Gentle Giant rivalry?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6386
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Topic: Gentle Giant rivalry?
Posted By: Trotsky
Subject: Gentle Giant rivalry?
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 03:37
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Gentle Giant fans will surely be aware of the great official site run by Dan Barrett. One interview there caught my eye ... with Phil Shulman by one Arlo West ... http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/interviews/phil-interview.html - http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/interviews/phil-interview.html Phil talks about how Three Friends is based on his life ... and then he also makes this observation about a fellow band member ... Excerpt begins Phil: No "A Dog's Life" was written in particular for Frank Covey my old mate! He's a big old dog of a chap he is hes still around actually hes been busted quite a few times unfortunately... Arlo: Now this didn't offend him? Phil: No not at all the roadies got along great with the band but um we had temperament in the band and ah one member in particular (whom he did mention by name and I felt it wouldn't do any good to print) he could be a bit headstrong or spiteful.... Arlo: I won't print that.... Phil: I couldn't give a monkeys actually ha ha.... Excerpt ends Any idea who he's talking about? I read somewhere that Phil Shulman and Martin Smith didn't get along well ... any ideas? As an aside, what are the famous personal clashes between prog members of the same band that you're heard about? I read a Greg Lake/Robert Fripp story here recently that was hilarious, although that was many years after they had gone their separate ways! ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Replies:
Posted By: Gentle Ronnie
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 04:06
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Eh? This is the first time I hear about it. ------------- 
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Trotsky wrote:Posted By: Ben2112
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 04:09
| I asked the exact same question a while back but got no response. I'm guessing he's talking about Derek, since he seems to be the most dogmatic member of the band, and the closest one to being a "pr!ck" if you have seen any of his interviews (not saying he is one, just that I could imagine him being one). Plus, he must have been pretty hard-headed and dominant if he went on to be a top record exec. Also, we all know how well brothers get along in bands sometimes (Kinks, Oasis, Black Crowes, etc.) |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 04:29
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Thanks, Ben ... sorry I missed your first post, not that I could have been much help ... I'm sure you've also stumbled upon this doosy from when Arlo West interviewed Ian Anderson about Gentle Giant ... AW: Can you share a moment or highlight that you would remember about Gentle Giant from the 71 tour? IA: I have never heard a band scream, shout, rant and rave each other on an almost nightly basis as soon as they return to there dressing room. In this respect they did not give the impression of being happy bunnies. ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 09:01
| I agree with Ben - Derek's always come across as having the most potential for being a tw*t. I also hold him more responsible than the others for the lack of reunion. I'm sure Kerry and Gary would be 100% up for it (no idea about Ray though). |
Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 15:42
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Hi everyone, If I remember correctly his first name began with a D. Interesting interview that one. I also interviewed IAN ANDERSON concerning GG and he had some interesting things to say about the bands after show discussions being loud and rather abusive. He said "I have never heard a band scream, shout, rant and rave each other on an almost nightly basis as soon as they return to there dressing room. In this respect they did not give the impression of being happy bunnies." http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/interviews/ian-anderson.html - http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/interviews/ian-anderson.html Arlo |
Posted By: Ben2112
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 15:44
Hey, thanks for clearing that up Arlo! Straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. 
Nice interviews by the way. Welcome to the site. |
Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 16:03
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Your welcome indeed. Don't know if you guys would be interested but here is a sample of an old prog band I was in a long time ago. 1970's http://arlowest.com/colin/A Winters Tale - Menace - 1974.mp3 - http://arlowest.com/colin/A Winters Tale - Menace - 1974.mp3 Now its a garage band but we were 100% original. Arlo
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Posted By: Ben2112
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 16:24
Hey, pretty nice!  I think I'm gonna keep that one.
Great guitar sounds; are you the guitarist? Very old school/classic prog, reminiscent of early, heavier Gentle Giant in some places, even some VDGG in places (especially those spoken vocals near the end). |
Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 22:34
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Hi Ben, Bass, Lead Vox - Dennis Kessler (writer, arranger) Keys (B3) Jim Bement Drums - Bob Jones Guitar - Arlo West This version is somewhat distorted and I may have a better one I will search and see and replace the file if I can find a cleaner one. Glad you liked it.
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Posted By: Paradox
Date Posted: May 31 2005 at 11:27
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Really good music! ------------- 
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Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: June 01 2005 at 00:25
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Thank Paradox! Too bad that tape went through a wash cycle :-P I am looking for a cleaner version. |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: June 01 2005 at 22:49
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Hi Arlo! First off thanks for clearing up that mystery Secondly, I too really enjoyed A Winter's Tale ... good stuff, with that classic sound I can't resist ... Third, welcome to the site, and do hang around ... it has the occasional dicey moment, the odd lull and a troublemaker or two, but by and large it's informative and lots of fun Cheers and thanks again! ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Also thanks for the GG interviews over the years ...
Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: June 03 2005 at 10:32
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Thanks for all your kind words people! I have been busy setting up my new Mac g5 2.7 dual getting it ready for some new recordings. I am finally making the crossover to Mac although I don't think I will throw out my custom made PC since it is fast and clean. But this Mac oh my gawd! 8 gigs of ram installed and the 30 inch Cinema display with the Geforce 6800 vid card OOOOHOOO!! Once I get the new studio completed I will post a picture. Picked up a new desk from omnimax the Force 40 cant wait till it gets here. I have to tear up the studio wiring and that my friends is no easy task as some of you may know if you do any recording. I have been shuffling stuff around in the studio since we have limited space here. The new desk is 92 inchs wide 49 deep! Good thing is it has 6 rack areas with a total of 42 spaces! Talk about realestate yeesh I am going to be preserving the entire Menace catalog soon. We have to gather the masters then most likely bake em but there is some really good stuff there. Heck I was only a teen back then so cool to hear it again. I also do Forensic Audio so things are crazy here with the studio revamp and trying to maintain biz. Talk to you all soon once again thanks for the kind words I will pass it on to the rest of the band. Arlo |
Posted By: Arlo West
Date Posted: June 24 2005 at 14:27
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Hello I have upgraded the A winters Tale song to a non distorted version if you would like to upgrade you versions. Thanks for the interest. Arlo http://arlowest.com/colin/A%20Winters%20Tale%20-%20Menace%20-%201974.mp3 - http://arlowest.com/colin/A Winters Tale - Menace - 1974.mp3 |