Van Der Graaf Generator
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2,273,755 plays (177,922 listeners)
Manchester, England (1967 – 1972, 1975 – 1978, 2005 – present)
The signature Van der Graaf Generator sound in the 1970s was a combination of Peter Hammill’s distinctive and dynamic voice and David Jackson’s electronically-treated saxophones, generally playing over thick chordal keyboard parts (such as Hammond organ and/or clavinet). Van der Graaf Generator albums tended to be darker in atmosphere than many of their prog-rock peers (a trait they shared with King Crimson, whose guitarist Robert Fripp guested on two of their albums), and guitar solos were the exception rather than the rule.
Hammill is the primary songwriter for the band, and the line between music written for his solo career and for the band is often blurred.
The band first formed in 1967 while its members were studying at Manchester University. The three-piece was comprised of Peter Hammill (guitar and vocals), Nick Pearne (organ) and Chris Judge Smith (drums and wind instruments). The group was named after a piece of electric equipment designed to produce static electricity, the Van de Graaff generator. The name was suggested by early member, Chris Judge Smith (the misspellings are accidental). On the basis of a demo, this blues- and jazz-influenced first incarnation were offered a recording contract with Mercury Records.
Shouts:
541 shouts
Top Albums
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A Grounding In Numbers
Van Der Graaf Generator
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Pawn Hearts
Van Der Graaf Generator
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H to He Who, Am the Only One
Van Der Graaf Generator
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Godbluff
Van Der Graaf Generator
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Videos
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Play
Darkness (lyrics)
1 shout
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Play
Undercover Man
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Play
Theme one
5 shouts
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Play
Meurglys III,the Songwriters…
4 shouts
Events
- Jun 22 Van Der Graaf Generator Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA, United States
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Jun
22
NEARfest Apocalypse
Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA, United States
3 going
2 shouts
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Jul
3
An evening with Van der Graaf Generator
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Montreal QC, Canada
1 going
Listening Now
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Recent Activity
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progrock2012, usandthem73, callega and 5 other people added Van Der Graaf Generator to their libraries. 53 minutes ago
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LiaLibellule tagged Van Der Graaf Generator with rock, classic rock and progressive rock. yesterday morning
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LiaLibellule added Van Der Graaf Generator to LiaLibellule’s library. yesterday morning
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markostefanovic tagged Van Der Graaf Generator with ‘progressive rock’. yesterday morning
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A deleted user connected Van Der Graaf Generator to the group Queremos un VdGG sin el molesto de Peter Hammill!!. Wednesday evening
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A deleted user tagged Van Der Graaf Generator with ‘ponchera’. Wednesday evening
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More Information
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