BBC4 - Fri 2 Jan 2009; Prog @ the BBC & Prog Rock Brittania

Posted by: DenisA on 31 December 2008

Prog at the BBC 02 Jan 2009, 21:00 on BBC Four

Compilation of some of the greatest names in progressive rock, filmed live in the BBC studios in the 1970s. Includes Yes, Genesis, ELP, Caravan, Barclay James Harvest, Gentle Giant, Family, Atomic Rooster and more.

Prog Rock Brittania: An Observation in Three Movements 02 Jan 2009, 22:00 on BBC Four

Documentary about progressive music and the generation of bands that were invloved, from the international success stories of Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson and Jethro Tull to the trials and tribulations of lesser-known bands such as Caravan and Egg.

The film is structured in three parts, charting the birth, rise and decline of a movement famed for complex musical structures, weird time signatures, technical virtuosity and strange, and quintessentially English, literary influences.

It looks at the psychedelic pop scene that gave birth to progressive rock in the late 1960s, the golden age of progressive music in the early 1970s, complete with drum solos and gatefold record sleeves, and the over-ambition, commercialisation and eventual fall from grace of this rarefied musical experiment at the hands of punk in 1977.

Contributors include Robert Wyatt, Mike Oldfield, Pete Sinfield, Rick Wakeman, Phil Collins, Arthur Brown, Carl Palmer and Ian Anderson.

Prog Rock Britannia Home Page
Posted on: 31 December 2008 by JamieL
Looks like it could be quite good.

Hoping that there is no snide commentary in the way channel 4 have used on documentaries on prog in the past. I suspect that BBC4 are above that.

I have never seen the Mike Oldfield live in the studio recording listed in the following programmes, that will be very interesting.

Not sure that Genesis from 2007 quite fits with prog, but all in all it looks like a nice mini season on BBC4.
Posted on: 31 December 2008 by BigH47
Timely reminder thanks Denis.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Vauxhall mkII
Denis,
thanks for the prompt.
Just set Sky+ to record the series Smile
cheers,
Paul.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
You need to keep an eye out for any related programmes. "Prog at the BBC" for example, 20:00 and repeat 03:40.

BTW
"Our" Brian's programme about the LHC is on at 20:00.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by MilesSmiles
Shame I can't get this on foxtel+ in Oz.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
MS can you use the BBC iPlayer down there?

Kind of obvious URL
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
MS can you use the BBC iPlayer down there?

Kind of obvious URL


I could not use it when I was there as it was restricted to UK only. You can only listen to the radio programmes outside UK.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
Okey Dokey.
Nothing on BBC world srvice?



Have a good trip?
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Okey Dokey.
Nothing on BBC world srvice?



Have a good trip?


Trip was good 2 hours and five minutes Big Grin And a useful day.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
Report to follow? Smile Pictures at 10.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Report to follow? Smile Pictures at 10.


You'll have an email soon.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
Holy Crap that keyboard playing from Keith Emerson is something else. Good start
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by MilesSmiles
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
MS can you use the BBC iPlayer down there?

Kind of obvious URL


Many thanks for the link, it gives me the radio programs but for TV I get this message:

Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only Frown
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Well done BBC4 - excellent entertainment and a great start to a musical weekend. The Prog at the BBC was a one hour programme where every song was first class. Music from an army of first division progressive musicians including ELP, The Nice, Caravan, Soft Machine, Atomic Rooster, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Family, Wishbone Ash, Yes and more.

The documentary was very good too - although I felt the last half hour was not up to the standard of the rest as it started bleating on about punk rock, which seemed off theme to me - especially as we now know Johnny Rotten is a big Keith Emerson fan (isn't every sane person and quite a few insane people too). One contributor did get on my nerves, but the rest were worth hearing and Bill Bruford was particularly interesting to listen to.

If you can tune into the BBC iPlayer then it is well worth the effort. To use the iPlayer outside the UK you need to use a proxy that is inside the UK. It would probably break forum rules to post how to do this, but it's only a google away.

ATB Rotf
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
One contributor did get on my nerves


I always love listening to my fave drummer Phil chirp on.

Thought it was bloody good how (I think it was) Bucks Fizz managed to get into a prog rock documentary.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Lontano:
Holy Crap that keyboard playing from Keith Emerson is something else. Good start
IMHO - Emo is the best musician I have ever heard.
quote:
Thought it was bloody good how (I think it was) Bucks Fizz managed to get into a prog rock documentary.
Well it was the land of make believe Big Grin
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
That was really good.
I'm with ROTF regards this punk killed prog. I think prog survived much better than punk.
Keith is a keyboard god.
I love the idea that taking 3 whole months to make an album was considered excessive.
What's left for the other 2 parts of the programme?
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
That was really good.
I'm with ROTF regards this punk killed prog. I think prog survived much better than punk.
Keith is a keyboard god.
I love the idea that taking 3 whole months to make an album was considered excessive.
What's left for the other 2 parts of the programme?


I think we had all three parts tonight. The programme was divided into three time sections. Might be wrong though....
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
There is some more on tomorrow night 40 min Prog Rock documentary with Hackett and others followed by OGWT following ELP on tour.

And then Sunday night is an evening of Genesis and Phil Cool
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
quote:
I think we had all three parts tonight. The programme was divided into three time sections. Might be wrong though....


I think you might not be....
No programme next Friday.
What genre are Pink Floyd then?
Don't say fuckin space rock.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
Well according to Wikipedia

Pink Floyd are an English rock band who initially earned recognition for their psychedelic and space rock music, and later, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music.

(They mentioned the Space Rock Roll Eyes )

According to Prog Archives

PINK FLOYD can be considered as one of the leading bands in progressive rock from the seventies, together with YES and GENESIS.


Well they did show a little of them jumping backwards round the beach.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Tonight (Saturday)

BBC4 9.00 PM - a look back to the years when progressive rock ruled the universe, with bands such as Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and King Crimson filling stadia with their grandiose stage shows. Contributors include Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, Yes drummer Bill Bruford, Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris, DJ John Peel and rock critic Charles Shaar-Murray.

BBC4 9.40 p.m - Bob Harris introduces film of Emerson Lake and Palmer's 1973 Euro concert tour. Behind the scenes antics include Greg Lake falling prey to laryngitis in Vienna, Keith Emerson destroying a keyboard and Carl Palmer rehearsing the 1812 overture.

On Sunday they're having a laugh - no prog rock I'm afraid - just some tedious programme about Peter Gabriel's old backing band and an interview with Noel Gallagher's mate. Best to record the ELP stuff from Saturday and listen to it again on Sunday or just have an evening playing all your old Nice records.

ATB Rotf
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
I thought PF they might of had more of a mention as they did sell almost as many albums as EGG.

Any enemy of NG's is a mate of mine, well almost any enemy there are so many.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Lontano
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
I thought they might of had more of a mention as they did sell almost as many albums as EGG.


Have to admit I knew next to nothing about them before the show but will probably now get an album or two to try out.
Posted on: 02 January 2009 by BigH47
Lontano already a Soft Machine fan then. Sounds like the jazz you might like. Razz Winker Big Grin