Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!EDDIE.MIT.EDU!Love-Hounds-request From: Love-Hounds-request@EDDIE.MIT.EDU Newsgroups: mod.music.gaffa Subject: Re: vanDer Graaf Generator info Message-ID: <8701240217.AA29941@EDDIE.MIT.EDU> Date: Thu, 22-Jan-87 22:27:36 EST Article-I.D.: EDDIE.8701240217.AA29941 Posted: Thu Jan 22 22:27:36 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 24-Jan-87 08:46:04 EST References: <8701202343.AA26408@EDDIE.MIT.EDU> Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Love-Hounds@EDDIE.MIT.EDU Organization: GE Semiconductor Div., RTP, NC Lines: 51 Approved: love-hounds@eddie.mit.edu Really-From: benz@ge-rtp.GE.COM (Chuck Benz) In article <8701202343.AA26408@EDDIE.MIT.EDU>, Love-Hounds-request@EDDIE.MIT.EDU writes: > Really-From: "ROSSI J.A." > Does anyone really give a fuck about van Der Graaf generator, anymore Fuck yea ! :-) Further out on the creative curve than most of their contemporaries (which would include Genesis, Crimso, and the like), led by a man whose (who's?) voice is definitely unique ! (Rave off.) What has happened to good ole Pete, anyways (Hammill) ? I was just getting into his and van Der Graaf's music when he came aound for the Sitting Targets tour - 1980/1? - saw him in Cleveland at the place below the Agoura (also saw Dave Allen of Gong there, also Nico). Last I saw of Hammill was his contribution to the "Music and Rythm" collection. If you are unaware of Hammill - he was the prime force of van Der Graaf. He possesses a voice of amazing power. Sheesh - I can't describe it (I've deleted more than than half of what I've started to say about it). His voice often stands alone without accompaniment in some songs. van Der Graaf produced some very powerful songs in the "progressive" vein with haunting sax and violin. An aproximate description - a cross between King Crimson (Islands thru Red) and the Velvet Underground. Maybe a dash of Roy Harper. Also Magma, but if you know of them, you know of van Der Graaf. You may actually have heard a little of his works - he did some vocals on Fripp's "Exposure". My roommate and I once were listening to it and could not figure out which songs featured Hammill and which featured Daryll Hall (yes - of ... & Oates) - we only listened hard at a few points - he had thought that Hall did most of the songs (didn't know of Hammill), and I thought the opposite - anyone know who did what ? Anyways - the style on Exposure is only one face of Peter's singing mannerisms - they range from compassion, anger, cynicism, hope, and retrospect to slight goofyness. Recommendations: "Visions" is a good collection of his solo work (probably out of print - I got my copy 5-6 yrs ago from a cut out bin). I don't know which van Der Graaf album to recommend best - try any. "Vital" is a double live set - hard to listen to initially, but I like it. njoy !..........Chuck Benz still at GE Semiconductor RTP, NC benz@ge-rtp or benz@mcnc!ge-rtp or ...!mcnc!ge-rtp!benz