Top Ten Most Underrated Progressive Rock Bands

The Top Ten
1 Van der Graaf Generator Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester by singer-songwriters Peter Hammill and Chris Judge Smith and the first act signed by Charisma Records.

Honestly the best prog band I've ever heard and they really don't get enough recognition. Pawn hearts is one of the great masterpieces of prog.

Should be in the top ten of all prog lists :-)

Yes, they don't get much attention.

2 The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band. They first came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established them as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock.

I don't know if they are under-rated, but they are the best prog-rockers ever, and essentially invented the category. the fact that they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a travesty of the first degree.

I love these guys. One of the best ever.

Most underrated

3 Supertramp Supertramp were an English progressive rock band that was founded in 1969 in London, United Kingdom with members Roger Hodgson, Frank Farrell, Rick Davies, Kevin Currie, and Dave Winthrop. The band reached their commercial peak with 1979's "Breakfast in America" which sold over 20,000,000 copies worldwide.

The best crossover prog rock band in the 70's, and surely in all history! They made great masterpieces thanks to Rick Davies-Roger Hodgson composer duo, specially "Crime of the century", "Crisis? What crisis? ", "Even in the quietest moments", "Breakfast in America" and "Famous last words". The double live album "Paris" is simply incredible. And their two early records are very good also, but the last three studio works (after the still amazing "Brother where you bound") are sadly more weak.

The fact that they aren't #1 on this list makes them even more underrated. And yet, they are one of the best prog rock bands ever. Just below Pink Floyd.

4 Camel Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. Led by founding member Andrew Latimer, they have produced fourteen original studio albums, fourteen singles plus numerous live albums and DVDs. Without achieving mass popularity, the band gained a cult following over the years with albums such as Mirage, The Snow Goose and Moonmadness. Surviving punk rock, they moved into a jazzier, more commercial direction, but were seen as unfashionable by the mid-80s, resulting in a seven year hiatus. Since 1991 the band has been independent, releasing albums including Dust and Dreams, Harbour of Tears and Rajaz on their own Camel Productions label. Despite no new studio release since 2002, the band ...read more.

Truly among the best of prog. The Snow Goose is the top of the top

5 Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English musician and composer. His work blends progressive rock with world, folk, classical, electronic, ambient, and new-age music.

He's a very talented guy. Check him out if you haven't.

He is a genius. He will pass to posterity.

6 Caravan
7 Coheed and Cambria Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York, formed in 1995. The band consists of Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Josh Eppard, and Zach Cooper.

Best band of the genre. As of today.

8 Jade Warrior
9 Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only continuous member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup of the group was its mid-70s trio of Froese, Christopher Franke, and Peter Baumann.

Hey! I'm not the only one who puts these guys on lists!

10 Riverside Riverside is a progressive rock/metal band from Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in 2001 by friends Mariusz Duda, Piotr Grudziński, Piotr Kozieradzki and Jacek Melnicki, who shared a love for progressive rock and heavy metal.
The Contenders
11 Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer were an English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of keyboardist Keith Emerson, singer, bassist, and producer Greg Lake, and drummer and percussionist Carl Palmer.
12 Kansas Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on album-oriented rock charts and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind".

I'd say they're underrated in the fact not that they're not popular enough, but that not many consider Kansas as a prog band. I'd say Kansas is underrated in that sense. They do make some radio friendly classic rock tracks, but also the some of the most proggy stuff you've heard. Listen to Magnum Opus. That's pretty wild.

America's biggest contribution to prog rock, particularly their first half dozen albums.

Very underrated prog rock band. Their albums "Leftoverture" and "Point of know return" are pure masterpieces.

13 Can Can was a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968 by the core quartet of Holger Czukay (bass), Irmin Schmidt (keyboards), Michael Karoli (guitar), and Jaki Liebezeit (drums). The group cycled through several vocalists, including Malcolm Mooney ('68–70) and Damo Suzuki ...read more.
14 Procol Harum Procol Harum were an English rock band formed in 1967. They contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock.
15 Yes Yes is an English progressive rock band formed in 1968 by bassist Chris Squire and singer Jon Anderson. They first achieved success in the 1970s with a progressive, art and symphonic style of rock music. Their best known song is their 1971 hit "Roundabout" off of their album Fragile.

Not very underrated but defenitively one of the greatest prog-rock bands out there! They have one of the best line-up of musicians (In their glory days, from Fragile to Relayer) They made several songs that are over 20 minutes.

16 Talk Talk

Talk Talk Were an English Rock band formed in 1981, led by mark Hollis (vocals,guitar,piano), Lee Harris (drums), and Paul Webb (bass).

Fabulous band, fabulous musicians

Greatest band and top of the list.

Best and very too much best.

17 Porcupine Tree Porcupine Tree are an English progressive rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The band began essentially as a solo project for Wilson, who created all of the band's music.
18 Gentle Giant Gentle Giant was a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members.
19 Strawbs
20 The Nice
21 Electric Light Orchestra The Electric Light Orchestra are an English rock band from Birmingham. They were formed in 1970 by songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne with drummer Bev Bevan.
22 10cc
23 Popol Vuh
24 Aphrodite's Child
25 Jethro Tull Jethro Tull are a British rock group, formed in Luton, Bedfordshire, in December 1967. Initially playing blues rock, the band soon developed its sound to incorporate elements of British folk music and hard rock to forge a progressive rock signature.
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