Progtober: Rush, Yes, and a Serial Killer’s Unexpected Connection to “Owner of a Lonely heart”
This october, progressive rock-or “prog”-is having a moment, with a flurry of tours from iconic bands and a surprising appearance in a new true crime anthology series.
Welcome to “Progtober,” a month dedicated to the complex arrangements, virtuosic musicianship, and often fantastical themes that define the genre. Fans can catch live performances from legendary acts like Yes, performing their seminal album Fragile in its entirety, and Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, celebrating 50 years of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. The Musical box, a tribute band meticulously recreating the early genesis experience, is also on tour, with lead singer Denis Gagné fully embodying Peter Gabriel’s iconic stage persona. Adding to the excitement, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush recently announced a 50th-anniversary tour honoring the memory of their late bandmate, Neil Peart, with German virtuoso Anika Nilles taking on the challenging drum role.
But the celebration of prog doesn’t stop at the concert hall. For those preferring a home listening experience, a darker option presents itself with the new season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology series, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, now streaming on Netflix. The series focuses on Ed Gein-the notorious murderer and grave robber who inspired characters like Norman Bates and Leatherface-and his gruesome crimes. In a particularly striking scene, Gein (played by Jeremy Sisto) chillingly tells Gein, “I hope to burn in hell with you one day.” The scene culminates in a tearful reunion with gein’s mother, suggesting his passage into the afterlife, followed by his death from respiratory failure.
According to sources, murphy is known for his impactful “needle drops” (such as Milli Vanilli in last season’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik menendez Story), but this particular scene stands out. Here, a murderer finds solace in music as Jon Anderson sings, “You always live your life/Never thinking of the future.” As one observer noted, “Dying to a song Trevor Rabin wrote entirely on the toilet isn’t so bad.”
Released in 1983-another nod to “Progtober”-“Owner of a Lonely Heart” became Yes’s only Number One hit, revitalizing the band’s career after a period of perceived stagnation. “It was the most extraordinary event in my life,” jon Anderson shared in 2016. “You’re playing to thousands and thousands of people all over the world who know who you are. You never forget those times. It was very much like that at the Close to the Edge time and Fragile time. You never forget that amazing sense of camaraderie, harmony and friendship.”
The history of Yes’s lineup is famously complex, requiring more time to unravel than listening to all their classic albums. Currently, Anderson tours independently from Yes, which comprises guitarist Steve Howe, singer Jon Davison, bassist Billy sherwood, drummer Jay Schellen, and keyboardist Geoff Downes.The last time Anderson and Howe shared the stage was in 2017, at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Rabin, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and the late drummer Alan White. Unsurprisingly, they performed “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”
In a memorable moment, Howe played the bass parts during that performance-the last time he’s performed the song live, with a low probability of repeating the feat. While “Owner of a Lonely Heart” may not be the first song that comes to mind when Steve Howe thinks of “Progtober,” perhaps Ryan murphy is already planning a future installment of Monster focusing on Lizzie Borden, imagining a scene where she commits her infamous crimes while John Wetton of Asia belts out, “I never meant to be so bad to you….one thing I said that I woudl never do…”-a prospect that promises to be “prog-tastic.”
