Welcome to a Progressive Rock Gallery Quiz

Answer: King Crimson

King Crimson was one of the most important bands in developing the progressive genre. When they released "In the Court of the Crimson King" in 1969, it caused a musical revolution. The guitarist Robert Fripp was the intellect and band leader throughout King Crimson's intermittent existence. After the heavy-sounding and highly-rated "Red" (1974), there was a hiatus. King Crimson reformed in 1981. "Discipline" was a new direction stylistically with strong influences of new wave, minimalism, and gamelan music.

One of the basic ideas of progressive rock was, and is, the notion that music doesn't have to adhere to a set formula. King Crimson showed us that rock can have a structure similar to classical music, with strong influences of jazz, and stripped away from its blues foundations.

King Crimson's influences have included classical, folk music, heavy metal, jazz, gamelan and eastern music, new wave, psychedelic rock, industrial music, African music, minimalism, post-punk, improvisation, and avant-garde. In many of their albums, they have used the mellotron and/or the Chapman stick to dazzling effect.

King Crimson's last studio album was "The Power to Believe" (2003).

Answer: Yes

Another of the giants of the progressive rock scene was a multitalented band called Yes. They began in the late sixties with a style more related to psychedelic rock and what came to be known as proto-prog. By the time they released "The Yes Album" in 1971, their style was unmistakably in the progressive rock camp, a form of art rock.

They went on to develop longer tracks with a symphonic structure. They used the mellotron, electric sitar, electric harpsichord, pedal steel guitar, and Minimoog, to create even greater soundscapes. They were at their best in the seventies with albums like "Close to the Edge" and "Relayer".

Yes was one of the more popular progressive rock bands, probably also because of great songwriting and melodies added to the mix. Into the 1980s and 1990s, their style was closer to pop-rock. 2001 saw the release of "Magnification" with a return to their symphonic style and with an orchestral accompaniment.

Yes have had more than twenty different lineups throughout their existence. Bass guitarist Chris Squire was the only musician who was a part of every lineup until his death in 2015. As of this year, 2023, they are still making music and releasing new albums.

Answer: Genesis

Genesis was another band that started in 1967 with a psychedelic style, albeit with folk and pop music influences. Their debut album "From Genesis to Revelation" fits into this genre.

Their second album "Trespass" saw their style transformed into a more complex, inventive, progressive rock style with noticeable folk, classical, soul, and pop music influences. It also included the 12-string guitar, Hammond organ, and mellotron adding colour to the music.

After this, they released a series of highly-rated progressive rock albums, such as "Foxtrot", which took their creativity to new heights.

When Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, drummer Phil Collins became their lead singer. In the 1980s, their style became more pop-rock and less progressive. This resulted in five best-selling studio albums, including "Acadab" (1981) which also has new wave influences. They became even more commercial with "Invisible Touch" in 1986.

Phil Collins left Genesis in 1996 to be replaced by Ray Wilson. In 1997, they released their final studio album which is called "Calling All Stations".

Answer: Renaissance

Renaissance in 1972 had a different lineup of musicians from those who debuted in 1969. If you read the list of musicians on the debut album "Renaissance", and then compare the list of musicians on their third album "Prologue" (1972), it looks like it could be a completely different band. Ex-Yardbird musicians Keith Relf and Jim McCarty were replaced by the even more exceptionally talented second lineup included five-octave soprano singer Annie Haslam and virtuosic pianist John Tout.

Many of their great albums from the classic 1970s period, such as "Ashes are Burning" and "Scheherezade and Other Stories" also included an orchestra.
Their progressive rock style was suffused with influences of classical, folk and jazz. After their successful 1978 album "A Song for All Seasons", the ratings with their fan base for the following albums started to go down. The band went through a series of breakups and incarnations.

In 2013, they recorded their last studio album which came to be known as "Symphony of Light". Of the classic lineup, only Annie Haslam and guitarist Michael Dunford remained.

Answer: Gong

Gong was formed in 1967 by Australian guitarist/singer Daevid Allen, and English poet/vocalist Gilli Smyth. On their 1970 psychedelic rock/pop debut album, "Magick Brother", Gilli Smyth's space whisper became part of the Gong sound.

As they evolved through the 1970s, their music covered a wide range of styles. These styles included psychedelic rock, space rock, and jazz fusion, with influences of eastern and folk music, but always under the progressive rock umbrella. They reached a pinnacle of creativity with "Angel's Egg" (1973) and "You" (1974).

There were tensions in the band. Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, and Steve Hillage left. Drummer Pierre Moerlin returned. This began the period of various splinter Gong bands. Gong's style became jazz fusion with albums such as "Gazeuse!". After a few years, Gong became Pierre Moerlin's Gong. The Gong splinter bands included Planet Gong, Mother Gong, and New York Gong. Many years later, there was Gongmaison and Gongzilla.

1992 saw the reforming of Gong with Daevid Allen, and the release of "Shapeshifter", an inventive album with more influences of eastern, folk, and African music in the mix. Gong released three more albums until "I See You" in 2014.

Daevid Allen died in 2015; Gilli Smyth in 2016. This was the end of an era, but Gong continued to survive with guitarist/vocalist Kavus Torabi at the helm. Their most recent album at the time this quiz was written is "The Universe Also Collapses" (2019).

Answer: U.K.

In 1978, a new progressive rock supergroup was formed which was called U.K. These skilled musicians, such as John Wetton and Bill Bruford, had played in bands such as King Crimson, Yes, Uriah Heep, Roxy Music, Curved Air, Soft Machine, and Frank Zappa's band.

U.K. released their self-named debut album "U.K." which should be classed as one of the best jazz fusion albums of all time.

After this, there was a difference of opinion about the musical direction of the band. By this time, in the late 1970s, too many progressive rock bands had either disbanded or tried to move in a more commercial direction.

Allan Holdsworth and Bill Bruford left the band. John Wetton and Eddie Jobson stayed, joined by Terry Bozzio. This trio released the next classic album called "Danger Money". This has less jazz fusion in style than the album "U.K." There are strong influences of King Crimson, Yes, and E.L.P.

Unfortunately, U.K. disbanded. There were several reunions many years later when Jobson and Wetton appeared in tours, and shows, accompanied by some new musicians.

Answer: Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Keith Emerson left The Nice. Greg Lake left King Crimson. They both wanted to form a new progressive rock band. Carl Palmer of Atomic Rooster joined them in 1970 to form the supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Their debut album, and one of their most highly rated with the fans, is called "Emerson, Lake & Palmer". Throughout the 1970s, their music included progressive rock arrangements of classical music with jazzy textures and pop songs.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer were noted for their virtuosic musicianship as they continued giving concerts and releasing albums in the same style, such as "Tarkus" and "Brain Salad Surgery". They were sometimes judged by their critics as being over the top. In the late 1970s, they released "Works Volume 1" and "Works Volume 2", a mixture of different styles of material with mixed reviews.

They broke up in 1979 and didn't reform until 1990. The album "Black Moon" was released in 1992. Greg Lake's voice had changed, being deeper than before and different in tone. There were more songs, the sound was more amped up, and there was less emphasis on the progressive rock element. When they released their final album "In the Hot Seat", this got the lowest rating of all their albums, a long way from the classic days of "Tarkus" and "Pictures at an Exhibition".

Answer: Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the most well-known of all progressive rock bands. They started out as a rhythm and blues band in 1965, but with Sid Barrett's influence, they transformed their style into psychedelic and space rock. They released their influential and highly-rated debut album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in 1967. In 1968, Syd Barrett was suffering from mental issues after taking LSD and had to be replaced by guitarist David Gilmore.

Pink Floyd's style changed after Syd's departure. With albums like "Atom Heart Mother", there was more experimental and space rock with mostly longer tracks. During this transition period, there was more bluesiness, fewer whimsicalities, and no fast, chromatic tracks like "Interstellar Overdrive".

In 1973, Pink Floyd reached their peak of creativity with the release of their eighth album, the highly rated and successful "The Dark Side of the Moon". This was a progressive rock album with commercial attributes. Pink Floyd continued this success right up until 1979 with "The Wall".

After this, there were tensions in the band. Richard Wright left temporarily in 1981 and then Roger Waters left permanently in 1985. There was a long gap in years between Pink Floyd's final four albums. Their final album was "The Endless River" (2014).

Answer: Hawkwind

Since Hawkwind was formed in 1969, they have undergone numerous lineup changes and musical changes. The overall style they adopted was psychedelic space rock. They have been classified as progressive rock, hard rock, acid rock, and proto-punk too. Synthesisers have been the instrument that has dominated their sound for over 40 years.

When Hawkwind released "In Search of Space" in 1971, this was the start of their heavier style with hypnotic rhythms, electronic sounds, and lengthy tracks such as "You Shouldn't Do That". Their highly-rated album "Hall of the Mountain Grill" from 1974 had more melody with keyboardist/violinist Simon House adding to the lineup.

There was a change of style in 1977 when they released "Quark, Strangeness and Charm". This began a more pop-oriented and new wave period, but still in the context of space rock. With "Levitation" in 1980, there was a return to their heavier sound. It is almost heavy metal, but still space rock. Hawkwind went through more changes in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

Hawkwind was a trio in 1992 when they released their 17th studio album "Electric Tepee" using synthesisers, sequencers, and computers adding to the sound.

Dave Brock (vocals, lead guitar, keyboards and synthesisers) was still there in 2021 when they released their last, and 33rd studio album, "Somnia". He was one of the founders of Hawkwind in 1969.

Answer: Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant was an experimental progressive rock band who released eleven studio albums between 1970 and 1980. They combined the techniques of 20th-century classical music with medieval, baroque and renaissance influences (vocal and instrumental), folk, soul, and jazz, all within a rock format. They used a large variety of musical instruments, both acoustic and electronic.

Gentle Giant reached the peak of creativity in the mid-1970s with albums such as "In a Glass House" and "Free Hand". Their musical style isn't easy listening for most people so they didn't become popular. This was no surprise because they said that their aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular".

They have always had a following of fans who appreciate their musicianship, complexity, inventiveness, and dissonance. Their fan base rate tends to give the later albums a lower rating.