I have always refered to Progressive Rock as experimental rock because that's just what it is. Music in the rock genre which is a little bit more adventurous and full of suprises which borrows from many other pure traditional styles. Well, It all began for me one summer in the early 1970`s when I was given a small transistor radio for my birthday and the local AM station was playing the crap out of a hit single called Hocus Pocus by this Dutch band called FOCUS.
Of course, I had to scrape up some money to buy a copy of the single and literally wore it out (as well as some of my parent`s nerves). Focus remains one of my faves to this day and thanks to them I introduced myself to many unique bands from the UK and continental Europe who were taking unusual musical directions and deviating from the norm during these glory years. When I was somewhat older I began to haunt the local used record shops and would buy anything that looked weird (especially if it had Roger Dean artwork on the cover!
) and believe me it paid off. I would always look forward to discovering my next band and after a while I was listening to all kinds of crazy stuff not only in the prog rock vein but to jazz and classical music as well. Most of my friends thought I was out of my mind but I had a friend who was from Eastern Europe with whom I would listen to this music and he would always say "This music is only for the knowing ones my friend.
" And we were.
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