Top 10 Progressive Rock Bands

this genre has captivated fans with its

this genre has captivated fans with its spirit of adventure and ambition

spirit of adventure and ambition

spirit of adventure and ambition spawning countless concept albums and

spawning countless concept albums and

spawning countless concept albums and synthesizer solos

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten progressive rock bands

for this list we’ve based our choices on

for this list we’ve based our choices on the popularity and impact of bands that

the popularity and impact of bands that

the popularity and impact of bands that spent a large portion of their career

spent a large portion of their career

spent a large portion of their career recording albums to fit into a

recording albums to fit into a

recording albums to fit into a progressive rock and or metal category

the acts must have released more than

the acts must have released more than one album that can be classified under

one album that can be classified under

one album that can be classified under the genre whether it’s through elaborate

the genre whether it’s through elaborate

the genre whether it’s through elaborate musical arrangements concept records or

musical arrangements concept records or

musical arrangements concept records or lengthy Suites

before children

before children formed in England in the late 60s Jethro

formed in England in the late 60s Jethro

formed in England in the late 60s Jethro Tull’s career has been dominated by the

Tull’s career has been dominated by the

Tull’s career has been dominated by the presence of lead singer and songwriter

presence of lead singer and songwriter

presence of lead singer and songwriter Ian Anderson

his flute playing often provided the

his flute playing often provided the unifying characteristic in the band’s

unifying characteristic in the band’s

unifying characteristic in the band’s music as its style shifted between foki

music as its style shifted between foki

music as its style shifted between foki ramblings and harder rocking ravers

ramblings and harder rocking ravers

ramblings and harder rocking ravers meanwhile songs like Aqualung

transcended the progressive genre and

transcended the progressive genre and became staples on classic rock radio

proving that the progressive rock

proving that the progressive rock movement still had life passed the 70s

movement still had life passed the 70s

movement still had life passed the 70s tool emerged from Los Angeles in the 90s

tool emerged from Los Angeles in the 90s

tool emerged from Los Angeles in the 90s with a thunderous sound that could not

with a thunderous sound that could not

with a thunderous sound that could not be ignored

although they only released four albums

although they only released four albums in the span of 15 years between 1991 and

in the span of 15 years between 1991 and

in the span of 15 years between 1991 and 2006 each one them critical acclaim and

2006 each one them critical acclaim and

2006 each one them critical acclaim and legions of fans they’ve even scored

legions of fans they’ve even scored

legions of fans they’ve even scored three Grammy win

with vocalist Maynard James Keenan

with vocalist Maynard James Keenan bellowing over sprawling heavy-metal

bellowing over sprawling heavy-metal

bellowing over sprawling heavy-metal infused songs with inventive videos tool

infused songs with inventive videos tool

infused songs with inventive videos tool became an unlikely MTV Bend as well

Emerson and Greg Lake for each part of

Emerson and Greg Lake for each part of successful British bands in the 60s

successful British bands in the 60s

successful British bands in the 60s before joining forces with drummer Carl

before joining forces with drummer Carl

before joining forces with drummer Carl Palmer in 1970

the first so-called supergroups PLP

the first so-called supergroups PLP sound was dominated by Emerson’s

sound was dominated by Emerson’s

sound was dominated by Emerson’s keyboards who brought in classical

keyboards who brought in classical

keyboards who brought in classical influences and helped popularize the use

influences and helped popularize the use

influences and helped popularize the use of the synthesizer in rock and roll the

of the synthesizer in rock and roll the

of the synthesizer in rock and roll the hit lucky man from their debut album

hit lucky man from their debut album

hit lucky man from their debut album paved the way for a series of highly

paved the way for a series of highly

paved the way for a series of highly successful and influential albums for

successful and influential albums for

successful and influential albums for the band in the early 70s and beyond

those who thought the progressive rock

those who thought the progressive rock movement couldn’t last into the new

movement couldn’t last into the new

movement couldn’t last into the new millennium coheed and cambria proved

millennium coheed and cambria proved

millennium coheed and cambria proved them wrong

even though the band formed in 1995 they

even though the band formed in 1995 they didn’t release their first album until

didn’t release their first album until

didn’t release their first album until 2002 which was the first in a series of

2002 which was the first in a series of

2002 which was the first in a series of albums that are all tied into an

albums that are all tied into an

albums that are all tied into an overarching science fiction narrative

but none of those trappings would be

but none of those trappings would be effective without the inventive music

effective without the inventive music

effective without the inventive music and potent lyrics the band consistently

and potent lyrics the band consistently

and potent lyrics the band consistently conjures with those elements together

conjures with those elements together

conjures with those elements together and it’s clear why coheed and cambria

and it’s clear why coheed and cambria

and it’s clear why coheed and cambria has such a loyal following

guitarist Robert Fripp is the core

guitarist Robert Fripp is the core member of this progressive rock outfit

member of this progressive rock outfit

member of this progressive rock outfit with a consistently changing lineup

their debut album 1969’s in the Court of

their debut album 1969’s in the Court of the Crimson King established many of the

the Crimson King established many of the

the Crimson King established many of the tenets on which progressive rock was

tenets on which progressive rock was

tenets on which progressive rock was based

the band was able to shift from hard

the band was able to shift from hard rockin tunes to quiet

rockin tunes to quiet

rockin tunes to quiet weightless jams in a heartbeat

weightless jams in a heartbeat

weightless jams in a heartbeat Oh

this English band was one of the few

this English band was one of the few progressive rock bands that had rock

progressive rock bands that had rock

progressive rock bands that had rock radio success thanks to their accessible

radio success thanks to their accessible

radio success thanks to their accessible melodies and singer John Anderson’s

melodies and singer John Anderson’s

melodies and singer John Anderson’s unique high-pitched voice

the band’s multifaceted musical

the band’s multifaceted musical arrangements and multi-tracked

arrangements and multi-tracked

arrangements and multi-tracked harmonies also helped them stand out

harmonies also helped them stand out

harmonies also helped them stand out from the pack

yes even had comeback success in the MTV

yes even had comeback success in the MTV era scoring a huge 80’s hit an owner of

era scoring a huge 80’s hit an owner of

era scoring a huge 80’s hit an owner of a lonely heart and although they’ve

a lonely heart and although they’ve

a lonely heart and although they’ve changed lineups often they’ve remained a

changed lineups often they’ve remained a

changed lineups often they’ve remained a musical force

this Boston band carved out a niche for

this Boston band carved out a niche for themselves during the grunge era of the

themselves during the grunge era of the

themselves during the grunge era of the early 90s

early 90s

early 90s thanks to their amazing technical

thanks to their amazing technical

thanks to their amazing technical ability as instrumentalists

Green Theatre has always come down on

Green Theatre has always come down on the heavy-metal side of the progressive

the heavy-metal side of the progressive

the heavy-metal side of the progressive rock spectrum but even when playing at

rock spectrum but even when playing at

rock spectrum but even when playing at light speed guitarist John Petrucci and

light speed guitarist John Petrucci and

light speed guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Young never let things

bassist John Young never let things

bassist John Young never let things degenerate into a loud mess

power and precision of Dream Theater is

power and precision of Dream Theater is why they are prog rock royalty

number three Genesis I’m dreamed a

number three Genesis I’m dreamed a thousand dreams

thousand dreams

thousand dreams many fans know Genesis from their years

many fans know Genesis from their years

many fans know Genesis from their years with Phil Collins as the lead singer

with Phil Collins as the lead singer

with Phil Collins as the lead singer when they were hugely successful

when they were hugely successful

when they were hugely successful hitmakers

but there was a time when Collins was

but there was a time when Collins was just the drummer and Peter Gabriel was

just the drummer and Peter Gabriel was

just the drummer and Peter Gabriel was the lead singer

that was when the band made their impact

that was when the band made their impact in the world of progressive rock

in the world of progressive rock

in the world of progressive rock thanks to their intricate instrumental

thanks to their intricate instrumental

thanks to their intricate instrumental chemistry and Gabriel’s charisma as the

chemistry and Gabriel’s charisma as the

chemistry and Gabriel’s charisma as the frontman

no matter who was out in front though

no matter who was out in front though Genesis is a band for the ages

number two rush a monthly worry of me

number two rush a monthly worry of me means drive today stumped so you me

means drive today stumped so you me

means drive today stumped so you me drive with only three main men in the

drive with only three main men in the

drive with only three main men in the band you might wonder how such

band you might wonder how such

band you might wonder how such mesmerizingly intricate music is made by

mesmerizingly intricate music is made by

mesmerizingly intricate music is made by Russian

the Canadian trio of Geddy Lee Alex

the Canadian trio of Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson and Neil Pierce has built one of

Lifeson and Neil Pierce has built one of

Lifeson and Neil Pierce has built one of the most devoted fan bases in music

the most devoted fan bases in music

the most devoted fan bases in music which is one reason why they now reside

which is one reason why they now reside

which is one reason why they now reside in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

pure playing walloping drums and penning

pure playing walloping drums and penning philosophically probing lyrics and Lee

philosophically probing lyrics and Lee

philosophically probing lyrics and Lee singing in his penetrating nasal voice

singing in his penetrating nasal voice

singing in his penetrating nasal voice rush is one of the most distinctive

rush is one of the most distinctive

rush is one of the most distinctive bands in any genre

before we unveil our top picks here are

before we unveil our top picks here are a few honorable mentions

after starting off in the early 60s in

after starting off in the early 60s in the British underground rock scene Pink

the British underground rock scene Pink

the British underground rock scene Pink Floyd hit the mainstream with a series

Floyd hit the mainstream with a series

Floyd hit the mainstream with a series of blockbuster albums during the

of blockbuster albums during the

of blockbuster albums during the following decade

the dark side of the moon and the wall

the dark side of the moon and the wall are two of the 70s defining albums

are two of the 70s defining albums

are two of the 70s defining albums combining atmospheric musical passages

combining atmospheric musical passages

combining atmospheric musical passages with Roger Waters biting lyrics about

with Roger Waters biting lyrics about

with Roger Waters biting lyrics about heavy topics like war and insanity did

heavy topics like war and insanity did

heavy topics like war and insanity did did you see the frightened ones did you

did you see the frightened ones did you

did you see the frightened ones did you hear the father

hear the father

hear the father although group infighting slowed their

although group infighting slowed their

although group infighting slowed their progress in the 80s Pink Floyd still

progress in the 80s Pink Floyd still

progress in the 80s Pink Floyd still stands as the preeminent prog rock band

stands as the preeminent prog rock band

stands as the preeminent prog rock band of their era

do you agree with our list what’s your

do you agree with our list what’s your favorite progressive rock band for more

Top 10 Progressive Rock Bands

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