Greg partying with Rick Wakeman
Greg Northrup
E-mail: Greg@Progweed.net
AOL Or Instant Messanger: BakerStMuse
Last Updated: October 2001
Some background on me:
I'd always been interested in heavy metal music growing up, with some of my favorite bands being Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath etc. A few "progressive" bands like Pink Floyd, Rush and Dream Theater were always personal favorites. As my teenage years progressed I began delving into underground metal bands like Opeth, In The Woods, and Anathema who I learned had a decidedly "progressive" edge to them. At the same time, I was playing bass for a high school garage band, the lead guitarist of which was something of a prog-rock aficianado. Around the same time that he was introducing me to his favorite band, Jethro Tull, I had had gone out and bought the Genesis classic, Selling England by the Pound. I was overwhelmed. Genesis became my favorite band and I quickly gobbled up their catalog. That was about three years ago.
The initial impression that
albums like Thick as a Brick and Foxtrot had on me was
so deep and consuming that Tull and Genesis have become personal icons
for me. As I continued to explore this new fascination I picked
up a lot of the major prog works by King Crimson, Yes, ELP etc. but
was not truly bowled over until I finally managed to delve into the
"underground" About two years ago I started to get into
bands like Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Camel and especially Van Der Graaf
Generator, and my interest really took off. Many of the great
albums I discovered early on ignited a spark that led to an indefinite
and growing collection of progressive rock music, and a very enjoyable
hobby, as well as the creation of this website. Enjoy.
| Geographical location: New York, NY |
| DOB: 8/16/80 |
| Enjoy these (Progressive Rock) Styles and musical qualities: Symphonic, Krautrock, Canterbury, Zeuhl, starting to explore RIO and what nots |
| Other styles/genres/qualities of music that I like not listed above: Have a soft spot for classic heavy metal |
| Favorite or well-respected bands/artists: Jethro Tull, Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator/Peter Hammill, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Popol Vuh, Picchio dal Pozzo, Tangerine Dream, Pierrot Lunaire |
| Dislike these (Progressive Rock) Styles and musical qualities: Nothing much I can't stand, not really into ELP, most neo fails to impress me at all. |
| Musical styles or qualities that I do not like: Don't like anything from which I get a sense that it's been created for profit rather than for art. |
| Occupation: Communications/Mass Media student at New York University, hoping to go into journalism or law. |
| Other musical activities: I do a weekly radio show out of the WNYU Radio station entitled "Blood on the Rooftops", check out the Radio page from the main Progweed site for more details. Also used to play bass in an aspiring prog-rock band. Fell apart when college started. |
| Hobbies / obsessions: I have an unhealthy obsession with Steve Buscemi |
| Other comments: "The dude abides" |
Albums of the moment (January 2002):
Agitation Free - Malesch
Picchio dal Pozzo - Abbiamo
Tutti I Suoi Problemi
Cervello - Melos
Culpeper's Orchard - s/t
Indian Summer - s/t
Here's an arbitrary listing of some of my favorite progressive rock recordings:
These lists are all as of October 2001. I know there's plenty more to explore.
Top Ten Albums by the "Classic Symphonic" English Groups (Every prog fan should have these albums, and probably at least two or three others by each of these bands):
Camel - Moonmadness
Genesis - Trespass
Genesis - Foxtrot
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Peter Hammill - In Camera
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
King Crimson - Red
Van Der Graaf Generator -
Pawn Hearts
Van Der Graaf Generator -
Godbluff
Yes - Close to the Edge
Top Ten Italian
Alphataurus - s/t
Il Balleto di Bronzo - YS
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso -
Darwin!
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso -
Io Sono Nato Libero
Maxophone - s/t
Le Orme - Felona e Sonora
Picchio dal Pozzo - s/t
Pierrot Lunaire - Gudrun
PFM - Per Un Amico
Semiramis - Dedicato a Frazz
Top Ten French
Ange - Au Dela du Delire
Arachnoid - s/t
Carpe Diem - En Regardent
Passer le Temps
Clearlight - Symphony
Eskaton - Four Visions
Magma - Kohntarkosz
Mona Lisa - Grimaces
Moving Gelatine Plates - The
World of Genius Hans
Pulsar - The Strands of the
Future
Pulsar - Halloween
Top Ten German
Agitation Free - Malesch
Agitation Free - Second
Ash Ra Tempel - s/t
Embryo - Steig Aus
Faust - s/t
Novalis - Sommerabend
Popol Vuh - Einsjager &
Siebenjager
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
Wallenstein - Blitzkreig