Dave Weigel + Tom Scharpling | The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock

Journalist Dave Weigel and comedian Tom Scharpling discuss the redemption of an oft-derided rock genre in Weigel’s new book “The Show that Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock.” Buy a copy here: http://www.strandbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.results&includeOutOfStock=1&searchString=david+weigel+the+show+that+never+ends David Weigel, national reporter at the Washington Post, is here to rescue the music of groups like Yes, Genesis, and Pink Floyd from the ridicule and derision heaped on it by decades of critics and pop culture, all the way back to Spinal Tap. Described by Rolling Stone as "the deliciously decadent genre that the punks failed to kill," prog rock saw huge sales and even huger ideas-- concept albums, wild and wooly cover art, advanced recording techniques, and, yes, stagecraft worthy of "Stonehenge." In “The Show that Never Ends,” Weigel explains exactly what was “progressive” about prog rock, tracing the rise of prog from experimental precursors like the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” to the massive success of hits like Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” in 1967. He explores the making of landmark albums like “The Dark Side of the Moon,” “Thick as a Brick” and “Tubular Bells” and crafts memorable portraits of the musicians, producers, impresarios and technicians who shaped the genre, including Richard Branson, Brian Eno, Ahmet Ertegun, and Bob Moog. Join Weigel, along with “Best Show” host, comedian, and fellow prog connoisseur Tom Scharpling, for an appreciation of prog rock’s unstoppable ambition. Recorded June 13, 2017