| Canterbury Scene | Crossover Prog | Eclectic Prog | Extreme Prog Metal | Folk Rock | Heavy Prog | Jazz-Rock Fusion | Krautrock | Neo Prog | NON PROG | Northern Prog | Post Metal | Post Rock | Prog Related | Progressive Electronic | Progressive Metal | Psychedelic Rock | Rock Progressivo Italiano | Space Rock | Symphonic Rock | Zeuhl |
P r o g r e s s i v e R o c k W o r l d
The Unique Style of Van der Graaf Generator, Prog Rock Between Obscurity and Philosophy
Van der Graaf Generator (VDGG) was a British progressive rock band active from 1968 to 1978. Founded by Peter Hammill (vocals, guitar), the band initially consisted of Peter Hammill, Chris Judge Smith, and Peter Watkins. Their epic, existential sound was influenced by jazz and classical music.
Their most famous album was Pawn Hearts (1972), but after disbanding in 1972, they continued their activity with a second phase that began in 1975 with Godbluff.
The lineup changed several times until settling on the classic lineup of Peter Hammill (vocals, guitar), Hugh Banton (keyboards), Keith Ellis (bass), and Guy Evans (drums).
Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) already contained the distinctive elements of their sound, but from then on, they began a steady growth with 1970's H To He Who Am The Only One, 1970's The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, and finally 1972's Pawn Hearts, their masterpiece, a cornerstone of prog-rock, which contains the magnificent suite "The Plague of Lighthouse Keeper."
After Pawn Hearts, Hammill disbanded the group to focus on his solo projects. The group then reunited in 1975 with the album Godbluff, marking a fantastic evolution, a phase often unfairly underrated.
Van der Graaf Generator's style is unique: progressive rock with dark, atmospheric, and often stripped-down arrangements and philosophical lyrics, completely influenced by Peter Hammill and Tim Buckley, with a deep, dark sound.
From the psychedelic overtones of their first album, they evolved into a dark sound influenced by classical music and jazz on their subsequent albums.
The band's arrangements are often stripped back and avoid excessive virtuosity.
This band has at least 4 absolute masterpieces of progressive rock:
H To He Who Am The Only One - 1970, Pawn Hearts - 1971, Godbluff - 1975 and Still Life - 1976
The Discography and the Reviews
The Aerosol Grey Machine - 1969 - Coming Soon
H To He Who Am The Only One - 1970
The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other - 1970 - Coming Soon
Pawn Hearts - 1971
Godbluff - 1975
Still Life - 1976
World Record - 1976
The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome - 1977 - Coming Soon
Present - 2005 - Coming Soon
Trisector - 2008 - Coming Soon
A Grounding In Numbers - 2011 - Coming Soon
ALT - 2012 - Coming Soon
Do Not Disturb - 2016 - Coming Soon
Note: the links to the pages of the artists and bands mentioned here and their albums are available on the"Artists" page or using the TAG Van der Graaf Generator