About Kery Minnear and Three Friends Live

I saw some PA members saying that Three Friends are just 2 because Kerry Minnear left the tour, which is true. But because of the missing Kerry, some tried to diminish the importance of this tour, even calling them a cover band. Well, let me add a few words on this.

1.       HISTORICAL CONTEXT

For those of you who are too young or do not remember, during the 70's, the Province of Québec was probably the only places in North America that has it's door wide open to Prog music. Prog Rock being the mainstream music of the time in Québec (as opposed to the rest of Canada and the US where it was much more marginal). Because of this fact and their disproportional fan base, it was a kind of obligation to countless prog band to come in Montréal and Québec City. So, between 1974 and 1978 Gentle Giants plays in Québec city almost every year, sometimes twice a year. I saw them 4, probably 5 times in places like the Palais des Congrès and at the Colisés de Québec with opening acts such as Maneige, Etcetera, Pollen and so on. During these years, Kerry Minnear,  was one of the show off of the band. He was charismatic and exuberant. He played around 10 different keyboards with great dexterity, dancing, singing, laughing, running everywhere, playing all sort of instruments with the peak being the vibraphone solo. He was absolutely fantastic.

 2.       THE EVOLUTION OF GG SHOWS

I remember also that after the release of In a Glass House, GG start playing almost the entire album, which is good because it is a masterpiece. But they start playing less of the 4 first albums which are also IMHO masterpieces. I was a little disappointed of this fact. I would like to hear Pantagruel's Nativity, Schooldays, The Advent of Panurge in their entirety which they did rarely. All this will becomes the trademark pacing of the shows including the "Octopus Medley" that is very well represented in the album Playing the Fool.

 3.       THREE FRIENDS LIVE

Then 30 years after, I saw Three Friends at the FMPM on Sunday, September 13th, 2009. So three of the original members of the band was there, including our friend Kerry, live just for the love of music, with supporting musician that was nothing but excellent. We are talking about the only possible way to hear GG music live today. I will certainly not call it "a cover band". Mick Wilson on vocal is superb with a voice very similar to Derek Shulman. They played more song of the 4 first album than any others. Song that many of us in America, including me even if I saw them 5 times, have never heard live before. They NEVER EVER sounded so tight and so good. It was simply magical. I will never forget this show.

 4.       THE DEPARTURE OF KERRY

One of the thing that I will also remember out of the FMPM show, is the "so low profile" of the master and beloved Kerry Minnear. First he looked older that his fellow GG friends Gary Green and Malcolm Mortimore. He played seated all night. He did nothing really fantastic on its 2 (or 3?) keyboards, playing mostly on the same one, assuming the second role after the supporting keyboardist John Donaldson. He did not say a word to the audience. He did sing "Think of Me with Kindness" but with a very trembling and unsure voice as you can hear in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIlBeqYoY4w Unfortunately, he looked a little sick and he was the shadow of the great Minnear that we all love. I presume that it was an important factor in Kerry's decision to not pursue with the tour. In fact, the supporting keyboardist John Donaldson was THE keyboard player. He played exactly like the younger Minnear, all parts, note for note. But without Kerry's exuberance and charisma.

 5.       TWO FRIENDS LIVE

Yes now, they are Two Friends. Yes this is so bad that Kerry's left. But watch these live studio video (both of them without Kerry Minnear) of the "Pantagruel's Nativity" at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7OXRQIXZaQ&feature=player_embedded

"he looked a little seak"

In my opinion,  a true GG cover band\effort, must include an addition of 3-4 singers, to make the vocal harmonies.

I dont see any players around nowadays that could do both in the quality of the original Giants.