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1980s

Hoelderlin

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One of the most under-rated groups of the progressive era, Hoelderlin's albums rival the best from the United Kingdom. The core of Hoelderlin's albums were released on CD by EMI in 2007.

Founded: 1970

Location: Wuppertal, Germany

Website: HOELDERLIN

Holdsworth, Allan

One of the progressive era's most recognizable guitarists, Allan Holdsworth has had a journeyman's career in the music world. During the 70s, he played for Igginbottom, Sunship, Nucleus, Tempest, Gong, The New Tony Williams Lifetime, Jean Luc Ponty, Soft Machine, U.K., and Bruford.

Founded: 1946

Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

Website: The Real Allan Holdsworth

Inner City Unit

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"Punkadelic acid rockers"? Musically defying all description, Inner City Unit remains one of the most unique offshots to the Hawkwind family tree. Founded by Hawkwind's Nik Turner, ICU combined the talents of Dead Fred Reeves on keyboards, Judge Trev Thoms on guitar, and Dino Ferari on drums, the latter two previously with Steve Took's bands. ICU took a hiatus while Reeves and Turner returned to Hawkwind, then reformed in the early 80s with Steve Pond on guitar and Micky Stupp on drums. Both Pond and Reeves supported Robert Calvert during the singers live shows in the mid 80s.

Founded: 1979

Location: London, England

Website: Inner City Unit

Jade Warrior

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One of the most original of the British progressives, Jade Warrior were one of the first bands to incorporate "world" elements into their unique sound.

Founded: 1968

Location: London, England

Website: Jade Warrior - Official Website

Jane

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One of Germany's most idiosyncratic rock bands, the slow burn rock of Jane remained a constant through most of their career.

Founded: 1970

Location: Hannover, Germany

Website: jane, offizielle Homepage der deutschen Rockband

Jarre, Jean Michel

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French synthesist, popular

Founded: 1948

Location: Lyon, France

Website: Jean Michel Jarre Official Website

Jethro Tull

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Led by Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull was the first group from the progressive era to score resounding chart success. Originally their music was based in rhythm and blues, but punctuated with Anderson's flute playing and larger-than-life stage persona. By Thick As A Brick, the band would provide the ultimate concept album: one song spread over both sides of the album, housed in a newspaper-facsimile record jacket. By the mid-70s, the bands work become more formulaic, but fan favorites were just around the corner, as the folk-roots of Songs For The Wood would attest.

Founded: 1967

Location: London, England

Website: Jethro Tull

Kansas

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Kansas' legacy is undoubtedly as America's greatest progressive rock band, and their oeuvre would become the blueprint for a new breed of prog-metal bands that emerged in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

Founded: 1972

Location: Topeka, Kansas

Website: Kansas

Kayak

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Founded: 1972

Location: Hilversum, The Netherlands

Website: kayak

King Crimson

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From their debut album and striking cover art, constantly shuffling lineup, groundbreaking music, never-say-die reformations, no band epitomizes the "British prog" ethos better than King Crimson.

Founded: 1968

Location: London, England

Website: DGM Live!

Members: