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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZVAN DER GRAAF GENERATORUK art-rock band formed '67 in Manchester, whose constant factor was guitarist/ keyboardist/ composer/ vocalist Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill (b 5 Nov. '48, London). Named after a generator of high-voltage electrostatic energy built at MIT '31 by Dr Robert Jemison Van Der Graaf (1901--67), name suggested by founder member and first drummer Chris Judge Smith. They broke up; Hammill began making a solo album which turned out to be The Aerosol Grey Machine '68 on Fontana/Mercury, the first Van Der Graaf LP, with Keith Ellis on bass, Hugh Banton on keyboards, Guy Evans on drums, others (CD on Repertoire '97). The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other '69 on new Charisma label was their only chart LP (top 50 UK), with Nic Potter replacing Ellis, David Jackson added on sax; H To He Who Am The Only One '70 was almost a pop album, with a sweet sound and guest Robert Fripp, title referring to thermonuclear reaction in stars, 'the prime energy source in the universe'. Pawn Hearts '71 (without Potter) was oddly unfocused, transitional in retrospect; they broke up again and Hammill's solo career began with Fools Mate with Fripp sitting in (Hammill guested on Fripp's Exposure), followed by Chameleon In The Shadows Of The Night, both '72, and The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage (guest Randy California on guitar) and In Camera '74. He created alter ego Rikki Nadir for Nadir's Big Chance '75, presaging punk rock; Van Der Graaf re-formed for Godbluff, Still Life and World Record '75--6, their peak of creativity (especially 'Still Life' title track), Hammill's bleak, existential lyrics, Banton's gothic organ and Evans's virtuoso drumming making sound paintings as good as anything art rock ever came up with: they were already mellowing by the time of World Record, and broke up again; Hammill released Over and The Future Now '77--8; they re-formed once more for two- disc Vital/Live '78, made live at the Marquee Club: Potter had returned, while Charles Dickie on cello, electric piano and synth, Graham Smith on violin added new sound. Other Van Der Graaf compilations etc incl. 68--71 (released '72), The Long Hello '73, The Quiet Zone '77 (all on Charisma) and Time Vaults '85 on Charly's Demi-Monde label. Punk rockers cited Van Der Graaf as an inspiration, but they weren't that bad. Hammill carried on, with loyal cult fans: pH7 '79 on Charisma, A Black Box '80 on S-Type Records, Sitting Targets '81 on Virgin, Enter K '82 and Patience '83 on Naive, Skin '85 on Foundry, And Close As This '86 on Virgin. Sofa Sound offered by post The Love Songs, Loops And Reels, two-disc The Margin, series The Long Hello by various ex-Generators, Potter's Mountain Music, an Ellis single, badges, T-shirts, newsletter. Published collections of lyrics etc were Killers, Angels, Refugees '66-- 73, Mirrors, Dreams And Miracles '74--80. Two-CD set The Union Chapel Concert '97 on Fie (dist. by Vital UK) was the result of an Evans gig where everybody showed up, two seamless 60-minute sets incl. Evans's industrial outfit Echo City, Hammill's guitars and a 15-minute Van Der Graaf attack on 'Lemmings'. |