Ian Anderson disses prog - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

bucka001

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 16 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 864

Posted: November 08 2011 at 12:04

lazland wrote:

Chris S wrote:

Please guys.....Ian Anderson is just having a laugh. Get a SOH

Indeed - that is Anderson all over. indeed, any self respecting JT fan would know all of this either from history, or by actually listening to many of the witty, self deprecating lyrics he sang.

To be fair, he's not really dissing all of prog (and he is just having a laugh), but I feel he doesn't have any enthusiasm for Yes, Genesis, and ELP... and fair enough.

But it doesn't mean he's anti-prog in general as he did guest-edit an issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog.

I know of a lot of famous musicians who dislike Genesis, Yes, and ELP, but are on the record as being major fans of the darker prog bands with more bite, such as King Crimson and VdGG (i.e. the bands it's "cool" to like)

cstack3

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 7281

Posted: November 08 2011 at 12:07

bucka001 wrote:

cstack3 wrote:

Chris S wrote:

Please guys.....Ian Anderson is just having a laugh. Get a SOH

EXACTLY! For Christ's sake, he's being interviewed in front of a huge "Prog Rocks" sign by prog critics (who were, by the way, fawning all over Yes and ELP whilst slamming "Passion Play.").

He's just having some fun at the expense of the audience, totally in character!! I would have been surprised if he said anything different!

Maybe IA should square off against Rick Wakeman's "Grumpy Old Rick" TV routine? It would be rather hilarious!

See my post above (below...ha ha!) and, if you get a chance, let me know what your vibe is about his quote in Classic Rock, which I give below:

Yeah, he is (as I mentioned) probably just larking about, but he's trying to have his cake and eat it too. He's taken potshots at prog bands before and, even though it's a bit tongue in cheek, one gets the feeling he kind of feels that way. But, it's like, "hey, since I'm being sort of jokey about it, you can't really get mad at me; I'm not totally serious here..."

A few issues ago, in Classic Rock Presents Prog, he stated, "Prog became a bit of a joke, really. Perhaps the archetpal prog rock bands were the spaghetti noodlers like Yes and ELP, who could take a good idea and make it last for days! Some of it was silly, when you think about Peter Gabriel dressed a giant sunflower. It was ridiculous."

I don't even totally disagree with him. I just think it's rich coming from him. A dude in tights, with one leg elevated and foot upon knee, and playing the flute ain't exactly a whole lot more badass than a guy in a sunflower mask...

These cats all know one another, most of 'em are gentlemen farmers in Devon, UK near Exeter.

Ian's acoustic guitars are made by Brit luthier Andy Manson, and Martin Barre's electrics by Andy's brother Hugh Manson. Hugh also builds the basses for John Paul Jones, is the guitar tech for Steve Howe, etc.

I think his wisecracks were as much towards those guys as anybody! Lighten up, folks.

http://www.musesmuse.com/pressrelease.20101006.1286367193.html

Slartibartfast View Drop Down

Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam

Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630

Posted: November 08 2011 at 12:28

Oh yeah? Well, I don't fancy cats. Tongue

Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Snow Dog

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995

Posted: November 08 2011 at 12:29

I reckon there are some members of this site that agree with what he says and are not joking

Evolver

Special Collaborator

Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams

Joined: October 22 2005
Location: The Idiocracy
Status: Offline
Points: 5482

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:16

Slartibartfast wrote:

Oh yeah? Well, I don't fancy cats. Tongue

You just haven't found the right recipe.

Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

Adams Bolero View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 07 2009
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 679

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:19

Ian said that before playing Thick As A Brick when I saw Jethro Tull in March. But he said they were also up their own arse and that ''it was actually quite nice up there!'' LOL

Edited by Adams Bolero - November 08 2011 at 13:27

''Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.''

- Albert Camus

toroddfuglesteg View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Retired

Joined: March 04 2008
Location: Retirement Home
Status: Offline
Points: 3658

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:22

The comments from Ian Andersson has been totally misunderstood and we have got two pages out of it. Should I laugh or cry ? Let's start a poll on that !

Come on. Let's save the world instead of having a debate on something someone has not meant.

bucka001

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 16 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 864

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:28

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The comments from Ian Andersson has been totally misunderstood and we have got two pages out of it. Should I laugh or cry ? Let's start a poll on that !

Come on. Let's save the world instead of having a debate on something someone has not meant.

Misunderstood? He called Yes and ELP spaghetti noodlers who could beat an idea to death, and said that Gabe prancing around in a flower outfit was verging on ridiculous. I perfectly understood what he meant (and actually agree with him for the most part). He might have been poking fun, but I think he does feel that way about those bands. I, for one, am not offended! And I don't think anyone misunderstands him.

Save the world? In a Prog Forum? I'd rather discuss Pawn Hearts vs. The Lamb

By the way, re: the poll. I vote that you cry. Or laugh... waitaminute... can I get a do-over?

cstack3

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 7281

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:36

bucka001 wrote:

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The comments from Ian Andersson has been totally misunderstood and we have got two pages out of it. Should I laugh or cry ? Let's start a poll on that !

Come on. Let's save the world instead of having a debate on something someone has not meant.

Haw! Even Wakeman agrees with IA, this fantastic interview is a must-read (Wakeman compares Yes to Spinal Tap)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1045969/Yes-original-Spinal-Tap-says-Rick-Wakeman-Seventies-prog-rock-supergroup.html#ixzz1Ss5rspNu

The curry that Wakeman ate onstage during the "Tales" concert was chicken vindaloo, my own favorite!!

Let's face it....we LOVE much of that music, but a great deal of it was pompous, over-the-top theatrics!! That is a good part of its charm for me....the elaborate sets, massive tours with dozens of lorries, and lengthy rock opuses played for hours, with nary a wrong note to be heard!! You have to see Lady Ga-Ga to get anywhere close to the '70's era in terms of onstage extravagance!

Ian's having fun, he'd probably bust a gut at this thread!

lazland

Prog Reviewer

Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13637

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:49

cstack3 wrote:

bucka001 wrote:

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The comments from Ian Andersson has been totally misunderstood and we have got two pages out of it. Should I laugh or cry ? Let's start a poll on that !

Come on. Let's save the world instead of having a debate on something someone has not meant.

Haw! Even Wakeman agrees with IA, this fantastic interview is a must-read (Wakeman compares Yes to Spinal Tap)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1045969/Yes-original-Spinal-Tap-says-Rick-Wakeman-Seventies-prog-rock-supergroup.html#ixzz1Ss5rspNu

The curry that Wakeman ate onstage during the "Tales" concert was chicken vindaloo, my own favorite!!

Ian's having fun, he'd probably bust a gut at this thread!

Post of the year, Charles Clap

We really, really shouldn't take ourselves so seriously!

Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!

bucka001

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 16 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 864

Posted: November 08 2011 at 13:58

lazland wrote:

We really, really shouldn't take ourselves so seriously!

I agree, and I feel the same way when people have gotten ticked off at John Lydon and Jello Biafra taking shots at Yes, Floyd, etc, and calling them boring. It ain't the end of the world!

toroddfuglesteg View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Retired

Joined: March 04 2008
Location: Retirement Home
Status: Offline
Points: 3658

Posted: November 08 2011 at 14:23

The end of the world is near if we don't stop saving the world. After all; there has not been a nuclear war since ProgArchives saw the light in 2004.

bucka001

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 16 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 864

Posted: November 08 2011 at 14:30

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The end of the world is near if we don't stop saving the world. After all; there has not been a nuclear war since ProgArchives saw the light in 2004.

I think, in its own small way, that ProgArchives (and maybe even ProggressiveEars) has contributed to the absence of nuclear war...

...just go with me on this!

DisgruntledPorcupine View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 16 2010
Location: Thunder Bay CAN
Status: Offline
Points: 4395

Posted: November 08 2011 at 14:45

Saperlipopette! wrote:

Originally posted by DisgruntledPorcupine

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:

Yeah, seriously. Do any of you people have any concept of a joke?

He like tried to make it obvious as possible he was joking, too.

I know but That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. Neither is Ian.

Why so serious?

Edited by DisgruntledPorcupine - November 08 2011 at 14:45

Saperlipopette! View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 20 2010
Location: Tomorrowland
Status: Online
Points: 11711

Posted: November 08 2011 at 14:49

lazland wrote:

cstack3 wrote:

bucka001 wrote:

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The comments from Ian Andersson has been totally misunderstood and we have got two pages out of it. Should I laugh or cry ? Let's start a poll on that !

Come on. Let's save the world instead of having a debate on something someone has not meant.

Haw! Even Wakeman agrees with IA, this fantastic interview is a must-read (Wakeman compares Yes to Spinal Tap)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1045969/Yes-original-Spinal-Tap-says-Rick-Wakeman-Seventies-prog-rock-supergroup.html#ixzz1Ss5rspNu

The curry that Wakeman ate onstage during the "Tales" concert was chicken vindaloo, my own favorite!!

Ian's having fun, he'd probably bust a gut at this thread!

Post of the year, Charles Clap

We really, really shouldn't take ourselves so seriously!

Sure, Rick Wakeman knows how to laugh at himself. He's cool (unlike Ian). As bucka I'm not a fan of the of the over the top stuff he's making fun of, and I didn't misunderstand him.

bucka001

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 16 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 864

Posted: November 08 2011 at 15:04

Saperlipopette! wrote:

Sure, Rick Wakeman knows how to laugh at himself. He's cool (unlike Ian). As bucka I'm not a fan of the of the over the top stuff he's making fun of, and I didn't misunderstand him.

Also, people should understand that Rick can laugh about this now, decades after the fact. At the time, Tales was one of the reasons he left the group. And Jon Anderson sure wasn't laughing. He was having to defend Tales to critics and everyone else; he wasn't thrilled that the had to defend it to someone in the group (I remember this from Dan Hedge's biography).

So, Wakey is lighthearted about it now, but it was a bigger issue then.

cstack3

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 7281

Posted: November 08 2011 at 16:37

Ian Anderson also has a remarkable sense of self-deprecation.....I think he skewers HIMSELF as much as Yes or ELP! You have to read between the lines with this fellow, he's a brilliant satirist (think of the lyrics to TAAB).

After all, "A Passion Play" was roundly panned by the rock press when it came out, and the live show (which I missed) was a complicated bunch of sets, movie clips and other things that were about as "proggy" as TFTO!! He really can't throw any stones, and I don't think he is, he's looking to stir things up!

Here's a Melody Maker review from 1973: http://www.tullpress.com/mm21jul73.htm

Of all the proggers out there, Anderson might be the one I'd most like to tip a pint with!

rogerthat

Prog Reviewer

Joined: September 03 2006
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 9869

Posted: November 08 2011 at 21:13

FYI, Mike Rutherford more or less called people who were trying to keep prog alive into the 80s stupid.

Fripp pronounced the rock business shallow and excessive as early as 1974, even before punk could commence its effigy burning business. An observation with which I largely agree, by the way.

Michael Dunford said in the 90s that maybe the band should have moved to shorter songs earlier.

The Shulmans always wanted another Kite, if you believe what Gary Green and John Weathers have to say.

John Wetton is effusive in his praise for the era that he was part of KC but says it "promised too much" (implying that it was an unsustainable concept ultimately)

Face it, none of these guys would want to stand up for prog (and imo, it is not a very progressive idea to stand up for a genre), so it's good to see Ian Anderson can be funny about it in his usual way.

Edited by rogerthat - November 08 2011 at 21:15

Zombywoof

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 26 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1217

Posted: November 08 2011 at 21:55

toroddfuglesteg wrote:

The end of the world is near if we don't stop saving the world. After all; there has not been a nuclear war since ProgArchives saw the light in 2004.

I take it that you missed the Yes vs Genesis poll, then. Yikes!!

Ian Anderson is one of my earliest (and biggest) heros, but I always have a laugh when he picks on prog. I don't agree with him, but I must say ... I'm much more into the 'darker' prog bands, but I do love Genesis. Give me Henry Cow over Yes, anyday ... or Jethro Tull over Yes for that matter! Personally, I think Anderson likes to have a laugh about most things and so do I. Lifes too short to take such matters too seriously. Perhaps that's what Ian's really digging at ... the bands and fans who take it all too seriously.

Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ...

Catcher10

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17848

Posted: November 08 2011 at 22:25

This is one of the funniest threads...(of this week).....I urinated in my pants with laughter due to what some thought he said in the video......You obviously do not listen to music.