Truth is weirder than fiction.

[vostoklake]

It is NOT true that Peter Hammill once auditioned for the New Yardbirds (perhaps better known under their later name, Led Zeppelin).

It IS true that Peter Hammill auditioned for the title role in The Phantom of the Opera.

Dear Goddess. Hammill singing Lloyd-Webber. My brain hurts.

Comments

[jessikast]

It may be brain hurty, but I think it would sound incredibly cool.

[nishatalitha.livejournal.com]

My brain hurts.

[drquuxum.livejournal.com]

It IS true that Peter Hammill auditioned for the title role in The Phantom of the Opera.

And when Lord Webber knew that his time had come, we were really rather glad.... Sorry, it's the only VdGG reference I have.

source THIS

[laputain.livejournal.com]

We cower in the shelters, with our hands upon our ears
Lloyd-Webber's awful stuff runs for years and years and years
An earthquake hits the building, but the operetta lingers,
Then the piano lid comes down, and breaks his fucking fingers.
It's a miracle.

:-)

Re: source THIS

[nishatalitha.livejournal.com]

I have to say that I actually like Lloyd-Webber's stuff, particularly the musicals. Phantom of the Opera was my comfort/angst/play loudly when angry/whatever piece for years, and I only noticed recently that Emma Shapplin had supplanted it. Of course, that's somewhat operatic, too.

[fionasteeth.livejournal.com]

I think it was...Friday (or Saturday?) past...I was in bed reading with the Radio in the background, and out of the blue a RNZ Nick Bollinger review took my VDGG virginity. I was young and unsuspecting. There was an interview with him (Hammill) re: their recent sold out concert (?)- and some serious discussion by Bollinger on the band's ability to redeem what he calls the "manic and self indulgent" prog-rock genre - samples from the new album. Fascinating. Marvellous.

[laputain.livejournal.com]

Every reputable record store (by which I mean Real Groovy or Slowboat) has VdGG and Hammill solo for your listening enjoyment. I encourage you to make use of them.

What really impresses me is that their latest album (http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/present.htm) is fully as bad-ass musically and lyrically as their glory era in the mid-70's. I must admit that I like manic and self-indulgent music in particular (you should see my Emerson Lake and Palmer collection!) but what set VdGG apart was the fact that they were legitimately frightening. And still are.

My dream is to have a voice halfway between Peter Hammill and Kate Bush.