Intro

Trying to classify music is tricky if it's done on anything other than time periods IMO. "Classical" is easy - Ars Nova, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, Contemporary. Jazz is a bit more complicated but splits into New Orleans/Dixie, Chicago, Swing, Bop, Be-bop, West Coast etc. But "modern popular" music genres get very fragmented. How about, for this forum - which is not, primarily, a music forum - having a "Popular" category with this 'Yes/Floyd/Genesis' area as a sub-forum, along with 'Rock' and 'Other'?

I first discovered Genesis in 1972-3, listening to someones LP in the school common room - my first prog gig was on the Selling England by the Pound tour, I think either the Rainbow or the Marquee. Every time I hear Firth Of Fifth, Suppers Ready or the Knife reminds me of that night. It seems like only yesterday

Before hearing Trespass I had never heard music that could be so powerful, almost frightening at one moment but beautiful and moving the next. Until then I had mainly listened to The Who, Zeppelin, The Doors, Deep Purple or the Stones. I felt the Gabriel/Hackett years were the best but after seeing just 3 of them at Knebworth in '78 I never attended another Genesis concert - different and often good music followed but mostly a bit too mainstream. For a time, Marillion was pretty good too

It seems that prog music is mostly British influenced or European (ie King Crimson, Caravan, Camel, Tull, PFM, Eloy etc). There weren't too many American prog bands when it started out, excepting Styx, maybe Rush and there is also one interesting Automatic Man album. As for Yes, I prefer Fragile & the Yes Album over Close To The Edge

I was 12 when I first heard Genesis (a long time ago in the Spring of 1974), and it was "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" on the radio that drew me in.
For me it was a fantastic time to be around and discovering the more interesting bands (Pink Floyd, Yes, Jethro Tull, Focus), as well as all the ground breaking rock bands (Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath etc).
I became aware of artists such as John Martyn, Steely Dan, and Frank Zappa.

The thing that attracted me to all of the bands and artists named was one thing - their music came from a place of artistic creativity and endeavour, and they were not driven by the need to please their respective audiences.

All the above named form a big part of my listening habits today

mmm...