Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York

The show that never ends, the rise and fall of prog rock, David Weigel

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

The show that never ends

electronic resource eBook

bibliographydictionaries

David Weigel

the rise and fall of prog rock

The Show That Never Ends is the definitive story of the extraordinary rise and fall of progressive (prog) rock. Epitomized by such classic, chart-topping bands as Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, and Emerson Lake & Palmer, along with such successors as Rush, Marillion, Asia, Styx, and Porcupine Tree, prog sold hundreds of millions of records. It brought into the mainstream concept albums, spaced-out cover art, crazy time signatures, multitrack recording, and stagecraft so bombastic it was spoofed in the classic movie This Is Spinal Tap. Weigel explains exactly what was progressive about prog rock and how its complexity and experimentalism arose from such precursors as the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper. He traces prog's popularity from the massive success of Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale and the Moody Blues' Nights in White Satin in 1967. He reveals how prog's best-selling, epochal albums were made, including The Dark Side of the Moon, Thick as a Brick, and Tubular Bells. And he explores the rise of new instruments into the prog mix, such as the synthesizer, flute, mellotron, and―famously―the double-neck guitar. The Show That Never Ends is filled with the candid reminiscences of prog’s celebrated musicians. It also features memorable portraits of the vital contributions of producers, empresarios, and technicians such as Richard Branson, Brian Eno, Ahmet Ertegun, and Bob Moog. --, adapted from Amazon description

Children of the blitz -- The psychedelic boom -- A billion times the impact -- Moog men -- A higher art form -- Hammers and bells -- Complexity freaks -- Fripperies -- Death knell -- Neo-prog -- The nostalgia factory