S is for… Supertramp

Named after W.H. Davies’s 1908 book The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, melodic quintet Supertramp were always at the poppier end of the prog spectrum.

After a faltering start the band hit paydirt with the 1974 album Crime Of The Century which featured the smash hit Dreamer. The band repeated the feat with 1979’s Breakfast In America, establishing them as one of the most successful bands of the era.

Singer Roger Hodgson left in 1983 but co-founder Richard Davis continued the band. They celebrate their 40th Anniversary later this year at the O2 Arena.

S is also for… Soft Machine

One of the pioneering bands who epitomised the Canterbury sound, Soft Machine originally featuring Daevid Allen, who would form Gong, and Kevin Ayers, who would later work with Mike Oldfield. They also featured drummer Robert Wyatt for a while. The band became jazzier as time went on.