Paul O'Neill (of TSO fame) names 10 Best Prog Bands

[Dan Roth]

Paul O'Neill, often referred to as the "mastermind" behind the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, has named "The 10 Best Prog Bands":

http://www.teamrock.com/features/201...s-paul-o-neill

[iguana]

no surprises there, but an enthralling read that is bursting with enthusiasm. which is always good.

[Dan Roth]

Yeah, it's a pretty well-established list, though I would disagree about The Who being a prog rock band.

[Scott Bails]

Bonus points for it not being a slideshow.

[DoubleDrummer]

Bonus points for it not being a slideshow.

Yes, thank the Lord.

Concerning O'Neill's list :
Remove the Who and replace with Gentle Giant, then you have a better list.

[pbs1902]

Bonus points for it not being a slideshow.

Thank God it is not only me! I hate those f-ing things to the point I won't even bother looking at them.

[Proghound]

Remove the Who and replace with Gentle Giant, then you have a better list.

not sure about a few more but this a definite

[JKL2000]

Bonus points for it not being a slideshow.

Also for Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy being nowhere in there. Not that I don't enjoy those guys, but I think if you're saying overall best ever, you have to reach back a bit more. I would probably have tried to fit Gong in there somewhere, but I won't quibble.

[ronmac]

Good predictable list, but I don't get The Who being in it. His rationale?

"To me, they’re a progressive rock band. Who else in the late 1960s would add a French horn solo to a song?"

I guess that makes The Beatles prog, since they did it in '66 with "For No One," one of Paul's best.

[Fracktured]

Yes, thank the Lord.

Concerning O'Neill's list :
Remove the Who and replace with Gentle Giant, then you have a better list.

A best of prog bands list without GG is just not a best of list.

[Steve F.]

Tommy, Who's Next and Quadraphenia are very, very progressive albums for their time. IMO. They (The Who) belong on that list as much as anyone else he listed if you are speaking of someone's opinion, which we are.

[PeterG]

Remove The Who and Kansas and insert Gentle Giant and Camel and you've got 10 great prog bands.

That said my own list of ten would look quite different

1. JT
2. PF
3. Genesis
4. GG
5. KC
6. Camel
7. Rush
8. Mike Oldfield
9. Marillion
10. Yes

[flowerking]

No one is commenting about Greg Lake being named the man who invented prog? Sure, he was in two of progs biggest bands but I'd say he had pretty minor roles in the songwriting of both. Much of the lyrics came from Sinfield and I'd think most of the music came from Emerson and Fripp.

[Jacquesa]

A best of prog bands list without GG is just not a best of list.

I agree with you!!!

[PeterG]

A best of prog bands list without GG is just not a best of list.

Exactly!

[SteveSly]

I have no problem with The Who being on this list. Although I don’t consider them to be a progressive rock in general, they did produce two albums that are pretty damn proggy in “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia”. As for Kansas being included, maybe you have to be from the U.S. and of a certain age, but for me Kansas was the band that started it all and I rank them right up there with the others. Judging by TSO’s massive stage shows it is no surprise that O’Neill puts Pink Floyd on the pedestal that he does.

[JKL2000]

Tommy, Who's Next and Quadraphenia are very, very progressive albums for their time. IMO. They (The Who) belong on that list as much as anyone else he listed if you are speaking of someone's opinion, which we are.

I agree!

[JKL2000]

And I don't see Tommy or Quadrophenia being any less prog than The Wall.

I also agree, though, that GG ought to be on the list.

[Dan Roth]

No one is commenting about Greg Lake being named the man who invented prog? Sure, he was in two of progs biggest bands but I'd say he had pretty minor roles in the songwriting of both. Much of the lyrics came from Sinfield and I'd think most of the music came from Emerson and Fripp.

O'Neill seems to really like/admire Lake. Back when TSO used to bring in special guests at select shows, he brought Lake in for a couple. And in 2009 when TSO covered "Nutrocker" on their NightCastle album, they had Lake come in and play bass on it. A few years back, O'Neill had this to say about Lake:

When I used to go to the Garden, you would go see George Harrison, Eric Clapton would come out at the end of the night for an encore. Or you would go see Bob Dylan and Billy Preston would come out for an encore. It was not uncommon for bands to come out at the last second to do an encore, so we decided that at the last second we would call out a band that had an influence on us in some ways and do an encore. But, because our audience is so wide, they had to be iconic. The first one was Joan Jett. If you grew up in the 70’s, you knew her from the Runaways. If you grew up in the 80’s, you knew her from the Blackhearts. The funny one was Greg Lake who I became friends with from Emerson, Lake and Palmer. In my opinion, just like Black Sabbath invented heavy metal, Greg Lake invented prog-rock. The test I have is I always ask my daughter and her friends, “Do you know Greg Lake from Emerson, Lake and Palmer,” and they’re like “No.” Then I say, “Welcome my friends…” and they finish with “the show that never ends.” And the first time Greg Lake from Emerson Lake and Palmer came out he said, “Paul you really get prog-rock,” and I said, “I have no idea what that means.” He says, “Paul if you’re in a jazz band and play blues, it’s no longer a jazz band. If you’re in a blues band and play reggae, it’s no longer blues band. But progressive rock has no limits; hence it’s name. Progressive rock has no limits.” And besides the production value, you have no limits as to what you can do musically. He’s the Aristotle, OB1 Kenobi of rock. Every time he opens his mouth I want to take notes. (from https://blurredvisionary.wordpress.com/tag/paul-oneill/)

[chalkpie]

He spelled Cardiacs wrong - its not spelled 'The Who'.

[bob_32_116]

A best of prog bands list without GG is just not a best of list.

It's O'Neill's "best of" list, not yours.

[Fracktured]

Guess that means I can't have an opinion.


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[Zalmoxe]

"Rush, a band from Canada of all places". That cracked me up. I wonder if O'Neill heard any of the progressive rock from Quebec!

[miamiscot]

Good list. Confirms to me the fact that I really need to go see TSO.

[Steve F.]

And I don't see Tommy or Quadrophenia being any less prog than The Wall.

Agree absolutely.
Dear lord, I think The Wall is a really overall poor effort from a really overall very very good band....