well hi there from sunny Luton.....

I used to own playing the fool, but sadly it got burgled by some bastard who broke in some years back(he cleaned out my vinyl collection). generally I deeply approve of their stuff, but I'm not to keen on some of their vocal harmonies (Knots etc). the mainstays of my record collection then , as now are the old staples...yes, elp, early genesis, van der graaf generator, tull, roxy music (?prog)king crimson, procul harem, supertramp, with a smattering of slightly less well known stuff...greenslade, seventh wave.

I suppose I was lucky enough to be the right age when a lot of the original prog was appearing, and I saw most of the above bands in their original pomp....the mirror balls, the cloaks, the pointy hats, the twin saxophones, the batswings, the persian rugs....oh the thrill of it all.

Wheathamster...if only i lived there....

my kids do go to St Georges in harpendon, home of the harpie....does icelandic mean bjorkian?...that band are touring at the moment arent they?

Evening all. As there seems to be a distinct Hertfordshire influence to this thread I just thought I'd make my first post here! (I am a Geordie expat living in Ware for those interested!)

I have been lurking on this wonderful site for a while now, and have not only had my faith in "classic" prog rekindled (e.g. 70's Yes, Genesis, GG, KC etc), but I have also picked up on some amazing new bands - Anekdoten, Paatos, White Willow, Wobbler etc. - what is it with these Scandinavians who seem to have cornered the market in Mellotronia? Is there some unexplained Mellotron mountain up near the Arctic Circle?

I first started getting into prog around Close to the Edge and Foxtrot and some of the best gigs I have ever seen were at Newcastle City Hall in the early 70's - Gabriel in his batwings, Wakeman eating curry and chips while playing moog solos in his cape, early Camel, the Earthband (supported by Queen!), Greenslade, and a slightly over the hill Procol Harum, with the support act asking if we all came in the same taxi. I distinctly remember four of us chipping the putty out of one of the City Hall windows to catch a glimpse of Topographic Oceans even though we had tickets for the second night

Anyway enough of the past, and here's to more great music by those mentioned above, and Djam Karet, Isildurs Bane, Riverside, Grey Eye Glances, St Elmos's Fire, and many of the other great bands I've been turned onto here.

Cheers!