The Progressive (Rock) Aspect Trivia Quiz

Yes, whose name is hinted at by the thumbs-up sign, are one of the most influential and successful progressive rock bands. Often cited as the best prog rock album ever recorded, "Close to the Edge" is arguably the English band's finest hour. Released on 8 September 1972, the album - Yes's fifth studio effort - features the band's classic lineup of Jon Anderson (lead vocals), Chris Squire (bass guitar), Steve Howe (lead guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and Bill Bruford (drums).

Of the three tracks included on "Close to the Edge", the four-part, 18-minute-plus title-track is widely regarded as one of the quintessential prog epics. The shorter, folk-influenced suite "And You and I" and the more straightforward rocker "Siberian Khatru" (a favourite concert opener for the band) appeared on Side 2 of the original vinyl LP. The album is also famous for its stunning gatefold sleeve designed by Roger Dean, the English artist that has been long associated with prog and Yes in particular; it is also the first Yes album to feature the band's distinctive bubble logo. Upon its release, "Close to the Edge" reached number three on the Billboard 200 album chart, and number four on the UK Albums Chart.

At the end of the album's recording sessions, and just before the start of their 95-date world tour, drummer Bill Bruford left Yes to join King Crimson. He was replaced by Alan White (who sadly passed away in 2022), a former member of the Plastic Ono Band. All three tracks of "Close to the Edge" are featured on the band's first live album, "Yessongs" (1973).

Blending space and psychedelic rock elements with jazz and a hefty helping of absurdist humour, Gong - whose name is hinted at by the gongs in the photo - are uniquely eclectic even for progressive rock standards. Originally formed in Paris in 1967 by Australian musician Daevid Allen and English poet, vocalist and musician Gilly Smyth, over their nearly six decades of activity they have featured a multinational cast of outstanding instrumentalists, and released a large number of albums in their different incarnations. "Camembert Electrique" is their second studio album, released in France in October 1971. The band's lineup at the time, besides Allen and Smyth, included Didier Malherbe (sax and flute), Christian Tritsch (bass and guitar), and Pip Pyle (drums).

Although prog is known for its long songs (generally referred to as "epics"), the songs on "Camembert Electrique" are all on the short side - the longest, "Tropical Fish/Selene", clocking in at a bit over 7 minutes. Both the black-and-white cover and the song titles offer a good example of Gong's surrealist, free-form approach to progressive rock - quite different from the classical-influenced, highly structured compositions of bands such as Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Before forming Gong, Allen was one of the founding members of Soft Machine. As the latter band was founded in the English cathedral city of Canterbury, Gong are often associated with the "Canterbury scene", a highly individual branch of the original prog rock movement.

While some of the albums mentioned in this quiz may come across as somewhat obscure to those who are not dedicated prog fans, "Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd's ninth studio album - needs no introduction. Released on 12 September 1975, it reached number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Album Chart; since its release, it has sold millions of copies worldwide, though not as many as its even more famous predecessor, "Dark Side of the Moon". The pink petals in the photo hint at the band's name, though the "Pink" part has actually nothing to do with the colour.

Lyrically, "Wish You Were Here" focuses on two main themes: sharp criticism of the music business (most prominent in "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar), and a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, whose deteriorating mental health had forced him to leave the band in 1968. The album's wistful, mostly acoustic title-track and the nine-part suite "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", which bookends the album, are both dedicated to Barrett. All lyrics were written by bassist/vocalist Roger Waters, who shares writing credits for the music with guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour and keyboardist Richard Wright. The album's striking cover artwork, designed by longtime Pink Floyd collaborator Storm Thorgerson of the Hipgnosis art studio, contains various cryptic references to its lyrical content.

Though its initial reception was not enthusiastic - in particular because of comparisons with "Dark Side of the Moon" - "Wish You Were Here" is now counted among the very best rock albums ever released, and a major milestone in Pink Floyd's career.

The photo of a camel in the desert is an obvious hint at the name of English band Camel. It also resembles the cover of "Mirage", their second studio album, released on 1 March 1974. Though not as much as a household name as the likes of Yes, Genesis or Pink Floyd, Camel have a devoted following of prog lovers who appreciate the elaborate yet effortlessly melodic nature of their music.

Widely hailed as their masterpiece and a bona fide prog classic, "Mirage" features the band's original lineup of Andy Latimer (guitar, vocals and flute), Peter Bardens (keyboards and vocals), Doug Ferguson (bass guitar) and Andy Ward (drums). It comprises three shorter tracks and two multi-part epics, "The White Rider" (inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings") and "Lady Fantasy". Camel have also recorded other music inspired by literary works, such as the instrumental "The Snow Goose" (1975), the follow-up to "Mirage", based on the novella of the same name by Paul Gallico. A live version of "Lady Fantasy" from the 1974 "Mirage" tour appears on Camel's first live album, "A Live Record", released in 1978.

Over the years, Camel have frequently changed their lineup - with Andrew Latimer the only constant member since their formation in 1971. Keyboardist and founding member Peter Bardens sadly passed away in 2002.

The beautiful lake in the photo is meant as a clue to the name of one of the members of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the first progressive rock supergroup, and one of the most influential (albeit controversial) bands of the movement. The three musicians were former members of The Nice (keyboardist Keith Emerson), King Crimson (bassist/vocalist Greg Lake), and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster (drummer Carl Palmer). Their fourth studio album, "Brain Salad Surgery", encapsulates the essence of this flamboyant, highly proficient trio that critics loved to hate in spite of their huge commercial success.

Released on 7 December 1973 on the band's new record label, Manticore Records, "Brain Salad Surgery" (a slang expression for something that cannot be mentioned on a family-friendly site) is a tour-de-force whose five tracks run the gamut from a stately version of the well-known hymn "Jerusalem" to the controlled chaos of the nearly 30-minute, three-part suite "Karn Evil 9", a sci-fi-themed epic that many regard as ELP's crowning achievement. The band also pulled out all the stops in the artwork department, enlisting the services of Swiss artist H.R. Giger (of "Alien" fame) to design an elaborate, somewhat disturbing (as well as risqué) cover. All but one of the album's tracks appear in the band's triple live album, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends" (1974) - whose title comes from the opening line of "Karn Evil 9: First Impression, Part 2". "Brain Salad Surgery" reached number two on the UK Album Chart, and number 11 on the Billboard 200.

ELP broke up in 1979, reformed in 1990, and broke up again in 1998; there was also a brief reunion for a 40th anniversary tour in 2010. Sadly, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake passed away in 2016 within a few months of each other - Emerson in March, and Lake in December.

The famous detail of Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam" is a clue to the name of Genesis, the English band that - despite their immense popularity among prog fans, and their huge influence on a myriad of other bands and solo artists - achieved mainstream success when they embraced a more commercial sound. "Selling England by the Pound", the band's fifth studio album, is regarded by many as their creative peak, although a substantial number of fans would give this accolade to its predecessor, "Foxtrot". Released on 5 October 1973, the album was recorded by Genesis' classic five-piece lineup: Peter Gabriel (lead vocals and flute), Tony Banks (keyboards), Mike Rutherford (bass guitar), Steve Hackett (lead guitar), and Phil Collins (drums and vocals).

The cover artwork, a painting by artist and illustrator Betty Swanwick, is a reference to one of the album's eight songs, the whimsical "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)". "Selling England by the Pound" is a very eclectic album, featuring the romantic ballad "More Fool Me" (sung by Collins, who would become the band's lead vocalist after Gabriel's departure) alongside iconic progressive epics such as opener "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" (from whose lyrics the album's title was taken), the stunning "Firth of Fifth", "The Cinema Show" (based on an episode in T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"), and the nearly 12-minute "The Battle of Epping Forest", inspired by a news story about two rival gangs in East London. The album reached number three on the UK Album Chart.

Over 50 years after its release, "Selling England by the Pound" still regularly tops many lists of best progressive rock albums - often sharing this honour with Yes's "Close to the Edge". The album's follow-up, the ambitious concept album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (1974), would mark Gabriel's swan song with Genesis, as he left the band in the summer of 1975.

The image of a crowned king points to the name of King Crimson, one of the so-called "big five" progressive rock bands of the late Sixties and early Seventies (the others being Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer). Their debut album, "In the Court of the Crimson King" (1969), is widely regarded as the first true prog album; their successive efforts, however, have proved no less influential. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" (a title referring to a delicacy enjoyed by the wealthy in Ancient Rome), is the first of a trio of highly acclaimed albums recorded by the core trio of Robert Fripp (guitars), John Wetton (vocals and bass guitar), and Bill Bruford (drums) in 1973-1974. Released on 23 March 1973, the album also features experimental percussionist Jamie Muir and David Cross on violin.

The album is bookended by the two parts of the title-track, an instrumental that hinges on Muir's eclectic array of percussion instruments, Fripp's aggressive, quasi-heavy metal guitar, and Cross's violin. Of the three songs with vocals, spotlighting John Wetton's warm, expressive voice, "Book of Saturdays" and "Exiles" are moody, melodic ballads, while "Easy Money" is an angular, somewhat menacing mid-tempo. All the lyrics were written by Richard Palmer-James, who also collaborated with the band on the following two albums. Though not the most accessible of albums, "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" made it to number 20 on the UK Album Chart.

After the album's release, Muir left the band and the music industry. Cross, on the other hand, stayed for "Starless and Bible Black", but only appeared as a guest on "Red", the last release in the first stage of King Crimson's history. The band called it quits in September 1974: they reformed in 1981, disbanded again in 1984, and reformed twice between 1994 and 2014.

The photo of a caravan in the desert suggests the name of Caravan, one of the major bands associated with the "Canterbury scene" of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The origins of the Canterbury scene - distinguished by a sound that blended psychedelic rock, jazz, classical music and a healthy dose of quirky English humour - lie in a short-lived psychedelic band named The Wilde Flowers. The founding members of Caravan - Richard Sinclair (bass guitar and vocals), Pye Hastings (guitars and vocals), Dave Sinclair (keyboards) and Richard Coughlan (drums) - were all former members of The Wilde Flowers. Though Caravan never achieved real commercial success, they enjoy cult status in the global community of progressive rock fans.

Released on 8 April 1971, "In the Land of Grey and Pink" is Caravan's third studio album, widely regarded as their masterpiece. The colours referenced in the title grace the album cover, often believed to have been inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's descriptions of Middle-earth. The album blends shorter, catchy numbers with whimsical lyrics - such as the title-track and opener "Golf Girl" - with longer, more elaborate numbers such as the melancholic "Winter Wine" and the 22-minute-plus, 8-part epic "Nine Feet Underground".

"In the Land of Grey and Pink" was the last Caravan album to feature their original lineup. Though critically well-received, it did not do equally well from a commercial point of view, and this led to friction within the band. Keyboardist Dave Sinclair left a few months after the album's release, though he rejoined the band in 1973. Caravan split up in 1977, but reformed in 1980, with frequent lineup changes. Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan remained with Caravan throughout its various incarnations: sadly, Coughlan passed away in 2013, leaving Hastings as the only remaining founding member.

The photo shows a field, which is meant to suggest the last name of English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield. Along with a number of Pink Floyd albums, his debut "Tubular Bells" may be one of the most commercially successful albums associated with progressive rock, and one of the most familiar even to a more mainstream-oriented audience. Released on 25 May 1973 - the very first release on Richard Branson's Virgin Records - "Tubular Bells" owes much of its fame to its opening theme being used in the soundtrack to the horror film "The Exorcist", which came out at the end of the same year. After the film brought it to the attention of a wider audience, the album reached number one on the UK Album Chart, and number three on the Billboard 200.

Though Oldfield was 19 years old when the album was recorded, he was already a proficient multi-instrumentalist, having learned to play the guitar at a very young age. The titular tubular bells are only one of the many instruments that he handles on the album; drums, string basses and flute are supplied by guest musicians. An almost 50-minute-long composition, "Tubular Bells" was influenced by classical music, instrumental jazz-rock, and especially Terry Riley's experimental album "A Rainbow in Curved Air". Though at first Oldfield met with rejections from record companies, the meeting with Branson changed things drastically. The cover artwork of a "bent bell", designed by English artist Trevor Key, has become as iconic as the music, and was commemorated on a postage stamp issued by the UK's Royal Mail in 2010.

After the success of "Tubular Bells", Oldfield became a high-profile recording artist and performer. He released three sequels to the album, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide: "Tubular Bells II" (1992), "Tubular Bells III" (1998), and "The Millennium Bell" (1999). Oldfield was also invited to perform extracts from the album at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

First formed in 1968, Canadian trio Rush (whose name is suggested by the photo of rush-hour traffic) began their career as a hard rock band. By 1976, however, they had fully embraced progressive rock - at a time when the original movement was already on the wane in the UK and Europe. Their fourth studio album, "2112", is the third recorded by the band's classic lineup of Geddy Lee (lead vocals, bass guitar and keyboards), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums). Released in March 1976, the original vinyl LP featured the title-track - a 20-minute suite in seven parts - on Side 1, and five shorter, individual songs, closer in style to the band's earlier hard rock sound, on Side 2. The cover artwork, by longtime Rush collaborator Hugh Syme, marked the first appearance of the band's iconic "Starman" emblem.

"2112" was not Rush's first foray into prog: their third album, "Caress of Steel" (1975), featured two epics, "The Necromancer" (influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien's work) and "The Fountain of Lamneth". The response to the album and its promotion tour, however, was so disappointing that the band considered calling it a day. They eventually decided to pursue the progressive angle, rather than revert to their previous, Led Zeppelin-influenced sound. The gamble paid off, and "2112" proved to be their commercial breakthrough. It also attracted both positive and negative criticism - the latter motivated not only by musical reasons (such as Geddy Lee's extremely high vocals, which have often proved divisive even within the prog audience), but also by the main source of inspiration of the title-track. Neil Peart, Rush's main lyricist, based his dystopian, anti-totalitarian story on the novella "Anthem", written by controversial author Ayn Rand.

In the years that followed the release of "2112", Rush became one of progressive rock's most successful bands - releasing 19 studio albums and 11 live albums between 1974 and 2015. Their career ended with the tragic, untimely death of Neil Peart from brain cancer in January 2020.