3 Timeless Prog Rock Bands You Must Hear, Even if You Don’t Like Prog Rock

Progressive rock isn’t for everyone. You picture the capes and think, I’m out. But as artists in the late 60s and early 70s, ranging from The Beatles to Genesis, expanded popular music with complex themes and arrangements, it influenced the future experimentations of Radiohead, The Mars Volta, and others. Blending high and low culture, these three prog rock bands became timeless by bucking tradition. Let them welcome you into their proggy universe, verse, verse, verse…

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Pink Floyd

For those not of the progressive rock persuasion, I think Pink Floyd is your gateway band. And there are several ways one might enter. First, there’s “Wish You Were Here”, a heartbreaking song about Pink Floyd’s first leader, Syd Barrett. Or “Comfortably Numb”, inspired by a medical disaster experienced by Roger Waters, and featuring David Gilmour’s astounding and epic guitar solos (plural).

And before Pink Floyd’s most popular songs, you’ll find “Echoes”, a long and transformative piece signaling a new direction. The band became synonymous with concept albums for good reason. But “Money”, “Have A Cigar”, “Time”, “Hey You”, and “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2” are all classic tunes for the song-oriented folks.

Yes

Hear me out on this one. I know what you’re thinking: You say, Yes. I say, No. But give “Roundabout” a spin. Chris Squire’s Rickenbacker bass drives this jam, with a cycling groove and Rick Wakeman’s swirling keys—the psychedelic roots of progressive rock in the frantic synths. You’ll appreciate the musicianship, but the important thing is there’s a real tune here.

On the same album, Steve Howe burns a classical guitar instrumental called “Mood For A Day”, which remains a prog masterpiece. Like Pink Floyd, Yes underwent many changes, and a very different band emerged on “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, a prog-pop and new wave hit. It features Trevor Rabin and groundbreaking producer Trevor Horn on a disjointed track that still sounds like the future.

Electric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne and his band wanted to pick up where The Beatles left off. And with the Fab Four going their separate ways, ELO emerged from Birmingham with sophisticated and orchestrated (it’s in the name) pop tunes. Now, John, Paul, George, and Ringo had worked their way toward the avant-garde “A Day In The Life”. But ELO began there. Check out “10538 Overture”, the opening track on No Answer. Utterly epic.

And “Don’t Bring Me Down” grooves so hard. You can hear Macca’s influence on this one. It’s the kind of earworm hook that followed Lynne’s work with Tom Petty and their supergroup, Traveling Wilburys. Yes, you have to be ambitious to pull off prog rock. But it doesn’t hurt when you’re also a musical genius like Lynne.

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