1980; prog is "dead," and I am going into a record store to buy a live album from some Brit metal band that I had not heard of before. Indeed, most of the country did know about Judas Priest, in 1980, but "Livin' After Midnight" served to change that...and I digress.
Walking into Licorice Pizza (remember that chain, back in the day?), I heard this music that sounds like an old Marlboro commercial, coming from the store's sound system. Suddenly, the Marlboro fanfare is jettisoned for some pulsating space-rock, and my musical sensibilities are aroused. By the time the layered vocal harmonies kick in, my curiosity is piqued, and I ask the counter guy what is playing. Anyone with sufficient awareness of Yes (and what inspired them; indeed, the old Marlboro spot WAS the inspiration for the opening seconds of "The Yes Album," per Jon Anderson) can easily figure out that it was "Yours is No Disgrace" that served to change my life.
By 1981, I had moved beyond the 70's hard rock of my early teens, and was into Yes, and Rush ("Moving Pictures" came out, at that time), with ELP and Crimson following suit. By mid-1984, I owned most of the discographies, and had seen 3 of the aforementioned bands live (ELP would have to wait until 1986).
Mind you, I had already been a musician for over 10 years, playing in youth and high school ensembles, as I grew up in the 70's. Chris, and a few of his luminary contemporaries made me pick up the bass, at the age of 18, and I have never looked back.