Why did prog rock never have mass popularity?

[58kites]

Who wouldn't?
Bit it's hardly the formula for mass success. Some rock bands realized this (Rush with Moving Pictures, Yes with 90125) and changed their formula, and became more successful.

My point exactly ...who wouldn't? ....they all would and they all did want success.
Lots of bands did not follow the formula for success.
Prog, Punk, Metal, Glam, Grunge, Southern Rock, Psychadelic rock came along as something new that was not following the current formula.
The good ones succeeded and made popular their new thing.
As you said, Rush changed to be more popular, and Yes changed to try to stay relevant/continue the success they had with a number of their other albums with a different line-up.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Bands like Dream Theater made me hate the genre. I saw them perform that 2 hour long album and it made me think there was nothing musical about their “concept” albums.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Bands like Dream Theater made me hate the genre.

I want ^^^that on a t-shirt

 

[Captain Chaos]

I want ^^^that on a t-shirt

It’s copyrighted.

 

[51PRI]

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

Because the music is complicated and un-danceable.

 

[Neil Folkard]

Because the music is complicated and un-danceable.

Not that I've read the entire thread...or have I, lol, but a few have certainly chimed in that they can dance quite easily to odd-metered passages. And that it's not so unusual in other cultures. Of course, in the western pop world, quite right, the masses likely can't.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

The short attention span of the radio listening public.

 

[Neil Folkard]

ok here is my second solo album on Bandcamp. Michael Manring also plays on one track.
Each track is different so you 'have to' check them all!
You can also find the first album there. Let me know what you think!

Hey there. I have had time to go through the whole album now. Very interesting subject matter, and I think that you have captured the vibe of the ocean and an underwater feel quite well. It's an interesting mix of styles...sometimes I think fusion, sometimes space rock, sometimes world music, sometimes funk, all to good effect.

Interestingly, the keyboard sounds used are not necessarily ones that I would normally gravitate to, but in this case I think that they fit the theme and feel of the music perfectly. Guitar comes in for good textural and enhancing effect, but doesn't dominate.

As a predominantly fretless player myself, no way can I not mention some very tasty fretless bass playing. The mwah is beautifully placed in the compositions, and again, suits the subject matter perfectly. May I ask what fretless bass you are using, and the strings employed?

And having Michael Manring on a track is never a bad thing, haha!

My favourite tracks on first listen are Bass of Doom (great title!) and Psychedelic Frog Fish. Thanks for sharing and I must like it, because I'm about to buy the download from bandcamp.

 

[Les Fret]

Hey there. I have had time to go through the whole album now. Very interesting subject matter, and I think that you have captured the vibe of the ocean and an underwater feel quite well. It's an interesting mix of styles...sometimes I think fusion, sometimes space rock, sometimes world music, sometimes funk, all to good effect.

Interestingly, the keyboard sounds used are not necessarily ones that I would normally gravitate to, but in this case I think that they fit the theme and feel of the music perfectly. Guitar comes in for good textural and enhancing effect, but doesn't dominate.

As a predominantly fretless player myself, no way can I not mention some very tasty fretless bass playing. The mwah is beautifully placed in the compositions, and again, suits the subject matter perfectly. May I ask what fretless bass you are using, and the strings employed?

And having Michael Manring on a track is never a bad thing, haha!

My favourite tracks on first listen are Bass of Doom (great title!) and Psychedelic Frog Fish. Thanks for sharing and I must like it, because I'm about to buy the download from bandcamp.

Thanks for the compliments! Glad you like it and downloaded it.

As for the fretless: I played most parts on my RMI custom 6 string fretless and some parts on my Wal MK1 4 string fretless. On both I use D’addario round wounds.

I am also happy that Michael Manring played on the album. Really like his fretless lines and Ebow solo.

 

[Jeff Scott]

We need more bands like this one.

 

[db59]

Because you can’t dance to it.

I don't believe Dick Clark ever gave it higher than a 4.5 to dance to

 

[Bighouse]

I think a huge reason Prog rock never had mass popularity is that most song lengths for prog rock are a lot longer than the average radio play song length. So, radio stations can't satisfy a large, diverse audience ear if they were to play a 3 song block with one prog rock song. Heck rarely did you ever ear the full length version of anything very approachable like American Pie, let alone something that required a bit more adventurous listening that Prog rock songs do. I'm sure DJ's are always fearful of listeners flipping the channel if a song lasts too long, and they don't get around to playing something others like to hear as well. Let along finding time for commercial breaks!

Hmm...three 3:30 long pop songs, or one prog rock song...which is going to keep a more diverse audience from channel surfing?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I think a huge reason Prog rock never had mass popularity is that most song lengths for prog rock are a lot longer than the average listener's attention span.

FIFY

 

[MidnightRunner]

FIFY

Yep

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Prog aimed at the mind expanding droogs crowd. By the mid to late 70s the western world was rejecting the Electric Kool Aid Acid test and moving back towards booze.
Booze= frat rock...

 

[MidnightRunner]

Prog is uncommercial music in general.
Something as King Crimson's "Starless" just cannot have commercial appeal.

 

[pepj]

thankfully

 

[Markmann]

ok here is my second solo album on Bandcamp. Michael Manring also plays on one track.
Each track is different so you 'have to' check them all!
You can also find the first album there. Let me know what you think!

Wow man, that album is excellent! I also checked out your first one and it's equally great but different. What's interesting is when I search your name on Bandcamp only the first album show up. The second only shows under the Subcontinental label page. Ok, back to the music... your bass playing is fabulous and to me is reminiscent of Percy Jones playing with Brand X who is one of my favorite players. Your music is not quite like anything I have ever heard and I love every track. FYI, I am also on Bandcamp and you might like the first track on my second EP, but only because it's (at least to me) a cross between prog and space rock and the track opens with a bass solo:

 

[Markmann]

I'm pretty sure most prog bands would have liked to be massively popular.
Keeps them from having to get day jobs and gets them nice cars, nice gear, big houses and so on.

My brother is friends with the family of the late, Alan Holdsworth, and he told me that even though Alan was one of the greatest guitar players of all time he never made much money. At one point he had to sell gear in order to get home after a recording session. That's just sad.

 

[turf3]

Young women who don't have much rhythm can't dance to it.