Van der Graaf Generator

2PFC:

>Melody Maker 29 October 1977

Прямо на день рождения выступал в своей родной альма- матер, в университете Манчестера.. специально, наверное, подгадал.

New release from VdGG co-founder Judge Smith! Guest appearance by David Jackson!

A NEW JUDGE ALBUM IS ON THE WAY - ‘THE OVERSTAYER’

Judge Smith:
‘The Overstsayer’ is my fourth Songstory, and, at 18 minutes, it’s the shortest. It’s scored for pipe organ, saxophones and vocals, and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to call on a trio of exceptional musicians to breathe life into it. Robert Pettigrew, the organist, is a classically-trained keyboardist, arranger and theatrical Musical Director who I first worked with in 1976 and is the star pianist on my 2023 album ‘The Trick of The Lock’. Playing his full armoury of multiple saxophones, flutes and whistles is David Jackson, one of the few musicians that one can legitimately call ‘iconic’. His daughter, Dorie Jackson, is one of the most extraordinary female singers I have heard in recent years (as can be heard on her new solo album ‘Stupid Says Run’). These three musicians were responsible for their own exceptional orchestrations of my music.

Dorie and I provide the vocals, and these tell the story of ‘The Overstayer’ of the title, an unemployed headteacher in her own, un-named, country who comes to the UK on a tourist visa, determined to remain as an illegal ‘overstayer’. I have attempted to handle this politically sensitive storyline as delicately and even-handedly as I can, with her migration seen in the context of the flow of displaced peoples drifting inexorably over the centuries from East to West.

The music, I believe, is unusual and memorable with a subtle flavour of other cultures, and the combination of Organ and Saxophones is at times reminiscent of early Van der Graaf Generator. Despite my dispassionate treatment of the story, the overall effect of the piece has proved to be surprisingly emotional and moving.

‘The Overstayer’ is, I believe, too short to release economically as a physical CD, so, for the first time, my label ‘Masters Of Art’ will only be releasing the piece as a download on the digital streaming site Bandcamp. This will be available from the 4th July, and naturally will come with full artwork and libretto.

Hugh Banton - 76.

HB to HB!

Out on June 27th

First time in print: the full story of the 1971 classic!

Starting with the birth of the Pawn Hearts concept from live band experience, the song rehearsals and eventually the recording of the album material, what follows is a detailed track-by-track musical and lyrical analysis. Specific chapters are dedicated to the artwork, and to the band's collaboration with King Crimson’s Robert Fripp. The last part of the book deals with the press reaction to the album and the unexpected release of the ‘Theme One' single in 1972. The final chapter contrasts an initial performance of ‘A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers’ in March 1972 with the band’s 2013 tour, which presented this rarely performed epic once again. It ends with a detailed Pawn Hearts discography.

The book contains a preface by Gary Lucas and commentary from David Jackson, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, Peter Hammill, Stephen W. Tayler and Paul Whitehead. 8 pages color insert including never seen 1972 pictures of the band.

Preorder
https://www.amazon.com/Pawn-Hearts-Graaf-Generator-Classics/dp/1789523575#immersive-vie...

!

Melody Maker 27 February 1988

2PFC:

>Melody Maker 27 February 1988

Где Хэммилл, и где этот JoNH Wilde... Ноунэйм с опечаткой.
Напомнило высказывания некоторых о Поле Маккартни на этом форуме. Ничто не ново под луной.

Бомба!!!!

2audi:

>Бомба!!!!

Тоже недавно попадалось... Смотрела и думала, что тогда Пётр ещё в каких-то других цветах выступал, не полностью в белом, как сейчас.
Сейчас, и уже давно, весь в белом, сам седой как лунь...худой.. и всегда на темной сцене.. ну чистый призрак. 🙂.. а потом как запоёт - и всё, всех уносит с первой же фразы..💖

Van der Graaf Generator: In Performance. Full Music Documentary


Без Хэммилла, Бантона и Иванса, но с Ником Поттером и Джексоном.. у Поттера такой необыкновенный голос был, оказывается - низкий и глуховатый, очень запоминающийся..
Повествование обрывается на Godbluff, что очень жаль.
Интересная документалка, но мне мало.

Два товарища..

Prog Italy October-November 2025.