Van der Graaf Generator

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VDGG_1976

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Manchester, England (1967 – 1972, 1975 – 1978, 2005 – present)

Van der Graaf Generator, sometimes known by the shorter Van der Graaf, are a band formed in Manchester, England. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s. In 2005 they embarked on a reunion, which continues to the present day.

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 - and -influenced first incarnation were offered a recording contract with Mercury Records.

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  • VikLoz

    "Maybe one day you'll understand the meaning of music" Jajaja, por qué tus hamiguis progreros son tan cabezotas y elitistas, pó?

    26 Apr 9:19pm Reply
  • Ponchera-

    "Wasting of time" it's like Wasting time but with "of" in the space between "Wasting" and "time". Active Waste.

    26 Apr 4:22pm Reply
  • AmirShahbazi

    Ponchera-, Maybe one day you'll understand the meaning of music and then you realize the meaning of "wasting of time"

    23 Apr 8:09pm Reply
  • pauldove

    June tour dates: http://www.sofasound.com/touring.htm Quote: VdGG will be performing a couple of long-form pieces at the core of their sets in their upcoming June dates. "Flight", originally a PH solo/K group piece, has already been aired in North America and Japan last year. It's partly as a result of the reworking of this in the trio format that we've been tempted to go for something even more ambitious...or dangerous. Our intention is to play "A Plague of LIghthouse-Keepers", from our 1971 album "Pawn Hearts" each night. We will *not* be attempting to recreate the album version but hope to come up with a new, in-the-present approach to this important piece from our past, which has only been played live a handful of times before now. It's a scary prospect, but very exciting!

    3 Apr 11:20am Reply
  • Ponchera-

    Wasting time.

    20 Mar 4:01pm Reply
  • activewaste

    "The Least we can do" was my introduction to VdGG, one of the reasons I fell in love with it, was that it contained some of the greatest bass lines ever! ♥ nic potter ♥

    14 Mar 8:37pm Reply
  • futurolvidado

    RIP Nic Potter

    9 Mar 7:52pm Reply
  • pinkiiiFR

    RIP Nic Potter :(

    9 Mar 3:27pm Reply
  • myrmidonmage

    Wait, what? :( RIP, Nic. Thank you.

    8 Mar 3:17pm Reply
  • ProgShine

    Its online! Podcast Progshine Special #1 with only Classic 70s Prog. This episode brings over 2 hours with: Rush, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Yes, Van der Graaf Generator, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Camel, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Le Orme, Renaissance, Nektar, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Procol Harum, Supertramp, The Alan Parsons Project & Pink Floyd. http://www.progshine.net/2013/03/podcast-special-1-050313.html

    5 Mar 5:54pm Reply
  • KingAndCrimson

    R.I.P. Nic Potter. Just learned about it. [5]

    16 Feb 8:54pm Reply
  • GiaNXGX

    R.I.P. Nic Potter. Just learned about it. [4]

    16 Feb 7:29pm Reply
  • Bequeathed

    One of the best bands ever, progressive or not. There's no band like VdGG.

    15 Feb 8:31pm Reply
  • activewaste

    R.I.P. Nic Potter. Just learned about it. [3]

    31 Jan 9:43pm Reply
  • scarlet79

    R.I.P. Nic Potter. Just learned about it. [2] [*]

    29 Jan 9:48pm Reply
  • silvertree

    R.I.P. Nic Potter. Just learned about it.

    22 Jan 6:15pm Reply
  • Neue_regel_

    Sad the loss of Nic :(

    22 Jan 10:28am Reply
  • fastlane01

    R.I.P. Nic

    21 Jan 10:56am Reply
  • Cassandra-Leo

    R.I.P. Nic :(

    21 Jan 2:28am Reply
  • juepucta

    RIP Nic Mozart

    19 Jan 10:57pm Reply
  • All 622 shouts

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