Completely agree with you both. Ultimately though I think cream rises to the top, despite being under-appreciated at certain times. It’s testimony to how good this band was that there has been a resurgence of interest in them and their music has stood the test of time.
Well Michael, I think you have to appreciate that there are ‘young people’ who weren’t born when this music was originally released so they have to eventually find it long after you obviously did.
Awesome that Mr. Shulman will be on soon. I am also really looking forward to this video. Gentle Giant imho was one of the most talented Prog bands throughout Prog history. Thank you Pete.
Good God! "Power and the Glory" a recorded document for the ages! Their entire catalog needs to be shared with those who know no better! Great interview Pete!
Derek has a unique voice that I’ve loved since the Simon Dupree days. Such a distinctive and wonderfully, rich tone that I miss. There doesn’t seem to be any distinctive voices anymore, everyone sounds the same. I miss those days of the early 1970s when there were a few really distinctive singers, like Roger Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Steve Gould etc etc. Really nice to hear Derek’s description of the band’s writing and performance mindset. Great stuff. 👍🏻
Gentle Giant rocks!! I bought and love the new release of Gentle Giant ‘ Free Hand’ !! I first got into, “Gentle Giant” about 2 years ago!! I really love this band!! Thank you, “Pete” for this interview with, “Derek” !! I enjoyed and appreciate it!! All the damn time. 🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁 Life is better with music.
This is the best album of all time in my opinion. Top notch stuff from expert players and Gentleman. First time I heard Free Hand, I couldn't stop laughing because of how fun it was. Never gets old.
Another great interview with Derek. It is amazing how accessible GG was in the Free Hand period with how complex the music was. It blows my mind now at how young I was liking GG and one of my earliest favorites was On Reflection. I can't wait for the Interview and other editions to come out.
I've been a huge fan since '73, and I saw them every time they came to So.Cal. .What I find interesting is that they were never "into" duplicating their studio sound in a live setting, like Yes, Genesis, Rush etc. , until later (Missing Piece, Civilian) . So it was always "fun" to see/hear the live versions...amazing musicianship.
Hopefully the multitrack tapes for Three Friends will turn up and receive the Wilson treatment so I can wallow in the the completely rocking Peel The Paint. The inventiveness in their work shines as strongly today as it did forty odd years ago. And yes the Proclamation Video was uplifting. Terrific interview that renews the relevance of GG for a whole new audience who won’t be disappointed.
Such an amazing band. I got into them back in the 70's, and I remember seeing them playing a live show on TV way back then, and I was amazed at how they all kept changing instruments and things, Not many bands did that sort of thing back then. I doubt if many bands could do what they do, or did. I would love to hear a Steven Wilson remix of "The Power And The Glory," as that is probably my favourite Gentle Giant album, along with this one, "Free Hand."
My first GG album was Three Friends. Honestly, purchased in high school just because of the cool giant on the sleeve (American release). I didn’t know what to make if it but at the same time I couldn’t quit listening to it. Did I like it or not? But it grew and grew on me until each listen revealed more and more, finally just hooking me on GG. I now appreciate them more than ever. I’m now 65.
I saw GG back in the early 80's at a bar in Asbury Park NJ, The Fast Lane. Getting to see them play up close and personal was one of the best experiences I've ever had seeing a live prog band of the caliber of Gentle Giant. Thanks Pete for doing this interview with Derek. I would love to see some iteration of the band play live once again. 😀👍
I was literally born listening to Classical and Jazz music my mother was in college studying piano. Never thought about it at the time but GG more so then any other band of the time or any other rock band ever. They had incredibly deep rich compositions this wasn't background music in a bar you could talk over it did rock but it is so much deeper. I heard it called technical at the time without heart. So outstanding compositions played brilliantly doesn't have the heart of some bands struggling with 4 cords? Great interview, always great to hear from Derek it would be be wonderful to hear from Kerry sometime.
I’ll definitely be checking out some Gentle Giant after watching this. Very intelligent questions and Pete gives the interviewee ample enough time to respond.
I got into Gentle Giant with the last Sea of Tranquility interview by snagging one of those box sets before they sold out (I had dipped my toes in Octopus beforehand, but it was still brand new to me). I am so happy I got into Gentle Giant and I am very excited to hear this remix and the future ones!
Pete! This is fantastic. I have often defended Free Hand as an absolute Prog Rock Classic. Saw Gentle Giant on the Civilian tour here in LA (1980 I think), and I agree with your comments about their heaviness and rocking. It was unexpected for me to see just how much of a Kick Ass rock band they were. Love this video. Thanks.
when i saw GG in 72 with Yes Close to the Edge just came out.my friend and i went to our favorite music store the next day and picked up as much GG as we could get our hands on
Back in 1978 Dallas...I went to see Genesis at SMU's Moody Coliseum and at the end of the show the p.a. announcer said that GG was playing at the Electric Ballroom in a short time. It was on my way home so about 50 fans sat on the cement floor along with GG. The put on a great show. One song had them taking turns at different instruments.
Even “interview“ the follow up album to this one is quite complex along with keeping a certain beat so people can enjoy it on that level as well. It is the instrumentation throughout this collection that really pulls me in. I mean I couldn’t listen to your standard blues at this time, I was always listening to progressive rock just because it kept my ears listening for new and inventive chords sequences. This album pleases on all levels.
Just recently found the Shulman brothers' (previous) 60's band on RUclips: "Simon Dupree and The Big Sound". Great 60's band! Great songs/videos/TV performances! (Music Trivia: At one point, Reg Dwight - before he became Elton John - filled in for their keyboard player, played/toured/recorded with them; they recorded a few of his early songs as well).
Free hand is the best of both worlds IMO. Just the same and Free hand are songs that a lot more people can get into (Kerry Minnear puts on a clinic on keyboards on both tracks) . While on Reflection is one of the bands more complex songs. A legendary band that became one of my favorites.
I totally agree that GG were at their best when they were rocking hard. Glass House, Free Hand and Power and the Glory are the three that really do it for me, although I love all their material. This updated mix really accentuates the bass and I like that a lot!
Hearing Derek say that 'live' they wanted the audience to 'smile, be surprised and shocked' - I'd love to go back in time and see some of the Glass House ( my favourite album) gigs, especially as that album wasn't produced as well as everyone would have liked. Reproduced by S Wilson it could be more of a 'classic' than it actually is. Great shame that the multi's can't be found but I live in hope that one day someone will find them and SW will remix the album. SW had exactly the same feeling about the album idea when he first approached GG.
Intelligent, original, and challenging music will always be celebrated and listened to, despite the pablum being produced en masse these days for the inexperienced youth to buy.
The first time I heard On Reflection led to the second time, and third time. I listened to it three times in a row just to try and absorb everything happening in it. It's GG's Bohemian Rhapsody.
If the sound is as good as the Jethro Tull album Aqualung then it it will be amazing. The clarity,separation of instruments,I like. I don't object to longer pieces of music by the likes of Yes ala Close To The Edge, they are ideas which if they hold your attention, are valid musically. It's horses for courses.It's good that Gentle Giant did what they did and also other big prog groups.
I think that Genesis were aggressive and Heavy too, listen to The Knife so EL&P were, some complex parts right from the debut and even in Tarkus; KC were right Heavy and even Doom in some moments, 74/74 expecially. This IMHO. Thx 4 the attention
Interview is a underrated masterpiece that was supposed to be remixed and The Missing Piece... And nothing .... Interview was the first album I ever bought and heard.
To clearly hear what Derek says about the importance of John Weathers, compare this live version of the song "Prologue" (with Weathers on drums) to the studio version (with Moltimore): ruclips.net/video/3ONt-LhXGrY/видео.html. Weathers made the band rock very hard live. No prog band rocked like this. And mainly thanks to Weathers!
Free Hand is and always has been my favorite Gentile Giant album, as far as the remixes go...I've never been a fan, especially when sounds get moved around according to ONE individual, Some remixes are just crank up the volume in some places and lower it in others, while compressing the sound. I'm happy with the original mix for the most part
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
By the way, folks - Derek is 74 years old. Talk about looking great for your age!
Derek is a global treasure.
Gentle Giant is/was one of those bands that blows your mind when you first hear them. One of the best progressive rock bands.
No more shee dees! Get your teeth back in Grandpa 👴
Gentle Giant is a hidden gem of a band that I am happy to see many are finally discovering.
More like they are/were without a doubt the greatest most unique criminally underated band ever
Completely agree with you both. Ultimately though I think cream rises to the top, despite being under-appreciated at certain times. It’s testimony to how good this band was that there has been a resurgence of interest in them and their music has stood the test of time.
Well Michael, I think you have to appreciate that there are ‘young people’ who weren’t born when this music was originally released so they have to eventually find it long after you obviously did.
Derek's Scottish accent but with years of American living in it is very pleasing to the ear.
Awesome that Mr. Shulman will be on soon. I am also really looking forward to this video. Gentle Giant imho was one of the most talented Prog bands throughout Prog history. Thank you Pete.
Hey Sal! Send me an email to sotmail@yahoo.com I have a question for you.
Fantastic to watch Mr. Shulman talking about Gentle Giant's music❤😍🤘🎸
Awesome. Gentle Giant is top shelf Prog, no doubt.
Good God! "Power and the Glory" a recorded document for the ages! Their entire catalog needs to be shared with those who know no better! Great interview Pete!
The bassline on Just the same is simply amazing!!
Derek has a unique voice that I’ve loved since the Simon Dupree days. Such a distinctive and wonderfully, rich tone that I miss. There doesn’t seem to be any distinctive voices anymore, everyone sounds the same. I miss those days of the early 1970s when there were a few really distinctive singers, like Roger Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Steve Gould etc etc. Really nice to hear Derek’s description of the band’s writing and performance mindset. Great stuff. 👍🏻
Gentle Giant rocks!! I bought and love the new release of Gentle Giant ‘ Free Hand’ !! I first got into, “Gentle Giant” about 2 years ago!! I really love this band!! Thank you, “Pete” for this interview with, “Derek” !! I enjoyed and appreciate it!!
All the damn time.
🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁
Life is better with music.
This is the best album of all time in my opinion. Top notch stuff from expert players and Gentleman. First time I heard Free Hand, I couldn't stop laughing because of how fun it was. Never gets old.
Another great interview with Derek. It is amazing how accessible GG was in the Free Hand period with how complex the music was. It blows my mind now at how young I was liking GG and one of my earliest favorites was On Reflection. I can't wait for the Interview and other editions to come out.
My favorite band from that genre/era. I saw them live in Montreal at least 3 times. Always impeccable. FZ himself had some good words for Giant.
I've been a huge fan since '73, and I saw them every time they came to So.Cal. .What I find interesting is that they were never "into" duplicating their studio sound in a live setting, like Yes, Genesis, Rush etc. , until later (Missing Piece, Civilian) . So it was always "fun" to see/hear the live versions...amazing musicianship.
Hopefully the multitrack tapes for Three Friends will turn up and receive the Wilson treatment so I can wallow in the the completely rocking Peel The Paint. The inventiveness in their work shines as strongly today as it did forty odd years ago. And yes the Proclamation Video was uplifting. Terrific interview that renews the relevance of GG for a whole new audience who won’t be disappointed.
Such an amazing band. I got into them back in the 70's, and I remember seeing them playing a live show on TV way back then, and I was amazed at how they all kept changing instruments and things, Not many bands did that sort of thing back then. I doubt if many bands could do what they do, or did. I would love to hear a Steven Wilson remix of "The Power And The Glory," as that is probably my favourite Gentle Giant album, along with this one, "Free Hand."
My first GG album was Three Friends. Honestly, purchased in high school just because of the cool giant on the sleeve (American release). I didn’t know what to make if it but at the same time I couldn’t quit listening to it. Did I like it or not? But it grew and grew on me until each listen revealed more and more, finally just hooking me on GG. I now appreciate them more than ever. I’m now 65.
I saw GG back in the early 80's at a bar in Asbury Park NJ, The Fast Lane. Getting to see them play up close and personal was one of the best experiences I've ever had seeing a live prog band of the caliber of Gentle Giant. Thanks Pete for doing this interview with Derek. I would love to see some iteration of the band play live once again. 😀👍
People don't talk enough about how funky this band was. The groove is complex and astonishing at times
Weathers had a strong left hand too. His snare sound always cuts!
Yep. They could be funky and heavy as hell, especially on the first four albums.
Very underappreciated imo.
I know I keep saying that, but.....it's true. I'm going to have to add the SW remixes to my collection now.
“Pete” your Gentle Giant “ Free Hand’ shirt is cool, hot and spot-on rockin’!! Love it!! Take Care.
🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁
I was literally born listening to Classical and Jazz music my mother was in college studying piano. Never thought about it at the time but GG more so then any other band of the time or any other rock band ever. They had incredibly deep rich compositions this wasn't background music in a bar you could talk over it did rock but it is so much deeper. I heard it called technical at the time without heart. So outstanding compositions played brilliantly doesn't have the heart of some bands struggling with 4 cords? Great interview, always great to hear from Derek it would be be wonderful to hear from Kerry sometime.
These people making the best progressive rock music when they were very young. Amazing.
Everytime I want to blow my mind, I just check out GG live videos on RUclips. Never fails
My first GG album purcgased in 1976, 45 years ago.
Buying again, and another version!
I listen to Gentle Giant alot more now Pete. 👍
Yeah, Derek Shulman. It doesn't get any better than that. I'm really looking forward to this video.
I’ll definitely be checking out some Gentle Giant after watching this. Very intelligent questions and Pete gives the interviewee ample enough time to respond.
I got into Gentle Giant with the last Sea of Tranquility interview by snagging one of those box sets before they sold out (I had dipped my toes in Octopus beforehand, but it was still brand new to me). I am so happy I got into Gentle Giant and I am very excited to hear this remix and the future ones!
Pete! This is fantastic. I have often defended Free Hand as an absolute Prog Rock Classic.
Saw Gentle Giant on the Civilian tour here in LA (1980 I think), and I agree with your comments about their heaviness and rocking. It was unexpected for me to see just how much of a Kick Ass rock band they were. Love this video. Thanks.
One of the all time greats, thanks Pete for getting Derek on again. I love listening to him
Great to see and hear you Derek. Take care
Congrats Pete. I Know How Much you love Gentle Giant.. Its so Cool when you get the " Big Interviews"..
Great interview , thanks Pete and Derek loved the Giant since Three friends.
Freehand is a great album but I definitely like the earlier albums a lot more. The debut, Acquiring The Taste and Octupus are untouchable IMO.
Great interview, love hearing Derek talk about the album/songs
Nice chat. I only have the debut and Octopus so this album could very well be my next buy!
Dee Snider and now Derek Shulman.. Again! Amazing!
when i saw GG in 72 with Yes Close to the Edge just came out.my friend and i went to our favorite music store the next day and picked up as much GG as we could get our hands on
The nugget here is that Playing the Fool is under consideration for remix by SW! Sign me up
Back in 1978 Dallas...I went to see Genesis at SMU's Moody Coliseum and at the end of the show the p.a. announcer said that GG was playing at the Electric Ballroom in a short time. It was on my way home so about 50 fans sat on the cement floor along with GG. The put on a great show. One song had them taking turns at different instruments.
My top GG album. Amazing! A true masterpiece.
Thanks for the great interview!
I personally always recommend Octopus as a first Gentle Giant album : )
Can’t wait to watch. Two of my favorite prog people in one video!!!
“Free Hand” and “In a Glass House” are my two favorite Gentle Giant albums.
A great band and one that was born for 5.1 mixes - Phil
This is such a great interview…. Thank you so much
Rad to see Mr. Shulman once again on SoT!!!
Even “interview“ the follow up album to this one is quite complex along with keeping a certain beat so people can enjoy it on that level as well. It is the instrumentation throughout this collection that really pulls me in. I mean I couldn’t listen to your standard blues at this time, I was always listening to progressive rock just because it kept my ears listening for new and inventive chords sequences. This album pleases on all levels.
Just recently found the Shulman brothers' (previous) 60's band on RUclips: "Simon Dupree and The Big Sound". Great 60's band! Great songs/videos/TV performances! (Music Trivia: At one point, Reg Dwight - before he became Elton John - filled in for their keyboard player, played/toured/recorded with them; they recorded a few of his early songs as well).
Looking forward to this :-)
Free hand is the best of both worlds IMO. Just the same and Free hand are songs that a lot more people can get into (Kerry Minnear puts on a clinic on keyboards on both tracks) . While on Reflection is one of the bands more complex songs. A legendary band that became one of my favorites.
Steven Wilson is a wizard. He does amazing work, but his work on Gentle Giant's catalog is his best work.
I think you mean remixed.
I totally agree that GG were at their best when they were rocking hard. Glass House, Free Hand and Power and the Glory are the three that really do it for me, although I love all their material. This updated mix really accentuates the bass and I like that a lot!
So, they're actually on Count Dracula's record label... ;-)
Derek was ~24 when this lp was released.
Awesome interview!
Hearing Derek say that 'live' they wanted the audience to 'smile, be surprised and shocked' - I'd love to go back in time and see some of the Glass House ( my favourite album) gigs, especially as that album wasn't produced as well as everyone would have liked. Reproduced by S Wilson it could be more of a 'classic' than it actually is. Great shame that the multi's can't be found but I live in hope that one day someone will find them and SW will remix the album. SW had exactly the same feeling about the album idea when he first approached GG.
What a great interview!
Intelligent, original, and challenging music will always be celebrated and listened to, despite the pablum being produced en masse these days for the inexperienced youth to buy.
There has always been pablum for young people to buy. That's not a new thing.
Great interview Pete. I enjoyed it. Do you think it's possible to interview the other members (if you already haven't)?
YES!!!
This was a great video thank you !! ' SUNSET BOULEVARD'
One of my favorite bands of all time! My wife can’t stand GG. 😂
LOL! You too? I feel your pain!
Great Bass Player
The first time I heard On Reflection led to the second time, and third time. I listened to it three times in a row just to try and absorb everything happening in it. It's GG's Bohemian Rhapsody.
If the sound is as good as the Jethro Tull album Aqualung then it it will be amazing. The clarity,separation of instruments,I like.
I don't object to longer pieces of music by the likes of Yes ala Close To The Edge, they are ideas which if they hold your attention, are valid musically. It's horses for courses.It's good that Gentle Giant did what they did and also other big prog groups.
Hey Pete great show, the next ranking the album show, hope you do The Black Crowes soon? Just saw them last week and were fantastic!
Salut Pete.I'm not into prog music but very interesting chat.Thanks guys.
I think that Genesis were aggressive and Heavy too, listen to The Knife so EL&P were, some complex parts right from the debut and even in Tarkus; KC were right Heavy and even Doom in some moments, 74/74 expecially. This IMHO. Thx 4 the attention
Well I was just listening to this interview again and Derek was talking about Live performance.
In Civilian they proved they were a great rock band.
Hey Pete, how about Steven Wilson's treatment of the 70's Tangerine Dream "In Search of Hades" Box?
"You're not gonna fall asleep on Gentle Giant that's for damn sure" Except if you're an inmate...
Interview is a underrated masterpiece that was supposed to be remixed and The Missing Piece... And nothing .... Interview was the first album I ever bought and heard.
To clearly hear what Derek says about the importance of John Weathers, compare this live version of the song "Prologue" (with Weathers on drums) to the studio version (with Moltimore): ruclips.net/video/3ONt-LhXGrY/видео.html. Weathers made the band rock very hard live. No prog band rocked like this. And mainly thanks to Weathers!
I think that I know who you are talking about. "D.D." He is very interesting and excited about many of the vids to which he reacts.
Gênio
Free Hand is and always has been my favorite Gentile Giant album, as far as the remixes go...I've never been a fan, especially when sounds get moved around according to ONE individual, Some remixes are just crank up the volume in some places and lower it in others, while compressing the sound. I'm happy with the original mix for the most part
Four people can’t believe that their hands are free…
Free Hand was their best.
I am an absolute fan since years.. But the part about rocking harder than any other band at the time ??? What????!!!!!
Prog bands
Peter? I thought his name was Pete?
Não sabia que o Fábio Porchat era progger
Why does Derek sounds like a guy from the Midwest? Where is the accent??
From Derek’s own mouth. No more GG. 😢
Is it just me, or does he kinda sound like Peter Criss 🤷
Please …everyone , Boycot this SW remastered versions are no more the Original artists work! This has become another Steal …