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Mushroom Sword View Drop Down
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Points: 426 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: So... explain the whole "cape" thing
    Posted: March 18 2011 at 18:26
I've been hearing the term a lot. On many different websites, but I can't find the connection. I've found that there is some connection between liking progressive rock and wearing a cape. I'm not sure what it is, or where it originated, i simply can't find it. But I think it has something to do with a keyboardist? (maybe Keith Emerson?)

I feel like maybe I'm over thinking it as it's just a term used to make fun of prog fans or musicians, or maybe it's something really obvious i should be shunned for not knowing. Or maybe I'm simply insane.

What is the connection, - if any - between prog and wearing capes?
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Points: 22989 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 18:27

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Points: 5575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 18:43
Rick Wakeman and Chris Quire sported capes on stage and it's a (fair) scapegoat for the excesses of 70's prog
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Points: 4321 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 19:19
Exactly! and i love the scene on "School of Rock" when the japanese kid appears using a Wakeman´s Cape.
 
Taking the opportunitty: ive herd another prog allusian term, "the new heralds" or someting like that. Whats the meaning?


Edited by desistindo - March 18 2011 at 19:19
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Points: 1263 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 19:20
Rick Wakeman in particular. Twas a lovely cape, lots of gold sequins.

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Points: 65244 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 20:15
I think Batman had a prog band in '72.
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Points: 17497 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 20:26
Hi,
 
I personally do not have an issue with the cape thing ... even I went out of my way to get one put together for me, and it is all black with sateen skylark gold interior and it has a massive detach-able hood and it ties up in the front with tassles. And I wore that with a top hat (black of course) and black boots and a had a cane in my hand. And of course, the shirt was white with all the frillies hanging out. And my design is taken from an Edwardian Cloak style, which is a little bigger than the earlier styles in length. I used velveteen from the theatrical companies in LA so that I could get it 48 inches wide and only have one seam in the back, otherwise you would have 2 seams, which is not as strong in design and lasting ability.
 
Speaking of that I need to take my cape to the cleaners to get it cleaned up!
 
The big issue ... the cape is HEAVY ... and it gets hot under it! Which means that Rick and anyone else would need to have an air conditioner with them to be able to use the damn thing!
 
I, wear it for fun ... I take out my paraphernalia, tarot decks and silk scarves, lay it all out during Halloween and tell you to ask me a silent question and I give you an answer with my Tarot decks!
 
It's show'y ... but not very comfortable, but I can see where it is useful in a really cold place as it wraps you up very nicely! But I seriously doubt that it helps the music get any better, or Rick would really be up a ship creek with no paddle!
 
Chris wore a lot of buckaneer boots, similar to the ones that you see on Jack Sparrow these days ... I just find it silly and weird that they have not invited Chris to play a part or two in those films, since he did look very good in those costumes in the early days ... but when you are good, and you can flash it ... do it, right? ... isn't that the People and Star magazines main theme?


Edited by moshkito - March 18 2011 at 20:29
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Points: 18446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 20:34
As you can see above it's really a Wakeman reference. But for what it's worth, when I saw ELP at Cobo Hall with the orchestra way way back, Emerson came up out of the stage for the L100 rodeo ride wearing a cape and playing Bach's Fugue. That's the only time i can think of him wearing a cape. Although as I write this I just thought about that glitter outfit he wore in Pictures. It had a strange shoulder accoutrement that looked like a mini cape. And of course there's Gabriel's capeage in the early years. No word on if King Crimson was ever caped.


Edited by JD - March 18 2011 at 20:35
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Points: 426 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 20:46
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

I think Batman had a prog band in '72.



I didn't believe you at first. But wikipedia says otherwise.
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Points: 7264 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 18 2011 at 23:33
....I blame Robert Fripp....http://www.themarqueeclub.net/interview-peter-banks-yes
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Points: 12724 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 00:02
I think I read or watched a comment from Wakeman in which he said he began using the cape after a Yes show, after which someone told him he looked really weird stretching his hands and twisting his arms in order to reach the keyboard he wanted with the hand he wanted (remember he used loads of keyboards on stage), so he ended up buying that cape in order to not look so weird, or somhow hide so much strange movements, or whatever... it was some years ago that I read/heard this.
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Points: 27956 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 03:42
Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

As you can see above it's really a Wakeman reference. But for what it's worth, when I saw ELP at Cobo Hall with the orchestra way way back, Emerson came up out of the stage for the L100 rodeo ride wearing a cape and playing Bach's Fugue. That's the only time i can think of him wearing a cape. Although as I write this I just thought about that glitter outfit he wore in Pictures. It had a strange shoulder accoutrement that looked like a mini cape. And of course there's Gabriel's capeage in the early years. No word on if King Crimson was ever caped.
 
not sure about that unless you mean a different video
 
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Points: 2459 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 05:44
Originally posted by topographicbroadways topographicbroadways wrote:

Rick Wakeman and Chris Quire sported capes on stage and it's a (fair) scapegoat for the excesses of 70's prog


A capegoat? I always thought Rick looked superb! Let's not forget Bowie wore tights on stage at this time...
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Points: 5154 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 06:59
Brian May wore also capes, or otherwise very long jackets (don't know the proper name in english, tailcoats?).
Yngwie Malmsteen wears one too in his peformance of his Concerto Suite with orchestra.
 
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JD View Drop Down
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Points: 18446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 07:03
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

It had a strange shoulder accoutrement that looked like a mini cape.
 
not sure about that unless you mean a different video

 



Hmmm?? Been a long time since I saw Pics at an Ex.  Now I'm thinking it might have been a picture from the front of a cassette I have of Emo with the Nice. I may have to do some digging but the image is in my head. I'll keep searching.
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Points: 37575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 07:41

Get Cape, Wear Cape, Play Prog
What?
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JD View Drop Down
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Points: 18446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 07:53
Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by JD JD wrote:

It had a strange shoulder accoutrement that looked like a mini cape.
 
not sure about that unless you mean a different video

 



Hmmm?? Been a long time since I saw Pics at an Ex.  Now I'm thinking it might have been a picture from the front of a cassette I have of Emo with the Nice. I may have to do some digging but the image is in my head. I'll keep searching.



Yup, it's from an Italian release on cassette from Rock Storia E Musica "Keith Emerson & The Nice" on (I think) the label Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri. Can't find the image online and I'm not sure how to post an image that doesn't exist  online already. It's a sort of multi tiered vest like thing. Not so much of a cape as I first remembered.
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Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 09:39
OK now, Emerson isn't wearing a cape in Kiev, it's just a really tacky jacket. Tongue

Edited by Slartibartfast - March 19 2011 at 10:01
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Points: 19535 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 09:53
People talk about the excesses of Prog because Wakeman's capes:


 But has somebody seen other genres?


 
or



Or



Or



or



Or



Or



Or



And of course:



Please.....Prog pales in comparison with the excesses of other groups.

Iván


Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - March 19 2011 at 10:03
            
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Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 19 2011 at 10:01
^ Are you on some sort of cape crusade? Tongue
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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