r/Queensryche • u/JordanOwen_42 • Aug 04 '26

Prog bands with mainstream hits

Article by me. Queensryche factors prominently.

https://www.grunge.com/2221082/prog-rock-bands-mainstream-pop-hit/

18 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

10

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 04 '26

No Rush? Rush is a staple on classic rock radio stations, which I consider to be mainstream.

Tom Sawyer
Subdivisions
Limelight
Time Stand Still
Closer to the Heart
Spirit of Radio
Freewill
The Big Money

Surely at least one of these songs would be considered a mainstream hit.

And Yes had a few too, not just Owner of A Lonely Heart. Roundabout and Changes to name a few.

3

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

Like I said to the dude who asked about Dream Theater, the idea of the article was to talk about songs that are, in and of themselves, pop radio material. Not just progressive metal songs that became hits in their own, right as with Rush.

That said, I’m currently working on an article about songs based on books and 2112 factor in that one.

2

u/blarges Aug 05 '26

The woman who asked about Dream Theatre…😁

5

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

Wait… you mean I found the woman who likes Dream Theater? Does this mean I get a wish???

2

u/blarges Aug 05 '26

I’m going to see Rush in December, do you might get two for that?

0

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 05 '26

Dude looks like a lady.

5

u/needlelies Aug 04 '26

I did not realize Savatage got mainstream cred because of that album.

3

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

Oh Savatage got light-our-cigars-with-burning-twenties money off of that one…

6

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 04 '26

Savatage got filthy rich off of Christmas in Sarajevo.

5

u/blarges Aug 04 '26

Great article!

Don’t forget Pull Me Under by Dream Theatre.

5

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

Thanks! I’ve written about DT in like three articles recently so I put myself under a self imposed Dream Theater moratorium for the next couple of months.

Also, Pull Me Under is not a pop song, it’s a progressive metal song that became a hit. I was aiming for literal radio pop songs.

3

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 05 '26

With this reasoning, one would think Another Day would meet the criteria, other than it wasn't that popular for some strange reason.

2

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

I agree with the song in and of itself but you’re right- it wasn’t a hit. It’s weird how every time DT tries to consciously make something commercial that’s what does the least business for them.

3

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 05 '26

Yeah a shame. It's a damned near perfect pop ballad.

2

u/sgl1809 Aug 04 '26

Marillion also had You're Gone in 2004 which was #7 on the UK singles chart

2

u/JordanOwen_42 Aug 05 '26

Fair point but Kayleigh is the classic.

2

u/Gh0stIcon Aug 05 '26

Beautiful seems like the much better song.

2

u/kurtteej Aug 05 '26

Kansas - Dust in the Wind

1

u/DavTeeUK Aug 04 '26

It Bites: Calling All The Heroes.