A History of Progressive Rock
The musical genre that is known as progressive rock is defined by several key components. The roots of prog-rock can be traced back to the late 1960s in Britain all the way to modern times. The style often contains complex structures, synthesizers, and highly experimental instrumentation. It is often more harmonious and literate than other rock genres with a tendency to lean towards longer compositions and a main motif or tale. Though it is less relevant in modern rock, the genre is still alive today.
Britain is awarded the honor of being the birth place of this musical form. Perhaps the earliest face of progressive rock was the album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Clubs Band, by British group, The Beatles. The multi-platinum album was released in 1967 to wide spread critical acclaim. The album introduced a recurring component of progressive rock known as the concept album. A concept album revolves around a central story or theme. That same year another English band, Procol Harum, released their eponymous debut album. The record showcased a plethora of the attributes associated with progressive rock, such as noticeable blues influences. Two years later, the album In the Court of the Crimson King, by British quintet King Crimson was released. This album presented the lengthy compositions that often comprise a progressive rock tune (for example “Moonchild” clocked in at over twelve minutes). Other notable early progressive rock bands include: Pink Floyd, Genesis, Soft Machine, Yes, The Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, and Jethro Tull.
The psychedelic 1970s brought progressive rock widespread commercial success. Among the most popular were Pink Floyd and Queen. In 1973, Pink Floyd crafted the timeless masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon. This studio album was a prime example of the quirkiness that traces the composition of prog songs. Their predecessors, King Crimson, were also known for such eccentricies in their work (look to their song “21st Century Schizoid Man” which happens to be a personal favorite). English quartet Queen released their first record the same year as admirable The Dark Side of the Moon. This debut release contained glimpses of progressive rock that partnered with elements of other genres. Genesis released the hour and a half concept album The Lamb Lies down on Broadway shortly afterwards. Towards the end of the 1970s, another band named Rush began to reach its height of popularity. In 1978, Hemispheres was issued and it brought the fantasy and science fiction lined lyrics that populate the wilds of progressive rock albums. However, interest in prog rock began to wane as the decade closed out.
One of the few remaining prog bands in the 1980s was the sensation Pink Floyd. The band continued to be an immense commercial hit with records like The Final Cut and A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Yet, they found a brief rival in 1982 with English rock quartet Asia with their single “Heat of the Moment”, a premier instance of progressive rock. The later half of this decade gave rise to a new branch of prog rock known as neo-progressive rock. Examples of this branch include: Marillion, IQ, Pendragon, Iluvatar, Dream Theater, Fish and Ozric Tentacles. IQ released The Wake in 1985. This album presented the prog rock element of arranging lengthy compositions with songs ranging between seven to nine minutes. Fellow neo-prog artist Dream Theater also released several albums throughout the eighties and nineties. As prog rock developed throughout the ages, it stayed consistent in its absurd inclination to produce complex and experimental sounds.
The complexity and experimentation of this genre gained new ground with the introduction of synthesizers and other electronic arrangements. These electronic textures can be seen in pieces performed by The Who. In addition to synthetic sound, intricate time signatures and classical guitar play added a majestic symphonic layer to progressive rock. These intricacies were championed by the band The Nice on albums like Five Bridges and Elegy. The experimental side can be gleaned through the fusion of jazz on Queen’s A Night at the Opera (“Bohemian Rhapsody” anybody?) in 1975 and the conceptual side can be derived from listening to 1976’s 2112 by Rush. However, the once popular genre has far from died out.
Today, progressive rock is on the bottom of mainstream rock’s to-do list. Yet, we cannot call prog a dead art. Major labels continue to sign prog acts like Coheed & Cambria, Three, Muse, Mew and Oceansize. The concept albums that riddle the annals of progressive rock can still be found today in the aforementioned Coheed & Cambria (look to their long winded titled album, Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume I: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness), and more recently The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. The complex time signatures and song structures breathe life in the dark and enigmatic songs of Tool (“Sober, “Vicarious”, and “Jambi”). Unusual experimental methods live in the abstruse albums of The Mars Volta (Frances the Mute, Amputechture, Bedlam in Goliath). Additionally, older progressive rock acts like the enduring Rush continue to release new work with 2007’s Snake & Arrows. It is safe to say that this often infamous genre, stretching back over four decades, is on the rise once again (according to Campling, “…the sound is back”). Therefore, we can conclude that progressive rock still brings complexity and exceptional theatrics into today’s modern rock.
© Brett Holden (2008)

Above is an essay I wrote for my English 110 class. I wrote it after going through a prog rock phase obviously. I still love prog but I find myself listening to mostly indie rock recently. And yes I know MCR is NOT prog!

There has been a rift on the homefront. I suppose that's a product of two opposing forces. One refuses to submit and the other extends control. It's maddening. Due to self-indulgence & selfishness on a certain conscience, I've become (insert comfortably numb. just playing) really angry. I suppose I should let it go. Maybe we should all let things go. Go with the flow.

- Fraternally yours, Brett Holden (in a worldly manner, of course)