Progressive, Rock, and Metal Music: The Video Archive

VIDEO ARCHIVES * (BY GROUP) 

Pick your favourite group to learn more and visit the corresponding video archive(s)

ALAN PARSONS PROJECT

During the summer of 1974, Alan Parsons met session pianist and songwriter Eric Woolfson in the canteen of Abbey Road Studios. Parsons had recently engineered Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and had already produced a number of acts for EMI Records. Woolfson saw a way to combine his and Parsons' respective talents. Parsons would produce and engineer songs written by the two, and the Alan Parsons Project was born. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

ASIA

Asia is an arena rock/progressive rock group. It was formed in 1981 as a supergroup, with former members of Yes, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Hold The Ladder, Uriah Heep, U.K., and The Buggles. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST

Barclay James Harvest is a British rock band founded in 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme and Mel
Pritchard, specialising in Symphonic/Melodic Rock with folk/progressive/classical influences. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT

The origins of this Anglo-American Renaissance-inspired folk rock band lie in 1990 when Candice Night (lyricist and lead vocals) was working at a local New York rock music radio station. She first encountered guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, then with Deep Purple, at a soccer game in which he was playing. The two became romantically involved and discovered that they shared a passionate interest in the Renaissance.
(more from Wikipedia videos: archive(1)

BLUE OYSTER CULT

BOC, a pioneer in heavy metal music both for its hard-edged musical assault and its use of sci-fi and occult imagery, originated in 1967 in Long Island, New York, at the prompting of critic and manager Sandy Pearlman[2], who was able to get them gigs, recording contracts with Elektra and Columbia, and he provided them with his poetry for use as lyrics for many of their songs, including "Astronomy". (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

CURVED AIR

Curved Air was named by keyboardist/guitarist Francis Monkman after the piece 'A Rainbow in Curved Air' by Terry Riley. The musicians, including Sonja Kristina Linwood (lead vocalist) developed from quite different artistic backgrounds, classic, folk, and electronic sound, which resulted in a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

DEEP PURPLE

Deep Purple are an English hard rock band formed in Hertfordshire in 1968.[4] Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered one of the pioneers of heavy metal and hard rock,[5] although the members of the band have always refused to label themselves as the former. Classically-trained Hammond organ player Jon Lord shares a common ancestry with early progressive bands using the instrument, such as the Nice, ELP and Procol Harem. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

DREAM THEATER

Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band comprising James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy. Formed in 1985 under the name "Majesty", DT has become one of the most commercially successful progressive rock bands since the height of the genre in the mid-1970s, despite being relatively unknown in mainstream rock circles. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

Jimi Hendrix was considering joining the group; before settling on Carl Palmer. Due to scheduling conflicts such plans were not immediately realized, but the initial three planned on a jam session with Hendrix after their second concert at the Isle of Wight Festival (their debut being in Plymouth Guildhall a day or two earlier), with the possibility of him joining. Hendrix died shortly thereafter, so the three pressed on as Emerson, Lake and Palmer. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Fairport Convention are often credited with being the first English electric folk band. Formed in April 1967, with Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings and Shaun Frater, Fairport rapidly developed from playing cover versions of American 'west coast' style music to an individual style which melded rock music with traditional English tunes and songs. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

FOCUS

Focus remains one of the most well-known and influential rock bands from the Netherlands. It was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969. Focus is best known for the rock rondo Hocus Pocus, which consists of Jan Akkerman's guitar chord sequence used as a recurring theme, with quirky and energetic interludes that include alto flute riffs, accordion, guitar, and drum solos, whistling, nonsensical vocals, falsetto singing, and yodeling. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

GENESIS

Genesis are an English rock band formed in 1967. With approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide, Genesis are among the top 30 highest-selling recording artists of all time.[1] In 1988 the band won a Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video. Genesis' members have included Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Ray Wilson and Phil Collins, all of whom have achieved success as solo artists. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

JETHRO TULL

Jethro Tull are a Grammy Award winning English rock band that formed in 1967-1968.[1] Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead flute work of front man Ian Anderson. Initially playing blues rock with an experimental flavour, they have, over the years, incorporated elements of classical, folk and 'ethnic' musics, jazz and art rock. Eclectic influences, diverse instrumentation, and often elaborate song construction led them to be labelled as an archetypal "progressive rock" band. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

HAWKWIND

Hawkwind are a British rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. Notable science fiction writer Michael Moorcock and dancer Stacia were occasional collaborators. The concept of a Hawkestra, a reunion event featuring appearances from all past and present members, has resulted in the formation of xhawkwind.com, a band consisting mainly of ex-Hawkwind; members and playing old Hawkwind songs. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

KANSAS

Dave Hope (bass), Phil Ehart (drums), and Kerry Livgren (guitar, and later keyboards) formed the progressive rock group named Kansas in 1970 in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas. The debut album, Kansas (#174), which was released in 1974, showcased Kansas' signature mix of guitars, keyboards, vocals, and Steinhardt's violin style, which merged American-style boogie-rock with complex, symphonic arrangements and changing time signatures. Their sound bore the marks of late-1960s, early 1970s progressive rock, such as Genesis and ELP. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)
archive(2)

KATE BUSH

Kate Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic lyrics have made her one of England's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years. Bush was signed by EMI at the age of 16 after being recommended by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. In 1978, at age 19, her début song "Wuthering Heights" topped the UK charts for four weeks and made her the first woman to have a UK number one with a self-written song. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

KAYAK

Kayak is a Dutch progressive rock band founded in 1972 by multi-instrumentalist Ton Scherpenzeel and drummer Pim Koopman. Against their own will, they were immediately declared "Holland's new supergroup" in the press and released nine albums., but never quite
achieved international success. After a hiatus from 1982-1999 they reformed and have since released four studio albums and two live albums
since. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

LED ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band that formed in September 1968. Led Zeppelin consisted of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and
John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands.[1][2] Their rock-infused interpretation of the blues, and folk genres also incorporated rockabilly,[3] reggae,[4] soul,[5] funk,[6] jazz,[7] classical, Celtic, Indian, Arabic, pop, Latin, and country. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

LINDISFARNE

Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. In 1970 Tony Stratton-Smith (who managed The Nice, Van der Graaf Generator, etc.) signed them to Charisma Records for their debut album Nicely Out of Tune (so named because the group claimed they were 'nicely out of tune' with other prevailing musical trends at the time). This album defined their mixture of bright harmony and rollicking folk rock. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

MARILLION

Marillion is a British Rock group formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England in 1979. The current line-up of Steve Rothery (the sole 'pre-
Fish' original member), Pete Trewavas, Mark Kelly and Ian Mosley is unchanged since 1984. Their recorded studio output comprising two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original frontman Fish (Derek W. Dick) in late 1988 after their first four albums, and the
subsequent arrival of replacement Steve Hogarth ("h") in early 1989. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

METALLICA

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981.[1] and has become the most most commercially successful thrash metal band of all time. Their music was inspired by bands such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rush, and other, mainly British, metal bands. They also took inspiration from punk bands like the Misfits, Zeroption, and The Ramones. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

MOODY BLUES

The Moody Blues are a British rock band originally from Birmingham, England. Founding members Michael Pinder and Ray Thomas performed an initially rhythm and blues-based sound in Birmingham in 1964 along with Graeme Edge and others, and were later joined by John Lodge and Justin Hayward as they inspired and evolved the progressive rock style. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their seminal 1967 album Days of Future Passed. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

MUSE

Muse are a progressive rock band formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 1997, comprising Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). More recently, Morgan Nicholls has been featured on bass and keyboards in live performances. The band blends alternative rock, progressive rock, classical music, funk, electronica, and heavy metal, to help form the new sub-genre of new prog. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

PETER GABRIEL

Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950, in Cobham,[1] Surrey, England) is an English musician. He first came to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. More recently he has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been
involved in various humanitarian efforts. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

PHIL COLLINS

Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in Chiswick, London) is an English singer, songwriter, drummer, and actor. He is best known
as the lead singer and drummer of progressive rock group Genesis and as a Grammy and Academy Award-winning solo artist. He is also an actor,
having starred in numerous films. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)
archive(2)

PINK FLOYD

Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. They are known for philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative cover art, and elaborate live shows. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

RIVERSIDE

Riverside is a critically acclaimed progressive rock band from Warsaw, Poland founded in 2001 by Mariusz Duda, Piotr Grudzi%u0144ski and Piotr
Kozieradzki, who shared a love for progressive rock and heavy metal. Their music has been described as a mix between Anathema, Dream Theater, Marillion, Opeth, Pink Floyd, Pain of Salvation, A Perfect Circle, and Porcupine Tree, containing long, ethereal keyboard-laden passages and heavy, crunchy metal riffs. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

PROCOL HAREM

Procol Harum is an English rock band, formed in the 1960s. They are best known for their 1967 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", which is not only a regular item on classic singles polls, but is also regarded as being a seminal track in the development of pop music and particularly progressive rock music. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

RUSH

Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 near Toronto, Ontario, comprising bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. Rush has become known for the instrumental virtuosity of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy,
libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns. (more from Wikipedia videos: archive(1) archive(2)

STEELEYE SPAN

Steeleye Span are a British electric folk band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Their typical album is a collection of mostly English and the Celtic traditional songs with one or two instrumental tracks of jigs and/or reels added in. Lead vocalist Maddy Prior is one of the main attractions of the band's music, being one of a handful of strong-but-melodically-voiced women in rock music in the 1970s. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

STRAWBS

Dave Cousins (guitar, dulcimer, banjo, vocals) founded Strawbs in 1964. In the early days Strawbs played with Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention, Fotheringay) as a bluegrass band and eventually moved on to other styles (folk rock, glam rock, progressive rock, AOR). Rick Wakeman was keyboardist for two albums, before going on to join Yes in 1971. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

STYX

Styx originally formed the Chicago area in 1961 with brothers Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo on guitar and drums, respectively; and vocalist, pianist, keyboardist, and accordion player Dennis DeYoung. Popular guitarist Tommy Shaw was added in 1975. Their music is a mixture of straight-ahead rock with some dramatic prog-rock flourishes and art-rock aspirations, and the so-called concept album would be a medium upon
which Styx would rely heavily by the 1980s. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)
archive(2)

SUPERTRAMP

Supertramp are a British progressive rock band that had a series of top-selling albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their early music
included ambitious concept albums, but they are best known for their later hits including "Dreamer", "Goodbye Stranger", "Give a Little Bit" and "The Logical Song". Supertramp attained superstardom in the United States, Canada, and most of Europe. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

THE MARS VOLTA

The Mars Volta is an American Rock group founded by Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Isaiah Ikey Owens and Jeremy Michael Ward in 2001. They are generally considered progressive rock, with jazz, punk, and Latin influences. They are known for their wild, energetic, and improvised live shows along with the use of ambient music. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

TRANSATLANTIC

Transatlantic was a progressive rock supergroup formed in 1999 by vocalist/keyboardist Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) and drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). It also included guitarist/vocalist Roine Stolt (Flower Kings) and bassist Pete Trewavas (Marillion). Their work has been called "some of the best progressive rock music ever written". (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

URIAH HEEP

Sometimes jokingly referred to as "The Beach Boys of heavy metal" for their melodic songs, and trademark multi-part harmony
backing vocals, the music of Uriah Heep, formed in 1969, draws on diverse influences including: progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz and even country on occasion. As one of the first bands to fuse prog with metal, they are a precursor to the progressive metal genre.
(more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR

Van der Graaf Generator are an English prog band, the first act signed to Charisma Records. Their albums tended to be darker than many of their prog-rock peers. King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp guested on two of their albums, and guitar solos were the exception rather than the
rule. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)

WHITESNAKE

Whitesnake is an English hard rock band, founded in 1977 by David Coverdale. Some of the most famous musicians who have joined the band for a time were: Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Rudy Sarzo, John Sykes, Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell, Tommy Aldridge and Steve Vai. The band has always been compared to Deep Purple, not only because three past members of the band
were once in Deep Purple, but also because of their sound and influences. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

YES

Yes are an English progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. Their music uses complex arrangements, unusual time signatures, virtuoso musicianship, dramatic dynamic and metrical changes, a blend of musical styles, vocal harmonies, and a unique lyrical style. Despite the many changes to its lineup, the band has continued for nearly 40 years and retains a strong international following. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1) archive(2)

FRANK ZAPPA

Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 - December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa established himself as a prolific and highly distinctive composer, electric guitar player and band leader. He worked in almost every musical genre and wrote music for rock bands, jazz ensembles, synthesizers and symphony orchestra. (more from Wikipedia) videos: archive(1)