[Ailesbury]

Does anyone else enjoy the fantasy elements in progressive rock, from say classic Genesis to more recent Mars Volta?

[Malankazooie]

Early Rush catalog.

[Tiste Simeon]

The Mars Volta are phenomenal.

[Cyphon]

Mars Volta were the first ever gig I saw. Anyway on topic, I have no clue what you mean Ailes, educate me.

[Ailesbury]

One of the staples of early prog rock is the use of lyrics that deal with fantasy tropes. The band Yes has that iconic song "Roundabout" where they sing about how "Mountains Come Out of the Sky" and Genesis has that iconic song "Supper's Ready" where they sing "Dragons Come Out of the Sea." I am sure more contemporary bands such as Dream Theater probably have similar lyrics, though I am not as familiar with them. Another staple of prog rock is the use of long songs that take you on a journey. If you have ever listened to any prog rock, then you know many of the songs are long compositions that wield an excessive and indulgent musical acumen. Of course, many epic fantasy books also take you on a long journey or quest. I am sure you can find more explanations of how prog and fantasy overlap online. I have read that many of the musicians themselves were influenced by Tolkien and such.

[Malankazooie]

Mastodon has dabbled. And one could say Amon Amarth, but they are metal or progressive metal maybe and not pure progressive rock. Hawkwind too from 70s/80s, even worked with Michael Moorcock. Album - The Chronicle of the Black Sword. They are more space rock though.

[Ailesbury]

Rush - I haven't listened to early Rush, but I know their last studio album Clockwork Angels was adapted into a book. Has anyone out there read the book? Although it's technically not fantasy, I also read that Rush put out an early album based on the writings of Ayn Rand as well.

The Mars Volta - I am a huge fan of guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez. In addition to buying most of his side-project albums, I also have bought more than 20 of his solo albums, some of which aren't even in print at all.

Michael Moorcock - I am glad you brought up this fantasy writer because I have been meaning to read the Elric series for a long time now. Michael Chabon called Moorcock the best writer of post-Tolkien British fantasy out there. I had no idea Moorcock worked on any albums with any bands. It makes me think about how The Beatles wanted to do a film adaptation of Lord of the Rings with Stanley Kubrick as the director.

[Tsundoku]

'Nuff said:

[Maark Abbott]

ailes, on 09 November 2020 - 10:23 PM, said:

he band Yes has that iconic song "Roundabout"

<--- TO BE CONTINUED...

[Cyphon]

Doesn't Led Zep have loads of references to LotR in their songs?

[paran falcon]

Jethro Tull (with Ian Anderson writing all or most lyrics) have dabbled in fantasy throughout the band's history. Songs like Jack in the Green (about the legendary fairy creature that tells nature when winter is over), Kelpie (about mer-type "people" from the sea who beguile humans), Mayhem, Maybe (about the fairy folk who once irritated the humans by playing pranks on them) and probably several others not coming to mind at the moment. Though Tull has done at least two "concept" type albums (Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play), I can't really say they're rooted in fantasy, exactly.


And early Rush, for sure, especially the Fly By Night album. There's a song about Rivendell from LotR and By-Tor and the Snow Dog has to be fantasy from somewhere.

[LinearPhilosopher]

ailes, on 09 November 2020 - 10:23 PM, said:

One of the staples of early prog rock is the use of lyrics that deal with fantasy tropes. The band Yes has that iconic song "Roundabout" where they sing about how "Mountains Come Out of the Sky" and Genesis has that iconic song "Supper's Ready" where they sing "Dragons Come Out of the Sea." I am sure more contemporary bands such as Dream Theater probably have similar lyrics, though I am not as familiar with them. Another staple of prog rock is the use of long songs that take you on a journey. If you have ever listened to any prog rock, then you know many of the songs are long compositions that wield an excessive and indulgent musical acumen. Of course, many epic fantasy books also take you on a long journey or quest. I am sure you can find more explanations of how prog and fantasy overlap online. I have read that many of the musicians themselves were influenced by Tolkien and such.

is that a jojo reference?

[Ailesbury]

No, it's not. I am really not that astute with anime.

[Macros]

Ramble on by Zepplin

[Malankazooie]

'T was in the darkest depths of Mordor
I met a girl so fair
But Gollum, and the evil one
Crept up and slipped away with her

Also, not sure, but I think they have a song called "Misty Mountain Hop" that is about or inspired by Tolkien's writing.

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

More on the metal side, but older Iron Maiden and Metallica have a few references as well. Most obviously Iron Maiden's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and Metallica's "The Thing that Should Not Be", the latter based on Lovecraft's Cthulhu stories.

[Maark Abbott]

LinearPhilosopher, on 10 November 2020 - 07:46 PM, said:

ailes, on 09 November 2020 - 10:23 PM, said:

One of the staples of early prog rock is the use of lyrics that deal with fantasy tropes. The band Yes has that iconic song "Roundabout" where they sing about how "Mountains Come Out of the Sky" and Genesis has that iconic song "Supper's Ready" where they sing "Dragons Come Out of the Sea." I am sure more contemporary bands such as Dream Theater probably have similar lyrics, though I am not as familiar with them. Another staple of prog rock is the use of long songs that take you on a journey. If you have ever listened to any prog rock, then you know many of the songs are long compositions that wield an excessive and indulgent musical acumen. Of course, many epic fantasy books also take you on a long journey or quest. I am sure you can find more explanations of how prog and fantasy overlap online. I have read that many of the musicians themselves were influenced by Tolkien and such.

is that a jojo reference?

SHIZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA