this genre has captivated fans with its
spirit of adventure and ambition
spawning countless concept albums and
synthesizer solos
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
progressive rock bands
for this list we’ve based our choices on
the popularity and impact of bands that
spent a large portion of their career
recording albums to fit into a
progressive rock and or metal category
the acts must have released more than
one album that can be classified under
the genre whether it’s through elaborate
musical arrangements concept records or
lengthy Suites
number 10 Jethro Tull
before children
formed in England in the late 60s Jethro
Tull’s career has been dominated by the
presence of lead singer and songwriter
Ian Anderson
his flute playing often provided the
unifying characteristic in the band’s
music as its style shifted between foki
ramblings and harder rocking ravers
meanwhile songs like Aqualung
thick as a brick
and locomotive breath
oh wait
transcended the progressive genre and
became staples on classic rock radio
number nine tool
proving that the progressive rock
movement still had life passed the 70s
tool emerged from Los Angeles in the 90s
with a thunderous sound that could not
be ignored
although they only released four albums
in the span of 15 years between 1991 and
2006 each one them critical acclaim and
legions of fans they’ve even scored
three Grammy win
with vocalist Maynard James Keenan
bellowing over sprawling heavy-metal
infused songs with inventive videos tool
became an unlikely MTV Bend as well
now
number eight Emerson Lake and Palmer
Emerson and Greg Lake for each part of
successful British bands in the 60s
before joining forces with drummer Carl
Palmer in 1970
the first so-called supergroups PLP
sound was dominated by Emerson’s
keyboards who brought in classical
influences and helped popularize the use
of the synthesizer in rock and roll the
hit lucky man from their debut album
paved the way for a series of highly
successful and influential albums for
the band in the early 70s and beyond
number seven coheed and cambria
those who thought the progressive rock
movement couldn’t last into the new
millennium coheed and cambria proved
them wrong
even though the band formed in 1995 they
didn’t release their first album until
2002 which was the first in a series of
albums that are all tied into an
overarching science fiction narrative
but none of those trappings would be
effective without the inventive music
and potent lyrics the band consistently
conjures with those elements together
and it’s clear why coheed and cambria
has such a loyal following
number six King Crimson
guitarist Robert Fripp is the core
member of this progressive rock outfit
with a consistently changing lineup
their debut album 1969’s in the Court of
the Crimson King established many of the
tenets on which progressive rock was
based
the band was able to shift from hard
rockin tunes to quiet
weightless jams in a heartbeat
Oh
number five yes
this English band was one of the few
progressive rock bands that had rock
radio success thanks to their accessible
melodies and singer John Anderson’s
unique high-pitched voice
the band’s multifaceted musical
arrangements and multi-tracked
harmonies also helped them stand out
from the pack
yes even had comeback success in the MTV
era scoring a huge 80’s hit an owner of
a lonely heart and although they’ve
changed lineups often they’ve remained a
musical force
Oh
number four Dream Theater
this Boston band carved out a niche for
themselves during the grunge era of the
early 90s
thanks to their amazing technical
ability as instrumentalists
Green Theatre has always come down on
the heavy-metal side of the progressive
rock spectrum but even when playing at
light speed guitarist John Petrucci and
bassist John Young never let things
degenerate into a loud mess
power and precision of Dream Theater is
why they are prog rock royalty
number three Genesis I’m dreamed a
thousand dreams
many fans know Genesis from their years
with Phil Collins as the lead singer
when they were hugely successful
hitmakers
you
but there was a time when Collins was
just the drummer and Peter Gabriel was
the lead singer
that was when the band made their impact
in the world of progressive rock
thanks to their intricate instrumental
chemistry and Gabriel’s charisma as the
frontman
no matter who was out in front though
Genesis is a band for the ages
number two rush a monthly worry of me
means drive today stumped so you me
drive with only three main men in the
band you might wonder how such
mesmerizingly intricate music is made by
Russian
you
the Canadian trio of Geddy Lee Alex
Lifeson and Neil Pierce has built one of
the most devoted fan bases in music
which is one reason why they now reside
in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
pure playing walloping drums and penning
philosophically probing lyrics and Lee
singing in his penetrating nasal voice
rush is one of the most distinctive
bands in any genre
before we unveil our top picks here are
a few honorable mentions
you
Shh
number one Pink Floyd
the trust Thanks
after starting off in the early 60s in
the British underground rock scene Pink
Floyd hit the mainstream with a series
of blockbuster albums during the
following decade
we just do my soldier
the dark side of the moon and the wall
are two of the 70s defining albums
combining atmospheric musical passages
with Roger Waters biting lyrics about
heavy topics like war and insanity did
did you see the frightened ones did you
hear the father
although group infighting slowed their
progress in the 80s Pink Floyd still
stands as the preeminent prog rock band
of their era
do you agree with our list what’s your
favorite progressive rock band for more
musical top 10s published every day be
sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com Oh
spirit of adventure and ambition
spawning countless concept albums and
synthesizer solos
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
progressive rock bands
for this list we’ve based our choices on
the popularity and impact of bands that
spent a large portion of their career
recording albums to fit into a
progressive rock and or metal category
the acts must have released more than
one album that can be classified under
the genre whether it’s through elaborate
musical arrangements concept records or
lengthy Suites
number 10 Jethro Tull
before children
formed in England in the late 60s Jethro
Tull’s career has been dominated by the
presence of lead singer and songwriter
Ian Anderson
his flute playing often provided the
unifying characteristic in the band’s
music as its style shifted between foki
ramblings and harder rocking ravers
meanwhile songs like Aqualung
thick as a brick
and locomotive breath
oh wait
transcended the progressive genre and
became staples on classic rock radio
number nine tool
proving that the progressive rock
movement still had life passed the 70s
tool emerged from Los Angeles in the 90s
with a thunderous sound that could not
be ignored
although they only released four albums
in the span of 15 years between 1991 and
2006 each one them critical acclaim and
legions of fans they’ve even scored
three Grammy win
with vocalist Maynard James Keenan
bellowing over sprawling heavy-metal
infused songs with inventive videos tool
became an unlikely MTV Bend as well
now
number eight Emerson Lake and Palmer
Emerson and Greg Lake for each part of
successful British bands in the 60s
before joining forces with drummer Carl
Palmer in 1970
the first so-called supergroups PLP
sound was dominated by Emerson’s
keyboards who brought in classical
influences and helped popularize the use
of the synthesizer in rock and roll the
hit lucky man from their debut album
paved the way for a series of highly
successful and influential albums for
the band in the early 70s and beyond
number seven coheed and cambria
those who thought the progressive rock
movement couldn’t last into the new
millennium coheed and cambria proved
them wrong
even though the band formed in 1995 they
didn’t release their first album until
2002 which was the first in a series of
albums that are all tied into an
overarching science fiction narrative
but none of those trappings would be
effective without the inventive music
and potent lyrics the band consistently
conjures with those elements together
and it’s clear why coheed and cambria
has such a loyal following
number six King Crimson
guitarist Robert Fripp is the core
member of this progressive rock outfit
with a consistently changing lineup
their debut album 1969’s in the Court of
the Crimson King established many of the
tenets on which progressive rock was
based
the band was able to shift from hard
rockin tunes to quiet
weightless jams in a heartbeat
Oh
number five yes
this English band was one of the few
progressive rock bands that had rock
radio success thanks to their accessible
melodies and singer John Anderson’s
unique high-pitched voice
the band’s multifaceted musical
arrangements and multi-tracked
harmonies also helped them stand out
from the pack
yes even had comeback success in the MTV
era scoring a huge 80’s hit an owner of
a lonely heart and although they’ve
changed lineups often they’ve remained a
musical force
Oh
number four Dream Theater
this Boston band carved out a niche for
themselves during the grunge era of the
early 90s
thanks to their amazing technical
ability as instrumentalists
Green Theatre has always come down on
the heavy-metal side of the progressive
rock spectrum but even when playing at
light speed guitarist John Petrucci and
bassist John Young never let things
degenerate into a loud mess
power and precision of Dream Theater is
why they are prog rock royalty
number three Genesis I’m dreamed a
thousand dreams
many fans know Genesis from their years
with Phil Collins as the lead singer
when they were hugely successful
hitmakers
you
but there was a time when Collins was
just the drummer and Peter Gabriel was
the lead singer
that was when the band made their impact
in the world of progressive rock
thanks to their intricate instrumental
chemistry and Gabriel’s charisma as the
frontman
no matter who was out in front though
Genesis is a band for the ages
number two rush a monthly worry of me
means drive today stumped so you me
drive with only three main men in the
band you might wonder how such
mesmerizingly intricate music is made by
Russian
you
the Canadian trio of Geddy Lee Alex
Lifeson and Neil Pierce has built one of
the most devoted fan bases in music
which is one reason why they now reside
in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
pure playing walloping drums and penning
philosophically probing lyrics and Lee
singing in his penetrating nasal voice
rush is one of the most distinctive
bands in any genre
before we unveil our top picks here are
a few honorable mentions
you
Shh
number one Pink Floyd
the trust Thanks
after starting off in the early 60s in
the British underground rock scene Pink
Floyd hit the mainstream with a series
of blockbuster albums during the
following decade
we just do my soldier
the dark side of the moon and the wall
are two of the 70s defining albums
combining atmospheric musical passages
with Roger Waters biting lyrics about
heavy topics like war and insanity did
did you see the frightened ones did you
hear the father
although group infighting slowed their
progress in the 80s Pink Floyd still
stands as the preeminent prog rock band
of their era
do you agree with our list what’s your
favorite progressive rock band for more
musical top 10s published every day be
sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com Oh
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