List of progressive rock artists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following artists have released at least one album in the progressive rock genre. Individuals are included only if they recorded or performed progressive rock as a solo artist, regardless of whether they were a member of a progressive rock band at any point.
- 21st Century Schizoid Band: Band of former King Crimson members that performs a mixture of original songs, King Crimson classics, and material from the various members' solo efforts [1][2]
- 5uu's: Mid-1980s RIO band from Los Angeles [3][4]
- 801: Supergroup that included former Roxy Music members Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno[5][6]
- 10cc: British band active in the 1970s with their art pop music [7][8]
- Acqua Fragile[9]
- A.C.T[10]
- Aeon Zen[11]
- Agitation Free: German band from the 1970s similar to early Pink Floyd[12][13][failed verification]
- Air: French duo whose retro synth-based electronica and space pop music features progressive rock leanings[14]
- Alamaailman Vasarat [15]
- The Alan Parsons Project [8]
- Alux Nahual: Politically oriented band that formed in Guatemala in the 1980s[16]
- Ambrosia: Early 1970s California band that later played soft rock[17]
- Amon Düül II: Band that formed out of the German late 1960s political art commune Amon Düül[18][19]
- Analogy[20]
- Anathema[21]
- And So I Watch You from Afar[22]
- ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead[23]
- Jon Anderson: Lead singer of Yes[24]
- Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: Late-1980s attempt by singer Jon Anderson to restore Yes to its progressive rock direction and lineup[25][26]
- Anekdoten[27]
- Ange: French symphonic prog band active mainly from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s. Their later work displays a simpler, pop orientation[28][29]
- Änglagård: Swedish band of the early 1990s that played 1970s-style symphonic prog[30][31]
- Aphrodite's Child: Greek trio [32]
- Aquarium: Band formed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s[16]
- Arcadea: American prog synth band with Brann Dailor on drums and vocals[33]
- Area: Politically oriented 1970s multinational band from Italy[34][35]
- Arena [36]
- Ark[37]
- Armonite[38]
- Ars Nova[36]
- Art Bears: Henry Cow offshoot featuring Fred Frith[39]
- Art in America[40]
- Art Zoyd: French Zeuhl band[41]
- Asia: Prog/pop supergroup featuring members from Yes[42]
- Ash Ra Tempel[43]
- Atheist[44]
- Atoll[45]
- Atomic Rooster: British heavy prog band originally featuring Carl Palmer before his departure to Emerson Lake & Palmer[46]
- Kevin Ayers: Founding member of Soft Machine[47]
- Ayreon: Dutch progressive metal project from the mid-1990s onward[3][23]
- Babylon [48]
- Back Door: Once produced by Carl Palmer[49]
- Bad Religion: though a hardcore punk band, they released a prog album Into the Unknown to reflect members early influences.[50][51][52]
- Banco del Mutuo Soccorso: Italian band, formed in the 1970s[53]
- Barclay James Harvest [54]
- Beardfish[55]
- Be-Bop Deluxe: British band who combined art rock and glam rock, influencing new wave[56]
- Jeff Beck[57]
- David Bedford [58]
- Beggars Opera: Scottish band of the early 1970s [59]
- Bi Kyo Ran [31]
- Big Big Train: English progressive rock band formed in Bournemouth in 1990 [60]
- Big Wreck[61]
- Bigelf [36]
- The Birds of Satan: American progressive hard rock supergroup led by the Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins[62]
- Birth Control: German band from the early 1970s[63][failed verification]
- Bozzio Levin Stevens: A late 1990s supergroup [64]
- Braen's Machine: early 1970s studio project with Piero Umiliani and Alessandro Alessandroni[65]
- Brainticket [66]
- Brand X: Late 1970s band influenced by jazz and funk, frequently associated with Phil Collins [67]
- Arthur Brown[68]
- Jack Bruce[29]
- Bruford: Jazz and Canterbury-style supergroup with Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Dave Stewart and Jeff Berlin[69]
- Buckethead: Highly virtuosic and experimental guitarist [70]
- Kate Bush: British singer-songwriter with progressive rock leanings, discovered by David Gilmour [58][71]
- Camel: Band from the mid-1970s classic era of prog[72][73]
- Can: German band heavily influenced by 20th century composition[74][75]
- The Cancer Conspiracy[76]
- Captain Beefheart[77]
- Caravan: Canterbury band, active primarily during the 1970s[78][79]
- Caravan of Dreams: Solo project of Caravan bassist Richard Sinclair[80][81]
- Cast: Mexican band that formed in the late 1970s, who frequently appeared at or organized prog festivals during the 1990s[82]
- Cathedral[48]
- Cherry Five: Italian band who finally released a second album in 2015[83]
- Chicago[84]
- Chiodos[85]
- Clearlight: French band from the 1970s similar to early Gong but closer to symphonic prog[86][failed verification]
- Cluster[43]
- Coheed and Cambria[87]
- Cold Fairyland: Band from Shanghai rooted in traditional Chinese music [88]
- Colosseum[89]
- Crack the Sky[90]
- Curved Air[91]
- Cynic[92]
- Holger Czukay [75]
- Darryl Way's Wolf [93]
- Dead Can Dance[94][failed verification]
- Death Organ [95]
- The Decemberists: Indie rock band with strong Jethro Tull[96] and Genesis[97] influences.
- Deep Purple: British hard rock band with strong progressive influences. Often considered one of the first three heavy metal bands along with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. [98]
- Demon Fuzz: English band that played progressive rock, soul and funk, with influences from psychedelic soul, jazz, acid rock and world music[99][100][101][102]
- Deus Ex Machina: 1990s Italian rock band that updates the 1970s Italian progressive rock style[103][36]
- DFA[103]
- The Dillinger Escape Plan[104]
- Discipline: Led by the Matthew Parmenter, combined the stylings of Genesis and Van der Graaff Generator[105]
- Dixie Dregs[106][107][108][109][110][111]
- Djam Karet: 1980s US band that was a precursor to math rock [112][31]
- The Doors: American band considered part of the proto-prog subgenre [113]
- Dream Theater: American/Canadian band of ex-Berklee students that helped to raise the profile of progressive metal during the 1990s and 2000s[114][115]
- Dungen [116]
- Francis Dunnery and the New Progressives [117]
- East of Eden[59]
- Echolyn: Prog band of the 1990s, with metaphysical, literary-inspired lyrics[118][64]
- Edison's Children: Pete Trewavas of Marillion and Transatlantic's band with Eric Blackwood featuring Rick Armstrong (son of astronaut Neil Armstrong)[119]
- Egg: Dave Stewart on keys [91]
- Elbow: English rock band with progressive leanings[116]
- Electric Light Orchestra (ELO): English band who played string and synth-based "Beatlesque" prog rock, as well as pop and disco-influenced music[66][120]
- Eloy: A German band most prominent during the 1970s but who have continued to perform through lineup changes [121][45]
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP): "Classic era" prog band [122][98]
- Emerson, Lake & Powell: A brief, mid-1980s incarnation of ELP in which Cozy Powell was the drummer [123][124]
- Enchant[125]
- England: A late 1970s British band that was a forerunner to neo-prog [126]
- The Enid: A British band formed in the 1970s by Barclay James Harvest arranger Robert John Godfrey, who have remained intermittently active from the 1980s onward. [127][128]
- Brian Eno [29]
- Eric Gillette: Known as the guitarist in The Neal Morse Band, he has released several albums as a solo artist [129]
- Faith No More[130]
- Family: 1960s–1970s British band that contributed members to Blind Faith and King Crimson [131]
- Faust [132]
- Finch (Dutch band) Instrumental Dutch symphonic prog band from the 1970s [133][failed verification]
- Fish: Former Marillion lead singer [134]
- Flash: Band formed by Peter Banks after his departure from Yes [135]
- The Flower Kings: Symphonic prog band, from Sweden, active from the 1990s onward [136][36]
- Flying Colors: Prog/pop crossover supergroup with members from The Neal Morse Band, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, and Dream Theater[137]
- Focus: Mainly instrumental Dutch group who recorded the 1971 song "Hocus Pocus" [138] [135]
- Robert Fripp: Founding member and lead guitarist of King Crimson [139]
- Fripp & Eno [140]
- Fred Frith [141]
- Hasse Fröberg and the Musical Companion [142]
- FromUz [143][third-party source needed]
- Frost*: Neo-prog band from the 2000s[112]
- Frumpy: German prog band from the early seventies with female vocals [144][failed verification]
- FSB [145]
- Fusion Orchestra[citation needed]
- The Future Kings of England[146]
- Peter Gabriel: Former lead singer of Genesis, who used many world music influences in his solo material[147][148]
- Genesis: One of the major classic era bands and a definitive example of the symphonic prog style. They transitioned to more accessible music starting in 1978, though they still included progressive rock songs on later albums [149][98]
- Gentle Giant: Band with a medieval-sounding style who are considered to be among the most important of the 1970s progressive rock bands [150][98]
- Ghost [4]
- Gilgamesh [73]
- Glass Hammer [15]
- Goblin: Funk-influenced Italian band known for film soundtrack work [67]
- Gong [35]
- Go Supergroup formed in 1976 by Stomu Yamashta which included Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola, Klaus Schulze and Michael Shrieve[151]
- Gov't Mule: Combines elements of blues, hard rock, and jazz fusion [152]
- Grails: Eclectic, textural band from the 2000s [153]
- Marek Grechuta [154]
- Greenslade [91]
- Grobschnitt: 1970s symphonic prog band from Germany who pursued a more commercial direction during the 1980s [155] [45]
- Gryphon: 1970s British band who used a medieval folk style and played period instruments such as krumhorns [156][157]
- Guru Guru [43]
- Steve Hackett: Outside of his work in Genesis, he has had a long prog career as a solo artist [158]
- Hail the Sun[159]
- Peter Hammill: Lead singer of Van Der Graaf Generator [160]
- Bo Hansson [161]
- Happy the Man: Highly virtuosic 1970s symphonic prog band who performed mainly in the Washington, D.C. area [162][48]
- Harmonium (band)[163]
- Hatfield and the North [46]
- Hawkwind: Long-running space rock band with science fiction lyrics and some crossover with heavy metal [164][165]
- Haze [166][142]
- Henry Cow: Highly experimental and political 1970s British band who founded the Rock in Opposition movement [167][168]
- Here & Now: Late-1970s British band that combined elements of punk rock and progressive rock [169]
- Hidria Spacefolk: Space rock band[3]
- Steve Hillage: Guitarist from Gong [161]
- Hoelderlin: German prog band from the 1970s who started out in folk prog before moving into symphonic prog [170][failed verification]
- Steve Howe: English musician and lead guitarist of Yes [171]
- The Incredible String Band: Early British folk/prog hybrid [172]
- Indian Summer [173]
- Iona: British band active since the late 1980s whose lyrics contain a Christian element [174]
- IQ: Neo-prog band of the 1980s [175][176]
- Iron Butterfly[177]
- It Bites: 1980s pop/prog band [112]
- IZZ [117]
- Jade Warrior [157]
- Jadis: Neo-prog band [3]
- Jane: Early 1970s krautrock band [178]
- Jeavestone [142]
- Jethro Tull: Started in the late 1960s as a British blues band, heavily influenced by jazz and British folk rock, who later moved into progressive rock [179][98]
- Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side [180]
- Jon Lord
- Kaipa: 1970s Swedish band whose Roine Stolt went on to form The Flower Kings [181]
- Kansas: United States symphonic prog band of the 1970s, who underwent numerous personnel changes and moved to a more commercial style in the 1980s [182][48]
- Karmakanic: Features members of The Flower Kings[183]
- Karmamoi[184]
- Karnataka [185]
- Karnivool: Early work was in alternative metal style, more recent albums have been in progressive rock style.[186]
- Katatonia[187]
- Mike Keneally [27]
- Khan [161]
- King Crimson: One of the genre's best-known and most influential bands, who have frequently disbanded and regrouped with radically different lineups and musical styles [188][98]
- King's X[189]
- Kingdom Come: Early 1970s British band fronted by Arthur Brown [68]
- Kingston Wall [190]
- Klaatu: Canadian trio whose anonymity and style lead the press to believe they were the Beatles reincarnated[191][192]
- Kraan [15]
- Kraftwerk [45]
- Krokus: Debuted as a progressive rock band, then became a metal band in the style of AC/DC [193]
- Landberk [36]
- Lana Lane[194]
- Bill Laswell [195]
- Lifesigns[196]
- Lightning Bolt [104]
- Liquid Tension Experiment: A band that formed as a Dream Theater side project and includes John Petrucci and Tony Levin [197][198]
- Lonely Robot: Prog/pop crossover project from John Mitchell[199]
- Lucifer's Friend: early heavy metal and progressive rock band[200]
- Marco Lo Muscio [201]
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen: Leader of the Ayreon project [202]
- Magellan [27]
- Magenta [203]
- Magma: A French band who launched the Zeuhl subgenre in the 1970s [204][35]
- Magna Carta: An English progressive folk group [205]
- Magnum [206]
- Mahavishnu Orchestra: An early fusion band that was a major influence on King Crimson and others [207][35]
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band: A mixture of hard rock, fusion, and progressive rock [208]
- Albert Marcoeur [27]
- Marillion: British neo-prog band [209][176]
- The Mars Volta [210]
- Mastermind [31]
- Mastodon [115]
- Matching Mole: A 1970s Canterbury band[211]
- McDonald & Giles: An early King Crimson offshoot [212]
- Mercury Rev [213]
- Metamorfosi: Italian prog band from the early 1970s who reformed in the 2000s [214][failed verification]
- Mew [116]
- Midlake [215]
- Miriodor: A Canadian RIO band [3]
- miRthkon [117]
- Mogul Thrash: Early 1970s British band that included John Wetton [216]
- Mona Lisa [20]
- The Moody Blues: Classical rock pioneers who are credited as having created the first progressive rock album, Days of Future Passed [217][98]
- Moon Safari: A Swedish band that makes extensive use of complex vocal harmonies [142]
- Mt. Helium[218][219]
- Patrick Moraz [220]
- Mostly Autumn [221]
- Mr. Bungle: American experimental rock/metal band that has included progressive rock elements[222]
- Mudvayne[223][224][225]
- Muse [115][226]
- Museo Rosenbach [31]
- My Brightest Diamond [96]
- Mystery Jets [citation needed]
- Nad Sylvan: Known for singing in Steve Hackett's live band, he has released a number of prog albums as a solo artist [227]
- National Health [46]
- The Neal Morse Band (NMB) - Formed in 2014 by Neal Morse who also releases prog as a solo artist [228]
- Nektar [91]
- Neu! [132]
- Nexus: Progressive symphonic rock from Argentina [229][failed verification]
- The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble: A 1960s–1970s classical rock group [230]
- Niacin [231]
- The Nice: Highly influential early classical rock band fronted by Keith Emerson [232][98]
- Czeslaw Niemen [233]
- Erik Norlander: Keyboardist who has performed solo and with Ayreon [234]
- Oceansize[235]
- Mike Oldfield: Studio performer who often played every instrument in his large-scale compositions[236][237]
- Omega: Hungarian band formed in the 1960s[238]
- Opeth: Swedish progressive rock band with death metal roots[239]
- Le Orme: One of the most important Italian progressive rock bands[35]
- Osibisa: Ghanaian Afro-pop and Afrobeat band who incorporate funk, jazz, and progressive rock. Their album covers were illustrated by Roger Dean[240]
- Ozric Tentacles [36]
- Pain of Salvation [241]
- Pallas: A neo-prog band [3][37]
- Carl Palmer [242]
- Panna Fredda[243][244]
- Panzerballett [117]
- Passport [73]
- Pattern-Seeking Animals: Features members of Spock's Beard[245]
- Pavlov's Dog: US art rock band from the 1970s featuring much mellotron. Bill Bruford from Yes guested on drums on their second album.[246][failed verification]
- Pendragon: A neo-prog band [3][176]
- Anthony Phillips: Original guitarist for Genesis [247]
- The Physics House Band: Brighton-based experimental rockers[248]
- Picchio dal Pozzo [27]
- The Pineapple Thief [221]
- Pink Floyd: Pioneering space rock band who went on to become one of the major progressive rock bands [249][250]
- Planet X: A band fronted by former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian [251]
- The Plastic People of the Universe [252]
- Platypus [253]
- Popol Vuh [43]
- Porcupine Tree [36]
- Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM): A major Italian band of the early 1970s, once produced by Peter Sinfield, who also wrote English lyrics for the band
- Present: 1990s Belgian group led by Univers Zero guitarist Roger Trigaux and his son Reginald [197][20]
- Primus: American trio who channel funk metal, alternative metal, and progressive rock[254][255][256]
- Procol Harum: Early progressive rock band which recorded with orchestras [257][98]
- Proto-Kaw: A progressive jam band formed by Kerry Livgren of Kansas [258]
- Pulsar [45]
- Puppet Show [10]
- Pure Reason Revolution[259]
- Rare Bird [212]
- Rare Earth[261]
- Refugee[157]
- Remedy[171]
- Renaissance: Early 1970s symphonic prog band known for a strong classical influence and Annie Haslam's operatic vocals[262][168]
- Ritual[241]
- Riverside[64]
- Roine Stolt: Founder of The Flower Kings, he has released several prog albums as a solo artist [263]
- Roxy Music[140]
- RPWL[264]
- Todd Rundgren[265]
- Jordan Rudess: Outside of his work in Dream Theater he has released a number of albums as a solo artist[241]
- Rudess/Morgenstein Project: A collaboration between Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess and Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein[253]
- Rush[266][267]
Sa–Sm
- Saga: Canadian neo-prog band [268]
- Sailor Free[269]
- Samla Mammas Manna: A RIO band with folk influences [3][45]
- SBB [154]
- Klaus Schulze: electronic music pioneer,[270] composer, and musician. Was a member of the Krautrock bands Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and The Cosmic Jokers before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums.
- Paul Schutze[271]
- Secret Machines[116]
- Semiramis[20]
- Seventh Wave[73]
- Derek Sherinian[272]
- Shub-Niggurath: A French Zeuhl band[41]
- Sigur Ros: Icelandic post-rock band[115]
- Sikth: British progressive metal and djent band[273]
- Peter Sinfield [237]
- Skin Alley: Progressive band from the late '60s-early '70s whose work has influences from blues rock, jazz fusion, and art rock[274]
- Slapp Happy: A late-1970s offshoot of Henry Cow [275]
- Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: A Californian RIO band [3][15]
- Smak: Serbian and Yugoslav band[276]
Sn–Sz
- Snovi: A hybrid Electro-Organic band that congregates influences of several branches of the Electronic Music and Heavy Progressive Rock[277]
- Soft Heap [39]
- Soft Machine: Canterbury scene band initially playing psychedelic rock, later moving into experimental jazz rock and free jazz[278][35]
- Solaris [36]
- Solstice [37]
- Sparks: American art rock duo who played glam rock, synth-pop and disco[279]
- Spirit: A psychedelic band that was a major influence on early progressive rock [280]
- Split Enz: Started out as a prog band, but moved to new wave starting in 1979[281]
- Spock's Beard: 1990s United States symphonic prog band [282][4]
- Chris Squire: English musician and bassist of Yes [283]
- Starcastle: A progressive band from the US similar to Yes[126][41]
- Stackridge: English progressive rock, pop, and folk band who have been described as precursors of Britpop[284][285]
- Al Stewart [140]
- Stormy Six: A politically active 1970s Italian band who later aligned with RIO [286][3]
- Strawbs: British 1970s symphonic prog band with strong folk roots[287][288]
- Stick Men [289]
- Still: A late-1990s version of Echolyn [290]
- Stolen Babies[291]
- Stranglers: Formed in 1974 and heavily influenced by prog rock though generally regarded as a punk rock act [292]
- Styx: A US band who played extended compositions and classical adaptations with a hard rock edge, then played arena rock[293][294][295]
- Supertramp [8]
- Survival: Dutch progressive/symphonic rock band[296]
- Syd Arthur: A modern band in the Canterbury style [297]
- Sylvan [241]
- Symphony X[298][299][300]
- System of a Down: American-Armenian nu metal band that has also played progressive metal[301][302][303]
- Taï Phong [304]
- Tangerine Dream: A highly influential German band of electronic innovators [305][29]
- Serj Tankian[306]
- Tasavallan Presidentti [307]
- Tears For Fears[308]
- Tempest: A 1970s band featuring Allan Holdsworth and Jon Hiseman [309][237]
- Ten Jinn: A band featuring former Happy the Man guitarist Stan Whitaker [310]
- The Tangent: An eclectic progressive band [311][221]
- Thinking Plague: A 1990s RIO band [3][197]
- Third Ear Band [32]
- Thirty Seconds to Mars: Alternative rock band whose early work contained progressive rock influences[312]
- This Heat: A late 1970s British band with prog, punk, and avant-garde elements [313]
- Three [124]
- Tomahawk[314]
- Ton Steine Scherben: A politically vocal Krautrock band [16]
- The Tony Williams Lifetime: A rock-oriented fusion band with psychedelic elements[315]
- Tool: A Los Angeles alternative band who helped define the progressive metal genre during the 1990s and 2000s[64]
- Touchstone [316]
- Traffic[317]
- Transatlantic: A supergroup with members of Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings and Marillion[318]
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra [319]
- TriPod [4]
- Triana: A flamenco-influenced 1970s Spanish band [45]
- Triumvirat: German power trio fronted by virtuoso keyboardist Jürgen Fritz [49]
- Twelfth Night [176]
- U.K.: Late 1970s supergroup that recorded just two studio albums [320][321] With King Crimson's John Wetton and Bill Bruford on their first album
- Umphrey's McGee: 6-piece progressive jam band from South Bend, Indiana [117]
- Univers Zero: A 1970s Belgian Zeuhl band [3][41]
- Uriah Heep: British progressive rock band who draw on metal, acid rock, and folk[322][323][324]
- Utopia [29]
- Van der Graaf Generator: 1970s British band [325][98]
- Christian Vander [326]
- Vangelis [32]
- Voivod: Canadian progressive metal band with thrash metal roots [327]
- Von Hertzen Brothers [328]
- Rick Wakeman: Keyboard player who recorded a string of concept albums as a solo artist as well as being a member of Yes and recording with David Bowie[329][330]
- Jeff Wayne[58]
- John Wetton[36]
- White Willow[36]
- Wigwam[307]
- Steven Wilson: Outside of his work in Porcupine Tree, he has had a long career as a solo artist[331]
- Winger[332][333]
- Wishbone Ash[334]
- Wobbler[335]
- Robert Wyatt[336]
- Stomu Yamash'ta [140]
- Yes: A British symphonic prog band from the 1970s onward [337][98]
- Frank Zappa: The experimentalism, eclecticism and virtuosity in Zappa's music are of a progressive rock nature. [338]
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