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Progressive Rock

Blackpool, 1967, led by a flute

Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull formed in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 1967 and took their name from the 18th-century agriculturist, a suggestion from a booking agent's staff. Ian Anderson, founder, main composer, singer and flautist, has led them from the start. After a stretch on the London club circuit came the debut, This Was, in 1968. Guitarist Mick Abrahams then left, Martin Barre replaced him, and Stand Up became the group's only UK No. 1 album in 1969. They reached No. 1 in the US twice in the early 1970s, and Crest of a Knave won them a Grammy in 1989 over the favourites, Metallica. They had sold an estimated 60 million albums when they disbanded in 2011. Anderson revived the name in 2017 without Barre, and a twenty-fourth album followed in 2025.

Charterhouse School, Godalming, 1967

Genesis

Genesis formed at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, in 1967. The pupils were Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips and Chris Stewart, and the name came from former pupil Jonathan King. They moved into progressive rock with Trespass in 1970, brought in Phil Collins and Steve Hackett before Nursery Cryme, and kept climbing with Foxtrot, their first UK chart album, and Selling England by the Pound, which got to number three. Gabriel left in 1975 after the tour for their 1974 double album. Collins took over as lead singer, Hackett left in 1977, and the remaining trio drifted toward pop, from Duke in 1980 to We Can't Dance in 1991. Their last show was at London's O2 Arena on 26 March 2022.

London, 1968, Fripp the only constant

King Crimson

King Crimson grew out of the trio Giles, Giles and Fripp and came together in London on 30 November 1968: Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Their debut came out on Island in October 1969 and became their most successful and influential album. Pete Townshend called it 'an uncanny masterpiece'. Fripp was the only member who stayed throughout, and he kept rebuilding the band. A 1972 lineup with Bill Bruford and John Wetton moved toward free improvisation until he ended it in 1974. A 1981 revival with Adrian Belew and Tony Levin made Beat in 1982. A 'double trio' followed in 1994, and a three-drummer band toured from 2014 to 2021. Lake died in 2016, Wetton in 2017 and McDonald in 2022.

Manchester University, Charisma, 1967

Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator were formed at the University of Manchester in 1967 by Peter Hammill and Chris Judge Smith. The name came from the Van de Graaff generator, misspelled by accident. They were the first act Charisma Records signed, and The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other was their only UK chart album. The quartet of Hammill, organist Hugh Banton, drummer Guy Evans and saxophonist David Jackson found its audience in Italy, where Pawn Hearts sat at the top of the chart for 12 weeks. They split in 1972, came back with Godbluff in 1975 and split again in 1978. After reuniting in 2005 they continued as a trio and released Do Not Disturb in 2016. In February 2026 Hammill described them as 'currently dormant'.

Portsmouth, three Shulman brothers

Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant started with three Shulman brothers: Phil and Derek, born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, and Ray, born after the family moved to Portsmouth. They had been in Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, and in 1970 they formed Gentle Giant with Kerry Minnear, Gary Green and drummer Martin Smith. Everyone in the band played several instruments, and one album credited forty-six of them. Minnear's classical training shaped Acquiring the Taste, and Octopus started their peak period. Phil, burnt out, left after disagreements with his brothers. The band never had commercial success but did win a cult following, and played their last gig at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood on 16 June 1980. Ray died in 2023.

From the Yardbirds to Carnegie Hall

Renaissance

Renaissance began in January 1969, when Keith Relf and Jim McCarty, both ex-Yardbirds, set out to mix rock, folk and classical forms, with Relf's sister Jane among the singers. Annie Haslam passed her audition in January 1971. By 1973 the lineup had settled on Haslam, Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terry Sullivan, with Dunford writing the music and the poet Betty Thatcher writing most of the lyrics. Turn of the Cards, Scheherazade and Other Stories and Novella followed, and they became the first British band to sell out three nights in a row at Carnegie Hall. They disbanded in 1987, came back under Haslam and Dunford in 2009 and played a farewell tour in October 2024. Relf died in 1976 and Dunford in 2012.

Leicester, 1966, Chapman's vibrato

Family

Family formed in Leicester in late 1966 out of what was left of the Farinas. The name came from American producer Kim Fowley, who thought their double-breasted suits made them look like the mafia. Roger Chapman, whose bleating vibrato got compared to an electric goat, was the one member there the whole time. Music in a Doll's House, mostly produced by Traffic's Dave Mason, reached number 35 in 1968, and Family Entertainment got to number six. In the summer of 1969 they played the Rolling Stones' Hyde Park concert. Ric Grech left for Blind Faith, and later John Wetton left for King Crimson. Family played their final concert at Leicester Polytechnic on 13 October 1973, then reunited in 2013 for shows that ran until December 2016.

London, named after Dickens, 1969

Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep formed in London in 1969 out of Spice, the band of guitarist Mick Box and singer David Byron, and took their name from the character in Dickens's David Copperfield. Keyboardist Ken Hensley joined in February 1970 and brought a heavy organ sound. Their debut, ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, came out in 1970, and Demons and Wizards reached number 20 in the UK and 23 in the US in 1972. Bassist Gary Thain died in 1975. Byron was fired in 1976 and died in 1985. In December 1987 they became the first Western rock band to play in the Soviet Union. They have sold over 40 million albums, Box is the only original member left, and in 2025 they set out on a farewell tour.

The Collection