# Timeline of progressive rock (1980–1989)

This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 1980 - 1989.

## Contents

1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989
* See also
* Links and references

## 1980
### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1980 Jan 14 | Rush | Permanent Waves | Canada |
| 1980 Feb | Bill Bruford | Gradually Going Tornado | England |
| 1980 Feb 15 | Mike Rutherford | Smallcreep's Day | England |
| 1980 Mar 3 | Gentle Giant | Civilian | England |
| 1980 Mar 28 | Genesis | Duke | England |
| 1980 Apr 18 | Sky | Sky 2 | England / Australia |
| 1980 Apr | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Suonare suonare | Italy |
| 1980 May 30 | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel III | England |
| 1980 Jun 13 | Steve Hackett | Defector | England |
| 1980 Jun | Cardiac Arrest | The Obvious Identity | England |
| 1980 Aug 22 | Yes | Drama | England |
| 1980 Aug 29 | Jethro Tull | A | England |
| 1980 Aug | Peter Hammill | A Black Box | England |
| 1980 Aug | Saga | Silent Knight | Canada |
| 1980 Sep | Kansas | Audio-Visions | US |
| 1980 Sep | This Heat | This Heat | England |
| 1980 Oct 17 | Hawkwind | Levitation | England |
| 1980 Oct 31 | Mike Oldfield | QE2 | England |
| 1980 Oct 31 | Caravan | The Album | England |
| 1980 Nov 7 | The Alan Parsons Project | The Turn of a Friendly Card | England |
| 1980 Nov 7 | Jon Anderson | Song of Seven | England |
| 1980 Dec | Asia Minor | Between Flesh and Divine | France |
| 1980 | Abus Dangereux | Le Quatrieme Mouvement | France |
| 1980 | Ain Soph | A Story of Mysterious Forest | Japan |
| 1980 | Ange | Vu d'un Chien | France |
| 1980 | Art Bears | The World as It Is Today | England |
| 1980 | Art Zoyd | Generation Sans Futur | France |
| 1980 | Beggars Opera | Lifeline | England |
| 1980 | Cai | Noche Abierta | Spain |
| 1980 | Den Za Den | Den Za Den | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Eskaton | Ardeur | France |
| 1980 | Fred Frith | Gravity | England |
| 1980 | Galija | Druga plovidba | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Patrick Gauthier | Bebe Godzilla | France |
| 1980 | Igra Staklenih Perli | Vrt svetlosti | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Iman Califato Independiente | Camino del Aguila | Spain |
| 1980 | Jutro | Dobro jutro | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Kaipa | Händer | Sweden |
| 1980 | Kayak | Periscope Life | Netherlands |
| 1980 | The Muffins | Open City | US |
| 1980 | Picchio Dal Pozzo | Abbiamo Tutti I Suoi Problemi | Italy |
| 1980 | Pekka Pohjola | Kätkävaaran lohikäärme | Finland |
| 1980 | Predmestje | Hazard | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Present | Triskaidekaphobie | Belgium |
| 1980 | Rahmann | Rahmann | France |
| 1980 | Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes | La Deboussole | France |
| 1980 | SBB | Memento z banalnym tryptykiem | Poland |
| 1980 | Tako | U vreći za spavanje | Yugoslavia |
| 1980 | Wurtemberg | Rock Fantasia Opus 9 | France |
| 1980 | Zamla Mammaz Manna | Familjesprickor | Sweden |

### Disbandments

* Den Za Den
* Gentle Giant
* Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes

### Events

* Sky: Francis Monkman (keyboards) departs. Replaced by Steve Gray.
* Los Jaivas presents Obras de Violeta Parra for the first time in France.
* Former Pop Mašina members form hard rock band Rok Mašina.
* Aerodrom joins Yugoslav new wave scene with the album Tango Bango.

## 1981
### Newly formed bands

* Celelalte Cuvinte
* Asia
* Queensrÿche

### Reformed bands

* King Crimson

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1981 Jan 23 | Camel | Nude | England |
| 1981 Feb 12 | Rush | Moving Pictures | Canada |
| 1981 Feb | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Come ti va in riva alla città | Italy |
| 1981 Feb | Twelfth Night | Live at the Target | England |
| 1981 Mar 20 | Sky | Sky 3 | England / Australia |
| 1981 May 11 | Frank Zappa | Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar | US |
| 1981 May 17 | Frank Zappa | Tinseltown Rebellion | US |
| 1981 June 5 | Peter Hammill | Sitting Targets | England |
| 1981 Jul 31 | Electric Light Orchestra | Time | England |
| 1981 Aug | Steve Hackett | Cured | England |
| 1981 Sep 18 | Genesis | Abacab | England |
| 1981 Sep 23 | Frank Zappa | You Are What You Is | US |
| 1981 Sep | Saga | Worlds Apart | Canada |
| 1981 Oct 2 | King Crimson | Discipline | England |
| 1981 Oct 2 | Hawkwind | Sonic Attack | England |
| 1981 Oct | Godley and Creme | Ismism | England |
| 1981 | Ange | Moteur | France |
| 1981 | Barclay James Harvest | Turn of the Tide | England |
| 1981 | Mike Batt / Autopilot | Rapid Eye Movements | England |
| 1981 | Mike Batt | Six Days in Berlin | England |
| 1981 | Cardiacs | Toy World | England |
| 1981 | Cartoon | Cartoon | US |
| 1981 | Dün | Eros | France |
| 1981 | East | Játekók | Hungary |
| 1981 | Eider Stellaire | Eider Stellaire (K001) | France |
| 1981 | Eloy | Planets | Germany |
| 1981 | Flame Dream | Out In The Dark | Switzerland |
| 1981 | Fred Frith | Speechless | England |
| 1981 | Führs & Fröhling | Diary | Germany |
| 1981 | Gordi | Gordi 3 | Yugoslavia |
| 1981 | Grobschnitt | Illegal | Germany |
| 1981 | Steve Howe | The Bodast Tapes | England |
| 1981 | Kayak | Merlin | Netherlands |
| 1981 | Kayak | Eyewitness | Netherlands |
| 1981 | Kerrs Pink | Mellom Oss | Norway |
| 1981 | Kultivator | Barndomens Stigar | Sweden |
| 1981 | Los Jaivas | Alturas de Machu Picchu | Chile |
| 1981 | The Muffins | 185 | US |
| 1981 | Na Lepem Prijazni | Na Lepem Prijazni | Yugoslavia |
| 1981 | National Health | D.S. Al Coda | England |
| 1981 | Pallas | Arrive Alive | Scotland |
| 1981 | Quasar | Fire in the sky | England |
| 1981 | This Heat | Deceit | England |
| 1981 | Univers Zero | Ceux Du Dehors | Belgium |

### Disbandments

* Art Bears
* Na Lepem Prijazni (temporarily)
* National Health
* Tako
* Yes (temporarily)
* YU Grupa (temporarily)

### Events

* Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford form new band Discipline, but after initial live dates Fripp decides the band constitutes a new incarnation of King Crimson.
* Former Yes members Chris Squire and Alan White try to put together XYZ with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, but the project fails to go beyond rehearsals and the recording of several demos at Chris Squire's home studio due to Plant's dislike for the complicated musical arrangements. Steve Howe goes on to form Asia. Yes reformed in 1983.
* National Health keyboardist Alan Gowen dies.
* Aerodrom release the album Tango Bango, making shift towards new wave.
* Gordi release the album Pakleni trio, making shift towards heavy metal.

## 1982
### Newly formed bands

* In Cahoots
* IQ
* Voivod
* Thinking Plague

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1982 Mar 18 | Asia | Asia | England |
| 1982 Mar 19 | Mike Oldfield | Five Miles Out | England |
| 1982 Mar | Sky | Sky 4: Forthcoming | England / Australia |
| 1982 Apr 9 | Jethro Tull | Broadsword and the Beast | England |
| 1982 Apr | Camel | The Single Factor | England |
| 1982 May 3 | Frank Zappa | Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch | US |
| 1982 Jun 4 | Genesis | Three Sides Live | England |
| 1982 Jun 18 | King Crimson | Beat | England |
| 1982 Sep 9 | Rush | Signals | Canada |
| 1982 Sep 10 | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel | England |
| 1982 Sep | Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | Ice Cream For Crow | US |
| 1982 Oct | Peter Hammill | Enter K | England |
| 1982 Oct 29 | Supertramp | …Famous Last Words… | England |
| 1982 Dec | Twelfth Night | Fact and Fiction | England |
| 1982 | Art Zoyd | Phase IV | France |
| 1982 | Mike Batt | Zero Zero | England |
| 1982 | Begnagrad | Begnagrad | Yugoslavia |
| 1982 | Bi Kyo Ran | Bi Kyo Ran | Japan |
| 1982 | Eric Burdon | Comeback | Germany |
| 1982 | Debile Menthol | Emile au Jardin Patrologique | Switzerland |
| 1982 | Drugi Način | Ponovo na putu | Yugoslavia |
| 1982 | East | Hűség | Hungary |
| 1982 | Etron Fou Leloublan | Les Poumons Gonfles | France |
| 1982 | Galija | Ipak verujem u sebe | Yugoslavia |
| 1982 | IQ | Seven Stories into Eight | England |
| 1982 | Isildurs Bane | Sagan om den irländska älgen | Sweden |
| 1982 | Kaipa | Nattdjurstid | Sweden |
| 1982 | Kenso | II | Japan |
| 1982 | Los Jaivas | Aconcagua | Chile |
| 1982 | Jean-Paul Prat | Masal | France |
| 1982 | Predmestje | Kamasutra | Yugoslavia |
| 1982 | Protos | One Day a New Horizon | England |
| 1982 | Radio Noisz Ensemble | Yniverze | Germany |
| 1982 | Rebekka | Phoenix | Germany |
| 1982 | Stormy Six | Al Volo | Italy |
| 1982 | Third Quadrant | Seeing yourself as you really are | England |
| 1982 | Univers Zero | Crawling Wind | Belgium |
| 1982 | Von Zamla | Zamlaranamma | Sweden |

### Events

* 14 July - Pink Floyd releases their movie version of The Wall in the UK (13 Aug in the US).

## 1983
### Newly formed bands

* Apocalypse
* Death
* Fates Warning
* News from Babel

### Reformed bands

* Yes

#### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1983 Jan 14 | Sky | Sky Five Live | England / Australia |
| 1983 Mar 14 | Marillion | Script for a Jester's Tear | England |
| 1983 Mar 21 | Pink Floyd | The Final Cut | England |
| 1983 Mar 28 | Frank Zappa | Baby Snakes | US |
| 1983 Mar 28 | Frank Zappa | The Man from Utopia | US |
| 1983 Apr | Steve Hackett | Highly Strung | England |
| 1983 May 27 | Mike Oldfield | Crises | UK |
| 1983 Jun 24 | Electric Light Orchestra | Secret Messages | England |
| 1983 June | Peter Hammill | Loops and Reels | England |
| 1983 Aug 8 | Eddie Jobson and Zinc | The Green Album | England |
| 1983 Aug 12 | Asia | Alpha | England |
| 1983 Aug 19 | Peter Hammill | Patience | England |
| 1983 Sep 9 | IQ | Tales from the Lush Attic | England |
| 1983 Sep | Saga | Heads or Tales | Canada |
| 1983 Oct 3 | Genesis | Genesis | England |
| 1983 Nov 7 | Yes | 90125 | England |
| 1983 Nov 18 | Ian Anderson | Walk into Light | England |
| 1983 Nov 25 | Sky | Cadmium | England / Australia |
| 1983 Nov 30 | Bad Religion | Into the Unknown | US |
| 1983 | Ange | La Gare de Troyes | France |
| 1983 | Art Zoyd | Les Espaces Inquiets | France |
| 1983 | Bacamarte | Depois Do Fim | Brazil |
| 1983 | Castanarc | Journey To The East | England |
| 1983 | Cartoon | Music From Left Field | US |
| 1983 | Eskaton | Fiction | France |
| 1983 | Etron Fou Leloublan | Les Sillons de la Terre | France |
| 1983 | Godley and Creme | Birds of Prey | England |
| 1983 | In Spe | In Spe | Estonia |
| 1983 | Kaseke | Põletus | Estonia |
| 1983 | Queensrÿche | Queensrÿche [EP] | US |
| 1983 | Von Zamla | 1983 | Various |

### Disbandments

* Earth & Fire

### Events

* John Wetton is fired from Asia just prior to a Japanese tour and is replaced by Greg Lake. Wetton returned to the band in 1984.
* Yes reform with long-time members Jon Anderson, Chris Squire and Alan White, recruiting ex-member Tony Kaye who was fired in 1970 and new guitarist, Trevor Rabin to form a "Yes for the 1980s".
* After the supportive tour for ...Famous Last Words..., Roger Hodgson leaves Supertramp.

## 1984
### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1984 Feb 13 | Pallas | The Sentinel | UK |
| 1984 Mar 5 | David Gilmour | About Face | England |
| 1984 Mar 12 | Marillion | Fugazi | England |
| 1984 Mar 23 | King Crimson | Three of a Perfect Pair | England |
| 1984 Apr 9 | Zee | Identity | England |
| 1984 Apr 12 | Rush | Grace Under Pressure | Canada |
| 1984 Apr 13 | Camel | Stationary Traveller | England |
| 1984 Apr 30 | Roger Waters | The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking | England |
| 1984 Jun 25 | Mike Oldfield | Discovery | England |
| 1984 Sep | Steve Hackett | Till We Have Faces | England |
| 1984 Sep 7 | Jethro Tull | Under Wraps | England |
| 1984 Sep 7 | Queensrÿche | The Warning | US |
| 1984 Oct 1 | Roger Hodgson | In the Eye of the Storm | England |
| 1984 Oct 18 | Frank Zappa | Them or Us | US |
| 1984 Dec 21 | Frank Zappa | Thing-Fish | US |
| 1984 | Abel Ganz | Gratuitous Flash | Scotland |
| 1984 | Ange | Fou | France |
| 1984 | Art Zoyd | Le Mariage du Ciel et l'Enfer | France |
| 1984 | Bi Kyo Ran | Parallax | Japan |
| 1984 | Barclay James Harvest | Victims of Circumstance | England |
| 1984 | Castanarc | Journey to the East | England |
| 1984 | Cardiacs | The Seaside | England |
| 1984 | Craft | Craft | England |
| 1984 | Gunesh Ensemble | Looking at the Earth | Turkmenistan |
| 1984 | Isildurs Bane | Sagan om den Irländska Älgen | Sweden |
| 1984 | Los Jaivas | Obras de Violeta Parra | Chile |
| 1984 | Nazca | Nazca | Mexico |
| 1984 | News from Babel | Work Resumed on the Tower | England |
| 1984 | Not Drowning, Waving | Another Pond | Australia |
| 1984 | Pocket Orchestra | Knebnagäuje | US |
| 1984 | Solaris | Marsbéli Krónikák (The Martian Chronicles) | Hungary |
| 1984 | Solstice | Silent Dance | England |
| 1984 | Thinking Plague | A Thinking Plague | US |
| 1984 | Twelfth Night | Live and Let Live | England |
| 1984 | Univers Zero | Uzed | Belgium |
| 1984 | Uppsala | Uppsala | France |

### Disbandments

* Begnagrad
* Gordi
* Predmestje
* Soft Machine

### Events

* Sky: John Williams (acoustic guitar) departs. Remaining members tour Australia with Rick Wakeman.

## 1985
### Newly formed bands

* Dream Theater
* King's X
* Magellan
* Emerson, Lake & Powell

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1985 February 25 | Tears for Fears | Songs from the Big Chair | England |
| 1985 May 13 | Supertramp | Brother Where You Bound | England |
| 1985 Jun 3 | IQ | The Wake | England |
| 1985 Jun 14 | Patrick Moraz / Bill Bruford | Flags | England |
| 1985 Jun 17 | Marillion | Misplaced Childhood | England |
| 1985 Aug 19 | Pendragon | The Jewel | England |
| 1985 Aug 19 | Saga | Behaviour | Canada |
| 1985 Oct 21 | Rush | Power Windows | Canada |
| 1985 Nov 11 | Hawkwind | The Chronicle of the Black Sword | England |
| 1985 Nov 21 | Frank Zappa | Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention | US |
| 1985 Nov 25 | Asia | Astra | England |
| 1985 | 5uu's | Bel Marduk and Tiamat | US |
| 1985 | Debile Menthol | Battre Campagne | Switzerland |
| 1985 | Deyss | At King | Switzerland |
| 1985 | Egg | Seven Is a Jolly Good Time | England |
| 1985 | Godley and Creme | The History Mix Volume 1 | England |
| 1985 | Horizont | Summer in Town | Russia |
| 1985 | Iconoclasta | Reminiscencias | Mexico |
| 1985 | In Spe | Typewriter Concerto in D | Estonia |
| 1985 | Eddie Jobson | Theme of Secrets | England |
| 1985 | Kenso | Kenso III | Japan |
| 1985 | Kenso | Music From Five Unknown Musicians | Japan |
| 1985 | Minimum Vital | Envol Triangles | France |
| 1985 | Not Drowning, Waving | The Little Desert | Australia |
| 1985 | Outer Limits | Misty Moon | Japan |
| 1985 | Ozric Tentacles | Erpsongs | England |
| 1985 | Ozric Tentacles | Tantric Obstacles | England |
| 1985 | Bernard Paganotti | Paga | France |
| 1985 | Present | Le Poison Qui Rend Fou | Belgium |
| 1985 | Robert Wyatt | Old Rottenhat | England |

### Disbandments

* Igra Staklenih Perli

### Events

* IQ vocalist Peter Nicholls leaves for personal reasons. He is replaced by Paul Menel who debuts on 14 November 1985.
* Pink Floyd leader, bassist and lyricist Roger Waters leaves due to internal tensions within the band, and declares the band defunct, however the remaining members still continue, releasing A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987.

## 1986
### Newly formed bands

* Mastermind
* Mystery

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1986 Jan 27 | Frank Zappa | Does Humor Belong in Music? | US |
| 1986 Feb 17 | Talk Talk | The Colour of Spring | England |
| 1986 Mar 3 | Electric Light Orchestra | Balance of Power | England |
| 1986 Mar | Peter Hammill | Skin | England |
| 1986 Apr 24 | GTR | GTR | England |
| 1986 May 19 | Peter Gabriel | So | England |
| 1986 Jun 2 | Emerson, Lake and Powell | Emerson, Lake & Powell | England |
| 1986 Jun 9 | Genesis | Invisible Touch | England |
| 1986 Jul | Twelfth Night | Twelfth Night XII | England |
| 1986 Jul 14 | Queensrÿche | Rage for Order | US |
| 1986 Sep 1 | David Sylvian | Gone to Earth | England |
| 1986 Nov 3 | Peter Hammill | And Close As This | England |
| 1986 Nov | Frank Zappa | Jazz from Hell | US |
| 1986 | Ange | Egna | France |
| 1986 | Ain Soph | Hat and Field | Japan |
| 1986 | Adrian Belew | Desire Caught by the Tail | US |
| 1986 | Bellaphon | Delphi | Japan |
| 1986 | Biota | Bellowing Room | US |
| 1986 | Camberwell Now | The Ghost Trade | England |
| 1986 | Coda | Sounds of Passion | Netherlands |
| 1986 | IQ | Living Proof | England |
| 1986 | Miriodor | Rencontres | Canada |
| 1986 | Nazca | Estacion De Sombra | Mexico |
| 1986 | News from Babel | Letters Home | England |
| 1986 | Outer Limits | A Boy Playing the Magical Bugle Horn | Japan |
| 1986 | Pallas | The Wedge | Scotland |
| 1986 | Steve Roach | Empetus | US |
| 1986 | Shub-Niggurath | Les Morts Vont Vite | France |
| 1986 | Swans | Greed | US |
| 1986 | Swans | Holy Money | US |
| 1986 | Univers Zero | Heatwave | Belgium |

### Disbandments

* Electric Light Orchestra
* Emerson, Lake & Powell
* News from Babel

### Events

* Charlie Dominici becomes the lead singer for Dream Theater after firing of Chris Collins

## 1987
### Newly formed bands

* Devil Doll
* Discipline
* Kingston Wall
* Porcupine Tree

### Reformed bands

* YU Grupa

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1987 Apr | IQ | Nomzamo | England |
| 1987 Jun 15 | King Diamond | Abigail | Denmark |
| 1987 Jun 15 | Roger Waters | Radio K.A.O.S. | England |
| 1987 Jun 22 | Marillion | Clutching at Straws | England |
| 1987 Sep 7 | Pink Floyd | A Momentary Lapse of Reason | England |
| 1987 Sep 7 | Jethro Tull | Crest of a Knave | England |
| 1987 Sep 8 | Rush | Hold Your Fire | Canada |
| 1987 Sep 28 | Yes | Big Generator | England |
| 1987 Sep 28 | Mike Oldfield | Islands | England |
| 1987 Oct 9 | Roger Hodgson | Hai Hai | England |
| 1987 Oct 23 | Supertramp | Free as a Bird | England |
| 1987 | Abel Ganz | Gullibles Travels | Scotland |
| 1987 | Ange | Sève qui peut | France |
| 1987 | Art Zoyd | Berlin | France |
| 1987 | Barclay James Harvest | Face to Face | England |
| 1987 | Bellaphon | Firefly | Japan |
| 1987 | Biota | Tinct | US |
| 1987 | Blind Owl | Debut at Dusk | US |
| 1987 | Deyss | Vision in the Dark | Switzerland |
| 1987 | Djam Karet | The Ritual Continues | US |
| 1987 | Doctor Nerve | Armed Observation | US |
| 1987 | Ezra Winston | Myth of the Chrysavides | Italy |
| 1987 | Iconoclasta | Soliloquio | Mexico |
| 1987 | Isildurs Bane | Sagan om Ringen | Sweden |
| 1987 | Nimal | Nimal | Various |
| 1987 | Not Drowning, Waving | Cold and the Crackle | Australia |
| 1987 | Outer Limits | The Scene Of Pale Blue | Japan |
| 1987 | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Miss Baker | Italy |
| 1987 | Thinking Plague | Moonsongs | US |
| 1987 | Vermilion Sands | Water Blue | Japan |

### Disbandments

* Aerodrom
* Twelfth Night

### Events

* Korni Grupa makes a brief reunion to perform on Legende YU Rocka concerts.
* YU Grupa release their comeback hard rock-oriented album Od zlata jabuka; the band's future releases would feature similar sound.

## 1988
### Newly formed bands

* Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1988 Jan 25 | Ali Project | Gensou Teien | Japan |
| 1988 Mar 4 | Devil Doll | The Girl Who Was... Death | Italy |
| 1988 Mar 14 | 3 | To the Power of Three | England |
| 1988 Mar 28 | Steve Hackett | Momentum | England |
| 1988 Mar 28 | Kings X | Out of the Silent Planet | US |
| 1988 May 3 | Queensrÿche | Operation: Mindcrime | US |
| 1988 May 16 | Frank Zappa | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 | US |
| 1988 Jun 29 | Voivod | Dimension Hatröss | Canada |
| 1988 Aug 8 | Marty Friedman | Dragon's Kiss | US |
| 1988 Sep 12 | Talk Talk | Spirit of Eden | England |
| 1988 Oct 14 | Frank Zappa | Broadway the Hard Way | US |
| 1988 Oct 25 | Frank Zappa | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 | US |
| 1988 Nov 21 | Peter Hammill | In a Foreign Town | England |
| 1988 Nov 21 | Pink Floyd | Delicate Sound of Thunder | England |
| 1988 | Abel Ganz | The Dangers of Strangers | Scotland |
| 1988 | 5uu's with Motor Totemist Guild | Elements | US |
| 1988 | Cardiacs | A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window | England |
| 1988 | Cassiber | A Face We All Know | Germany |
| 1988 | Crimson Glory | Transcendence | US |
| 1988 | Edhels | Still Dream | Monaco |
| 1988 | Fates Warning | No Exit | US |
| 1988 | Galadriel | Muttered Promises From An Ageless Pond | Spain |
| 1988 | Godley and Creme | Goodbye Blue Sky | England |
| 1988 | Halloween | Part One | France |
| 1988 | Last Exit | Iron Path | International |
| 1988 | Phil Miller | Split Seconds | England |
| 1988 | Minimum Vital | Les Saison Marines | France |
| 1988 | Miriodor | Miriodor | Canada |
| 1988 | Nuova Era | L'Ultimo Viaggio | Italy |
| 1988 | Ozric Tentacles | Sliding Gliding Worlds | England |
| 1988 | Pendragon | Kowtow | England |
| 1988 | Sieges Even | Life Cycle | Germany |

### Disbandments

* After the 1988 tour, Supertramp goes on hiatus.

### Events

* Vocalist Fish leaves Marillion and is replaced by Steve Hogarth.
* Yes vocalist Jon Anderson wishes to return to the "classic Yes" sound and so forms Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe with Yes alumni.
* Drummer Gabriel Parra of Los Jaivas Died in a car accident in Peru.

## 1989
### Newly formed bands

* Atavism of Twilight
* Echolyn
* Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
* Enchant
* Iona
* Keep the Dog
* Conception

### Albums

| Release Date | Artist | Album | Country |
| 1989 Feb | Ozric Tentacles | Pungent Effulgent | England |
| 1989 Mar 6 | Dream Theater | When Dream and Day Unite | US |
| 1989 May 8 | Phish | Junta | US |
| 1989 May 22 | Queen | The Miracle | England |
| 1989 Jun 5 | Peter Gabriel | Passion | England |
| 1989 Jun 20 | Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe | Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe | England |
| 1989 Jun 27 | King's X | Gretchen Goes to Nebraska | US |
| 1989 Aug 21 | Jethro Tull | Rock Island | England |
| 1989 Sep 25 | Marillion | Seasons End | England |
| 1989 Sep 25 | Tears for Fears | The Seeds of Love | England |
| 1989 Nov 13 | Frank Zappa | You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 | US |
| 1989 Nov 17 | Rush | Presto | Canada |
| 1989 | After Crying | Opus 1 | Hungary |
| 1989 | After Dinner | Paradise of Replica | Japan |
| 1989 | Art Zoyd | Nosferatu / F.W. Murnau | France |
| 1989 | Biota | Tumble | US |
| 1989 | Birdsongs of the Mesozoic | Faultline | US |
| 1989 | Cardiacs | Cardiacs Live | England |
| 1989 | Djam Karet | Reflections From the Firepool | US |
| 1989 | Fates Warning | Perfect Symmetry | US |
| 1989 | Fulano | En El Bunker | Chile |
| 1989 | Horizont | The Portrait of a Boy | Russia |
| 1989 | IQ | Are You Sitting Comfortably? | England |
| 1989 | Isildurs Bane | Cheval - Volonte de Rocher | Sweden |
| 1989 | Kenso | Sparta | Japan |
| 1989 | Los Jaivas | Si Tú No Estás | Chile |
| 1989 | Phil Miller | Cutting Both Ways | England |
| 1989 | Not Drowning, Waving | Claim | Australia |
| 1989 | Nuova Era | Dopo l'Infinito | Italy |
| 1989 | Outer Limits | Outer Mania | Japan |
| 1989 | Quasar | The Loreli | England |
| 1989 | Saga | The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes | Canada |
| 1989 | Tangle Edge | In Search of A New Dawn | Norway |
| 1989 | Thinking Plague | In This Life | US |

### Disbandments

* Charlie Dominici leaves Dream Theater

### Events

* IQ - vocalist Paul Menel and bass player Tim Essau depart.