Something unseen as the only reason is what comes to my mind. Kerry Minnear is a Christian, Shulman brothers are formal yet of Jewish religion. Then, Genesis' name is biblical, they sang of "lies of Kingdom in the skies", not to mention "Lamb". Yes are somewhat ambivalent, considering Wakeman's participation in Sabbath's work and Lisztomania. King Crimson ... ehm. ELP asked Giger, not a right-hand path artist, perhaps. What other reasons would you offer?
Listen, I understand every point about more melodic, etc - still, Gentle Giant's song were much more compact, the shape was pretty radio friendly, EP friendly. Also, thus easier to pick and memorize the twists of melody. If it's easier to pick it must be dear to the hearts of average pop culture consumers.
No words? Well it just so happens that i have them and will tell and share with everyone.Gentle giant is/was the greatest most epic legendary genius most criminally underrated band ever. End of story and mic drop.
I don't get it either, Gentle Giant for me are the pinacle of prog, Yes, Crimson and Genesis have their place, but the time signatures, complex melodies and musicianship allow Gentle Giant to stand apart from the rest. No disrespect to Yes, Crimson and Genesis, I have a lot of their LPs, but Acqiring the taste, three friends and Octopus stand apart from the pack.
@@FlopMeister71 It's funny you mention these albums. In some ways Power and Glory and Freehand are even more complex and stranger. Interview as well. It's just an inconceivable band, what can I say?
Went to a Humble Pie concert in Roanoke VA and had no idea who was opening for them. The lights went down and this announcer with a heavy English accent says "For their first tour of America ...welcome Gentle Giant" Then there was this explosion of music I had never heard before. They were so awesome in concert ...I could care less if Humble Pie performed. They have continued to be one of my all time fav bands ...boundless talent !!
Here I am, now in 2022, just discovering one of the best bands that ever were! Been a prog fan for years, with all the usual suspects covered, but for some reason I just never checked out Gentle Giant. Perhaps my sub-conscious was saving a gift for me, for later in life...
I have just discovered them as well at 74! Had heard of them but never heard them. I am also a long standing Zappa fan and so my ear is atuned to music well out of the mainstream. They do remind me of early King Crimson and Soft Machine. Great stuff, better late than never.
I saw almost every prog-related band that made it to New York City in the seventies. These guys were the most original and the most talented of them all. They're still my favorite band, and every couple of months or years I'll put on a video like this and remember why and reconfirm everything I just said. I'm forever grateful to have seen them twice on each one of those tours, once in New York City and once on Long Island.
I always wanted to see these guys butI only got onevchance in Milwaukee in 1978.they great that night. John weathersvhan see d me a bottle of Guiness Stout beer.
Saw this tour in Montreal. I'm a diehard Zappa fan and have seen him 3 times but this was the best show I've seen ever. Not often a band can reproduce their sound on stage as it was written. Very impressive
Especially cool is how they are-arranged old tunes for live . Some of their songs that had tons of overdubs got re-arranged for a five piece, sometimes bettering the originally recorded version (free hand, so sincere etc)
I think Zappa fans would almost by default like this music. Zappa drew his inspiration from blues but also contemporary classical composers. Giant did the same but added a medieval angle to their compositions. Both clearly were drawn to musical ideas where dissonance featured prominently. I loved both artists.
Wait a minute, my brother has my bass, I better play this, umm, trumpet. Where's the keyboard player? Playing cello of course. Dammit, Kerry was you gonna play recorder on this or vibes? No, John's playing vibes.So, who plays bass? Derek does. So who sings? Everybody does.Wait, if everybody sings, who plays recorders? Everybody does. What's Ray doing? Playing violin, I think.If Ray is playing violin, who's playing bass? Derek the singer. Gary plays guitar, but so does Ray. If anyone gets confused everyone just put everything down and sing...
@@veronicaortiz2 well.......let's be precise, it really is 15th/16th century polyphony which makes up their medieval inspiration. But, hands on, they melt it seamlessly together in their music.
Gentle Giant is the best group I've ever heard, I know them since I was 15... I'm Italian, from Rome and I saw them 7 or 8 times live here in Italy...they are fantastic...I love them...ciao...
Mario De forma geral, desculpa mas brasileiro não gosta de boa música não, porque digo isso??? você já parou pra pensar que 80% da população gosta na verdade de sertanejo e suas variações, samba ou música baiana?? se duvida pegue a lista dos 50 mais ouvidos no Brasil...mas é claro, temos uma parcela, que não é grande porém curte boa música..
@@mariomele1990 something about Northern Italy and Québec that become epicentres for such prof-rock giants. ELP’s song Fanfare of the Common Man’s video was shot at the stade olympique in Montréal.
One of the most talented groups but there are some really amazing groups in history: several of Zappa's bands, King Crimson, Mr. Bungle, Zorn's Naked City to list just a few.
The more I watch these guys, the harder it is for me to believe the ease with which they play some of the most complex and demanding music ever written for band instruments.
i’ve been a professional keyboard player for over 40 years. And for 40 years Minnear’s clavinet part in the beginning of Experience (0:07) is my favorite keyboard part of all time. Medieval funk, i mean, who does that? RIP Ray, devastating news…
Yep, as the Salieri character in Amadeus used to say, "Mediocrities everywhere... I absolve you... I absolve you all." Well, it didn't apply to Gentle Giant, that's for sure.
I don't get why some people hate on Derek's voice. Forget about the insane vocal lines and harmonies he is supposed to pull off every song. He has a really powerful and, above all, consistent voice. He always hits the notes, I have seen a bunch of live performances and he never seem to be on an off night. Not to mention an amazing stage presence.
I think it lies with his melisma singing phrases, like in The Advent of Panurge. Derek wasn't absolutely phenomenal at it, people like Whitney Houston and the rarer likes of Lowell George were. The smoother and finer you can transition from note to note or octave to octave the better, using one syllable of course. Derek's vocals on Funny Ways really suit the mood and song, no real strenuous melisma moments. Don't get me wrong DS was a force for stage presence and amazing vocal talent. The critics expect too much unfortunately and melisma singing is not the easiest to master. They should take Gentle Giant as it is.
@@richtakings3359 I always thought it was something more personal like they don't like his timbre, the actual tone of his voice. He's no Geddy Lee or Ozzy but he does have a very characteristic tone to his voice which I can see why people would find grating, especially on harder songs like Cogs on Cogs. But when it comes to his actual technique, like melismatic singing that you mentioned, I think he is damn near flawless. Of course you can't compare him to Whitney (probably shouldnt ever compare anyone to her for that matter :) but as far as rock singers go I think he is up there as one the most technical and most precise. Definitely when taking into account the level of expertise needed to perform the source material live.
That guitar 🎸 duo is absolutely amazing, Ray and Gary's picking and strumming is amazingly great, G. G. were so unique with all their scattered style, just brilliant..👍😎
I studied classical piano and guitar for 13 years - but when I listen to this all I want to is put my hands into a food blender... Awe inspiring,and deeply humbling - some of the most creative sound made by 4 supreme giants.
There were five of them. Derek was not much of an instrumentalist but he could play bass, guitar and recorder, and he helped write the songs and came up with vocal lines which often were far from obvious. I'd say five giants.
Holy crap. That was just intense to watch. I've never seen so many musicians change instruments so frequently during a live performance. With such ease!
At least we're lucky to have at least some remastered version of their albums by Steve to enjoy at least decent quality sound. I wish they had better success and better mix and sound engineers so we could have better replayability of GG today.
Sometimes I think this may be the best band ever to grace our ears. There are no weak spots in this band. I have been listening to them for over 40 years, and they keep impressing me.
Anyone who has sang on stage knows how difficult it is to sing such odd melodies and harmonies in key together because you have to hear the note in your head just before singing it. These odd intervals are hard enough but to come in on key while singing them in a round is near impossible. To this day I haven't figured the parts out correctly!
I met and had a smoke with him and the rest of the Man band (he joined Man after GG) Jon Pugwash Weathers a nice bloke and a phenomenal drummer. RIP Deke Leonard and Mickey Jones Wales's finest. I only saw Gentle Giant once and they were as good as you see them on this clip. Fucking pure class!!!
@@stevebinning977 Pugwash is a lovely bloke. I saw him with GG in 1975 at Liverpool Stadium. He was late for the gig as he'd gone to visit his mum who worked in Sayers in Liverpool. I spoke to him years later when playing with Man... he remembered the Liverpool gig!
Octopus is such of a polished studio album, its easy to forget how hard they're actually fucking rocking on those tracks! Seeing them pull it off flawlessly with vitality live is so good!
True. I bought ' Octopus ' on release and loved it but never saw them live, strange as I went to many gigs at that time seeing Yes, Genesis ( numerous times ) Van der Graff and King Crimson, they clearly were a great live band..
From the same genre as Yes and Genesis...yet more interesting if much less commercial. No millionaires here. Fine old British band. I think an era that should never be forgotten.
Gentle Giant have never been my absolute favourite band, but I'm beginning to think they are the best band that the 20th century ever produced. The sheer confidence with which they delivered this music was a kind of challenge to the public. 'If you don't get this, it's your fault, not ours!' And they were right.
@@blairholben6297 Bad placement by the record company/manager. If your main act is 3 chord boogie, don't expect the fans to understand really inventive music. Sucked for GG and their fans though.
I have all their 8 first vinyl studio albums bought around 40 years ago, but all these You Tube videos of their live performancies add a new dimension to my appreciation of this exceptionally talented group. They were unique.
@@tixximmi1 Right? Can you imagine Giant performing Benny and the Jets, or Elton singing Pantagruels Nativity? It would’ve been interesting, but… Kerry for the win.
I saw this televised in 1975 at either 13 or 14 years old. It blew me away. When my sister came home, I asked her if she saw Gentle Giant on TV and she said, "Yes, they sucked!" I told her I love them and she said sarcastically, "I knew you would!"
His older brother Derek stepped back to take up the bass. They all three could play multiple instruments including older brother Phil. They had to show all the other members of "Simon Dupree and the Big Sound" how to play their instruments.
These gods of musical dexterity delivered a masterclass of virtuosity for 10 golden years ,ON REFLECTION the passage of time has not diminished their unique artistry and stellar virtuosity , their road less travelled has so many rewards for the discerning listener .
I was at this concert when I was Junior in High School. I had already seen them live 4 or 5 times before this night. It was always exhilarating to see them live.
we should talk about the voice of Derek Shulman and its place amongst the classic rock vocalist: Plant, Gillan, Anderson (both Ian and Ion), Gabriel, ...
A certain occasion during an interview Ritchie Blackmore (a true virtuoso legend) said a great true: it's totally diferent having sucess instead get popularity. Because to get sucess is necessary to possess natural talent and creativity whereas being popular just it's demanded have Lucky and sound in specific form to the masses, in the right moment. Unfortunetaly it wasn't the case for Gentle Giant - an eternal cult band that will always have sucess without popularity.
Gentle Giant, then Yes. Geez. I had a couple of insane concerts like that; one time I saw John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola open for L. Shankar at the Roxy in Hollywood. Mind blown.
@@stefannelson I really don't remember if they opened or closed but it was Alvin Lee as I can recall. And I actually remember it being at the Santa Monica Civic as well, but hell, we're talking 50 years ago here !!!
Without doubt the greatest collection of musicians that ever walked the earth. Just my opinion of course. No matter who i listen to i always come back to GG. Saw them live in my hometown, Liverpool, in the 70s. SUPERB.
A great band. First saw them 1975 with black sabbath and malo. Tickets were 4 bucks at the salt palace in salt lake city. From that day gg has remained one of my favorite bands. So much to hear in every tune.
When I watch this video it reminds me what this band was all about. The idea to create a unique expression of music and (most importantly) to work together to get the absolute most out of each other's talents. This was after Derek Shulman's (Simon Dupree) previous run of commercial/pop success in the UK, and he no longer wished to pursue the pop avenue. It is difficult to imagine this band having any association with pop music, but the Shulmans were a music family going back to the Dad, and I am sure the parents wanted the greatest success for their kids and perhaps the true creative part of their talents hadn't yet fully incubated. That required Kerry Minnear and Ray Shulman . Gary Green effectively added further brush strokes to the the portrait. John Weathers and Ray Shulman could so effectively segway from medieval passages to hard-hitting rock that to this day exemplifies bell bottom jeans and bad haircuts. I love the seventies and I love these guys.
Se existisse um festival interplanetário, intergalatico, o Gentle Giant seria a banda representante do planeta Terra! Absurdamente geniais! Eu ouvi pela primeira vez no verão de 1974 e não me canso de ouvi-los até hoje.
They were genius....saw them 3 times in Detroit in the early and mid-70's. The current youth would barely tolerate, let alone embrace this. I was 17 when I bought Acquiring the Taste.
Lee Jackson Well, I wouldn't I say the entirety of the current youth. For one, Gentle Giant's one of my favourite bands and I've still yet kicked the age of 18. I also showed a song (So Sincere) of theirs to a friend of mine at the same age who, too, digged it. Don't think the "young 'uns" as many of you may call us these days are unable to "Acquire The Taste", as it were. At the end of the day, people have different tastes and there has been an order since the beginning. Progressive rock was popular then, pop, techno, rap and all that are popular now. Just gotta face that prog had its moment and it's now over. Maybe someday it will have its day again, but for now you gotta face the here and now. That said, as a musician I wish to recreate prog/keep the fire burning but it doesn't mean I can't accept today's music. There are that many different genres of music these days that are accepted among youths it makes your head spin. Heck, Daft Punk was declared progressive rock by Rick Wakeman, so there ya go. All I'm saying is that you have to give us a chance. There's not one genre of music that doesn't have a young following!
I stand corrected, and you are right. I am a musician as well, and they and other bands of that time were a HUGE influence. I played in a band in Dallas with my son, so trust me I get it. The "masses" of kids in the early 70's didn't get it either per se.
This is by far the most fantastic band ever existed. I'm been listening them since 1970, and I listen progressive rock music... all the time. in their field, medieval progressive rock, they are masters.
"Medieval Progressive Rock" is a field? Who, besides Gentle Giant, is in this field? There were other medieval folk rock bands but I can't recall any other that were doing prog. GG isn't the most fantastic band that ever existed - they are one of the most fantastic that ever existed.
+Callous Physical Theatre You can count some works of Jethro Tull, specially the long compositions. Then you have, Gryphon in their early work; Fairfield Parlour, BEARDFISH, Fairport Covention also consider Mostly Autumn in the new wave of progressive bands. Anyway, several bands of Progressive Brit Folk, are closer to that denomination or "field". I can mention some other... but I'm a bit lazy :) And it is no a genre itself, as they ends playing almost pop.. but with enormous quality
Still amazing after all these years. The complexity of their arrangements, the easy virtuosity with which they switch off on instruments, the pure joy they bring to their playing.
I was lucky enough to see them in Springfield Mass,I think doing the same set.It was AWESOME.They opened for Focus(imagine that....lmao).The crowd couldn't get enough of them.When Focus came on,the crowd was still chanting for Giant well into Focus first set. Needless to say,the entire group,were masters of their domain at this concert.Even Zappa liked Giant.....
The "Giant" was the musicians more than the gentle one! The "nec plus ultra" of that era! When you know from where they started to evolve into one of the greatest prog band planet Earth given us! Chapeau, Messieurs!
@@Darrylizer1 Your reply came through while I was listening in total amazement to Kerry's vibes solo in 'Funny Ways'. What an incredible band GG were. Joyous!
You know, everyone in GG threads likes to rave about how phenomenally tight and well-rehearsed they are (and they are, in spades), so it's about time to pay tribute to their improvisations and shape-shifting arrangements. You notice that every live 'Tube or record, the acoustic guitar duet is different? (Not that Gary and Ray are improvising; that interplay is impeccably worked out.) One of the reasons (of many) I love Giant vids is to see Kerry do another insane (and insanely different) vibes solo in Funny Ways. And Gary Green, a heavy blues man to his toenails, never does precisely the same solos ... Kudos to Ray here, btw, for stopping the song to tune up. Nobody does that in rock, and that's a testament to his concern for having the music sound the best they can make it.
Yeah i am here and i am devasted crushed and bummed beyond belief my ultimate hero in music from the the greatest most epic legendary unique genius band ever.
We were listening to GG before they first came to America so by the time we got to see them in concert, we were so stoked. Even with all the anticipation, they blew us away. They had the crowd jumping up in the middle of songs from pure emotional reaction to their tightness and their expert use of dynamics. People didn't care that Tull was coming out after their set. We were satiated beyond expectation.
During John's interview to be hired on as the groups drummer, one of the other four members had an idea for a song and they all jumped up to play it. This was much to his surprise as Weathers figured them for basic blues musicians. He explained that he wasn't on the spot proficient like that. While the four would pretty much just show up to cut an album, he had to take the music home to practice.
I totally don't understand how this stunning band isn't considered (at least) equal to monsters like Genesis and Yes. Absolute peak of prog here.
Something unseen as the only reason is what comes to my mind. Kerry Minnear is a Christian, Shulman brothers are formal yet of Jewish religion. Then, Genesis' name is biblical, they sang of "lies of Kingdom in the skies", not to mention "Lamb". Yes are somewhat ambivalent, considering Wakeman's participation in Sabbath's work and Lisztomania. King Crimson ... ehm. ELP asked Giger, not a right-hand path artist, perhaps. What other reasons would you offer?
Because Shulman the singer was crap.
Because Tony banks was able to write music that was complex but more melodic. And Peter's voice was more unique in timbre than Derek's. And luck.
And that subtle little thing called luck...
Listen, I understand every point about more melodic, etc - still, Gentle Giant's song were much more compact, the shape was pretty radio friendly, EP friendly. Also, thus easier to pick and memorize the twists of melody. If it's easier to pick it must be dear to the hearts of average pop culture consumers.
There are no words to do justice to the musicianship, musicality, power, emotion, and sheer brilliance of this band
No words? Well it just so happens that i have them and will tell and share with everyone.Gentle giant is/was the greatest most epic legendary genius most criminally underrated band ever. End of story and mic drop.
I don't get it either, Gentle Giant for me are the pinacle of prog, Yes, Crimson and Genesis have their place, but the time signatures, complex melodies and musicianship allow Gentle Giant to stand apart from the rest. No disrespect to Yes, Crimson and Genesis, I have a lot of their LPs, but Acqiring the taste, three friends and Octopus stand apart from the pack.
@@FlopMeister71 I think A Passion Play by Tull comes close. Always been one of my favourites!
@@FlopMeister71 It's funny you mention these albums. In some ways Power and Glory and Freehand are even more complex and stranger. Interview as well. It's just an inconceivable band, what can I say?
My fave and far away the best prog band ever , no one can touch them.
We miss you Ray!!
Went to a Humble Pie concert in Roanoke VA and had no idea who was opening for them. The lights went down and this announcer with a heavy English accent says "For their first tour of America ...welcome Gentle Giant" Then there was this explosion of music I had never heard before. They were so awesome in concert ...I could care less if Humble Pie performed. They have continued to be one of my all time fav bands ...boundless talent !!
In 76 I saw them open for Renaissance, Amazed at GG, started to fall asleep during Renaisssance. Left the show
Kerry Minnear is one of the greatest keyboard players ever!
Well he's not a George Duke or Rick Wakeman but he does add a little Funk to the music. And he sings well too. Aspiration.
@@tixximmi1 joking right?
@@kenturnbull5450 No.
@@tixximmi1I disagree with you…
He's better than both those guys!
Here I am, now in 2022, just discovering one of the best bands that ever were! Been a prog fan for years, with all the usual suspects covered, but for some reason I just never checked out Gentle Giant. Perhaps my sub-conscious was saving a gift for me, for later in life...
Congrats for discovering the greatest most criminally underated band ever
You are in for a treat!! Enjoy your new found, best prog band ever!!
@@tunes5077 Well, definitely one of the best. GG is very high up there, but Yes will always top my list.
@@jhschmidMD4
For me it's a toss up between Gentle Giant, Yes, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. All great bands.
I have just discovered them as well at 74! Had heard of them but never heard them. I am also a long standing Zappa fan and so my ear is atuned to music well out of the mainstream. They do remind me of early King Crimson and Soft Machine. Great stuff, better late than never.
I saw almost every prog-related band that made it to New York City in the seventies. These guys were the most original and the most talented of them all. They're still my favorite band, and every couple of months or years I'll put on a video like this and remember why and reconfirm everything I just said.
I'm forever grateful to have seen them twice on each one of those tours, once in New York City and once on Long Island.
How Special
@@StephenGrew I seen them in 76 in Newcastle 76.Have been following them since
I always wanted to see these guys butI only got onevchance in Milwaukee in 1978.they great that night. John weathersvhan see d me a bottle of Guiness Stout beer.
They were amazing in Milwaukee in 1978.
I totally agree!! And....Lucky You!!
Saw this tour in Montreal. I'm a diehard Zappa fan and have seen him 3 times but this was the best show I've seen ever. Not often a band can reproduce their sound on stage as it was written. Very impressive
Did you know Zappa was a huge GG fan?
Especially cool is how they are-arranged old tunes for live . Some of their songs that had tons of overdubs got re-arranged for a five piece, sometimes bettering the originally recorded version (free hand, so sincere etc)
I think Zappa fans would almost by default like this music. Zappa drew his inspiration from blues but also contemporary classical composers. Giant did the same but added a medieval angle to their compositions. Both clearly were drawn to musical ideas where dissonance featured prominently. I loved both artists.
Zappa the genious of
Genious xx century
R.I.P. Ray Shulman.
Wait a minute, my brother has my bass, I better play this, umm, trumpet. Where's the keyboard player? Playing cello of course. Dammit, Kerry was you gonna play recorder on this or vibes? No, John's playing vibes.So, who plays bass? Derek does. So who sings? Everybody does.Wait, if everybody sings, who plays recorders? Everybody does. What's Ray doing? Playing violin, I think.If Ray is playing violin, who's playing bass? Derek the singer. Gary plays guitar, but so does Ray. If anyone gets confused everyone just put everything down and sing...
I love this
Funny ways whatever !
You made my day! Cheers!
lol
Yes but who's on first?
What a phenomenon these were! Extraordinary musicianship medieval meets jazz rock and classical.
Perfectly stated!
medieval!! ...oh yeah!
@@veronicaortiz2 well.......let's be precise, it really is 15th/16th century polyphony which makes up their medieval inspiration. But, hands on, they melt it seamlessly together in their music.
Gentle Giant is the best group I've ever heard, I know them since I was 15...
I'm Italian, from Rome and I saw them 7 or 8 times live here in Italy...they are fantastic...I love them...ciao...
Italians have good taste for music. As Brazilians!
Mario De forma geral, desculpa mas brasileiro não gosta de boa música não, porque digo isso??? você já parou pra pensar que 80% da população gosta na verdade de sertanejo e suas variações, samba ou música baiana?? se duvida pegue a lista dos 50 mais ouvidos no Brasil...mas é claro, temos uma parcela, que não é grande porém curte boa música..
Ciao Gioacchino, anche io sono di Rona. Quando e dove li hai visti in concerto? Allo Stadio Flaminio? Saluti
@@mariomele1990 something about Northern Italy and Québec that become epicentres for such prof-rock giants. ELP’s song Fanfare of the Common Man’s video was shot at the stade olympique in Montréal.
@@mariomele1990 I knew about the Italians but I had no idea that Brazil was so interested in prof-rock 🤔?
The acoustic guitar duo is amazing! These guys were out of this world.
Undoubtedly the most talented group in history!
+mootbooxle This might be the best concert EVER. :)
+Ultra Veganista All of their concerts are the best ever
+mootbooxle yes i agree bless the mother who gave birth to those brothers
The Phaser Duel guy with the nice Wurly. Nice taste in music as well.
One of the most talented groups but there are some really amazing groups in history: several of Zappa's bands, King Crimson, Mr. Bungle, Zorn's Naked City to list just a few.
The more I watch these guys, the harder it is for me to believe the ease with which they play some of the most complex and demanding music ever written for band instruments.
Best band ever. The drummer is off the hook, looks like he just finished balancing a profit and loss statement... What a band...
Agreed on the drummer (I’ve been one for 40 years) he makes it look SO easy yet his syncopations are out of this world!
Weathers was the conductor and a monster!
"The sophistication of a Jazz band delivered with the energy of a punk band"
Still not quite enough to describe Gentle Giant. Just glorious music all around.
Whose quote is this?
TochaPilhofer what an ignorant comment comparing s great band n to a load of SHIT !!!!
Isn’t that what Ben Weinmann said about the Dillinger Escape Plan?
Classical baroque orchestra with the energy of a rock band.
Not jazz and punk at all.
i’ve been a professional keyboard player for over 40 years. And for 40 years Minnear’s clavinet part in the beginning of Experience (0:07) is my favorite keyboard part of all time. Medieval funk, i mean, who does that? RIP Ray, devastating news…
They were too good for this world of mediocrity - true musicians, unlike most so-called rock artists.
We need variety. We've been fortunate to experience a style that appeals and provokes emotions in us......
Yep, as the Salieri character in Amadeus used to say, "Mediocrities everywhere... I absolve you... I absolve you all."
Well, it didn't apply to Gentle Giant, that's for sure.
The last troubadours. As Ian Anderson is the last bard.
You think you're so smart.
Dis is Disney's official band at Der Ludvig von Drake Klownfest und Lavatory Exposition.
I love seeing Ray Shulman's facial expressions; he is such a genius! RIP Ray!
I don't get why some people hate on Derek's voice. Forget about the insane vocal lines and harmonies he is supposed to pull off every song. He has a really powerful and, above all, consistent voice. He always hits the notes, I have seen a bunch of live performances and he never seem to be on an off night. Not to mention an amazing stage presence.
i agree a gazillion % with you his voice/vocals are legendary and whomever doesnt like his vocals is a completely clueless and misguided fool.
I think it lies with his melisma singing phrases, like in The Advent of Panurge. Derek wasn't absolutely phenomenal at it, people like Whitney Houston and the rarer likes of Lowell George were. The smoother and finer you can transition from note to note or octave to octave the better, using one syllable of course. Derek's vocals on Funny Ways really suit the mood and song, no real strenuous melisma moments. Don't get me wrong DS was a force for stage presence and amazing vocal talent. The critics expect too much unfortunately and melisma singing is not the easiest to master. They should take Gentle Giant as it is.
@@richtakings3359 I always thought it was something more personal like they don't like his timbre, the actual tone of his voice. He's no Geddy Lee or Ozzy but he does have a very characteristic tone to his voice which I can see why people would find grating, especially on harder songs like Cogs on Cogs.
But when it comes to his actual technique, like melismatic singing that you mentioned, I think he is damn near flawless. Of course you can't compare him to Whitney (probably shouldnt ever compare anyone to her for that matter :) but as far as rock singers go I think he is up there as one the most technical and most precise. Definitely when taking into account the level of expertise needed to perform the source material live.
RIP Ray, wonderful musician and multi instrumentalist
That guitar 🎸 duo is absolutely amazing, Ray and Gary's picking and strumming is amazingly great, G. G. were so unique with all their scattered style, just brilliant..👍😎
One of the greatest bands ever.
One of the greatest? no without a doubt the greatest most criminally underated band ever
I studied classical piano and guitar for 13 years - but when I listen to this all I want to is put my hands into a food blender... Awe inspiring,and deeply humbling - some of the most creative sound made by 4 supreme giants.
There were five of them. Derek was not much of an instrumentalist but he could play bass, guitar and recorder, and he helped write the songs and came up with vocal lines which often were far from obvious. I'd say five giants.
R.I.P. Ray, a fantastic bass player and musician
One of the best bands to come out of the 70's!!
One of the best? No without a doubt the greatest most legendary genius band ever.
@@1359401 Can't argue with that!
“Knots” an absolutely stunning piece of music.
Holy crap. That was just intense to watch. I've never seen so many musicians change instruments so frequently during a live performance. With such ease!
You might also want to check out Tortoise. Several of their members are also multi-instrumentalists.
These guys are all instrumentally taught and they're masters at their craft
As a live sound engineer, one of my biggest gripes, is to never ever be able to mix/tour with this band... It’d be my absolute dream to mix this.
At least we're lucky to have at least some remastered version of their albums by Steve to enjoy at least decent quality sound. I wish they had better success and better mix and sound engineers so we could have better replayability of GG today.
Sometimes I think this may be the best band ever to grace our ears. There are no weak spots in this band. I have been listening to them for over 40 years, and they keep impressing me.
I never think or wonder if they are the best i know for an absolute fact that they are/were the greatest most epic legendary unique genius band ever.
The harmonies are just out this world, they just tuned on outer space radio and captured the ether waves...
ikr! nice pfp too man 👍
Anyone who has sang on stage knows how difficult it is to sing such odd melodies and harmonies in key together because you have to hear the note in your head just before singing it. These odd intervals are hard enough but to come in on key while singing them in a round is near impossible. To this day I haven't figured the parts out correctly!
@SoftserveSodium I have this thing called very close to, but not quite perfect pitch. Apparently it is quite annoying.
Ridiculously talented band. Holds up all these years later. Very few groups could pull anything like this off in a live setting.
This Drummer ... ! He's worth his weight in gold.
he'd be thrilled if you paid him
his channel: ua-cam.com/channels/84H9NK9JKyvc2d6MGKXxzw.htmlfeatured
Someone said he plays the drums like they owe him money and he’s beating it out of them. Like the rest of the band he’s an amazing musician!
I met and had a smoke with him and the rest of the Man band (he joined Man after GG) Jon Pugwash Weathers a nice bloke and a phenomenal drummer. RIP Deke Leonard and Mickey Jones Wales's finest. I only saw Gentle Giant once and they were as good as you see them on this clip. Fucking pure class!!!
@@stevebinning977 Pugwash is a lovely bloke. I saw him with GG in 1975 at Liverpool Stadium. He was late for the gig as he'd gone to visit his mum who worked in Sayers in Liverpool. I spoke to him years later when playing with Man... he remembered the Liverpool gig!
Amazing band. Touring with Tull was a match made in heaven. Roll back the mileage. Thank you Gentle Giant! Your music is eternal.
Yeah, they're more popular today than 45 years ago.
A bunch of true genius irreplaceable musicians. We will never ever have anything even remotely close to this band.
Octopus is such of a polished studio album, its easy to forget how hard they're actually fucking rocking on those tracks! Seeing them pull it off flawlessly with vitality live is so good!
True. I bought ' Octopus ' on release and loved it but never saw them live, strange as I went to many gigs at that time seeing Yes, Genesis ( numerous times ) Van der Graff and King Crimson, they clearly were a great live band..
From the same genre as Yes and Genesis...yet more interesting if much less commercial. No millionaires here. Fine old British band. I think an era that should never be forgotten.
Gentle Giant have never been my absolute favourite band, but I'm beginning to think they are the best band that the 20th century ever produced. The sheer confidence with which they delivered this music was a kind of challenge to the public. 'If you don't get this, it's your fault, not ours!' And they were right.
I saw them get BOOED off the stage.....so Foghat could play their 3 chord boogie...ALL NIGHT LONG!
@@blairholben6297 Bad placement by the record company/manager. If your main act is 3 chord boogie, don't expect the fans to understand really inventive music. Sucked for GG and their fans though.
@@latheofheaven1017 I read up on GG..and they did have other odd pairings.....They opened for Cat Stevens once!..
@@latheofheaven1017 good point!...We had front row seats too,so..it sucked they left early.....
Well one of their first pairings was with Black Sabbath. I’d like to have seen that one.
Amazing drummer as great as anyone. No need to compate genres.. He's a wonderful drummer!
Weathers was great to hear and watch.
I was just thinking the same thing. Fantastic player man ! That timing. You can't teach that shit, your just born with it.
I have all their 8 first vinyl studio albums bought around 40 years ago, but all these You Tube videos of their live performancies add a new dimension to my appreciation of this exceptionally talented group. They were unique.
You should have their album Pre-GG when Elton John was in the group. No wonder they fired Elton.
@@tixximmi1Was Elton in the Simon Dupree band?
@@Claytone-Records Don't think so but he did try out with GG. Glad they went with Kerry.
@@tixximmi1 Right? Can you imagine Giant performing Benny and the Jets, or Elton singing Pantagruels Nativity? It would’ve been interesting, but… Kerry for the win.
I saw this televised in 1975 at either 13 or 14 years old. It blew me away. When my sister came home, I asked her if she saw Gentle Giant on TV and she said, "Yes, they sucked!" I told her I love them and she said sarcastically, "I knew you would!"
That's a funny story...you were an intelligent dude even back then
@@sidework1 No you fanboy.
Axe Man : It’s often not appreciated by those of limited cranial capacity.
@@Riddim4 , Do you actually play?
Honestly I have listened to a fair bit of their stuff and I just don't see what the big deal is.
Axe Man: Yes.
Ray Shulmann what an accomplished musician ...
His older brother Derek stepped back to take up the bass. They all three could play multiple instruments including older brother Phil. They had to show all the other members of "Simon Dupree and the Big Sound" how to play their instruments.
These gods of musical dexterity delivered a masterclass of virtuosity for 10 golden years ,ON REFLECTION the passage of time has not diminished their unique artistry and stellar virtuosity , their road less travelled has so many rewards for the discerning listener .
I am lucky to have seen and heard this band live in Germany in 1975. My favorite band.
True Giant fans know ... NOBODY CAN BEAT THEM ... period
There is nothing to beat!!
These guys are so amazingly unique. They stand alone.
I was at this concert when I was Junior in High School. I had already seen them live 4 or 5 times before this night. It was always exhilarating to see them live.
we should talk about the voice of Derek Shulman and its place amongst the classic rock vocalist: Plant, Gillan, Anderson (both Ian and Ion), Gabriel, ...
This is incredibly jaw dropping for a live concert...remarkable musicians bar no one...
How perfect was this band? Seriously…
This is not only progressive rock This is progressive life!!🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Complex and heavy. Amazing band. Love, love, love GG.
Album after album of mostly masterpieces. There Glass Houses is truly magnificent. The quality of the recording is unreal.
The Shulmans are mad men.
15:57 is one stone cold groove my man!
It's so Amazing!
Hands down my favorite band. The Giant can do no wrong.
As difficult and technical their music is, they got that funk riding underneath that makes it so memorable!
A certain occasion during an interview Ritchie Blackmore (a true virtuoso legend) said a great true: it's totally diferent having sucess instead get popularity. Because to get sucess is necessary to possess natural talent and creativity whereas being popular just it's demanded have Lucky and sound in specific form to the masses, in the right moment. Unfortunetaly it wasn't the case for Gentle Giant - an eternal cult band that will always have sucess without popularity.
No one wants to hear this crap.
@@Frip36 Your commentary poses absolute ignorance
@@rodolfolaterza Ignorant yes but I'm open-minded. What album do you recommend of theirs that doesn't suck too terribly bad.
@@Frip36 I would like to suggest hearing albums as Free Hand, Octopus initially. They are more tasteful
Saw them open for Yes in 1976, my first concert; utterly awesome! Had never heard them before.
Gentle Giant, then Yes. Geez. I had a couple of insane concerts like that; one time I saw John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola open for L. Shankar at the Roxy in Hollywood. Mind blown.
I was at this show.
Me too!
Who did they open up for on this show?
@@stefannelson I really don't remember if they opened or closed but it was Alvin Lee as I can recall. And I actually remember it being at the Santa Monica Civic as well, but hell, we're talking 50 years ago here !!!
Without doubt the greatest collection of musicians that ever walked the earth. Just my opinion of course. No matter who i listen to i always come back to GG. Saw them live in my hometown, Liverpool, in the 70s. SUPERB.
Your opinion is a fact without a doubt they were(are) the greatest most underated band ever
Indeed
this is just so brilliant - just unbelievable musiciianship - what a fabulous band - they deserved far more success than they got.
Amazing band. Totally original, nothing else sounds like their music.
Catching up on GG catalog...insanely complex music and so interesting...unbelievable that they can carry it off live...
Love GG So versatile and such great musicians.
A great band. First saw them 1975 with black sabbath and malo. Tickets were 4 bucks at the salt palace in salt lake city. From that day gg has remained one of my favorite bands. So much to hear in every tune.
When I watch this video it reminds me what this band was all about. The idea to create a unique expression of music and (most importantly) to work together to get the absolute most out of each other's talents. This was after Derek Shulman's (Simon Dupree) previous run of commercial/pop success in the UK, and he no longer wished to pursue the pop avenue. It is difficult to imagine this band having any association with pop music, but the Shulmans were a music family going back to the Dad, and I am sure the parents wanted the greatest success for their kids and perhaps the true creative part of their talents hadn't yet fully incubated. That required Kerry Minnear and Ray Shulman . Gary Green effectively added further brush strokes to the the portrait. John Weathers and Ray Shulman could so effectively segway from medieval passages to hard-hitting rock that to this day exemplifies bell bottom jeans and bad haircuts. I love the seventies and I love these guys.
The amazing and truly Giant of 70's prog rock.
One of my favourite bands from that era! Still love them....Free Hand, In a Glass House, and other...:)
We were lucky to listen to GG on vinyl.
Se existisse um festival interplanetário, intergalatico, o Gentle Giant seria a banda representante do planeta Terra! Absurdamente geniais! Eu ouvi pela primeira vez no verão de 1974 e não me canso de ouvi-los até hoje.
They were genius....saw them 3 times in Detroit in the early and mid-70's. The current youth would barely tolerate, let alone embrace this. I was 17 when I bought Acquiring the Taste.
I saw em in 75 when i was 15 and to this day I have never seen a live show that even comes close.........what a fn great band... saw em twice...
Did you see them at Cobo with Yes and the Eagles. I saw them at that show. Sometime I think in '72
no i saw em in chicago at chicago theater and l.a. at the roxy...... fn unreal....
Lee Jackson Well, I wouldn't I say the entirety of the current youth. For one, Gentle Giant's one of my favourite bands and I've still yet kicked the age of 18. I also showed a song (So Sincere) of theirs to a friend of mine at the same age who, too, digged it. Don't think the "young 'uns" as many of you may call us these days are unable to "Acquire The Taste", as it were. At the end of the day, people have different tastes and there has been an order since the beginning. Progressive rock was popular then, pop, techno, rap and all that are popular now. Just gotta face that prog had its moment and it's now over. Maybe someday it will have its day again, but for now you gotta face the here and now. That said, as a musician I wish to recreate prog/keep the fire burning but it doesn't mean I can't accept today's music.
There are that many different genres of music these days that are accepted among youths it makes your head spin. Heck, Daft Punk was declared progressive rock by Rick Wakeman, so there ya go. All I'm saying is that you have to give us a chance. There's not one genre of music that doesn't have a young following!
I stand corrected, and you are right. I am a musician as well, and they and other bands of that time were a HUGE influence. I played in a band in Dallas with my son, so trust me I get it. The "masses" of kids in the early 70's didn't get it either per se.
This is by far the most fantastic band ever existed.
I'm been listening them since 1970, and I listen progressive rock music... all the time.
in their field, medieval progressive rock, they are masters.
"Medieval Progressive Rock" is a field? Who, besides Gentle Giant, is in this field? There were other medieval folk rock bands but I can't recall any other that were doing prog.
GG isn't the most fantastic band that ever existed - they are one of the most fantastic that ever existed.
+Callous Physical Theatre
You can count some works of Jethro Tull, specially the long compositions.
Then you have, Gryphon in their early work; Fairfield Parlour, BEARDFISH, Fairport Covention
also consider Mostly Autumn in the new wave of progressive bands.
Anyway, several bands of Progressive Brit Folk, are closer to that denomination or "field".
I can mention some other... but I'm a bit lazy :)
And it is no a genre itself, as they ends playing almost pop.. but with enormous quality
Los mejores de todas las epocas, LOS MEJORES!!!!
Glad they fired Elton John. Wouldn't have been the same.
Nothing is better than this right now...in this moment. Thanx G.Giant and cheers presenter.
Nobody is better than this band right now or at anytime they were/ are the greatest most criminally underated band ever
I've loved the band since 1973 when I was 15. I recommend the live album 'playing The Fool'
it has been..how many decades now??..and I am still floored..still amazed...still...blown away...wow
The greatest most criminally underated band ever
me too, every time
Insanely good. Untouchable, then and now
It was been more than 20 years into the new century, and it's still early for humanity.
Still amazing after all these years. The complexity of their arrangements, the easy virtuosity with which they switch off on instruments, the pure joy they bring to their playing.
I was lucky enough to see them in Springfield Mass,I think doing the same set.It was AWESOME.They opened for Focus(imagine that....lmao).The crowd couldn't get enough of them.When Focus came on,the crowd was still chanting for Giant well into Focus first set.
Needless to say,the entire group,were masters of their domain at this concert.Even Zappa liked Giant.....
I saw them twice in amazing concerts and I followed all their releases since "Simon Dupree..." and I still adore them and miss them so much ... 💖😢
The "Giant" was the musicians more than the gentle one! The "nec plus ultra" of that era! When you know from where they started to evolve into one of the greatest prog band planet Earth given us! Chapeau, Messieurs!
Still my favorite band! Unparalleled musicianship!
John Weathers is a beast!
He's fabulous, isn't he?
@@davidgormley7990 He really is.
@@Darrylizer1 Your reply came through while I was listening in total amazement to Kerry's vibes solo in 'Funny Ways'. What an incredible band GG were. Joyous!
My favorite band in high school, class of '75.
You know, everyone in GG threads likes to rave about how phenomenally tight and well-rehearsed they are (and they are, in spades), so it's about time to pay tribute to their improvisations and shape-shifting arrangements. You notice that every live 'Tube or record, the acoustic guitar duet is different? (Not that Gary and Ray are improvising; that interplay is impeccably worked out.) One of the reasons (of many) I love Giant vids is to see Kerry do another insane (and insanely different) vibes solo in Funny Ways. And Gary Green, a heavy blues man to his toenails, never does precisely the same solos ...
Kudos to Ray here, btw, for stopping the song to tune up. Nobody does that in rock, and that's a testament to his concern for having the music sound the best they can make it.
Brilliant and wonderful. A fucking awesome band.
These guys are for sure the most inventive group playing rock instruments. One of my favourite bands, together with Jethro Tull and Dixie Dregs.
Tell that to Robert Fripp and the members of King Crimson. They'd laugh you out of the room.
@@TechnicolourMan Hey...is not a music fan entitled to his own opinion? Come on.
Just the Best !!!!
Brilliant . Better than the best. Glad I saw them in 1975 and 76.
This music is so fresh even today.
The best band EVER!!!!!
Agree with you a gazillion percent-the greatest most underated ever
yes! unfortunately!
dopo 44 anni che li ascolto ancora mi emoziono e continuo ad AMARLI una sola parola UNICIII
one of my favorite bands of all time. period.
Anyone here after the loss of the genius Ray Shulman?
Yeah i am here and i am devasted crushed and bummed beyond belief my ultimate hero in music from the the greatest most epic legendary unique genius band ever.
a proof that the best band never win in music industry - but what an incredible music !
At least they got to fire Elton John.
if you can't beat 'em, join 'em... Derek Shulman became a record company exec...
We were listening to GG before they first came to America so by the time we got to see them in concert, we were so stoked. Even with all the anticipation, they blew us away. They had the crowd jumping up in the middle of songs from pure emotional reaction to their tightness and their expert use of dynamics. People didn't care that Tull was coming out after their set. We were satiated beyond expectation.
Wonderful musicians, among the greatest.
love how jon weathers gets those odd time sigs to swing
Pure feel !!
During John's interview to be hired on as the groups drummer, one of the other four members had an idea for a song and they all jumped up to play it. This was much to his surprise as Weathers figured them for basic blues musicians. He explained that he wasn't on the spot proficient like that. While the four would pretty much just show up to cut an album, he had to take the music home to practice.
I was truly born in the wrong decade. I was born in the decade this music came out.