PROG was formed in 1999 by Michael BB, Steve Phipps, Scott Eagle and original bassist David Lloyd. The current bassist/guitarist Gordon Ranney joined the band ten years ago. Guitarist Joe Allard joined the band 8 years ago. So, here is their story:

This unit is the ONLY band in the world that plays the music of Genesis, Rush, YES AND Jethro Tull, exclusively. Many bands play the music of one of these groups. Some bands play three of the groups, but with lots of other material. But, NO other group exists that does what they do!

Drummer and lead vocalist Steve Phipps is at the heart of the band’s ability to play all four bands’ repertoire. His playing and singing of complex material is unmatched for its flexibility and sheer, miraculous co-ordination. He plays a Sonor 9-pc drum kit similar to Neil Peart’s setup. His drumming breathes like a singer, and thus, PROG has an energy that moves through its complex sequences with humanity and feeling. 

Flutist/guitarist/percussionist/vocalist Scott Eagle is PROG’s other main source of instrumental and vocal talent. His flute pipes up high, his slide and acoustic guitars make Tull and YES come alive, and he even plays the glockenspiel, as well as all manner of smaller percussion pieces. 

Bassist/guitarist Gordon Ranney auditioned for the band by playing 14 of their current songs, and had them all down COLD. They knew he was the Man for the Band. He plays A Rick with a Pick, and his fingers, too. He built a double-neck 12-string electric and 4-string bass guitar instrument just for use on various Genesis, YES, and Rush pieces. He also plays the bass pedals with his feet. He is an original member of the infamous Gomers, of Rock Star Gomeroke and Biff Blumfumgagne fame.

Electric lead guitarist Joe Allard plays both acoustic 6 and 12-string guitars as well. The number of strings onstage at a PROG show exceeds 100! Joe uses traditional rock sounds, like a Gibson SG, as well as Roland digital amp technology, to get the lead guitar sounds and solos of Lifeson, Howe, Hackett and Martin Barre. He likes to cover the guitar solos as closely to the original studio recordings as possible. He has the hardest job in the band, as it a Rock band after all, and the Guitar comes First!

Keyboardist Michael BB, aka Michael Butkus-Bomier, is the musical director and onstage conductor of PROG. He is a jazz, classical, salsa, and blues as well as rock player. He and Gordon are the two full-time musicians in the group. His setup has 6 Moog, Roland, and Ensoniq keyboards. No sequencers or samplers are used in a PROG performance. All sounds are produced live onstage by the players. 

The texture of British progressive rock of the 70’s relies heavily on certain characteristic sounds, such as Moog, Mellotron, and Hammond sounds. MBB’s keyboards are first-rate digital versions of these defining elements.

PROG can be found online at www.prog-music.info or on FaceBook at Prog the Band, or on ReverbNation. Steve, Scott, Gordon, Joe and Michael BB thank you for your support of Live PROG!