Van der Graaf Generator

小簡介
1967年成立于英國的Van Der Graaf Generator("VDGG")是以所謂"Vocal Progressive"表現(xiàn)手法聞名的樂團。Peter Hammil身兼樂團靈魂與創(chuàng)作重心，早年與Peter Gabriel及David Bowie的舞臺表演皆同樣具備匠心獨具的效果及魅力。也由于專輯大都在Hammill的嗓音表現(xiàn)下作文章，與當(dāng)年一般樂團以搖滾器樂編制掛帥的樂團風(fēng)氣并不相同，因此商業(yè)口碑累積較慢，專輯經(jīng)常叫好而不叫座。以致部份樂迷認為他們是"second-tier"的英國前衛(wèi)搖滾團，與Gentle Giant、The Soft Machine、Jethro Tull、Renaissance、Caravan等并列，然而地位卻略遜于Pink Floyd、King Crimson、Yes、Emerson, Lake & Palmer或Genesis等等所謂第一級團體。這見解不盡然正確，VDGG的藝術(shù)價值當(dāng)然可以與Yes或King Crimson等同齊觀的。
他們長篇樂曲如「Killer」(該團最出名的單曲)、「A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers」、「Meurglys III」無論在編曲與演奏上都十分特別，完全符合大一般樂迷對前衛(wèi)搖滾樂曲的認知 -- 主題龐大而繁雜，樂曲整體架構(gòu)張力強、渲染力十足、自成一格，主唱收放自如、表情生動的嗓音擅于讓聽眾自然置身樂曲所想營造的情情境里，需要聽眾高度想象力才有辦法欣賞。VDGG并無專職吉他手是音樂特點之一，反倒樂團在某些專輯中加入薩克斯風(fēng)或管風(fēng)琴的演奏以增強效果。也由于VDGG成員曾經(jīng)歷多次變動，樂團成員各具專長，使得VDGG不拘泥于曲風(fēng)方式，民謠、爵士、電子與古典等元素巧妙結(jié)合，顯地豐富而多采。
by Jason Ankeny
An eye-opening trip to San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury during the summer of 1967 inspired British-born drummer Chris Judge Smith to compose a list of possible names for the rock group he wished to form. Upon his return to Manchester University, he began performing with singer/songwriter Peter Hammill and keyboardist Nick Peame; employing one of the names from Judge Smiths list, the band dubbed itself Van Der Graaf Generator (after a machine which creates static electricity), eventually earning an intense cult following as one of the eras preeminent art rock groups.
Despite the early involvement of Judge Smith and Peame, the group found true success as a vehicle for Hammill, whose dark, existentialist lyrics made him the focus of considerable attention. After the release of the 1968 single People You Were Going To, Judge Smith left Van Der Graaf Generator, which by then consisted of Hammill, keyboardist Hugh Banton, bassist Keith Ellis and drummer Guy Evans. The group soon split, and in 1968 Hammill entered the studio, ostensibly to record a solo album; however, he ultimately called in his ex-bandmates for assistance, and when The Aerosol Grey Machine appeared, it did so under the Van Der Graaf Generator name.
Although Ellis was replaced by Nic Potter and woodwind player David Jackson, the reconstituted group continued on for 1969s Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other. After 1970s H to He, Who Am the Only One, Potter departed; the Generator recorded one more LP, 1971s Pawn Hearts, before Hammill left for a solo career, putting an end to the group. After five solo efforts, however, Hammill again reformed Van Der Graaf Generator in 1975 for Godbluff. Following a pair of 1976 albums, Still Life and World Record, Banton and Jackson exited; as simply Van Der Graaf, the band recorded The Quiet Zone with new violinist Graham Smith. After a 1978 live set, Vital, the group officially disbanded, although most members made appearances on Hammills subsequent solo records. Twice during the 1990s, Van Der Graaf also reunited for one-off gigs, and in 2005 released a reunion album, Present.