Play Van der Graaf… Radio
Van der Graaf Generator
1,373,651 plays (129,684 listeners)
Listening now: BIGbubernik, scottieosu2000
Manchester, England (1967 – 1972, 1975 – 1978, 2005 – present)
Van der Graaf Generator, sometimes known by the shorter Van der Graaf, are a progressive rock 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 blues- and jazz-influenced first incarnation were offered a recording contract with Mercury Records.
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.
Top Albums
-
Live At The Paradiso
Van der Graaf Generator
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $17.98
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
New
-
Pawn Hearts
Van der Graaf Generator Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $41.98
- eBay Search
-
Godbluff
Van der Graaf Generator Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $8.64
- eBay Search
-
H to He Who, Am the Only One
Van der Graaf Generator Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Top Tracks
| 1 |
|
||||
| 2 |
|
||||
| 3 |
|
Refugees
full track
|
|||
| 4 |
|
Man-Erg
full track
|
|||
| 5 |
|
Scorched Earth
full track
|
|||
| 6 |
|
The Undercover Man
full track
|
|||
| 7 |
|
Lemmings (Including Cog)
full track
|
|||
| 8 |
|
Pilgrims
full track
|
|||
| 9 |
|
Arrow
full track
|
|||
| 10 |
|
The Sleepwalkers
full track
|
|||
| 11 |
|
Still Life
full track
|
|||
| 11 |
|
||||
| 13 |
|
||||
| 14 |
|
La Rossa
full track
|
|||
| 15 |
|
Shoutbox
-
Poor-Tom wrote:
Trisector was surprisingly good I thought! But I also think "H to He Who, Am the Only One", "Pawn Hearts" and "Godbluff" are their best albums! Cheers ...
-
Something_Dumb wrote:
from first to last
-
NisforN wrote:
«The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other» is also very good.
-
Led_Zayatts wrote:
Pawn Hearts, Godbluff, Still Life, I consider those three to be their best.
-
Barely-A-Vapor wrote:
Hey, I'm just starting to get to know this band, so far I've heard the album "H to He Who, Am the Only One", which I like a lot. Any suggestions as to which albums to listen to?
-
gogitosbanditos wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/Pink+Floyd+is+not+prog!+It+is+primitive! everyone who's angry with tagginig this band progressive, join in :)
-
pypks wrote:
Pawn hearts is the best!
-
Wixu wrote:
i love them, they're sexy.
-
theytsejamer wrote:
great.... VDGG is one of the best eclectic bands!!!!!
-
Progrockftw wrote:
As for the discussion below: Radiohead has nothing to do with VDGG. Nothing! Radiohead is nothing compared to Van Der Graaf Generator and Peter Hammill.
-
adrian602 wrote:
No. This pic is clearly fantastic, keep it up.
-
insomniacme wrote:
I know most of these "classic rock" related artists have horrid pics, but for god sakes, the current one is just ....
-
Clashnroller wrote:
Incredible band.
-
Estela_Cps wrote:
Magníficos :-) Não passo um só dia sem ouví-los!
-
staytooned wrote:
!!!
-
fastlane01 wrote:
I like VDGG and Radiohead both in their own rights, in fact the latter has been my favourite band for some time now. I don't really see the similarities, except lyrically perhaps. There are probably more, but their biggest similarity is their excellent quality.
-
haneater wrote:
http://0.mk/795
-
OpethForLifee94 wrote:
I adore Pawn Hearts... Man-Erg is amazing! As is Plague... And Lemmings!!!! Masterpiece of an album!
-
Glamypunk wrote:
They are one of the end-60's-progressive-bands who are still not boring. Compliments.
-
Maz1982 wrote:
One of the best bands ever. Hammill & co. > God & co.
Videos
See more
Listeners
-
Undergrunge
Listening now
to La Rossa -
JingleJangleGuy
Listening now
to Darkness (11/11) -
Maz1982
Listening now
to Double Bass -
TheDogman
Top Listener
-
Malinnna
Top Listener
-
Bluelinetao
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
Frosch99, Denisfonseca, danielemmon and 1 other person added Van der Graaf Generator to their libraries. 6 minutes ago
-
NiklasMB tagged Van der Graaf Generator with 70s, 60s, rock and 3 other tags. 8 hours ago
-
mrmole21 tagged Van der Graaf Generator with ‘progressive rock’. 11 hours ago
-
ghoncx added Van der Graaf Generator to ghoncx’s library. 17 hours ago
-
RoomNumber104 tagged Van der Graaf Generator with ‘progressive rock’. 22 hours ago
-
Fisico60 added Van der Graaf Generator to Fisico60’s library. yesterday evening
-
borririno tagged Van der Graaf Generator with ‘classic rock’. yesterday evening
-
borririno, Jomo2112, thebarbajan and 7 other people added Van der Graaf Generator to their libraries. yesterday evening
-
rickthelup uploaded vandergraafgenerator_pawn to Van der Graaf Generator’s images. Wednesday evening
-
rickthelup linked Van der Graaf Generator to vandergraafgenerator_pawn. Wednesday evening
Related Journals
-
My music collection
by LueDotten |
2 Oct 2009 | 6 comments
-
La mejor lista de bandas/The best list of music bands
by DementedElitist |
11 Sep 2009 | 35 comments
-
Eleventh Hour playlist for 08-23-09
by The_Forgotton |
25 Aug 2009 | Add comment
Groups (145)
-
Progressive Forever
60 members
-
Charisma label
27 members
-
Peter Hammill
142 members
-
Van Der Graaf Generator
289 members
-
P-R-A-N-C-E
114 members
