The song is actually based on Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, and the description of the Watcher of the Skies in the book is quite different. More like the horned and tailed devil, lol!
Agreed! Tony Banks, Wakeman, Mike Pinder (moody blues) were/are the definitive masters of the Mellotron IMO. And this dude completely nails it!! Beautiful.
I'm embarrassed by how long it took me to understand that string sounds on synthesizers didn't sound as great as the Mellotron because of the latter's warble and imperfections. Which also made it a bear to maintain!
Never forget being at the concert in Detroit, early 70's opening piece, complete dark room, intro playing, then a glow of green on Peter's weird head dress and boom! Watcher of the Skies!!! Thank you!!!
Well played sir…if someone needs to be exceptionally gifted (as you obviously are) to be able to cover that…imagine just how brilliant one must be, to be able to compose that…😮 🤯
Awesome beyond the dreams of mortals,.... Hands up, all those who had started thigh slaping or table drumming the beat as it comes in,... Love that off-beat,...
The Mellotron sounds so organic, it has more life than almost anything else done with a keyboard; Banks' intro here was actually a big formative influence on my own music in terms of how fluidly it moves between keys and eerie/resigned/hopeful tonalities. Thanks for posting this, John!
Though this isn't a "real mellotron". Purists would say that a real mellotron can't be digital, as the M4000 are. Perhaps they exaggerate, but it's true that there's something different when played with a M400 or MkII.
Extraordinary setup (Mello, Moog, Hammond and so on) and wonderful rendering. One of the greatest Genesis openings with "Firth of fifth". Thank you so much.
Gosh! 197x in Princeton, NJ, my sister encouraged me to see a band I'd never heard of. And I'm coming from years of bluesy heavy rock. This opening, and the Gabriel apparition (not to mention some pretty good players up there) just reset my mind as to what modern, great, music could be.
I have listened with real pleasure and I am listening again several times to this little piece by Genesis, really very exciting; it makes me want to learn to play wonderful music like this.
I've heard this intro hundreds of times (well done!) And just now realized it sounds like the soundtrack to a 1950's creature feature monster movie. I can just picture Dracula emerging from his coffin, or Frankenstein coming alive with lightning. So cool.
Thats what it looked like to me, at the Roxy in 1973. I had never even heard the band before, this was my first intro to them, live, with Peter Gabriel in the dark, spreading out his bat wings right in front of me! It really made an impression, I have to tell ya!
Thanks! That modular is the product of a wonderful small company located south of Dallas Tx called Synthesizers.com. I have it featured on another video, playing a Bach Invention, but I have this idea for something completely different hopefully coming soon.
The song is actually based on Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, and the description of the Watcher of the Skies in the book is quite different. More like the horned and tailed devil, lol!
Una delle più belle introduzioni strumentali col Mellotron che abbia mai ascoltato e sempre nello stesso brano uno dei più bei finali sempre col Mellotron e sempre dei Genesis un altro grande finale da Seven Stones sempre col Mellotron !!!!
@@orcogenialeBeh, no. Il piano in Seven Stones non viene utilizzato, ci sono solo organo e Mellotron ed è proprio quest'ultimo che termina il brano unitamente all'organo Hammond.
Thanks for the awesome Mellotron demonstration, and for playing one of our favorite Mellotron songs! As longtime lovers of the sound of the Mellotron (Craig's 1st musical instrument was his M400 acquired in 1976) our philosophy is... "There is no such thing as too much Mellotron". We have the M400 (W/4 tape frames) an M4000D (the big one), and two Mellotron Micro's. We also used several Mellotron Apps on our 1st album. Long live the Mellotron!
Cherry Records is releasing a compilation called Blank Generation. One cut is called Gimme Cigarette by Cigarettes, basically Philo Cramer and me in 1975-1977. Opening chords are from my chamberlain 100, strings, the prototype for a Mellotron. A true bonafide nightmare instrument.
I love the Mellotron... and this sounds great.. but wasn't the start of "Watcher" Mike Rutherford playing a cello multitracked??? - on the album anyway... bit difficult to do it live I know.
I remem ber seeing them when they first came touring in the US. First time i ever saw a Melotron.They had 3 separate tape racks all in road cases and they had to sit out in room temperature so they would be stable when inserted in the Melotron. It sounded so cool. Back then in 1973 my friend bought a brand new B3 with a 122 Leslie right out of the box for $3000 USD as well as a Mini Moog Model D. They did Yes ELP and Gen and played in battle of the bands. They never won despite how good they were. It was always the Led Zep style bands that won. BTW nice job on WOTS. :)
Yes, me as well! I’m 67 years old, went to work at 17 and got my first Hammond M3 organ for my 18th birthday. I keep buying keys ever since that time! 50 years of working, but I finally have them! Haha Now I need to use them more, your comments are inspiring
I have been fascinated by the Mellotron since the early 1970s. Here I recommend two interesting pieces. Amon Düül II with "Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge on the album Wolf City, Germany 1972 and from the Dutch band Earth & Fire the album "Song Of The Marching Children" (1971) the epic 18 minute title track.
He looks exactly like what I imagined a watcher of the skies would look like
Brilliant 😂
Haha
He looks like he is from the 1700s...lol
😂❤
The song is actually based on Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, and the description of the Watcher of the Skies in the book is quite different. More like the horned and tailed devil, lol!
I knew that Santa kept all the best Toys for himself!
🤣😂
😂😂😂❤
😂😂😂😂😂😂
What a sick setup! There is no sound more beautiful than a mellotron.
Worked on this setup my whole life! Thanks!
@@ProgRockKeys NO thank you for displaying an age and style of playing that no longer exists. Oh how I miss the 60's and 70's
@@BP-kx2ig Unbelievable - amazing
except bagpipes duh.
@@Sugarsail1 I am thinking of something Rick Wakeman said " Only thing good on bagpipes is a Sherman tank "
One of the most beautiful uses of the Mellotron, in Progressive rock history.
Wonderful performance sir.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, that was very nice!
Agreed! Tony Banks, Wakeman, Mike Pinder (moody blues) were/are the definitive masters of the Mellotron IMO. And this dude completely nails it!! Beautiful.
Not "one of" ... this is the quintessential portrait of the instrument, especially as solo and intro sequence ...
@@robertpfeiffer8836- and someone from King Crimson. Many good Mellotron lines from their early albums.
Such a beautiful haunting sound!
I was 10 8n 1973 and this was the first thing I heard from Genesis. Hooked ever since. I'll never forget that moment.
I love that there’s a screwdriver on the mellotron. It takes an engineer to keep those things running right. Great playing! This guy has an ear !
Lol
Behold the majesty and glory of our Mellotron overlord! Praise!!!
Brilliant!
Wish bands could make music like this again. Love it,. Peace to EVERYONE
It's the warble and imperfections that make it great.
I'm embarrassed by how long it took me to understand that string sounds on synthesizers didn't sound as great as the Mellotron because of the latter's warble and imperfections. Which also made it a bear to maintain!
Amazing. Goosebump time. How I miss Genesis live from the 70 and 80's.
Ah! The sound of these old analog synthesizers and these great titles from the great era of Genesis!
A mellotron isn‘t a synthesizer.
Never forget being at the concert in Detroit, early 70's opening piece, complete dark room, intro playing, then a glow of green on Peter's weird head dress and boom! Watcher of the Skies!!! Thank you!!!
I had the same experience in Hollywood at the Roxy Theater.
Unforgettable! Glad you were as lucky as I was
One of Progs greatest intros.
prefect.. one of the most beautiful chord progressions of all Genesis songs!
Glorious chords and sequence from Tony Banks.
Nicely done, I have had the privilege of Hearing and seeing genesis perform this live several times !
From a Long Term Italian Genesis's Follower only one word PERFECT! Thanks!
A dream, these chord progressions...
Well played sir…if someone needs to be exceptionally gifted (as you obviously are) to be able to cover that…imagine just how brilliant one must be, to be able to compose that…😮 🤯
fantastic....I absolutely love this.
Still blows my mind today today
Awesome beyond the dreams of mortals,.... Hands up, all those who had started thigh slaping or table drumming the beat as it comes in,... Love that off-beat,...
Brilliant.
Brilliant. Spot on, lick for lick! Wow
The Mellotron sounds so organic, it has more life than almost anything else done with a keyboard; Banks' intro here was actually a big formative influence on my own music in terms of how fluidly it moves between keys and eerie/resigned/hopeful tonalities. Thanks for posting this, John!
Though this isn't a "real mellotron". Purists would say that a real mellotron can't be digital, as the M4000 are. Perhaps they exaggerate, but it's true that there's something different when played with a M400 or MkII.
The MOST CORRECT Sound I have ever heard from Cover !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, thanks!
Gave me chills to watch this!! Off the hook!
Extraordinary setup (Mello, Moog, Hammond and so on) and wonderful rendering. One of the greatest Genesis openings with "Firth of fifth". Thank you so much.
magnificent! BRAVO!
Love this!!
Wonderful vintage synthesizers and mellotron.🤟👍👍🥰
Gosh! 197x in Princeton, NJ, my sister encouraged me to see a band I'd never heard of. And I'm coming from years of bluesy heavy rock.
This opening, and the Gabriel apparition (not to mention some pretty good players up there) just reset my mind as to what modern, great, music could be.
"Watcher of the Skies (Live)" demeure encore ma pièce préférée du groupe Genesis.
These chord changes are absolutely amazing. Brilliant and satisfying all these years later,!!!!!
Wow!
“How appropriately monumental, and that without decadence!
What we’ve captured in that one composition alone-ALONE!”
Woah, you are like a wizard. Great cover sir!
He is the watcher of the skies
Long time Genesis fan-bravo-well done-great gear too!
As a drummer I start the hi hat rhythm off as you fade out, perfectly played John, wonderful!
I have listened with real pleasure and I am listening again several times to this little piece by Genesis, really very exciting; it makes me want to learn to play wonderful music like this.
A l’identique ❤
C’est parfait , j’en ai encore le frisson !
I've heard this intro hundreds of times (well done!) And just now realized it sounds like the soundtrack to a 1950's creature feature monster movie. I can just picture Dracula emerging from his coffin, or Frankenstein coming alive with lightning. So cool.
Thats what it looked like to me, at the Roxy in 1973. I had never even heard the band before, this was my first intro to them, live, with Peter Gabriel in the dark, spreading out his bat wings right in front of me! It really made an impression, I have to tell ya!
beautiful, made my day Thnx
What a beautiful rendition of such a masterpiece?
Absolutely wonderful!
I hope I am this cool when I am older ❤️ you absolutely rock.
Amazing Mellotron intro from the summer of my years.❤❤❤❤❤
As a life long Genesis fan I can say that was perfectly done! however my eye was drawn to that modular Moog behind you. Keith would have been proud!
Thanks! That modular is the product of a wonderful small company located south of Dallas Tx called Synthesizers.com. I have it featured on another video, playing a Bach Invention, but I have this idea for something completely different hopefully coming soon.
Of course the true way to make him proud is to stab knives into its keyboard
Nice Time and Tide profile pic!
@@reeseboyd5730 Thanks, Greenslades finest album, sadly too late to save the band from breaking up!
Ohhh this is pretty!! Those harmonies ❤❤❤ Oh Tony...
Beautiful performance. Apologies for being greedy, but please give us more Genesis.
Wow! That hits the spot. Well done sir.
One of my favorite videos on youtube at the moment, i love the end how he keeps going
Che emozione. Sembra proprio di ascoltare l'inizio di Foxtrot. ♥️ Tony Forever.
Nicely done.
Best intro ever 🤩
That's beautiful.
Magnificent playing sir.
uah! vera fantascienza grandiosa 💥💥💥🐻👍👍👍
Simply Amazing. Wonderful.
とても素晴らしいです。
The song is actually based on Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, and the description of the Watcher of the Skies in the book is quite different. More like the horned and tailed devil, lol!
Una delle più belle introduzioni strumentali col Mellotron che abbia mai ascoltato e sempre nello stesso brano uno dei più bei finali sempre col Mellotron e sempre dei Genesis un altro grande finale da Seven Stones sempre col Mellotron !!!!
Ma seven stones non finisce col piano? 🤔
@@orcogenialeBeh, no. Il piano in Seven Stones non viene utilizzato, ci sono solo organo e Mellotron ed è proprio quest'ultimo che termina il brano unitamente all'organo Hammond.
the meletron sounds so sweet
Thanks for the awesome Mellotron demonstration, and for playing one of our favorite Mellotron songs! As longtime lovers of the sound of the Mellotron (Craig's 1st musical instrument was his M400 acquired in 1976) our philosophy is... "There is no such thing as too much Mellotron". We have the M400 (W/4 tape frames) an M4000D (the big one), and two Mellotron Micro's. We also used several Mellotron Apps on our 1st album.
Long live the Mellotron!
Cherry Records is releasing a compilation called Blank Generation. One cut is called Gimme Cigarette by Cigarettes, basically Philo Cramer and me in 1975-1977. Opening chords are from my chamberlain 100, strings, the prototype for a Mellotron. A true bonafide nightmare instrument.
@@ProgRockKeys Sounds awesome! We will look for it!
Beautiful, thank you
One of the greatest cover i’ve heard. Fantastic!!
What a big sound! Terrific!
Ethereal, spine tingling and wonderful....
That's really good! Thanks.
Stoopid algorythm, please, more of this.
who is this mad genius ??
sounds great! well done !
That introduction is prog in a nutshell.
Spot-on! Well done!
Perfection!!!!!!!
Now I've got, how real watcher of the skies looks like!) Great mild sounds and slow deepest tempo of performing!
Lovely! I like how you keep the top Ab and allow the 8 seconds tape length to have it die off, just like on Genesis Live. Thank you.
Anyone else start singing the high hat pattern toward the end? beautiful work.
Well, that was pretty much spot on, huh? Pretty much perfect. Congrats!
I love the Mellotron... and this sounds great.. but wasn't the start of "Watcher" Mike Rutherford playing a cello multitracked??? - on the album anyway... bit difficult to do it live I know.
I remem ber seeing them when they first came touring in the US. First time i ever saw a Melotron.They had 3 separate tape racks all in road cases and they had to sit out in room temperature so they would be stable when inserted in the Melotron. It sounded so cool. Back then in 1973 my friend bought a brand new B3 with a 122 Leslie right out of the box for $3000 USD as well as a Mini Moog Model D. They did Yes ELP and Gen and played in battle of the bands. They never won despite how good they were. It was always the Led Zep style bands that won.
BTW nice job on WOTS. :)
Loved it 😍
Only Tony my friend can play GENESIS ❤🎉
For my whole life I dreamed to have such instruments.. ( Minimoog first )
Congratultions and greetings from Italy
Yes, me as well! I’m 67 years old, went to work at 17 and got my first Hammond M3 organ for my 18th birthday. I keep buying keys ever since that time! 50 years of working, but I finally have them! Haha
Now I need to use them more, your comments are inspiring
@@ProgRockKeys I use the bass pedals too... Amazing
Gorgeous!!
Marvellous!
great cover
Absolutely beautiful!
Excellent performance !!! 👍👍👍
Nice !!
Excellent!
OUTSTANDING
Awesome job, its perfect!
Perfection
Why am I crying?
Didn't realize Darwin was a musician as well. He naturally selects his music very well!
I have been fascinated by the Mellotron since the early 1970s. Here I recommend two interesting pieces. Amon Düül II with "Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge on the album Wolf City, Germany 1972 and from the Dutch band Earth & Fire the album "Song Of The Marching Children" (1971) the epic 18 minute title track.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
great 😀