JGuy Grungeman

The Big 4 Bands of Prog are Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis, and Yes. Believe it or not, that's the common and official decisiuon from fans and the media, such as the big four of thrash metal is Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer, and the big four of grunge is Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. All official. But if you could add a fifth member and make it Big 5, who?

For me, it would be Kansas. I feel their albums are very underrated, and they've contributed a lot to the progressive rock fanbase and to hard rock in general. I love most of their 70's albums, including their live album Two for the Show. They've had a lot of nearly perfect works.

PLEASE NO REPLACING ANY ONE MEMBER.

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Frownland

First, I would remove Pink Floyd because they're a psychedelic band. Duh.

I would then replace them with Rush.

Then I would put Soft Machine just because of their awesomeness. I can't say much in the way of influence.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

grindy

Yeah, away with Pink Floyd.

Mine would be:
King Crimson
Genesis
Yes
Van der Graaf Generator
Gentle Giant

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Paul Smeenus

Gentle Giant
Yes
Jethro Tull
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
King Crimson

Then lots and lots of great acts. I love Pink Floyd but not really prog IMO.

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Gentle Giant Catalog Review

The entire Ditty Bops catalog reviewed

JGuy Grungeman

The prog big 4's kinda been already decided by the populace...

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Frownland

Source? I've only heard The Big Four applied as a term to thrash metal. Google searches don't seem to help your case either.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Chula Vista

Off the top of my head without thinking hard.

YES
GENESIS
KING CRIMSON
ELP
GENTLE GIANT

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“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well,
on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

grindy

Sorry, dude, but Pink Floyd's not in it.
It's usually King Crimson, ELP, Yes and Genesis.

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A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.

FRED HALE SR.

I'm not much up on prog but I like Pauls Jethro Tull pick and if at all possible i'd insert Mars Volta as a default.

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Chula Vista

Second (third?) wave though.

__________________

“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well,
on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”