jimmydanger wrote:Like any label, Progressive Rock (PR) is not a precise descriptor. It's as nebulous a term as 'Alternative Rock', but it gives you an idea at least. PR started with musicians who wanted to push the boundaries of rock music beyond run-of-the-mill love songs with standard beats and arrangements. Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Genesis and ELP are all thought of as the first PR bands because they combined elements of rock, jazz, classical and world music with thematically interesting lyrics and unusual time signatures. The music often required formal training and was more difficult to play than its predecessors, and as a result, since beginning musicians couldn't play it, the reaction to PR spawned another PR: punk rock.
Many people have declared progressive rock dead for years, however pockets of resistance hold out and there are many bands that proudly call themselves PR (Dream Theater is usually mentioned, however there are many other more deserving bands such as Porcupine Tree). The 70's will always be the heyday of PR, and some would even say of all rock.
There is one other element not mentioned here... PR / AR all have their roots in "Concept Albums" As you know, Beatles (And the Beach Boys) probably pioneered the the first of the Concept Albums i.e Animals... Sgt Pepper, etc. This was later followed by bands like Genesis ...(It really took off when Queen stepped up and Freddie Mercury added the operatic theme...) Jethro Tull was an amazing band, who actually , deviated somewhat from the concept album format and brought envelope-pushing sound and style back down to 4 minute songs... They are truly a legend in their own standing... Nowadays, I think Ian Anderson does a R & B band in his local venues, and travels a lot.