Phil Collins For Addition as Prog-Related

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   For those who didn't see this, this is Bob's quote:

 Easy Livin wrote:

Prog related is as much about a personal feeling for what it is as prog itself is. The Admin team work pretty much from the same hymn sheet, as we can reach agreement on most proposals. Even then though, there is from time to time disagreement among us. In such cases, if there is a clear majority, that prevails. Otherwise, or if we think the proposal is particularly controversial, M@x will have the final say. We don't all agree with all the additions by any means. I was strongly against the Beatles for example. We are a team though, and are happy to support a decision when it is made (the Beatles was M@x's by the way).

My own perspective is that Prog Related bands are those who have a clear relationship with prog, but are not a prog band as such. Perhaps they have released an album which is out of character with the bulk of their output, which has strong prog elements (see Wishbone Ash). Perhaps their music is prog in a pop context, such as 10CC. Perhaps they have released one or more concept albums which bring successive songs together to form something substantially more than the sum of the parts (dare I say Boston!). All solo artists who are members of prog bands are prog related (except Phil Collins!). I believe it is important to ahve the catalogues of such artists added, if only to demonstrate how their solo careers use or do not use prog. How many of us have bought albums by solo memebrs of prog bands, only to find that they bear no relation to prog. I believe the site can provide a real service here by listing such artists, OK including Phil! Taking the phrase literally, of course they are related to prog. This does not extend to memebrs of prog related or proto prog bands, or to band such as Mike and the Mechanics who have a member who is also in a prog band.

These are just my own thoughts of course.

Can I also go back to a comment in the Boston thread suggesting there were inconsistencies in the Prog Related additionsand the admission process for them. As long as we all have our own diverse opinions, there will always seem to be inconsistencies. These are perceived as a result of the old, X is more prog than Y argument. The reality is that where one person thinks a band should be added, another does not, that is where the inconsistency really is!

Often people will shout foul because a band they want added is still waiting. They don't actually object to the band being proposed, they just think that the case for another is stronger.  

Interestingly, the number of bands rejected for PR since the Admin team took on overseeing it is very low indeed, 2 or 3 I think. Many people think that artists have been rejected when they have not. Those who come to mind include Bowie, Hendrix, Journey, Toto, etc. We've never been asked for permission to add any of these.

On top of all this, there are the purists who have not bought into the site policy of using prog related bands to bring people to the site. They object to every prog related proposal and bemoan people "wasting their time" on such bands.

Finally, can I point out just how successful this site is. We are often the first site to come up in Google searches for bands and albums. We have become the reference point of choice for literally thousands of people who don't actually join the site, but find it an indispensable resource. We have contributed enormously to the resurgence of prog. 

If people search for information about say Black Sabbath (A band selected by me at random), they may well think, "I didn't realise BS had a relationship with prog". They come to the site to investigate further, and discover what that relationship is. They are presented on the front page with reviews of many fine prog bands, they see our top 100 albums and investigate further. They look at the forum, and find it to be friendly, informative and lively. Subtly we get them hooked. We sell them prog by playing on their interests where they overlap with prog.

This startegy was always M@x's vision for the site. It is he who has mastered the Google search and steered us towards this goal. He takes the plaudits for the vision, and our members, and especially our collaborators, take the credit for making it happen. 

Prog related is an essential part of this strategy.

Yes we have lost fine members along the way, we have seen serious disagreements about the site direction, but let's look at the positve side for a change. This is a huge success story. This is a wonderful site. This is our site.