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Avant-prog (short for avant-garde progressive rock) is a music genre that appeared in the late 1970s as the extension of two separate progressive rock subgenres: Rock in Opposition (RIO) and the Canterbury scene.
RIO/Avant-Prog definition Avant-Prog Avant-prog is an umbrella term which refers to any progressive rock artist with a strong leaning towards avant-garde and highly experimental approaches to music. Therefore, it includes the sub-genres of Rock In Opposition (see below) and Zeuhl in addition to general avant-prog artists.
Avant-Prog. Avant-Prog is short for avant-garde progressive rock. This style appeared in the late 1970s as the extension of two separate prog rock sub-styles: Rock in Opposition (RIO) and prog of the Canterbury scene. The latter, with groups like Egg, Soft Machine, Caravan, and Hatfield & the North (all based in or around the town of Canterbury ...
Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other... genres) is a broad and convergent style of rock music and progressive music which arose in the late 1960s , reaching the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s , but continuing as a musical form to this day. This genre music is a catalyst to raise considerably the level of musicanship among rock bands and ...
- Early Progressive Rock
- The 1970s
- The UK Scene in The 1970s
- Progressive Rock Subgenres
- Rock in Opposition
- Zeuhl in France
- The International Scene
- Fantasy Artwork
- The Influence of Electronic Instruments
- Late 1970s Decadence
Although there are different perspectives about the beginning of progressive rock, early pioneers included the Moody Blues, Soft Machine, The Nice, and Pink Floyd. Experimentation by the Beatles, including one of the early uses of mellotron on “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and ambitious song suites for the second half of Abbey Road, was also highly ...
The early 1970s produced some of the most iconic and memorable progressive rock acts of all time. Leading artists in the 1970s encompassed British groups Genesis, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Yes, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Renaissance, Caravan, Jethro Tull, Curved Air, Gong, Camel, Greenslade, and Barclay James H...
A few British record companies played an important role in the development of progressive rock. These were primarily Charisma Records, Manticore Records, Vertigo Records (as well as its parent company, Phillips), Harvest, Chrysalis, Deram, and Virgin Records. Charisma Records released albums by Genesis, The Nice, Van der Graaf Generator and Rare Bi...
Progressive rock subgenres include avant-garde rock, Canterbury, jazz-rock and fusion, Krautrock, neoprog, post rock, progressive folk, progressive electronic, progressive psychedelic, rock andaluz, Rock In Opposition (RIO), rock progresivo italiano, space rock, symphonic rock, and Zeuhl.
Rock in Opposition, also known as RIO and Avant Progressive, representes a mix of progressive rock acts, artists inspired by Frank Zappa’s combination of humor and virtuosity, as well as avant-garde and experimental progressive music bands in the late 1970s that joined to promote its members and shared their opposition to the recording industry tha...
A French band called Magma astonished the progressive music world with its powerful mix of rock, jazz, operatic vocals, and contemporary classical music. The band used lyrics written in a rare new language called Kobaian that was constructed by its founder, drummer, composer, and vocalist Christian Vander. Magma became a popular underground act and...
Aside from the UK and Italy, other nations produced significant progressive rock acts: Argentina: Alas, Arco Iris, Bubu, Crucis, Espiritu, La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and MIA (Músicos Independientes Asociados). Australia: Sebastian Hardie, Mario Millo, and Windchase. Austria: Eela Craig, Isaiah, Paternoster. Belgium: Cos, Isopoda, Machiavel, and U...
The cover artwork of many LPs of the era reflected an interest in fantasy and science fiction. Roger Dean’s designs fascinated fans with colorful, highly creative album covers for artists such as Yes, Gentle Giant and Greenslade, and even African music group Osibissa. Another famed illustrator who worked with progressive rock album cover artwork wa...
The arrival of new technical gear and electronic musical instruments played an essential role in the development of progressive rock. Early synthesizers were originally enormous modular devices that were practically impossible to carry on tours. Companies like Moog and ARP miniaturized synthesizers and made them portable and affordable. Progressive...
Several factors contributed to the decadence of progressive rock in the late 1970s. Some of the leading groups suffered musical transformations and notorious desertions. When Genesis lost vocalist Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, it changed direction, shifting to pop, and became a chart topping band. Another iconic act, Yes, eliminated it...
The late 1970s onward saw the development of an avant-prog scene often functioning in the margin of mainstream prog. A host of groups and artists mainly from the USA, but also from Europe and Japan, started to write mostly short instrumental pieces that focused on complexity and stripped down instrumentation, while avoiding the pomposity and stage props of the big prog acts.
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Progressive rock history began in the late 1960s, primarily in the UK. Bands like King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and the Moody Blues were some of the early progressive bands that helped shape the genre. These groups pushed boundaries, incorporating classical influences, jazz rock, and even folk music into their sound.
