# The 1970s prog-rock icons Roger Waters believes were “a construct in order to sell records”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1970s-prog-rock-icons-roger-waters-believes-were-a-construct-in-order-to-sell-records/
- Published: 2026-11-13T19:57:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T20:22:50+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1970s-prog-rock-icons-roger-waters-believes-were-a-construct/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Waters says ELP’s prog rock was built to sell records.
- He argues music should express a belief about human life.
- The article contrasts ELP’s complexity with Pink Floyd’s message-led work.

## Summary

Roger Waters has criticised Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), arguing that their technically ambitious progressive rock was designed to sell records rather than express a deep belief about human life. The comments reflect his view that music should carry meaning, even though he was a member of one of rock’s best-known progressive bands, Pink Floyd.

Waters contrasted ELP’s intricate compositions, including the album *Tarkus*, with Pink Floyd’s emphasis on lyrics, feeling and atmosphere. The article notes that ELP also had chart success with songs such as ‘Lucky Man’, while Waters says his own work, including *The Wall*, was driven by a message rather than the pursuit of hits. The article’s text ends mid-sentence as it begins to explain what Waters was defending.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.