The Ten Commandments of Prog Rock

In fact, you should TRY to make them that long!

- IF ONE OF THE BEST BAND MEMBERS LEAVES OR YOU DECIDE YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF PROG THEN BREAK UP THE BAND- bands like genesis and yes went pop when prog wasn't cool anymore lol and pink floyd should have quit after the wall to save all the stinkers after!

Not always. Sometimes when a band member leaves, the music gets better. Frenchie, you especially among us should know that when Syd Barrett left the Floyd it got better (or was at least AS good). But I know what you mean.

- WRITE AT LEAST ONE CONCEPT ALBUM IN YOUR CAREER - most bands do. pink floyd, genesis, the mars volta, dream theater! and they are amazing!

Ever so true. Concept albums are what brought me into prog. I've always liked themes and such.

- BASS SOLOS ROCK - it's true. check out "take the veil cerpin taxt" by the mars volta or "the fish" by yes and you will see why!

NEVER A TRUER THING SAID!!!! THE BASS IS UNDERAPPRECIATED!!! My friend thinks bass is only rhythmic. When I play a prog riff or even "la bamba" on bass, he says, "i'm sorry, but I can't find a tune there at all". And I say: "Duh! It's not supposed to! The bass is just as important as any guitar! (brainwashed by alternative rock and pop, the poor kid)

- USE AS MANY INSTRUMENTS AS YOU HAVE IN YOUR DISPOSAL - think of mike oldfield! tubular bells had about 40 different instruments used. and if you look in the close to the edge booklet they use like a million of them!

Use pots and pans and even the kitchen sink if you want!

- YOU DONT HAVE TO HAVE LYRICS TO MAKE A GOOD PIECE OF MUSIC - prog has probably spawned more instrumentals than any other genre. Theres barely one pink floyd or yes album without one!

Instrumentals=really cool.

- RELEASING ALBUMS WITH ONLY A FEW TRACKS IS GOOD TOO - most pink floyd albums only have about 5 tracks and some yes albums only have 3! mike oldfield prolly wins with 1 per side.

I don't know about Oldfield..."Thick as a Brick" is the same... and didn't the flower kings release an album that was a single 60 minute song?

- BLAG A GOOD ALBUM COVER DESIGNER - mars volta, pink floyd and alan parsons project had the legendary storm thorgerson whilst yes and asia had roger dean on the team

Good cover designs always draw me to the music...especially Dean's drawings. "Relayer" and "Fragile" are some of the best artwork I know, even though they're just album covers!

- REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE NO LIMITS - make your songs as over the top, random, confusing or insane as you want! think of soundchaser, we have heaven and/or 5% for nothing by yes. bike, the gnome, pow r toc h, careful with that axe eugene and/or in the flesh by pink floyd etc

NO LIMITS!!!! SMASH THINGS AND ADD MUSIC IF YOU WANT!!! AS LONG AS IT SOUNDS GOOD!!!

- SAY NO TO EDITS - the whole point of prog is that its long and complete so say no to editing tracks down so they can fit onto best of's or singles! you can only get away with it a few times!

Edits can be good. Like the "Echoes" edit is pretty good on the "Best of" (mainly for cutting the screeching "air" section) and edits for radio can lead you to the main piece. However, edits like "total mass retain" on Close to the Edge don't stand at all.