Prog - is. 91 2018

Prog rock has undergone such a renaissance in the past three years it now forms a major and respected part of rock music as a whole, its influence ranging from as far as the original practitioners like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis and co through ‘80s standard bearers like Marillion and Asia through to the progressive movers and shakers of today; bands such as Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater, Muse and Radiohead, The Mars Volta and Coheed & Cambria.

***Like all great ideas, this started with a discussion down the pub. The idea that, while the guitar hero is the central figure for heavy metal and classic rock, in the progressive world, the keyboard player is king. True, exceptionally great musicianship across all instruments is commonplace in prog, but the keyboards are often at the centre of our musical universe. So we asked you, the readers, if you agreed, and who you thought was the best. Outside of the Awards, we’ve never had such a massive response to a reader vote. So thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Turn the page, and find out how your favourite fared...***