This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 1980 - 1989.
Contents [ ]
1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989
1980 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
1981 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Reformed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Release Date
Artist
Album
Country
1981 Jan
Camel
Nude
England
1981 Feb 12
Rush
Moving Pictures
Canada
1981 Feb
Premiata Forneria Marconi
Italy
1981 Feb
Twelfth Night
Live at the Target
England
1981 May 11
Frank Zappa
Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
US
1981 May 17
Frank Zappa
Tinseltown Rebellion
US
1981 June
Peter Hammill
Sitting Targets
England
1981 Jul
Electric Light Orchestra
Time
England
1981 Aug
Steve Hackett
Cured
England
1981 Sep 18
Genesis
Abacab
England
1981 Sep 22
King Crimson
Discipline
England
1981 Sep 23
Frank Zappa
You Are What You Is
US
1981 Sep
Saga
Worlds Apart
Canada
1981 Oct 18
Hawkwind
Sonic Attack
England
1981 Oct
Godley and Creme
Ismism
England
1981
Ange
Moteur
France
1981
Barclay James Harvest
Turn of the Tide
England
1981
Mike Batt / Autopilot
Rapid Eye Movements
England
1981
Mike Batt
Six Days in Berlin
England
1981
Cardiacs
Toy World
England
1981
Cartoon
Cartoon
US
1981
Dün
Eros
France
1981
East
Játekók
Hungary
1981
Eider Stellaire
Eider Stellaire (K001)
France
1981
Eloy
Planets
Germany
1981
Flame Dream
Out In The Dark
Switzerland
1981
Fred Frith
Speechless
England
1981
Diary
Germany
1981
Grobschnitt
Illegal
Germany
1981
Steve Howe
The Bodast Tapes
England
1981
Kayak
Merlin
Netherlands
1981
Kayak
Eyewitness
Netherlands
1981
Kerrs Pink
Mellom Oss
Norway
1981
Kultivator
Barndomens Stigar
Sweden
1981
Los Jaivas
Alturas de Machu Picchu
Chile
1981
The Muffins
185
US
1981
National Health
D.S. Al Coda
England
1981
Pallas
Arrive Alive
Scotland
1981
Quasar
England
1981
Sky
Sky 3
England / Australia
1981
This Heat
Deceit
England
1981
Univers Zero
Ceux Du Dehors
Belgium
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford form new band Discipline, but after initial live dates Fripp decides the band constitutes a new incarnation of King Crimson .
Former Yes members Chris Squire and Alan White try to put together XYZ with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin , but the project fails to go beyond rehearsals and the recording of several demos at Chris Squire's home studio due to Plant's dislike for the complicated musical arrangements. Steve Howe goes on to form Asia . Yes reformed in 1983.
National Health keyboardist Alan Gowen dies.
Aerodrom release the album , making shift towards new wave .
Gordi release the album Pakleni trio , making shift towards heavy metal .
1982 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Release Date
Artist
Album
Country
1982 Mar 18
Asia
Asia
England
1982 Mar 19
Mike Oldfield
Five Miles Out
England
1982 Apr 10
Jethro Tull
Broadsword and the Beast
England
1982 Apr
Camel
The Single Factor
England
1982 May 3
Frank Zappa
Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
US
1982 Jun 4
Genesis
Three Sides Live
England
1982 Jun 18
King Crimson
Beat
England
1982 Sep 8
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
England
1982 Sep 9
Rush
Signals
Canada
1982 Sep
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Ice Cream For Crow
US
1982 Oct
Peter Hammill
Enter K
England
1982 Oct
Supertramp
…Famous Last Words…
England
1982 Dec
Twelfth Night
Fact and Fiction
England
1982
Art Zoyd
Phase IV
France
1982
Mike Batt
Zero Zero
England
1982
Begnagrad
Begnagrad
Yugoslavia
1982
Bi Kyo Ran
Bi Kyo Ran
Japan
1982
Eric Burdon
Comeback
Germany
1982
Debile Menthol
Emile au Jardin Patrologique
Switzerland
1982
East
Hűség
Hungary
1982
Etron Fou Leloublan
Les Poumons Gonfles'
France
1982
Galija
Ipak verujem u sebe
Yugoslavia
1982
IQ
Seven Stories into Eight
England
1982
Isildurs Bane
Sagan om den irländska älgen
Sweden
1982
Kaipa
Nattdjurstid
Sweden
1982
Kenso
II
Japan
1982
Los Jaivas
Aconcagua
Chile
1982
Jean-Paul Prat
Masal
France
1982
Protos
One Day a New Horizon
England
1982
Radio Noisz Ensemble
Yniverze
Germany
1982
Rebekka
Phoenix
Germany
1982
Sky
Sky 4 - Forthcoming
England / Australia
1982
Stormy Six
Al Volo
Italy
1982
Third Quadrant
Seeing yourself as you really are
England
1982
Univers Zero
Crawling Wind
Belgium
1982
Von Zamla
Zamlaranamma
Sweden
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
14 July - Pink Floyd releases their movie version of The Wall in the UK (13 Aug in the US). [1]
1983 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Reformed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
John Wetton is fired from Asia just prior to a Japanese tour and is replaced by Greg Lake . Wetton returned to the band in 1984.
Yes reform with long-time members Jon Anderson, Chris Squire and Alan White, recruiting ex-member Tony Kaye who was fired in 1970 and new guitarist, Trevor Rabin to form a "Yes for the 1980s".
After the supportive tour for ...Famous Last Words... , Roger Hodgson leaves Supertramp .
1984 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Release Date
Artist
Album
Country
1984 Mar 12
Marillion
Fugazi
England
1984 Mar 27
King Crimson
Three of a Perfect Pair
England
1984 Mar 27
David Gilmour
About Face
England
1984 Apr 9
Zee
Identity
England
1984 Apr 12
Rush
Grace Under Pressure
Canada
1984 Apr 13
Camel
Stationary Traveller
England
1984 Apr 30
Roger Waters
The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking
England
1984 Jun 25
Mike Oldfield
Discovery
England
1984 Aug
Steve Hackett
Till We Have Faces
England
1984 Sep 7
Jethro Tull
Under Wraps
England
1984 Sep 7
Queensrÿche
The Warning
US
1984 Oct 18
Frank Zappa
Them or Us
US
1984 Dec 21
Frank Zappa
Thing-Fish
US
1984
Ange
Fou
France
1984
Art Zoyd
Le Mariage du Ciel et l'Enfer
France
1984
Bi Kyo Ran
Parallax
Japan
1984
Barclay James Harvest
Victims of Circumstance
England
1984
Castanarc
Journey to the East
England
1984
Cardiacs
The Seaside
England
1984
Craft
Craft
England
1984
Gunesh Ensemble
Looking at the Earth
Turkmenistan
1984
Roger Hodgson
In the Eye of the Storm
England
1984
Isildurs Bane
Sagan om den Irländska Älgen
Sweden
1984
Los Jaivas
Obras de Violeta Parra
Chile
1984
Nazca
Nazca
Mexico
1984
News from Babel
Work Resumed on the Tower
England
1984
Not Drowning, Waving
Another Pond
Australia
1984
Pallas
The Sentinel
UK
1984
Pocket Orchestra
Knebnagäuje
US
1984
Solaris
Marsbéli Krónikák (The Martian Chronicles)
Hungary
1984
Solstice
Silent Dance
England
1984
Thinking Plague
A Thinking Plague
US
1984
Twelfth Night
Live and Let Live
England
1984
Univers Zero
Uzed
Belgium
1984
Uppsala
Uppsala
France
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
1985 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Release Date
Artist
Album
Country
1985 February 25
Tears for Fears
Songs from the Big Chair
England
1985 May
Supertramp
Brother Where You Bound
England
1985 Jun 17
Marillion
Misplaced Childhood
England
1985 Aug
Saga
Behaviour
Canada
1985 Oct 15
Rush
Power Windows
Canada
1985 Nov 11
Hawkwind
The Chronicle of the Black Sword
England
1985 Nov 21
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
US
1985 Nov 30
Asia
Astra
England
1985
5uu's
Bel Marduk and Tiamat
US
1985
Debile Menthol
Battre Campagne
Switzerland
1985
Deyss
At King
Switzerland
1985
Egg
Seven Is a Jolly Good Time
England
1985
Godley and Creme
The History Mix Volume 1
England
1985
Horizont
Summer in Town
Russia
1985
Iconoclasta
Reminiscencias
Mexico
1985
In Spe
Typewriter Concerto in D
Estonia
1985
IQ
The Wake
England
1985
Eddie Jobson
Theme of Secrets
England
1985
Kenso
Kenso III
Japan
1985
Kenso
Music From Five Unknown Musicians
Japan
1985
Minimum Vital
Envol Triangles
France
1985
Patrick Moraz / Bill Bruford
Flags
England
1985
Not Drowning, Waving
The Little Desert
Australia
1985
Outer Limits
Misty Moon
Japan
1985
Ozric Tentacles
England
1985
Ozric Tentacles
England
1985
Bernard Paganotti
Paga
France
1985
Pendragon
The Jewel
England
1985
Present
Le Poison Qui Rend Fou
Belgium
1985
Robert Wyatt
Old Rottenhat
England
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
IQ vocalist Peter Nicholls leaves for personal reasons. He is replaced by Paul Menel who debuts on 14 November 1985.
Pink Floyd leader, bassist and lyricist Roger Waters leaves due to internal tensions within the band, and declares the band defunct, however the remaining members still continue, releasing A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987.
1986 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
Charlie Dominici becomes the lead singer for Dream Theater after firing of Chris Collins
1987 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Reformed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Release Date
Artist
Album
Country
1987 May
IQ
Nomzamo
England
1987 Jun
King Diamond
Abigail
Denmark
1987 Jun 15
Roger Waters
Radio K.A.O.S.
England
1987 Jun 22
Marillion
Clutching at Straws
England
1987 Sep 7
Mike Oldfield
Islands
England
1987 Sep 7
Pink Floyd
A Momentary Lapse of Reason
England
1987 Sep 8
Rush
Hold Your Fire
Canada
1987 Sep 11
Jethro Tull
Crest of a Knave
England
1987 Sep 28
Yes
Big Generator
England
1987
Abel Ganz
Gullibles Travels
Scotland
1987
Ange
Sève qui peut
France
1987
Art Zoyd
Berlin
France
1987
Barclay James Harvest
Face to Face'
England
1987
Bellaphon
Firefly
Japan
1987
Biota
Tinct
US
1987
Blind Owl
Debut at Dusk
US
1987
Deyss
Vision in the Dark
Switzerland
1987
Djam Karet
The Ritual Continues
US
1987
Doctor Nerve
Armed Observation
US
1987
Ezra Winston
Myth of the Chrysavides
Italy
1987
Roger Hodgson
Hai Hai
England
1987
Supertramp
Free as a Bird
England
1987
Iconoclasta
Soliloquio
Mexico
1987
Isildurs Bane
Sagan om Ringen
Sweden
1987
Nimal
Nimal
Various
1987
Not Drowning, Waving
Cold and the Crackle
Australia
1987
Outer Limits
The Scene Of Pale Blue
Japan
1987
Premiata Forneria Marconi
Italy
1987
Thinking Plague
Moonsongs
US
1987
Vermilion Sands
Water Blue
Japan
Disbandments [ ]
Events [ ]
Korni Grupa makes a brief reunion to perform on Legende YU Rocka concerts.
YU Grupa release their comeback hard rock -oriented album Od zlata jabuka ; the band's future releases would feature similar sound.
1988 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Disbandments [ ]
After the 1988 tour, Supertramp goes on hiatus.
Events [ ]
1989 [ ]
Newly formed bands [ ]
Albums [ ]
Disbandments [ ]
Charlie Dominici leaves Dream Theater
Events [ ]
IQ - vocalist Paul Menel and bass player Tim Essau depart.
See also [ ]
Further reading [ ]
Lucky, Jerry. The Progressive Rock Files Burlington, Ontario: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc (1998), 304 pages, ISBN 1-896522-10-6 (paperback). Gives an overview of progressive rock's history as well as histories of the major and underground bands in the genre.
Macan, Edward. Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. Oxford: Oxford University Press (1997), 290 pages, ISBN 0-19-509887-0 (hardcover), ISBN 0-19-509888-9 (paperback). Analyzes progressive rock using classical musicology and also sociology.