fact it was released on 11th of September 2001, with
burning WTC towers on the cover.
The release "Six Degrees Of Inner
Turbulence" of 2002 has been accepted by the fans in different ways,
mainly because of the heavier parts on the two CD's. The first CD in
particular contains some heavy metal. The second CD is an epic
progressive song of 42 minutes, which contains everything a progger
could dream of. Jordan RUDESS adds an impressive contribution to the
overall sound.
"Train Of Thought" is the 7th studio album from DREAM
THEATER and it shows the heavier side of the band. It has all the usual
ingredients... heavy riffs, ballads and crazy time signatures.

nici nu stiu ce material sa pun pe tapet. aleg unul la intamplare.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA


Crossover Prog • United Kingdom

Electric Light Orchestra biography
An incredible 35 years since their formation, the
music of the Electric Light Orchestra is still as popular as ever. All
over the world, people are tuning into the sound of ELO via radio, the
internet, cinemas and TV. The seemingly ageless songs of ELO leader Jeff
Lynne are even being heard again in the singles charts, thanks to the
cream of today's young dance acts sampling the band's original music and
turning on a whole new generation of fans.

ELO thrived under
the guidance of Lynne, recording twelve original studio albums and
releasing twenty-eight hit singles in the UK alone. At their peak
between 1974 and 1981, ELO amassed a string of nine consecutive gold,
platinum and multi-platinum albums. The band were one of the biggest
arena and stadium draws during the seventies and early eighties, with
spectacular shows including massive flying saucer stage sets and vibrant
light and laser displays.

Originally a 1970 experimental
offshoot of sixties English hitmakers The Move, ELO's initial concept of
a rock band augmented by a string section struggled to find success.
Though early singles such as 'Showdown' and 'Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle' were hits,
ELO albums failed to make the charts in the UK and the group was
virtually ignored as a live act.

It was the USA that first
embraced ELO, thanks to lengthy coast-to-coast tours that helped propel
singles 'Evil Woman' and 'Strange Magic' and albums 'On The Third Day',
'Eldorado' and 'Face The Music' into the American charts. UK acceptance
finally came in 1976 with 'A New World Record' and Top 10 singles
'Livin' Thing', 'Rockaria!' and 'Telephone Line'.

A double album
masterpiece, 1977's 'Out Of The Blue' was a worldwide smash on
pre-orders alone and featured global hits 'Turn To Stone', 'Wild West
Hero', 'Sweet Talkin' Woman' plus the song Lynne considers to be his
greatest ELO achievement, 'Mr. Blue Sky'. Recently voted "Anthem Of The
Midlands" by the public, the track continues to appear in film
soundtracks and ads to this very day. The bands' legendary 1978 tour set
audience attendance records wherever it played and established ELO as
one of the most popular acts in the world.

ELOY


Psychedelic/Space Rock • Germany


Eloy biography
Taking their name from the "Eloi", the futuristic race of people in H.G.
Wells' The Time Machine, ELOY was initially formed in 1969 in Germany.
Inspired by THE SHADOWS and THE BEATLES, they became one of the major
bands in the progressive rock scene highly influenced by the space rock
of PINK FLOYD. They started off in Germany as a hard rock band with a
political bent, but soon drifted into a spacier progressive rock sound.
They have had a number of turnovers, with a major split in the 1980s
that resulted in a move into more of a mainstream direction. Based
mainly on founder Frank BORNEMANN's guitar solos, their music evolved to
include more synthesizers and choirs.

They produced many albums
between 1971 and 1998 with different line-ups. Their best period is the
mid to late-70's with the trippier space-rock of "Inside" and
"Floating" (with Manfred WIECZORKE later of JANE). "Dawn" is actually
one of the better of the symphonic-era ELOY albums, perhaps even the
best. "Ocean" is a concept album about Atlantis, and one of the pillar
albums of the German symphonic scene, and certainly worth checking out.
They followed up with "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes", the year later
to even greater success. During 1993-1994, ELOY released three best of
collections and it wasn't until 1994 with the release of "The Tides
Return Forever", that they recorded and toured again is released and the
band reappeared live on stage for several successful shows in Germany.
Their last album "Ocean 2", released in 1998, was a surprising come back
of a progressive rock band, which stopped recently their
stage-appearances.

EMERSON LAKE & PALMER


Symphonic Prog • United Kingdom

Dupa mine, sunt number one. De aia nu zic prea multe, pun linku catre site-ul oficial si o sa-mi permit sa pun 3 videouri.

http://www.emersonlakepalmer.com/

KEITH EMERSON


Crossover Prog • United Kingdom

Keith Emerson biography
KEITH EMERSON is regarded by many as the most
influential keyboard player on progressive rock, even acquiring the name
'Hendrix Of The Organ' for his organ stabbing routines on stage with
both The Nice and ELP during the Sixties and Seventies. Outside of Jerry
Lee Lewis, keyboard playing is normally for quiet characters who stare
fixatedly at the keyboard usually not even acknowledging the existence
of the audience.Not so for EMERSON, who would jump on top of the organ,
ride it across the stage and then throw it away once he had his 'evil'
way with it in a grand display of over the top showmanship.Audiences
lapped it up, while critics complained about ''Keyboard masturbation''
and ''pretentiousness''.
This all somewhat hides the fact that
EMERSON was a serious musician. Studying classical music from an early
age, he was fascinated by the relationship between classical music (like
Bach) and rock music. He fully understood the importance of
counterpoint as shown when The Nice performed 'Brandenburger'. The Nice
were also quite happy to play live with orchestra as demonstrated by the
1969 Fairfields concert of 'The Five Bridges Suite'.
In 1970
EMERSON was to focus his attentions towards the recently invented Moog
Synthesiser. ELP were one of the most significant innovators of this
instrument in prog. Tracks like 'Lucky Man','Toccata' and 'Tarkus'
showed EMERSON's prowess on the Moog. He worked closely with the
inventor himself to develop new keyboards and to refine its use. Robert
Moog was a great fan of EMERSON and regarded him as the foremost player
of the instrument.
EMERSON, however, was still keen to pick up
his classical/orchestral ambitions, and in the mid Seventies composed
his first (and to date only) Piano Concerto. This eventually (almost by
accident) found its way onto ELP's 'Works Volume One' as the prog trio
ventured further towards classical/jazz and symphonic music. However,
the emergence of punk brought further cries of 'self indulgence' from
music critics. ELP were to crash and burn, but EMERSON was still
justifiably proud of his classical creation. Not only aired on classical
radio, this fine piece of music has even been adopted by professional
orchestras.

BRIAN ENO


Progressive Electronic • United Kingdom

Brian Eno biography
There has never been an artist more mystic (in the
prog world, anyway) than Brian Eno. He has had many occupations that
have influenced many musicians: he was the founding father of ambient
music (though some might give him nosmall amount of flak for starting
new age slop), a glam rocker, an expert at the synthesizer and many
other strange electronic devices, a producer of hits for U2 and Talking
Heads, an explorer of non-western musical themes and, as he was known to
everyone who liked him, a "non-musician."

Mr. Eno was born in
Woodbridge on May 15, 1948. His birth name was (deep breath...) Brian
Peter George St. Jean le Baptiste de la Salle Eno. Growing up in the
neighboring town of Suffolk (which was close to a American Air Force
camp), he became fascinated by music when listening to doo wop and
R&B on the Armed Forces radio stations. He later developed an
interest towards avant-garde composers like John Cage and Terry Riley.
In 1971, he became a member of the seminal rock band ROXY MUSIC. Eno
joined them because he knew how to operate a certain synthesizer that
none of the other members could. Some rock fans thought that he was gay
because he wore makeup and women's clothing. His unusual appearance was
offstaging the ROXY MUSIC frontman Bryan Ferry, who began to grow
agitated as a result. After several fights with Ferry, Eno quit ROXY
MUSIC to record some albums of his own sound.

The first album
with Eno's name on it was 1973's "No Pussyfooting", an early ambient
venture that he recorded with fellow EG Records recording artist Robert
Fripp (most famous as the guitarist of KING CRIMSON). Most of the album
was a Gibson Les Paul played by Fripp running through a tape-delay
system. This new method would be dubbed "Frippertronics," a system that
Fripp would later use in his solo career. (The sampling of sounds later
set the stage for electronica and hip-hop.) Eno's first true solo album
was 1973's "Here Come The Warm Jets", which managed to make the Top 30
in the UK. This time around, Eno had a glam rock sound that David Bowie
and QUEEN had popularized. The album proved so critically popular that
Eno (even though he was in poor health) decided to tour. The tour was
cancelled shortly because of a collapsed lung.

FATES WARNING


Progressive Metal • United States

Fates Warning biography
FATES WARNING was founded as a heavy metal band, but after a few albums,
their progressive tendencies started to emerge. While retaining
elements of their metal heritage, their music grew increasingly complex,
with much longer tracks and interesting interwoven melodic elements
added. They merged their love of YES and RUSH, by combining elements of
pure metal, classically inspired crescendos and interludes with jazz
fusion like chops. FW has been largely responsible for the infusion of
progressive thinking into heavy metal music, unlike its co-founding
compatriots of progressive metal, DREAM THEATER. So give yourself the
chance to live an emotive experience unlike anything else.

Like
KING CRIMSON, the evolution of FATES WARNING can be split into many
different period. "Awaken The Guardian" (1986) showed the band's music
to be more progressive and complex that first impressions had suggested.
"No Exit" (1988) was a ground breaking album for the band as they
further explore the realms of progressive metal with the 21 minute long
"The Ivory Gate of Dreams". This was followed by "Perfect Symmetry"
(1989), considered by many to be the band's most Progressive rock-driven
release. The compilation, "Chasing Time", is a great place to start.
However, 1998's "A Pleasant Shade Of Grey", which consists of a single
40-minute song, is clearly the best place for a Progressive rock fan.
The album start off slowly and needs several careful listenings to be
fully appreciated; but then, since part. "Still Life" appeared the next
year, and "Disconnected" followed two years later. And now let's wait
for their 2003 release.

BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES


Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States


Bela Fleck and The Flecktones biography
BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES are an ambitious
Progressive act out of the USA who are influenced by a wide array of
different musical styles and cultures. Most notable influences include
but are not limited to: Jazz, Bluegrass, Fusion and Rock. The band
members currently include BELA FLECK (Electric and Acoustic Banjos),
VICTOR WOOTEN (Bass Guitars), ROY "FUTURE MAN" WOOTEN (Drumitar &
Additional Percussion) and JEFF COFFIN (Saxophone & Various Wind
Instruments). Each member has their own unique style and influence,
which contributes greatly to the band's overal eclectic sound.

Fleck himself is a master Banjo player, and his unorthadox playing
style has helped change people's opinions on what type of music the
instrument is meant for. Over the course of the band's career, Fleck has
slowly transformed the Banjo from being strictly a Bluegrass instrument
and made it appeal to everyone from Jazz to Rock musicians and everyone
in between. Victor Wooten is widely lauded in jazz and bass-playing
circles for his hyperkinetic pop n' slap technique on his guitar, and
many consider him the leading bass virtuoso in music today. Future Man
is perhaps the most unique of them all in that he plays an instrument
that he invented himself called the 'Drumitar', a MIDI instrument that
is based on the Synthaxe design of the Zendrum and other similar
instruments. Jeff Coffin is best known as saxophonist, though he also
plays clarinet and flute. His unique playing style lends itself well to
the Jazz aspect of The Flecktones' music, but he also plays very
melodically and beautifully for the more Folk-inspired songs.


The Flecktones first began when Fleck joined the Wooten brothers and
Keyboard/Harmonica player Howard Levy to play on the PBS televised show
Lonesome Pine Specials. The gig was initially meant to be a one-time
event, but Fleck had other plans. Soon he and the three other talents
were writing and recording some of the freshest material to come out of
the Jazz scene in years. Over Two decades and Two-Hundred performances
later, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones are still together and breaking new
ground with each consecutive release.

The band's self-titled
debut album woke up the Jazz and Bluegrass crowd with a resounding
success, and already landing their first grammy with the song "The
Sinister Minister". It was a huge success, and listeners could never
look back again.

FOCUS


Symphonic Prog • Netherlands


Focus biography
Of all the groups in the 1970s that combined elements of rock and
classical music, FOCUS is, without a doubt, the most notable Dutch group
widely known outside the Netherlands. This band has created excitement
all over the world during the past few years with their unique sound and
musical approach. The two main musicians in the band were
flutist/keyboardist/singer Thjis Van LEER and guitarist Jan AKKERMAN.
They played a stylishly inventive rock with flutes, keyboards &
dazzling guitar, defining the Dutch prog sound. An inspiration to FINCH,
TRACE & numerous others. In 1978, the group finally split up,
without making too much noise.

Best albums are "Moving Waves"
(1972), "3" (1973), "Live at the Rainbow" (1973), and "Hamburger
Concerto" (1974). "Waves" and "3" represent the best of the band's
earlier intensely progressive period with plenty of sidelong tracks and
healthly extended solos. Most will agree that "Live at the Rainbow" and
"Hamburger Concerto" (last good album) were their best, moving into a
period of more pure classical and jazz influence.

"Focus 8"
marks the return of Thjis Van LEER in the true nature of music: tuneful,
memorable and a little bit rocky when they want to be. This album
contains everything you might want from a FOCUS album ... plenty of
flute and keyboards from Thijs, tasty guitar playing from Jan DUMÉE and
even some yodeling vocals. Perhaps in summary, the band could have
veered a little from the safety of the FOCUS blueprint but "Focus 9" may
yet further develop their own voice. No doubt about it, we'll have to
count on FOCUS in the new millennium to all of the true Progressive Rock
lovers.

MARTY FRIEDMAN


Progressive Metal • United States

Marty Friedman biography
Marty Friedman is an American virtuoso guitarist, originally from Washington D.C, USA and born on the 8th of December 1962.

He
is a mainly self taught guitarist, known for his formidable sweep
picking technique, excellent improvisation skills, use of exotic scales
and overall amazing technical facility on the guitar.

He played in the bands DEUCE, HAWAII and VIXEN (a different band to the all female band that shared the same name).

More notably, he played in the Speed/thrash/neo-classical metal band with teenage guitar prodigy Jason Becker.

The
two guitarists became known as incredibe virtuosos while in the band,
demonstrating some of the most technical lead guitar playing of the
80s..

The band lasted two albums before splittng up in 1989.

In
1988, Marty Friedman released his first solo album, called "Dragon
Kiss", with Jason Becker guesting on 2 tracks, and also featuring
drummer Dean Castronovo on drums, with Marty doing all rhythm, lead and
bass guitar.

The album would become widely revered in virtuoso guitar/instrumental rock/metal circles.

Dave Mustaine, having been impressed with what he heard on Dragon Kiss, hired Marty Friedman as main lead guitarist.

During
his time as guitarist for MEGADETH, the band released the album 'Rust
In Peace' in 1990 which would go on to become one of the most
influential and important thrash metal records ever. Marty continued
with his solo albums, but left MEGADETH in 1999, citing reasons such as
not wanting to play metal music anymore and feeling like his abilities
were not being used to their full potential.

His 2008 release,
"Future addict", consists of reconstructed, reworked and some completely
remade songs spanning his career from Deuce, all the way to his more
recent recordings.

ROBERT FRIPP


Eclectic Prog • United Kingdom

Robert Fripp biography
FRIPP is best known as a founder and continuing member of KING CRIMSON,
from the debut album "In The Court Of The Crimson King" in 1969, through
"Larks' Tongues In Aspic" (1972), "Red" (1974), "Discipline" (1981),
"VROOOM" (1994), "THRAK" (1995), "THRaKaTTaK" (1996), and the H.O.R.D.E.
tour of 1996. Well known collaborations and contributions include FRIPP
& ENO's "No Pussyfooting" (1973) and "Evening Star" (1975), ENO's
"Nerve Net" (1993), the first three Peter GABRIEL albums, David BOWIE's
"Heroes" (1977) and "Scary Monsters" (1980), Daryl HALL's "Sacred Songs"
(1979), and The Roches (1979 & 1982). FRIPP left the music industry
between 1984 and 1991 to establish the Guitar Craft seminar program,
which continues around the world.

PETER GABRIEL


Crossover Prog • United Kingdom

Peter Gabriel biography
Musician, writer and video maker, Peter GABRIEL is
one of the most prolific artist in the world and also one of the most
loved musicians in prog-scene. He was the singer and front-man of
GENESIS since 1967 to 1975, but that´s another story...

GABRIEL
started his solo career in 1977, and since then he has released 8 studio
albums, 2 live albums, 3 original sound tracks and 3 compilations,
always with the collaboration of a lot of different and great musicians
and playing different musical styles. 1977 was the date of the release
of Peter´s first album "Peter Gabriel 1", one year after "Peter Gabriel
2" was published, both albums have a similar sound (pop-prog-rock), and
count with the production and guitars of KING CRIMSON's Robert Fripp and
Tony Levin on bass, being Tony an active member of Peter's band since
then. "Solsbury Hill" was the hit single of GABRIEL´s first work, both
albums include classic songs that are still being played on his actual
shows. In 1980 two things happened, one was the release of Peter's third
album "Peter Gabriel 3", this one being the most complete work till
date in the opinion of a lot of fans, and also was the foundation of
WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts and Dance) where Peter and other members of
WOMAD played a series of festivals around the world, where they mixed
traditional and modern music. In 1982 Peter published "Security" album,
with a different sound, more electronic and also it was the first time
that Peter began to use African sounds in his albums. This was followed
by the double live album "Peter Gabriel Plays Live". Two years after
Peter released his first OST "Birdy" (Alan Parker film), which was a
great mix of eerie sounds and relaxing music.

Just one year
after, in 1986 "So" was published, which was a well known and best
selling album, with a clear pop sound and hit singles like
"Sledgehammer" and "Don´t Give Up" (with the collaboration of Kate Bush
on vocals) and the great "Red Rain". This album won several awards,
especially for his video clips, very sophisticated for that year. Three
years after, Peter published his second OST, Martin Scorcese's "Last
Temptation Of Christ", one of the most experimental and innovative
albums, with a mix of different musical styles.

JAN GARBAREK


Jazz Rock/Fusion • Norway

Jan Garbarek biography
Jan Garbarek (born 4 March 1947 in Mysen, Norway) is
a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz,
classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was the only child of a
former Polish prisoner of WWII Czeslaw Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's
daughter. Effectively stateless until the age of seven (there is no
automatic grant of citizenship in Norway) Garbarek grew up in Oslo. At
21, he married Vigdis. His daughter Anja Garbarek is also a musician.
Garbarek
taught himself to play saxophone at age 14, inspired by hearing John
Coltrane's Countdown on the radio. A year later, he was fronting the
leading quartet in the non - traditional section of the '62 Norwegian
Amateur Jazz Championship. He won the competition, which resulted in his
first professional work, and he was soon leading a group with Jon
Christensen, Terje Rypdal and Arild AndersenIn. 1965 a significant
encounter with George Russell at the Molde Jazz Festival resulted in
Garbarek's fascination with Russell's 'Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal
Organization', with Garbarek becoming an important soloist in the
composer's works. In 1968 he was the Norwegian representative at the
European Broadcasting Union festival, and the recordings of this
(notably an impressive version of Coltrane's 'Naima') brought him to
wider notice when they were transmitted throughout Europe.
He had an
early breakthrough into the elite of modern jazz in the 60's, due to
his extensive cooperation with Keith Jarrett. Subsequently his style has
become more severe, sometimes almost bleak, although there is a
restrained warmth to his sound. Garbarek's playing is representative of
the kind of music associated with Manfred Eicher's ECM Records and of a
characteristically Scandinavian strand of jazz, melodic and atmospheric,
which has little overt emotionalism but does not lack intensity ."The
north and nature, song and mystery" are what Garbarek calls his origins .
In the 1980s, Garbarek's groups included bassist Eberhard Weber and at
various times guitarists Bill Frisell and David Torn. At the same time
he start adding more world music components to his sound, playing with
renowned world music artists, as Trilok Gurtu, and many his works were
classified as "new age music".
Garbarek's most progressive jazz fusion period is 70-s

GAZPACHO


Crossover Prog • Norway

Gazpacho biography
As their name suggests, GAZPACHO are an eclectic mix of ingredients: a
bit more accessible than RADIOHEAD, more diversified than MARILLION and
more proggy than COLDPLAY. Their original line-up consisted of Jan H.
Ohme on vocals, Jon A. Vilbo on guitars, Thomas Andersen on keyboards
and Roy Funner on bass. Since their first album in 2002, the band has
managed, promoted and produced all of their albums (total of 3).

All
are very accessible, made up of tracks averaging 5 minutes, and their
commercial potential is undeniable. What strikes the listener on all of
them are Ohme's vocals whose soothing, melancholic (almost slurred)
voice dominates all tracks; it rises cleanly and clearly above the
keyboards and lush (at times roaring) guitars. The drum machine takes
some getting used to but gives the music a laid-back, almost trip-hoppy
feel. Don't expect any fiery solos or displays of technical skills here:
this style falls in that grey area between prog and alternative rock
and doesn't claim to be anything more. Altogether moving, intriguing and
well produced.

Fans of RADIOHEAD, latter-day TALK TALK and Hogarth-era MARILLION should check these guys out.

GENESIS


Symphonic Prog • United Kingdom

Genesis biography
Among the top classic prog rock bands of all times, GENESIS is most known in the prog scene for the superb line-up Peter GABRIEL, Phil COLLINS, Steve HACKETT, Mike RUTHERFORD and Tony BANKS,
which played together from 1971's "Nursery Cryme" to 1974's "The Lamb
Lies Down on Broadway". After this extraordinary period GABRIEL left the
band, but the progressive music quality remained the same untill
HACKETT left the band. From that point on, under the popish influence of
Phil COLLINS, the band took another path towards the commercial
market...

Their best work was produced while Peter GABRIEL was
with the band, and for a year after he left. Here is a GUIDE to their
work from that period.

EARLY PERIOD:
"Trespass" (1970) was the band's second album, which featured Anthony PHILLIPS
on guitar and John MAYHEW on drums. There are six songs here, all of
which show glimpses of the power the band was to develop more fully
later.

MIDDLE PERIOD:
"Nursery Cryme" (1971) shows the band
struggling with their new mix of talent, and has a couple of weak songs.
"Foxtrot" (1972) shows a more confident and accomplished band. "Selling
England By The Pound" (1973) finds the band in a slightly mellower
mood, with more acoustic work here on piano and guitar than before. "The
Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" (1974) is arguably the band's finest album.
It is a 90-minute theater piece filled with a wide variety of music and
moods.

LATE PERIOD:
But the first two albums made in this
period still managed to preserve enough of the band's "progressive"
qualities to make them interesting to old fans. "A Trick Of The Tail"
(1975) is a very strong album that still sounds good today. "Wind and
Wuthering" (1976) is the last album made by the "old" GENESIS.

APOCRYPHA:
Several
albums appeared in the 90s that fit well into the discography of the
"old" GENESIS. ... "Genesis Archive: 1967-1975" / "Genesis Revisited" /
"Genesis For Two Grand Pianos"

CONCLUSION:
One of the best "progressive" rock bands that rose to prominence in England in the early 70s.


De apreciat pentru intreaga opera, dar eu rumeg mai bine prima jumatate. Unii claseaza Selling England By The Pound drept cel mai tare album de prog.

GENTLE GIANT


Eclectic Prog • United Kingdom

Alti meseriasi, probabil in top 5 al supergrupurilor.
Gentle Giant biography
Formed on the late 60's by the Shulmman brothers, GENTLE GIANT is known
as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable
musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored
grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century
classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The
multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to
their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to
these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage
with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes,
violins, cellos and horns among others.

The band was able to
come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music,
altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a
few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the
albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are
essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of
"Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly
grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is
there to say about these masters of progressive music?