Drawing up a checklist of the 50 ideal prog rock bands is an enthusiastic task if there ever before was one. Once again, the ideal prog is constantly regarding aspiration of some kind.

For this checklist, we’ve attempted to stand for prog and also all its significant neighborhoods. Most importantly, this is purely a checklist of bands, not solo musicians (or individuals that typically functioned under their very own name)– so sorry Messers Zappa and also Oldfield, we’ll obtain to you following time around. We’ve consisted of a variety of contemporary bands in addition to a couple of that vanished after the 70s, however the highest possible ports mosted likely to those bands that extended a couple of various innovative ages.

The inquiry of what is and also isn’t prog was a little harder. We often tended to like bands with a specific European strategy that mostly aren’t blues-based– which would certainly omit bands like Led Zeppelin, Wishbone Ash, Traffic, and also Deep Purple, every one of whom were blues-rooted bands that converged with prog rock. (Still, there was no neglecting Procol Harum, that began as an R&B band however branched off from there.) The contemporary bands we selected were enabled to attract from steel or alt-rock, as long as their 70s prog origins were still noticeable. We left out a multitude of bands– from

Steely Dan

to

10cc to XTC to Radiohead– that often tend to be enjoyed by prog followers, however are actually off in some various other round. Inevitably, we needed to vomit our hands and also state the easiest method to rule whether something was prog rock or otherwise was “you just recognize it when you hear it.” Listen to the very best prog rock on Spotify.

50: Aphrodite’s Child

Originally a hefty psychedelic band, the Greek band Aphrodite’s Child provided among prog rock’s visionary idea cds in the dual impressive 666, a wild mind journey freely regarding a taking a trip circus reveal that plays throughout the armageddon. Unsurprisingly, renowned aesthetic musician Salvador Dali was a substantial follower. Aphrodite leader

Vangelis

Papathanassiou had grand visions of composing movie soundtracks, which he at some point did to fantastic success– however he hardly ever matched the audacity of this job. 49: Tangerine Dream Along with Kraftwerk, no band did greater than

Tangerine Dream

to increase the opportunities of the synthesizer. Throughout their prime time they utilized virtually absolutely nothing else, and also invoked an amazing collection of soundscapes and also environments, improvisating easily throughout online programs. 48: Fragile A modern-day band with a traditional noise, the European-based Fragile functioned as a Yes homage band prior to they began composing their very own product. Their 2022 initial launch Beyond is close as it reaches a shed Yes cd, in the traditional mold and mildew of a side-long and also 2 half-side tracks. It’s all upped a couple of notches by the vocal singing of Claire Hamill, whose return to consists of a job with Wishbone Ash and also a look on a Steve Howe solo cd. She’s so great with Fragile that you need to question why Yes never ever came trying to find her.

47: Nektar

Admired by Frank Zappa (that selected them as his opening up band in 1973), Nektar broadened the spacier side of very early Pink Floyd with an increased feeling of songcraft. Their 2 peak cds, A Tab in the Ocean and also

Remember the Future

, are as tuneful as they are trippy.

46: Camel

The initial Camel was developed around 2 first-rate musicians– guitar player Andy Latimer and also the late keyboardist Peter Bardens– and also was mostly a springboard for their important fireworks. Gradually the band came to be extra song-oriented, Bardens left, and also a revolving actors of gamers can be found in, consisting of a handful of ex-Caravaners. The one constant is Latimer, that constantly discovers himself some worthwhile companions to compete with.

45: Kansas

Embraced by AOR radio and also promoted by Don Kirshner, Kansas are usually secured as the industrial side of prog rock. As well as while there was a great deal of sincere songs on their classic cds (a minimum of prior to the initial schedule splintered in 1982), they constantly firmly insisted that the songs success of “Carry On Wayward Son” and also “Dust in the Wind” were crashes. In any case, couple of prog bands made much better use violin, or touches of rustic Americana.

44: Spock’s Beard

Reviving classic-model prog rock when it was primarily old-fashioned, Spock’s Beard presented the skills of Neal Morse, that would certainly go onto turned into one of prog’s most respected and also melodically innovative authors (and also, at some point, the godfather of Christian-themed prog). The Morse schedule bailed out with its magnum piece, the dual impressive Snow, however later on launched some worthwhile cds after he would certainly proceeded.

43: Sky

What do you obtain when among the globe’s finest timeless guitar players chooses to develop a rock band? You obtain Sky, which signed up with the well-known John Williams with a schedule consisting of Curved Air’s keyboardist Francis Monkman, and also the bassist (Herbie Flowers) that made Lou Reed’s “Walk on bush Side” so enduring. While lots of prog rockers meddled symphonic music, Sky was simply the reverse: Most of them recognized timeless throughout, so rock was interesting brand-new region. 42: Babe Ruth This very early 70s band was one-of-a-kind in a couple of means: They had a solid frontwoman, they did prog rock with a solid jazz/blues angle, and also their very first cd cover (

First Base

) noted the only time Roger Dean ever before attracted baseball gamers. Guitar player Alan Shacklock went onto come to be an 80s manufacturer of note; he and also vocalist Jenny Haan continue to be in the revitalized schedule. 41: Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) This long-running Italian band had a fairly short, however marvelous job making English-language cds for ELP’s Manticore tag. Over those 5 cds they progressively changed their mild pastoral noise right into something a lot harder billing. Their United States online cd

Cook

, mostly videotaped at a Central Park reveal with ELP, is among the extra eruptive online prog rock cds you’ll ever before listen to.

40: Strawbs

English country rock overlapped with prog rock numerous times, however Strawbs were set down exactly on the cusp, doing daring legendaries with origins in typical balladry. Dave Cousins confirmed to be among the extra significant vocalists in either category. The title track of their most renowned cd Hero & & Heroine is among minority fantastic prog tracks regarding dependency, and also includes rising Mellotron from Rick Wakeman’s ultimate substitute in the band, John Hawken.

39: The Pineapple Thief

Led by singer/writer Bruce Soord, this Somerset quartet is extra regarding reflective songwriting than important fireworks, though they can extend when the state of mind requires it. At their ideal, they continue the spirit of vintage Police and also Peter Gabriel, and also they’ve recently obtained a kick with the enhancement of King Crimson/Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison.

38: The Tangent

The Tangent is mostly the creation of singer/keyboardist Andy Tillison, among one of the most initial lyricists in contemporary prog rock. He’s had many partners for many years consisting of a couple of traditional prog stars. The 2020 cd

Auto Reconaissance

showed off 2 thoughtful legendaries, one regarding a New York journey and also one tackling the British sociopolitical environment.

37: Marillion

One of minority bands that maintained the prog rock flag flying in the 80s and also past, Marillion constantly maintained their ears open (they’ve also covered Radiohead) and also usually maintained their verses topical, while remaining real to the dramatization of classic prog. Some followers like the staged strategy of initial vocalist Fish, others the characteristically British strategy of long time frontman Steve Hogarth. In any case, the band’s criteria have actually constantly continued to be high.

36: Big Big Train

If you like your prog rock to seem characteristically British with a solid ariose touch, Big Big Train will certainly be your contemporary band of selection. Till 2020 the band consisted of long time prog fanatic and also ex-XTC guitar player Dave Gregory; the present drummer is Nick D’Virgilio of Spock’s Beard and also Genesis popularity. Regretfully, a crash in late 2021 took the life of David Longdon, among one of the most stirring vocalists in contemporary prog.

35: Hawkwind

Many prog rock bands developed out of psychedelia however Hawkwind never ever quit being psychedelic. Best-known for their free-form area trips, they additionally had some remarkable realistic minutes, like the proto-punk solitary “Silver Machine” (sung by their then-bassist Lemmy) and also 1977’s “Quark, Strangeness & & Charm,” where they teased rewardingly with New Wave. Initial participant Dave Brock has actually maintained the band up all these years. 34: UK Arguably the last traditional prog rock band, UK had 2 distinctive versions, both including the awesome group of keyboardist Eddie Jobson and also singer/bassist John Wetton. The very first schedule had drummer Bill Bruford and also guitar player Allan Holdsworth, that did their ideal to guide the band towards jazz. In the triad schedule with drummer Terry Bozzio, Jobson came to be a full-fledged key-board hero while Wetton created the pop knowledge he would certainly give Asia. 33: Procol Harum Prog rock isn’t typically R&B- based, however Procol Harum are the fantastic exemption; a lot of its essential participants were initially in a pure R&B band, the Paramounts. As well as their very first standard, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” located the missing out on web link in between Otis Redding, Bach, and also psychedelia. They were additionally leaders in side-long collections, grand setups, and also thoughtful verses– all 3 of which played right into their 1968 traditional, “In Held ‘T was In I.” The stunning voice of the now-departed Gary Brooker prices as one of prog’s finest.

32: The Flower Kings

Led by singer/guitarist Roine Stolt, this Swedish band has several of the toughest structures in contemporary prog rock, usually leading towards the enchanting side however preserving a somewhat eccentric, Zappa-esque touch in their setups. They’re additionally incredibly respected: Their late-2021 dual cd

Islands

was the very first noteworthy prog cd to handle the pandemic, and also they provided an additional solid dual cd, By Royal Decree, simply 6 months later on. 31: The Mars Volta Coming from the not likely resource of 2 previous At the Drive-In participants, the Mars Volta distilled a distinctly gonzoid, noticeably contemporary vision of prog rock– thick with music info, metal sides, over-the-top stories, and also a macabre funny bone. It seems equally as rough as King Crimson songs appeared in 1969. 30: Caravan One of the front runner Canterbury bands,

Caravan

provided themselves the ground to do pure pop in addition to lengthy improvisational tracks (and also in the very early days, a couple of does of wayward British psychedelia). For lots of followers, that very first schedule that made

In the Land of Grey & & Pink(* )continues to be the best. The single constant participant Pye Hastings continues to be one of prog rock’s fantastic tunesmiths and also the remainder of the schedule is constantly worthwhile; they’ve made a premium Caravan cd (

It’s None of Your Business

) as lately as 2022.

29: Dream Theater

The kings of prog rock steel, Dream Theater, are the only band right here consisted of Berklee College of Music grads. The band is so gifted with music chops that they can be virtually tiring. They additionally recognize the worth of a low-cost excitement, whether it’s a magnificent ariose style or a sandy steel riff. Initial participant Mike Portnoy’s drumming is completely jaw-dropping by itself.

28: Crack the Sky

This West Virginia band was quickly a crucial experience with its 1975 launching, a special mix of difficult important turns, eccentric Zappa-esque wit, and also mile-wide, radio-friendly hooks. Industrial success really did not come, however they remained on this distinctive course for years; since 2022 the band still has the core of its initial schedule.

27: Magma Grand opera fulfills blend fulfills area traveling, with some reimagined church songs included– done in a language that the eccentric French band comprised. Led by the dazzling drummer Christian Vander, this band was prog rock at its most abstract. These years, absolutely nothing seems fairly like it. 26: Focus As for the pop graphes go, Focus is a one-hit marvel with “Hocus Pocus.” (If you reside in the UK, you could additionally recognize “Sylvia.”) The Dutch quartet has actually shown the most strong of prog rock bands, rejoining in 2004 and also remaining real to their initial goal of integrating jazz improvisation, classically-inspired make-up, and also rock power. Multi-instrumentalist Thijs van Leer continues to be at the helm, classic-era drummer Pierre van der Linden is still a propulsive pressure, and also the thrilling important trips continue to be in position. 25: Soft Machine

Soft Machine’s cds fall under 2 groups: The very first and also all the others. That self-titled launching continues to be among the fantastic British psych/prog cds, with singer/bassist Kevin Ayers and also singer/drummer Robert Wyatt both providing a special eccentricity. After Ayers left, the tracks came to be mostly important, and also keyboardist Mike Ratledge recognized his vision of Soft Machine as a horn-heavy, occasionally progressive jazz-rock band. Their 3rd cd continues to be a groundbreaker, a dual LP with one tune per side.

24: Be Bop Deluxe

Led by the showy singer/guitarist Bill Nelson, Be Bop Deluxe stood at the crossroads of prog rock and also glam, integrating innovative setups with a Bowie-derived feeling of advanced design. They located their very own groove by the time of their outstanding online cd

Live! Airborne Age and also its workshop follow-up Drastic Plastic

, among the prog globe’s most persuading reactions to punk. Nelson continues to be unstoppable, his post-Be Bop Deluxe cds number more than a hundred.

23: Utopia Originally an electrical outlet for leader Todd Rundgren’s larger passions, Utopia developed a not likely blend of pop tune and also Mahavishnu-like instrumentals (and also temporarily, had Luther Vandross as a back-up vocalist). When the traditional four-piece schedule entered into location, Rundgren had a band where everybody can be a frontman, which can do the trickiest legendaries and also the sweetest pop numbers to just as solid result. 22: Echolyn While lots of contemporary bands are attracted to the louder and also severe side of prog rock, Pennsylvania’s Echolyn are extra right into the tunes and also the rising important motifs. Both were propounded particularly great usage on their 2002 cd mei

, which discovers many psychological tones and also interlacing songs over a solitary, 45-minute item.

21: Return to Forever

With the feasible exemption of the just as planetary Mahavisnhu Orchestra, no blend band had a higher influence on prog rock and also the other way around. As well as couple of prog collections are full without

Romantic Warrior Credit score that partially to Chick Corea being the leader: You desired key-board heroics, he had them to save; and also he was amongst the very first jazzmen to buy synths. RTF’s fantasy/sci-fi images additionally made them prog-friendly, as did the amazing solos. Simply ask Yes, whose Relayer is strongly in Return To Forever’s financial debt. 20: Anglagard

Studio cds by this Swedish band have actually been infrequent: Nearly twenty years passed in between their 2nd and also 3rd. Each one has actually been carefully crafted and also worth the delay. They utilize periodic vocals, the band’s actual stamina is its complex, classically-informed instrumentals, which hark back to Crimson’s prettier minutes and also Genesis’ extra significant ones.

19: Haken

Though this contemporary band attracts from steel, they’re not prog-metal in itself: Rather, they focus on grand, sweeping legendaries that bring a variety of audios right into play. Their thematically linked set of dual CD’s,

Vector and also Virus, ranking as one of the wealthiest jobs by a prog rock band in the previous years. 18: Can

You can say regarding whether Can were really prog rock (they sure do not seem like any person else on this checklist), however they were without a doubt dynamic, locating balanced and also sonic opportunities that would certainly affect bands from everywhere years later on. Soaked in the progressive, Can can additionally be danceable, particularly in the last days when they had an honest-to-God nightclub hit, “I Want More” in the UK graphes.

17: The Moody Blues The Moodies might have shed several of their prog rock cred when they moved towards popular song in the 80s, however the cds followers call the “traditional 7” ( Days of Future Passed with to Seventh Sojourn

) were groundbreaking in every method, with their constant circulation and also accepting of spacey and also spiritual motifs; and also Mike Pinder’s almost making Mellotron a common speech.

16: Gong There were many Gong‘s, so which one are we discussing? Every one of them, obviously. Under Daevid Allen’s initial management, they integrated hallucinogenic fancifulness with vast important chops. Complying with the transitional cd Shamal

(on which Mike Howlett, later on a prominent manufacturer, make his single bow as a diva), drummer Pierre Moerlen changed Gong right into a percussion-based important band, integrating rock and also gamelan. Allen later on returned and also he continues to be Gong’s assisting light, also if he no more strolls the earth.

15: Le Orme This longrunning Italian band symbolizes the whole background of prog rock, starting as an enthusiastic, psych-tinged band in the late 60s. They were totally right into symphonic prog by 1974, at which time they made the spots, sci-fi idea cd Felona e Sorna, with verses by Peter Hammill (that quickly explored as their diva). Prior to striking a poppier stage in the 80s, Le Orme made an additional spots with 1979’s Florian

, perhaps the very first totally acoustic prog cd.

14: Gentle Giant Now thought about among the ultimate prog rock bands, Gentle Giant had reasonably little industrial success in their day. It had not been for absence of attempting: They enjoyed to be diabolically difficult, however they additionally enjoyed to be available and also rock out (siblings Ray and also Derek Shulman specifically came to be effective manufacturers and also A&R execs). On their ideal minutes, particularly the still-timely political idea cd The Power & & the Glory, they obtained it exactly on both matters. 13: Jethro Tull

Prog rock was among lots of stages Jethro Tull underwent; they accepted it totally (and also sent it up simply a little bit) on the album-length legendaries

Thick As a Brick and also A Passion Play

Ian Anderson has actually considering that provided a variety of stylistic left turns, consisting of a folk-rock trilogy, a debatable synth-pop stage, and also a go back to stripped-down blues rock. The 2022 Tull cd

The Zealot Gene located their progginess welling up when again. 12: Opeth

Even in their fatality steel days, this Swedish band constantly teased with prog rock, composing impressive tracks with and also without grumbles. This actually progressed on 2001’s Blackwater Park

, a spots cd that brought the 2 globes with each other on equivalent ground; it was additionally their very first partnership with Steven Wilson that brought the steel impact back to Porcupine Tree. The strength continued to be, Opeth obtained regularly proggier on all future cds.

11: Renaissance It’s a weird trait of destiny that Renaissance, one of the most elaborate and also classically-based of prog rock bands, started as an offshoot of the blueswailing Yardbirds (though ex-Yardbird creators Keith Relf and also Jim McCarty were both passed the moment the band actually captured on). Renaissance is most related to frontwoman Annie Haslam, whose angelic tones came to be the archetype for women vocalists in prog. Her rising vocals on course like “Ashes Are Burning” have actually hardly ever been equated to. 10: Porcupine Tree Much as any type of various other band, Porcupine Tree brought prog rock kicking and also howling right into the contemporary period, integrating alt-rock and also whip steel, in addition to Steven Wilson’s noticeably irritable songwriting. Perhaps their biggest cd, Fear of a Blank Planet

, handles modern-world agony in unwavering terms, yet its origins in traditional prog are still apparent.

9: Emerson, Lake & & Palmer Arguably, ELP just functioned due to the fact that it was a supergroup. The flamboyant and also prodigiously talented keyboardist Keith Emerson would certainly have bewildered most various other bands. Thankfully, in this situation, he had a first-rate rhythm area in Lake and also Palmer, and also a sweetheart singer in Lake. They made a couple of stabs at pop, however side-long legendaries like “Tarkus” and also “Karn Evil 9” are their real tradition. 8: Transatlantic

Everyone in Transatlantic had an account when they initially showed up in 2000– guitar player Roine Stolt from the Flower Kings, drummer Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater, bassist Pete Trewavas from Marillion, singer/keyboardist Neal Morse from Spock’s Beard. All wound up doing their finest job in this band, taking 70s prog rock as a beginning factor however providing it a modern-day, and also extremely individual angle. They’ve additionally carried out such theoretical accomplishments as a CD (

The Whirlwind) with one 77-minute tune, and also a cd ( The Absolute Universe

) that exists in totally various 60- and also 90-minute variations.

7: Pink Floyd Nobody did extra with the concept-album tool than Pink Floyd: Their traditional stretch of cds, from

Dark Side of the Moon

to The Wall, were massive legendaries that required to be experienced in their totality. Floyd were perhaps at their ideal when idea visionary Roger Waters and also guitar hero David Gilmour got on equivalent ground– yet the psychedelic impact of owner Syd Barrett never ever vanished. 6: Tool Arguably one of the most effective prog rock-inspired band of the previous twenty years, Tool shows that a band with high music passions can still make it in the contemporary globe. Equipped with thick, multi-layered structures and also a dark worldview, Tool can additionally hook you in with their even more straight shaking minutes. The current

Fear Inoculum

has components of classic Floyd and also Rush, yet its style of putting at risk armageddon (and also some wish for preventing it) is as prompt as it obtains. 5: Genesis Genesis perhaps had one of the most fascinating profession course of them all: In 1974 they were a hugely creative, theatrically likely prog rock band with a vocalist keen on gowns and also fox masks, and also priceless long shot of a success. 10 years later on, Genesis and also its previous and also existing participants (Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins) practically specified the pop mainstream. They never ever quit composing impressive tracks, and also Genesis continued to be complete of creativity also at their most industrial.

4: Van der Graaf Generator

Fronted by the particular Peter Hammill, Van der Graaf Generator was constantly a band for deep thinkers: Their verses penetrated existential situations, or considered the darker edges of connections. Musically they attracted from raw rock and also complimentary jazz, slipping in minutes of ariose elegance when you the very least anticipated them. No surprise they was among minority prog rock bands that 70s punks appreciated: John Lydon was notoriously a follower of Nadir’s Big Chance, a main Hammill solo cd that included the complete band. 3: Rush Rush began life as a hard-rock triad and also when pressed, they would certainly still firmly insist that’s what they were. They invested their complete profession proactively advancing, taking whatever seems captured their expensive and also doing it their very own method, prior to bowing out with perhaps their most enthusiastic idea cd Clockwork Angels