Timeline of progressive rock (1970–1979)

This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 1970–1979.

Contents
1970 – 1971 – 1972 – 1973 – 1974 – 1975 – 1976 – 1977 – 1978 – 1979


 * See also
 * References

Newly formed bands
• Ange

• Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes

• Curved Air

• Electric Light Orchestra

• Emerson, Lake & Palmer

• Gentle Giant

• Grobschnitt

• Grupa Marina Škrgatića

• Jackson Heights

• Jane

• Jutro

• Kansas (Proto-Kaw)

• Khan

• Mogul Thrash

• Nirvana (Yugoslav band)

• Quiet Sun

• YU Grupa

Disbandments

 * The Beatles
 * Dogovor iz 1804.
 * The Nice
 * Organisation
 * Quill
 * Sam Gopal

Events

 * Peter Banks leaves Yes, being replaced by former Bodast and Tomorrow guitarist Steve Howe.
 * Anthony Phillips leaves Genesis, and is replaced by guitarist Steve Hackett. Genesis also changes drummers, losing John Mayhew and bringing in former child actor Phil Collins.
 * Jan Akkerman and Pierre van der Linden leave Brainbox for Focus.

Newly formed bands
• Camel

• Druid

• Fields

• Manfred Mann's Earth Band

• Matching Mole

• Queen

• Styx

• Time

Disbandments

 * Nirvana (British band)
 * Quatermass

Events

 * The new King Crimson that Bill Bruford joins has former Family bassist John Wetton.
 * Yes fires organist Tony Kaye, and replaces him with former Strawbs keyboard player and session musician Rick Wakeman.

Newly formed bands
• Progresiv TM

• DAG

• Dah

• Gilgamesh

• Goblin

• Greenslade

• Gryphon

• Hatfield and the North

• Hobo

• Kayak

• Oko

• Pop Mašina

• S Vremena Na Vreme

• Tabula Rasa

Disbandments

 * Brainbox
 * Fields
 * Khan
 * Matching Mole
 * Van der Graaf Generator

Newly formed bands

 * Clearlight
 * Etron Fou Leloublan
 * Happy the Man
 * Journey
 * Opus
 * Refugee
 * Tempest

Disbandments

 * Jackson Heights
 * Marsupilami

Events

 * Rick Wakeman leaves Yes after concluding the band's Tales From Topographic Oceans Tour. He would enjoy a long solo career following the success of his albums Six Wives of Henry VIII and Journey to the Center of the Earth. He is replaced by former Refugee keyboard player Patrick Moraz.
 * Founding member Phil Schulman leaves Gentle Giant.

Newly formed bands

 * Bijelo Dugme
 * Drugi Način
 * Klaatu
 * SBB
 * Tako
 * Teška Industrija
 * Trace
 * Univers Zero

Disbandments

 * King Crimson
 * Korni Grupa
 * Refugee
 * Supersister

Events

 * John Rutsey leaves Rush to be replaced by Neil Peart.

Newly formed bands

 * Ambrosia
 * National Health
 * September
 * Triana

Reformed bands

 * Van Der Graaf Generator

Disbandments

 * DAG
 * Hatfield and the North
 * Fusion Orchestra disband in May after six years of touring. This had been the band's eighth line-up. Only drummer Dave Bell remained from the original band, formed in 1969. Co-founder Col Dawson had left at the end of December 1974.
 * Porodična Manufaktura Crnog Hleba
 * The Mothers of Invention

Events

 * Vocalist Peter Gabriel leaves Genesis at the end of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour. The band's drummer, Phil Collins, steps up to be lead singer and frontman after the band auditions some 450 singers. Gabriel then embarks on a solo career.
 * Former Pink Floyd frontman, Syd Barrett, overweight and bald, goes to Abbey Road Studios to ask if he can rejoin the band, they turn him down. The visit caused the band much distress. The band were recording the backing vocals for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", a song about Barrett's demise.
 * Bassist Mario Mutis leaves Los Jaivas.
 * Yugoslav band Dah moves to Belgium, where they change their name to Land.

Newly formed bands

 * Begnagrad
 * Brand X
 * Igra Staklenih Perli
 * The Alan Parsons Project

Disbandments

 * 10cc: Kevin Godley and Lol Creme leave to pursue solo projects.
 * Curved Air
 * Dah
 * Deep Purple
 * Grupa Marina Škrgatića
 * Nirvana (Yugoslav band)

Newly formed bands

 * Aksak Maboul
 * Cardiacs
 * Crack
 * Galija
 * Gordi
 * Predmestje
 * Saga
 * Témpano
 * Toto
 * U.K.

Disbandments

 * Hobo
 * Time

Events

 * Abortive supergroup British Bulldog with John Wetton, Rick Wakeman and Bill Bruford only play a few rehearsals.
 * Patrick Moraz is fired from Yes to allow Rick Wakeman to re-join.
 * Guitarist Steve Hackett departs Genesis to pursue solo work.

Newly formed bands
• Aerodrom

• Art Bears

• Den Za Den

• Iman Califato Independiente

• Na Lepem Prijazni

• Sky

• Twelfth Night

Disbandments

 * Elonkorjuu
 * Emerson, Lake & Palmer
 * Henry Cow
 * Oko
 * Pop Mašina
 * Teška Industrija
 * Van der Graaf Generator

Events

 * Rock in Opposition (RIO) is formed by Henry Cow, Stormy Six, Samla Mammas Manna, Univers Zero and Etron Fou Leloublan at the first RIO festival in London on 12 March. Art Zoyd, Art Bears and Aksak Maboul join RIO in December.

Newly formed bands

 * Marillion
 * The Mnemonist Orchestra (developed into Biota)

Disbandments

 * Opus
 * September
 * U.K.

Events

 * Rick Wright of Pink Floyd is fired from the band by bassist Roger Waters. However he is allowed back on "The Wall" tour as a paid session musician.
 * Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman leave Yes. They were replaced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of The Buggles respectively.
 * Mario Mutis rejoined Los Jaivas.