Why is it called progressive rock?

Is there a reason for it? I've always loved prog. But I've never known why it's called "progressive". Unless you're talking about most of the guitar riffs from Rush there isn't anything that progresses. In fact, it's probably the opposite. Maybe I'm just thinking way too much into it. But I've looked it up, haven't found anything. Anyone know why it's "progressive" rock?

Yeah, you're looking to much into it.




Edited by JJLehto - October 01 2010 at 20:57

horsewithteeth11 wrote: 00s prog =/= 70s prog And that's probably because music has....well, progressed. While some of us don't think it's necessarily a good thing (here's looking at you Walter, ol' buddy ). Seriously though, since you said "progressive rock", I'm going to assume you mean artists that have progressed music in some way. Was that a cliche enough answer?

No, I mean classic prog. I mean, I've read the backs Yes albums wherecall themselves Prog! (90125 for example)

Its called Progressive Rock cause the songs get progressively longer and cause this website says so...

I used to agree that it had to "progress" but as you alluded to....that turned out to be quite narrow.

I see "progressive" music as anything that's different, challenging, out of the norm for its style etc

Manuel wrote: As far as I remember, when rock music started incorporating influences from other genres, like folk, jazz, classical, etc, people started saying that rock had "Progressed" beyond its boundaries, and the term progressive was used to define this music. It had nothing to do with the music progressing within itself, just stated the fact that it went beyond its limits.  It's also important to remember that most all genres of music eventually do this, and we have progressive jazz, metal, rock, etc, so its more a tendency that happens when the artists get creative and want to push the limits a little (or a lot) further.

Exactly! Yes. That was a much better way of saying what I tried to



Edited by JJLehto - October 01 2010 at 21:27

It's called progressive rock because all the people who listen to it (like JJ up there^) are progressive, liberal hippies. (God I hate them.)

JJLehto wrote: Its true llama. We all know that all prog fans are old guys stuck in the 70's or young kids on drugs. I love prog but haaaaate hippies

Ok thank you for explaining it. I can die now. Oh wait... got tickets for the Roger Waters Concert... I can die after that. Also I love prog and love hippies. But am not a hippy. But would not mind being one.

The whole idea behind progressive rock was to elevate rock music (aka 'popular' music) to a level of sophistication that could rival classical composition (as well as, in some circles, the Romanticist/Victorian literary canon).  The word 'progressive' was meant to posit that rock was 'progressing' into a valid form of timeless artistic expression. 

And proggies wonder why we're occasionally branded as pretentious?

It goes beyond music that "progresses" but about music that progresses beyond many of the stagnant musical forms.  That is progress, from which the term progressive came from.  If you only think the Rush guitar riffs are progressive, you may need to explore more.