slipperman

Date of birth: May 19, 1969 I was first introduced to progressive rock in the '80s, primarily thanks to Rush. I got hooked on "Tom Sawyer" when it came out and immediately bought 'Moving Pictures', one of my first non-Kiss album purchases. I was 12 or so then.

Second, thanks to Voivod. Being a metal fan as well as a prog nut, Voivod is one of my favorites. They piqued my interest in prog by name-dropping King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator in interviews.

Rush is possibly my favorite band, but it's hard to choose (Rush? Voivod? Black Sabbath?

Genesis?), thankfully I don't have to. First true progrock song I ever heard was "21st Century Schizoid Man", sometime in the early '80s, but it wasn't until 1992 that I actually bought some progrock albums by bands other than Rush.

The first two were 'Starless And Bible Black' and 'USA' by King Crimson. The next bands I explored were Camel, ELP, Van Der Graaf Generator, Nektar and Eloy. And then I discovered Genesis--since then I've become totally obsessed with prog.

It's the '70s era I find most satisfying, creative and exciting, but I do have a healthy interest in Porcupine Tree too, so I'm not exclusively "old school". Number of CDs in my collection of original progressive albums? Never counted.

I suppose about 300. I am much more into vinyl, and I have about 700 prog vinyl pieces (as of this writing..

.it keeps growing!).

But I've only been consistently buying prog CDs and vinyl for about 5 years. I have over 1500 metal albums, which is my other musical interest. I only keep stuff around that I enjoy, I'm not a collector in terms of keeping stuff just because it's valuable or just to have everything.

If it's not useful, I get rid of it. special mention must go to Rush '2112' too..

.but that's as much an early metal album as it is a prog album. And Yes' 'Relayer', an album I came to late.

I finally "get" Yes, and this was the album that did it for me. Better late than never. (and can I squeeze Jethro Tull's 'Thick As A Brick' on here?

PLEEEZ???

) My jump from metal to progrock was pretty natural. I've always enjoyed the more adventurous and unique metal bands (Voivod, Fates Warning, Bathory, Arcturus, Opeth, Green Carnation, In The Woods, Iron Maiden, Holy Terror, '70s-era Judas Priest, Watchtower, Cynic, Enslaved, the list goes on and on..

.) Still love metal, but the last 5 years I've been consumed by '70s-era progrock more than anything else. I enjoy the progarchives community, it's great to read the opinions and views of prog fans worldwide.

Here are some top-of-my-head thoughts: 1) Mars Volta is my idea of modern prog. I think they're far more in line with what forward-moving rock is, or should be all about, as opposed to any Dream Theater wanna-be clone. 2) Strawbs, while not total prog, have written some of the best-ever progrock songs (ie.

"Ghosts", "The Life Auction", most of the 'Hero And Heroine' album). Same goes for Be-Bop Deluxe, 10cc, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band! And 3) if anyone's selling prog vinyl, please contact me!

!!