Latest articles by Chris Roberts
You may think Ultravox were a synth-pop band. They know they were prog
Midge Ure and Billy Currie aimed to create timeless music by crossing previously-closed musical borders – and they argue that their biggest hit worked because of human imperfections rather than digital precision
“Its ripples today dominate modern music”: Kraftwerk’s 50th anniversary edition of Autobahn
The less-is-more electronic music milestone returns with Ralf Hutter Atmos remix
Prog fans rejoice! Steven Wilson has come home with cosmic modern classic The Overview
Steven Wilson’s interstellar new album The Overview measures up to prog’s greats
The 10 best Genesis songs, as chosen by Prog readers
Over 28 years the genre giants released 15 albums, achieving over 100 million sales. It’s unfair to boil their work down to just a handful of key songs – but you did it anyway
The Complete Godley & Creme is a trip into a subversive, mischievous world of erratic genius
11-disc set gathers what the perverse polymath pair did after 10cc – which was basically anything they wanted to do
“That half-minute is probably our peak”: How Genesis made Supper’s Ready
The band believe it’s the moment they began to become significant – and the construction of the 23-minute anthem for 1972’s Foxtrot was itself an epic experience
John Lodge’s Love Conquers All EP will pleasantly trigger Moody Blues fans
Yes’ Jon Davison is among the guests as bassist/singer limbers up for a return to the road after suffering a stroke
“They let go of a degree of preciousness”: Riverside are charged up on Live ID
The Polish prog metallers’ fourth live album contains maximum simpatico between band and audience
Mogwai’s The Bad Fire is reassuringly blurry
11th album, which follows No.1 hit As The Love Continues, is a confident and competent helping of their curiously uplifting dourness
Spirit didn’t know they were a prog band, but were always proud of their fearless diversity
Original bassist Mark Andes embraces what they achieved – but regrets they weren’t able to offer the support that “keystone” member Randy California needed
“Straight-faced gravitas – and a dash of Prokofiev”: 10 essential Greg Lake songs
From King Crimson to ELP and beyond, Greg Lake left a catalogue of impressive creations from an extraordinary musical journey which included that Christmas song
Tears For Fears’ Songs For A Nervous Planet blends live tracks with four powerful new songs
As 2022’s The Tipping Point confirmed, they’ve always known how to go big without ever going over the top
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson looks back on his six solo albums
Between 1983 and 2014 he released a series of records that took him beyond the confines of Jethro Tull – for a variety of reasons and with a variety of results
Genesis’ 10 best songs with Peter Gabriel
The band’s first phase features a charming, very English sense of melancholy and melodrama – matched with wilful prog complexity
Pixies prove that class in permanent on The Night The Zombies Came
Influential icons Pixies' second act refuses to die
"It's got some good stuff on it." Tony Banks revisits the classic Genesis live album Seconds Out
"It's got some good stuff on it," says a typically understated Tony Banks, on Genesis's Seconds Out
"Fearlessly miserable”: Ultravox’s 40th anniversary edition of Lament
Classy reissue package includes contributions from Steven Wilson and Moby, plus live show that proves they could deliver on stage too
“We’d gone out on a limb”: Genesis genuinely feared that Foxtrot might fail
Barely planned, recorded in fits and starts and complete with one of King Crimson’s Mellotron, their 1972 album was, they believe, the moment they began to be taken seriously
How Lou Reed made the defining album of his career
Rudderless after the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed ditched New York for London and hooked up with David Bowie: The rest is history
“I felt they were having second thoughts… I got quite angry – ‘Just stop the bus, I’ll get off, no problem’”: Ray Wilson knows what went wrong during his time in Genesis
The singer who fronted 1997’s Calling All Stations only had one serious argument with Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford – and remains glad he was there at all
“Another very good year”: Ring The Bells And Sing – Progressive Sounds Of 1975 box set
With Yes and Genesis between albums, Camel, Renaissance, Gentle Giant, Be Bop Deluxe, Soft Machine, Steve Hillage and Steve Hackett were among those proved here to be keeping the quality high
Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks capture the right essence on True
Jon Anderson taps into spirit of Yes, aided by The Band Geeks and that bloke out of Blue Öyster Cult
Tim Bowness displays a stunning change of pace with Powder Dry
His voice is as mellifluous as ever – but with songs averaging around two minutes long, this dynamic album feels like a reset
