Who started Prog Rock?

Who was the first band to play Progressive Rock, this style of music that combines classical music's sense of space and monumental scope with rock's raw power and energy? IMO Keith Emerson and The Nice.

Well, prog rock was a gradual development into what we all know and love today. A lot of bands discovered this style by themselves, and as the refined it, it became known as prog rock. I don't know a whole lot of bands in this genre, but the earliest I would think of is Yes, but The Nice is probably a bit earlier. I heard them play on the Tonite......London CD, and it's rather psych, still. In fact, I believe most psych bands had to convert to prog rock to survive, so I'd say prog rock has some roots in psychedelic rock, and I can hear it coming through sometimes.

If you are going by that definition alone you an actually go back to the '50's and look at some of Roy Orbisons materials. Many regard him a a pioneer in the genre.

By the listed choices I'd have to go with the Moody Blues circa '63-65, when Denny Laine was with them.....

That's an easy one.....Justin Timberlake.

I don't think Justin is soley responsible.....

My vote would be the Justin/Britteny combo....


(i'd like to get progressive on her rocks..nudge nudge, wink wink. knowhatimean knowhatimean, say no more...say NO more. .....)

roy definatly... im also quite fond of yes. they are one of the better, overlooked 80s bands.

I don't understand, could you explain it please?

it means he wants to fluff her pillows and and pet her cat.

any clearer now?

I would say that the Beatles ushered in Prog Rock, because they made music that was more than something to dance to, and stayed popular with it. Once music as an art form was accepted, music like King Crimson and Yes were able to at least survive in the music business. And I believe it was Rick Wakeman who once said something like "the only people who can dance to Yes are epileptic"

A Whiter Shade of Pale was prog's first real breakthrough so I'm going to have to say Procol Harum

I know to little of this to cast a vote.

I think the question has to be raised, rather than "who started it", more "who first did it effectivly".

Its not my era, i wasnt even born at the birth of prog rock (unfortunately), but as was said, it was something that had developed over the course of time.

In my opinion, i reckon it was Yes who were the first to really start with the epic prog rock pieces that set the real definition of the genre! I cant imagine why they arnt on that list!

I agree.

I'd definitely have to go with Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, his writing style is so melodic, almost Bach-like, that he would be the alpha and omega on this one.