Big in prog circles but mostly unknown elsewhere

I like most of these bands.  Votes went to Eloy and Magma from the list. First vote for Other: Jade Warrior.

^Different bands and artists are popular in different locations. GG were never huge in the US but they did have a strong following and a few of their albums made it to the top 100 charts. Mike Oldfield was mentioned earlier. He's someone who was never very big in the US but was in other countries. He only had one gold album over here (no extra points for guessing which one). In the US most people other than prog fans and people really into and knowledgable about music probably never even heard of him. 

Psychedelic Paul wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Wow, everyone is on the board and no votes for other. This is a first. I'm kind of surprised there aren't more votes for Gentle Giant. I don't know anyone personally who's heard of Gentle Giant. If I ask them if they like Gentle Giant, they assume I'm asking if they like sweetcorn.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: That sounds about right. My two younger brothers have both heard of Mike Oldfield

Tubular Bells alone has sold over 18 million copies. He's huge. Only bands such as Eagles, Zeppelin, Beatles, Floyd... can match numbers like that.

richardh wrote: Hercules wrote: Just about all of them, really. But Camel is the most obvious choice. Ironically, I find nearly everyone who hears them (and that includes anyone I've ever had contact with) becomes a fan, but they didn't fit the classic mould (no charismatic front man/lead singer) and largely instrumental, so they didn't get exposed to the wider audience outside prog. Not sure about this, in the UK at that time Oldfield, Wakeman and Vangelis were selling tons and were well known outside of prog circles. The Snow Goose was next off the line and did well sales wise at least. (Peaked at No 22 and was certified Silver, didn't do so well in the US though only peaking at 162)

Hercules wrote: Just about all of them, really. But Camel is the most obvious choice. Ironically, I find nearly everyone who hears them (and that includes anyone I've ever had contact with) becomes a fan, but they didn't fit the classic mould (no charismatic front man/lead singer) and largely instrumental, so they didn't get exposed to the wider audience outside prog.

Cristi wrote: Jared wrote: you've listed a whole raft of my fave bands up there, so it's exceedingly difficult to pick (I could easily have gone for 10 of them).... but I'll choose Eloy, 'cos I love 'em...  we can choose up to three.

you've listed a whole raft of my fave bands up there, so it's exceedingly difficult to pick (I could easily have gone for 10 of them).... but I'll choose Eloy, 'cos I love 'em... 

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Hrychu wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: I started this poll because I always found it interesting how a band could be so talented and so popular among prog fans yet unheard of by most non-prog fans. King Crimson, Marillion and Porcupine Tree sort of occupy the grey area but I felt they were too well known among most regular music fans to include them. You can say most of these are the next level down. I suppose there are non prog fans who know about Renaissance, Gong, Magma, Ozric Tentacles, Camel, VDGG and GG too but not as much as the others I mentioned here. Invisible (L.A. Spinetta's band) is not very well known to non-proggers outside of South America, but in the prog circles, the group seems to be quite recognizable worldwide. They have an album that is rated pretty highly on rate your music but I don't think they are that well known in prog circles. There's probably at least half a dozen more well known S.A. prog bands including Bubu and Bacamarte. I would say Nexus also.

Just about all of them, really.