[atlantaprog] Re: First Prog Album / Instrument

<<1.  What was the first album that got you into
progressive rock?>>

For me it would probably be Fragile from Yes or Moving
Pictures from Rush.  I was 13 or so at the time and I
was also into a lot of metal that was popular then,
but I always enjoyed what I would later come to know
as 'prog' (the ever elusive term) alongside all that. 
I was pretty content with Rush and Yes for several
years but eventually had the urge to find more music
that was similar - i.e. exciting.  I heard King
Crimson's Discipline and then Red and I instantly felt
a certain affinity for their sound.  I had favored a
lot of the scales they employ, whole tone for
instance, and here was this group that made very
melodic music out of what would seem to some as a very
dissonant scales.  I LOVED IT! Later Zappa, Gentle
Giant and more would blow my mind.  All these years
later those are all still close to my heart.  I
realize now that this thing we call prog goes well
beyond those bands though.  Prog is like a 'musical
Baskin Robbins', 31 flavors and all.  For years I was
just eating a couple flavors... How about you?  When
did you all realize that prog was more a spirit to
music making than just a name for bands that sound
like 70s symph?

<2.  For those of you who play instruments, why did
you choose that instrument rather than another?>>

I think I always wanted to play guitar.  I used to
imagine having a whole room full of them when I was a
little kid, and my older brother played so I guess it
was inevitable.  My whole family played music down
through the generations so I guess it is in my blood. 
I didn't actually start with the guitar though, I
played the sax and clarinet.  Once I was out of high
school I picked up the guitar because I wanted to
continue playing music and there were few places to
play wind instruments in my home town.  So a new
instrument was in order for me, and my thoughts went
back to the guitar.  I think playing winds for years
before playing guitar has had an effect on how I solo
and play guitar too.   I chose guitar also because I
wanted to play something that could be used all by
it's self.  I dabbled with bass for a bit prior to the
guitar, but I was too fond of chords and such, so the
guitar won that battle....

Thanks for asking, I am curious to hear what the rest
of you have to say.  

-Sean Tonar
Noise.Com Guitar




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