5 Musical Chameleons
3. Rush
It's pretty much defined in the prog rock handbook that every band that falls into the genre must always be reaching for new sounds. Rush is no exception to this rule, but their changes would always be incredibly dramatic. One minute they're into a hard rock groove, and the next they're taking you on a sonic journey to the Renaissance era.
While themes of Middle Ages and hard rock have become sort of a cliche for prog bands, Rush took many more risks, infusing reggae and new wave into their early 80's material. This then evolved into the band creating soundscapes by incorporating a more synth-heavy sound throughout the rest of the decade.
After the synth era ended, the band adapted once more to a more classic rock sound that still reached for new sounds such as more ethereal guitar tones and even a full metal assault on later releases. To add to the madness, all of these bold new directions are always executed by only THREE people. With over 40 years of experience under their belt, Rush is a prime example of a band that stuck to their guns and made music for the right reasons in a very organic manner.