Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator is a British progressive rock band, in November 1967 by Chris Judge Smith ( vocals, drums ), Peter Hammill (vocals, guitar) and Nick Pearne (organ) was founded at the University of Manchester. The band name alludes to the Van de Graaff generator, a physical device.
Music
The stand-alone sound results from the interplay of organ and saxophone, broadly waiving electric guitars and expressive vocals Peter Hammills. Another characteristic are the dark, existentialist lyrics Hammills that earned him the nickname "King of fear" (King of anxiety). The music alternates between lyrical passages and violent, some free jazz - like passages.
Band History
Even before publication of the first plate left Smith and Pearne the band. As new members met Hugh Banton (organ, piano), Guy Evans ( drums) and Keith Ellis ( bass) to which Hammill The Aerosol Grey Machine resumed. Ellis left the band and Nic Potter took over the role of the bass player for a while, also met with David Jackson ( sax, flute) to do so. This formation was the classic members of the band.
The band broke up several times (including for lack of funds ) and regrouped. A brief renaming in 1977, under the name of Van der Graaf instead. Instead of Hugh Banton and David Jackson were as new members Graham Smith ( violin) and Charles Dickie ( cello), thereby, also Nic Potter returned as bassist, whereby the sound completely changed.
Peter Hammill also operates since 1971 a continuous solo career. The remaining band members adopted in 1973 under the name The Long Hello an eponymous album; Three more albums followed in the early eighties with strongly varying line.
End of 2004, Hammill announced a reunion of the band in the classic lineup with Jackson, Banton and Evans. Already in the summer of 2004 the band had recorded a double album of new material, which appeared in April 2005 under the title Present. In addition, in summer 2005 concerts in Europe took place. On November 5, 2005 Van der Graaf Generator occurred within the 26 Leverkusen Jazz Days in the Forum in Leverkusen.
After re- phasing Jackson, the remaining trio went on tour in spring 2007. A concert of 14 April 2007 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam was recorded and was until March 2009 at the Fabchannel site as streaming. It was released in June 2009 on DVD and CD. After the tour they recorded material for a new album, which was released in March 2008 under the name Trisector.
On 11 March 2011, the eleventh studio album, A Grounding in Numbers is published; several pieces were presented in December 2010 in London for the first time live. In 2012, another live and studio album were released respectively.
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Numerous unofficial live and radio recordings have been released on LP and CD.
DVD
- 2003 - Godbluff Live 1975 Charleroi Palais des Expos September 27, 1975