Classic Rock's "Prog Rock" Magazine

My wife bought me a sub of 'Classic rock presents- Prog' and i must admit its been very variable in its content. I think its good that it tries to give a good balance between old and new bands though i would contest that many (not all) of the newer bands featured are not very 'progressive'. Yes, i think it has a bit of a UK bias and yes i'd agree that when it comes to actual 'progressive' music there are lots and lots of examples all over the world that perhaps get ignored in favour of UK bands of a less progressive nature. I think its good (for fairly selfish reasons) that it advertises and promotes gigs that happen pretty close by to me & that it promotes bands who (even if they are not my taste in music) otherwise operate as 'cottage industries (ie; produce and sell there own CDs, t-shirts & merchandise and do their own promotion) as i have a lot of respect for the fact that lots of artists do this as it keeps them Going, independant, free of much of the management do-do of the past, even if they dont make much money out of it.

Many of the Articles can be patchy and the worst are the ones about bands from other countries- they have made me wince with some of the bands and artists theyve missed out (see the latest issue and critisism on the Norwegian progressive item). C'mon there is so much fantastic world progressive that is just ignored!!

It is expensive and ive found the free CD's fairly dull (with exception of a few tracks) but its given me some very joyous hours of reading in airports, whilst away at conferences, on holiday etc & best of all has given a forum on which both my son and i can talk about our musical tastes and find things in common; he now wants to come and see some gigs with me (though in return, the thought of going to see 'bring me the Horizon' fills me with dread)

I like to buy something physical (like Vinyl records & CD's over downloads) & read 'books' which is why even though on some levels you feel they could do much better in their research and general article construction (who do they get to 'proof read these mags??) we will shelve out & enjoy a lazy sunday morning (or two) reading our mags with a good cup of Tea!!

I believe Jerry Ewing said the artists pay to be on the CDs, so it's basically down to which record company pays the most, I guess.

 

In the 70's I picked up as many Melody Maker's as I could find ... not many places had it here in the West Coast which often made it tougher to learn about new things.

 

But there was one thing in MM that made it for me, and it had nothing to do with the articles since too many of them did not understand the music and too many of them were simply kissing the stars, like all the other magazines, so they could sell ... and it was the absolutely massive listing of clubs and concerts ... and you knew right away ... that the majority of articles were not always in tune with what was happening ... there were a lot more bands and acts and shows ... that the magazine did not discuss, that pretty much gave it all away.  And this listing was MASSIVE  in helping progressive and experimental music make it ... and is something that you don't see today much at all ... the current process of which favors the better known and commercial artists.

 

I have not found a publication that has been "kind" to progressive music beyond the typical and conventional description of the groups ... in essence, for me and what I see, the definition and description only appreciates a handful of bands and no one else can do anything ... and the arts ... are simply ... not about "copy" ... and the originators and creators, are people that don't want to do what already has been done or copied.

 

I like this board a lot ... but look at some of the discussions ... and when a "collaborator" only adds troll comments to a discussion or reply, it tells you that the interest is not the music ... the interest is that person's personal agenda ... and ... many of those magazines did just that ... with one exception and it was the "leak" in the armor ... advertising for all those clubs and the massive listing of groups everywhere ... and it only made obvious that these magazines were not about the music and the musicians ... they were about ki$$ing a$h. And, of course, this boards listings are way up and above the ability of any other website and magazine at this time ... because the quantity is simply massive ... I simply wish there was a better way to index and organize these things so they would be easier to find and discuss and appreciate.

 

But yeah, MM was one of the better ones and I don't think that what it became later was even close ... NME is worse 100 times over besides not being able to see the clubs listed and the list of shows and bands in a more complete fashion that honors "music" instead of their advertising!

 

Circus was a great mag with some great articles, a lot in black and white but classic bands featured prominently.

 

Creem was full of heavy duty bands and totally adult....

 

I wish I could get this newer book