Van der Graaf Generator

Tony Fisher wrote: I have just spent an evening listening again to Pawn Hearts and Godbluff, trying to work out why I never got into this band, hoping enlightenment would come. At the end, all I have concluded is that Hugh Banton is a very fine keyboards player, that Guy Evans is a talented drummer but that I really cannot stand the band's music at all and that Hamill's vocals are probably the worst of any prog singer I've heard. So what DO the band's fans see in them??? I'm missing it completely.

Tony, from your other posts it looks as if you are more into the more melodic prog. VdGG are for some inexplicable reason listed under "Symphonic Prog", but putting them under "Avantgarde" would fit them a lot better (at least for their early albums; as I pointed out in another post, it would be much better if artists could belong to more than just one category or if albums instead of artists were put into categories). People would at least know what to expect from them then.
"Pawn Hearts", although a highly recommended album, is definitely the wrong start for VdGG newbies (provided they are not into avantgarde already). Try "Godbluff" first, it is much easier accessible.
About the voice: The first album I heard of them was "Godbluff"; I really liked the music, but hated the singing. Then one day it made "click", and I realised that Hammill's singing is the only appropriate way to convey these lyrics, and I turned from Hammill-hater to Hammill-lover.
And so it is with the music. Like no other band VdGG take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Their reunion concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London last year (which Jean and I attended) was simply incredible. As one reviewer put it: "I had expected that Van der Graaf Generator would be good, but I had not expected they would grab me by the scruff of my neck, hold me over a precipice, rattle me around and leave me dangling there screaming for my life. Yes, it was that good!"
As to Hammill having a bad voice: Definitely wrong. He can sing absolutely beautifully and does when it fits the occasion (just listen to the beginning of "Man-Erg"), and he has an incredible range of voice, dynamically as well as pitchwise. He sings like he does deliberately, to convey the emotions; his voice is probably the most theatrical in prog. You may not like the way he uses his voice, but to say it is "bad" is missing the point completely.


Edited by BaldFriede

Well i can see the Best Prog band all time and the best singer all time so...

Man Erg wrote: VdGG are unique and something that is unique usually polarises opinion.It's just a matter of personal taste...as usual

But... your nickname is "Man erg"!... I also love Van der Graaf Generator; Hammil's voice is worth for at least 6 vocalists in one, and, well, when I'm in that mood, I use the following combination: Dagmar Krause; Peter Hammil and Robert Wyatt. The way I see it, they share a dramatic tone...

Power. Emotion. Great sax playing. Uniqueness. Hammill voice (i really like it, though i know most are turned off by it). And on a personal level, i can really relate to some of their songs.

My first & only experience of listening to VDGG was when they played live on the Old Grey Whistle Test way back when.... I knew from that experience that this was a band that was just not for me. The thing that has always stuck in my mind was Peter Hammill's voice & it's 'depressive & dark' tone. I've always liked my music to be uplifting & positive so VDGG were never a band I was going to like!

Horses for courses!

I have just spent an evening listening again to Pawn Hearts and Godbluff, trying to work out why I never got into this band, hoping enlightenment would come.

At the end, all I have concluded is that Hugh Banton is a very fine keyboards player, that Guy Evans is a talented drummer but that I really cannot stand the band's music at all and that Hamill's vocals are probably the worst of any prog singer I've heard.

So what DO the band's fans see in them??? I'm missing it completely.