Why did prog rock never have mass popularity?

[Jeff Scott]

I'm sure they liked it, too



Gryphon

I first heard of Gryphon when they opened for Yes in November '74 in Indianapolis.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Peter Gabriel should hire Phil Collins to dub all of his recorded vocals, because his own voice is so raspy.

 

[Michedelic]

Peter Gabriel should hire Phil Collins to dub all of his recorded vocals, because his own voice is so raspy.

Collins isn’t in any shape to do much of anything at this point, and Gabriel’s voice has always been raspy. So what? Then factor in the ravages of time.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Peter Gabriel should hire Phil Collins to dub all of his recorded vocals, because his own voice is so raspy.

That's what I always liked about Peter's voice.

 

[LBS-bass]

Black Box - Everybody Everybody (Official Video) - YouTube

I thought this was a Homestar Runner reference. If anyone even gets that, you have my respect.

 

[5StringBlues]

I thought this was a Homestar Runner reference. If anyone even gets that, you have my respect.

I'm still respect free then.

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm still respect free then.

It's probably not a bad thing

 

[ElectroVibe]

Martin Page said that Peter Gabriel influenced the music for "We Built This City" by Jefferson Starship, which he wrote the music for. Personally I don't hear a similarity in the finished song.

I hated this kind of mainstream 80s rock when it first came out. Now I love it. I would rather listen to this song 50 times rather than any early Airplane hit from the 60s even once, as of now.

 

[fhm555]

Back in the 90's, a very busy band I was in was reviewing and freshening up our setlist, and our drummer wanted to add Roundabout. One of our guitar players replied...
"Your average nonmusical music consumer has zero interest in listening to endless musical masturbation over nonsense lyrics."

 

[Tom Bomb]

Waits, for the hits that never come, wouldn't have it any other way. Thank goodness
​

 

[MidnightRunner]

My ex wife and former fiance both called King Crimson "what the f*** is that?" Music... we're not together anymore.

King Crimson was easily the least commercially successful out of the big classic prog names (Yes, Rush, Genesis, ELP, Tull, Kansas and some people would add Pink Floyd but personally I don't consider them prog really). Out of all their albums only ITCOTKC went Gold in the US and UK. According to their commercial success we can also conclude they were probably THE LEAST APPEALING to the general rock public out of the mentioned classic prog greats.

 

[MidnightRunner]

Gentle Giant, Camel and Van Der Graaf Generator are great prog bands but only prog fans recognize those band names.

 

[amper]

Your thoughts?
Why was prog rock less successful than other styles/subgenres of rock music?

Because the entire point of prog is to not be popular, it’s to be cerebral. It’s complexity in music for the sake of complexity in music, and it doesn’t move booties on the dance floor. The way human brains perceive music is intimately intertwined with how human bodies move; Adam Neely just released a really good video about this very topic.

The very nature of popularity means appealing to common denominators.

 

[amper]

Dark Side of the Moon is the fourth best selling album of all time, so I’m not sure I can buy into the premise that prog has no popularity.

Since when is Pink Floyd “prog”, tho?

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Since when is Pink Floyd “prog”, tho?

Floyd is Prog Lite. Some Pink Floyd compositions are heavy prog, like all (9?) Parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Last week I listened to Godley and Cremes album "L". Pure prog. Very Zappa influenced. All because I read a recent interview of Godley. "The label kept giving us money to compose and produce this type of music, which was surprising. So we did. I'm very grateful!".

 

[E2942]

Doesn't Tool have a huge fanbase?

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Since when is Pink Floyd “prog”, tho?

Since their inception.

 

[58kites]

I think Pink Floyd sort of created their own category, never really heard a band that is all that similar.
Same deal with Jethro Tull.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I think Pink Floyd sort of created their own category, never really heard a band that is all that similar.
Same deal with Jethro Tull.

Thick as a Brick was pure prog. One song on each side.