One reason is also here are many young persons in this forum, who doensn´t understand the importance of Beatles to the popular music. When some "oldie" like you is saying something like that, I just can´t let it that way.

There wasn´t band in sixties who hasn´t got influences from Beatles. Although Zeppelin is highly influenced from the blues, also their great song arrangements owe to Beatles. Who´s first albums has lots of vocal harmonies straight from the Beatles, also song arrangements. Cream went already in their second "I Feel Free" much more Beatles direction than somewhere else. So although Rush members maybe not listened direct much Beatles, they also were influenced by them and really I believe also they would have sounded different if Beatles hadn´t existed.

One thing I have mentioned here before, if Beatles hadn´t made Sgt, would there be prog at all? EMI really wasn´t excited about that album and really believed it would fail commercially. So if Beatles hadn´t made it and succeeded with it, would any record company released any prog album? To me Sgt really is the first prog album with it´s concept, both musically and in cover art.

The point was you don´t have to like them, but you still can respect them. That´s what I do many artists that I don´t like but know they have been important in popular music. For example I have never been big Michael Jackson or Prince-fan, but really wouldn´t ever say they just boring pop.

But I quess there is no reason to continue this, you seem to be those who mix their opinions and facts.

Anyway reason why I am continuing is yes, I believe Beatles would have been really different without Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, also without souls singers. They didn´t become from the vacuum, just like Rush and other progbands didn´t come. Beach Boys came quite the same time, I don´t believe Beatles had heard them before they succeeded, you can always think would Beach Boys ever become as great as they become without Beatles (I think you know both Lennon/McCartney and Brian Wilson listened each others albums carefully in the middle of sixties). But you have to remember there really was a big vacuum just before Beatles in rock music, Elvis has started singing ballads, really popular music had going into very entertaining direction. You can always of course say, if there hadn´t been Beatles, some other band would have done it, but who really knows?

Also, you didn´t comment my opinion about Beatles as prog predecessors, if you´re thinking it´s absolutely rubbish, you don´t have to tell that.

Maybe I have a wrong interpretation what he has said, but to me it really doesn´t seem he respect Beatles at all. And really hard to believe he´s thinking Beatles has been important to prog also like all the other popular music.

You don't get it, not that it matters much to me that you do on my opinion. Your unbiased love of the Beatles clouds your thoughts. I do believe they had a great affect on pop music and there is respect for what they did. But my issues are on their musicianship and singing, stage performance and the fact that if they were so big why could they not keep it going for more than 9-10 yrs? The chemistry did not exist to do this or they just got too big for their britches and were not disciplined enough to make it work.

I have said before, if other bands would have recorded their music there is a good chance I would have listened more......ie Earth Wind & Fire.

As far as them being prog pioneers or whatever you are insinuating, again I think that is false......Remember, prog rock was not even a descriptor back then in the 60's, it was psychedelic rock, which again in their initial period Beatles were bubble gum girl pop music, not psychedelic. Those are facts.....

I'm sure I know more about music than you do regarding the history of it.....And yes that is my opinion. But I am sure my record collection would prove it.

I have no issue with what you say, why can't you say the same about people like me who feel similar..again simply allow your mind to be open.

These 60's bands probably know nothing of him........

But I can admit his work is without question highly important in the world of classical composition and poem......