Timeline of progressive rock (1980–1989)

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


 * See also
 * Links and references

Disbandments

 * Den Za Den
 * Gentle Giant
 * Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes

Events

 * Sky: Francis Monkman (keyboards) departs. Replaced by Steve Gray.
 * Los Jaivas presents Obras de Violeta Parra for the first time in France.
 * Former Pop Mašina members form hard rock band Rok Mašina.

Newly formed bands

 * Celelalte Cuvinte
 * Asia
 * Queensrÿche

Reformed bands

 * King Crimson

Disbandments

 * Art Bears
 * Na Lepem Prijazni (temporarily)
 * National Health
 * Tako
 * Yes (temporarily)
 * YU Grupa (temporarily)

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 Tango Bango, making shift towards new wave.
 * Gordi release the album Pakleni trio, making shift towards heavy metal.

Newly formed bands

 * In Cahoots
 * IQ
 * Voivod
 * Thinking Plague

Events

 * 14 July - Pink Floyd releases their movie version of The Wall in the UK (13 Aug in the US).

Newly formed bands

 * Apocalypse
 * Death
 * Fates Warning
 * News from Babel

Reformed bands

 * Yes

Disbandments

 * Earth & Fire

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.

Disbandments

 * Begnagrad
 * Gordi
 * Predmestje
 * Soft Machine

Events

 * Sky: John Williams (acoustic guitar) departs. Remaining members tour Australia with Rick Wakeman.

Newly formed bands

 * Dream Theater
 * King's X
 * Magellan
 * Emerson, Lake & Powell

Disbandments

 * Igra Staklenih Perli

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.

Newly formed bands

 * Mastermind
 * Mystery

Disbandments

 * Electric Light Orchestra
 * Emerson, Lake & Powell
 * News from Babel

Events

 * Charlie Dominici becomes the lead singer for Dream Theater after firing of Chris Collins

Newly formed bands

 * Devil Doll
 * Discipline
 * Kingston Wall
 * Porcupine Tree

Reformed bands

 * YU Grupa

Disbandments

 * Twelfth Night

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.

Newly formed bands

 * Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

Disbandments

 * After the 1988 tour, Supertramp goes on hiatus.

Events

 * Vocalist Fish leaves Marillion and is replaced by Steve Hogarth.
 * Yes vocalist Jon Anderson wishes to return to the "classic Yes" sound and so forms Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe with Yes alumni.
 * Drummer Gabriel Parra of Los Jaivas Died in a car accident in Peru.

Newly formed bands

 * Atavism of Twilight
 * Echolyn
 * Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
 * Enchant
 * Iona
 * Keep the Dog
 * Conception

Disbandments

 * Charlie Dominici leaves Dream Theater

Events

 * IQ - vocalist Paul Menel and bass player Tim Essau depart.