Prog Rock! It's Not Just Joss Sticks and Jazz Quiz

Answer: Godbluff

Van der Graaf Generator formed in 1967 in Manchester and are still going strong as I write in 2011, despite being inactive between 1972 and 1975, then again 1978 to 2005.

"Godbluff" didn't differ drastically from the sound of the first incarnation of the band and was still led by David Jackson's sax as opposed to a lead guitar. One of the band's mainstays, Peter Hammill, has also had a prolific solo career, both alongside Van Der Graaf and during the band's hiatuses.

Van Der Graaf are one of the few prog rock bands who garnered respect from punk rockers and their offspring, John Lydon of Sex Pistols fame publicly admitting a penchant for the band, and Manchester-born band The Fall echoing "Godbluff"'s sleeve on "Fall Heads Roll".

"Present" was Van Der Graaf's 2005 comeback album, "Fool's Mate" was Peter Hammill's first solo effort and "Desperate Straights" was Slapp Happy/Henry Cow's 1975 album.

Answer: Whatevershebringswesing

Caravan rose from the ashes of The Wilde Flowers and originally featured cousins David and Richard Sinclair, augmented by the amusingly named Pye Hastings, and Richard Coughlan.

"If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You" was their second album and the one that broke them in the UK. That was followed by their most popular album, "In the Land of Grey and Pink", after which David Sinclair left, only to return (after a couple of coldly-received albums) for "For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night".

"Whatevershebringswesing" is fellow ex-Wilde Flower Kevin Ayers' third solo album. It's one of the quintessential English flâneur's best albums.

Answer: Yeti

"Yeti"'s cover was put together by the band's organist, Falk Rogner, and is a homage to Wolfgang Krischke, who was their sound man until dying of drug induced hypothermia just prior to the album's release in 1970.

Amon Düül II staggered, dazed and confused like a mongrel out of the mess that was Germany's radical leftist art/music scene of the 60s that produced more talent than terrorists, but is inevitably associated with the latter.

"Phallus Dei" was their first album and is a bit loose to say the least. It does however show the skills they had honed on the live circuit. "Yeti" was their second album and has stood the test of time much better, the songs benefitting from better arrangement.

Answer: Area

Demetrio Stratos formed Area in 1972 with drummer Giulio Capiozzo. They were one of the most highly respected and popular bands on the flourishing Italian prog rock scene, despite the rather demanding music.

Demetrio Stratos was also a crowd-puller due to his extraordinary vocal abilities and far-seeing beliefs in how the human voice could be explored and exploited as an artistic tool. Sadly, his days were numbered and he died in 1979 of a heart attack whilst awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

Locanda Delle Fate released a much more traditional prog rock album, "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più", in 1977, but it was almost unilaterally ignored due to the punk zeitgeist.

Answer: Family

Family are arguably on the edge of prog rock, their sound encompassing folk and straight ahead 60s rock, but their influence on the scene is undeniable.

They formed in Leicester, England in the mid 60s and they might have become high fliers had it not been for relentless bad luck. Their performance at the Isle Of White is iconic of the festival era, as is their "fictional" portrayal in the book "Groupie", where they were called Relation.

Grech was probably the least "super" of Blind Faith in terms of previous fame, if not in talent. The other members were Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood.

Answer: H.G. Wells novel "The Time Machine"

In Wells' novel a time traveller goes into the future and finds a society that has split into two groups, one the Eloi, the other the Morlocks. The Eloi are mellow, laid back creatures, whereas the Morlocks are ape-like beasts who feed on Elois.

Information on Eloy is hard to get (for me)as their sleeve notes are in German. I can say that they formed around 1969 and have never really disbanded, although the line-up has suffered many a change. The early 70s saw them producing their best prog work, and although they were prolific in the 80s, they had taken a more mainstream direction.

Mainstay Frank Bornemann (guitar) also runs a very successful studio in Hannover called Horus, where metal acts such as Kreator, Helloween, and Celtic Frost have recorded classic albums.

Answer: Flying Teapot

Australian musician Daevid Allen formed Gong in France when he was refused entry back into the UK after a tour as a member of Soft Machine. Many facts about early Gong are lost to the mists of time, but essentially they started recording around 1970 and have never really stopped. The hordes of hippies and prog rockers who've filed through the ranks is a dream to behold, but a nightmare to document.

The first installment of the trilogy was "Flying Teapot" (1973), followed by "Angel's Egg", and "You". The trilogy explores the Gong mythology, which revolves around characters, themes, and ideas that stem from a vision Allen had in the mid 60s. It involves magic, space, pixies, lager, tea and an array of beasts.

"Camembert Electrique" is another Gong album, "Levitation" is by fellow space rockers Hawkwind, and "Tago Mago" is by Krautrock band extraordinaire, Can.

Answer: Matching Mole

When Robert Wyatt left Soft Machine he recorded a solo album, "The End Of An Ear", and then formed Matching Mole. Matching Mole only recorded two albums, but they provide the missing link between Soft Machine and Wyatt's solo career, which has ranged from avant-garde sound experimentation to covers of jazz standards and pop songs. The band's name is a play on the French translation of Soft Machine, "machine molle".

On Matching Mole's first eponymous album Wyatt was joined by ex-Caravan man David Sinclair, who went on to form Hatfield And The North. Second album "Matching Mole's Little Red Record" was produced by King Crimson luminary, Robert Fripp.

In 1973 Wyatt was paralysed after falling out of a window, which put a stop to his drumming days and the band. He came back as a solo artist with his masterpiece, and one of the finest records in the history of music, "Rock Bottom", in 1974. He has stated that being in a wheelchair pushed him to come up with new ways of expressing himself through music, and his career is testament to his inventiveness and vision.

Answer: Adrian Belew

King Crimson are a lodestar of prog rock and their albums can be used as a bench-mark against which to judge other contenders. Despite breaking up in 1974, they came back in 1981 with the brilliant "Discipline" album, featuring Americans Adrian Belew (vocals/guitars) and Tony Levin (bass) alongside mainman Robert Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford. They disbanded again in 1984 and didn't come back until 1994, without Bruford.

Peter Sinfield was a founding member of King Crimson in 1968 and he stayed with the band until 1972. His role was unusual to say the least as he didn't play any music or sing, but wrote the lyrics, worked on the stage design and album covers.

John Wetton was King Crimson's vocalist/bassist from 1972 - 1974.

Answer: Goblin

Goblin first worked with Dario Argento on "Deep Red" in 1975, and its theme tune is what they're mostly remembered for. In fact virtually any Italian over the age of 30 will instantly recognize the haunting tune. They went on to provide Argento with soundtracks to "Suspiria", "Tenebrae", "Phenomena" and "Sleepless". They are also on the soundtrack of Romero's zombie classic "Dawn Of The Dead". The band have a cult following, amongst prog rock fans and horror fans alike.

Popol Vuh are known for their soundtracks to Werner Herzog films.

Magma are a French prog rock band, New Trolls an Italian one.