VDGG Update - New studio album in 2016

[Obscured]

Posted on Peter Hammill's site about 2 weeks ago. http://sofasound.com/latest.htm

**"Astonishingly, it’s now a full ten years since VdGG has been a trio. Admittedly Guy, Hugh and I didn’t yet know that we had a future together back in December 2005 but we did know that if we did it wouldn’t be with Mr. Jackson. It’s a matter of some satisfaction that we’ve now managed a full decade together in this sometimes wonky & always challenging line-up.

Happily there’s more to come. We’re now well into the recording of the next studio effort, which is sounding very exciting indeed. It’ll be out in 2016 and of course I’ll write more about it in due course….

Goodbye for now. This has been a quiet and gradual return to public view."**

Peter performed his first and only show of 2015 last Monday, solo piano, in Madrid.

"I find travelling itself more and more arduous, to be honest, as I get older…but as ever travel with a goal is most worthwhile. It may be the case that there’ll be more touring next year, but as yet there are no plans."

I look forward to whatever and whenever he/VDGG have to offer.

[polmico]

This is indeed good news. Thanks for posting.

[the winter tree]

Why did they decide to work without Jackson? I've never read/heard the actual reason. He was such a big part of their sound.

[Buddhabreath]

Why did they decide to work without Jackson? I've never read/heard the actual reason. He was such a big part of their sound.

It certainly wasn't an artistic choice or anything they wanted. PH and the rest have avoided any specifics in interviews, however it looks to be the case that Jackson simply wasn't fully committed to the reformed VDGG. I know that he had other commitments, possibly prior commitments which were at odds with the band's envisioned plans. My feeling is that there was a sense of outrage from Peter and Co. at this attitude and they just shit-canned him and that was that. A real pity as the trio are simply don't have the VDGG sound without him IMO and I've seen both configurations live multiple times. For me the atmosphere and the altered arrangements don't quite work without him and the new material is not all top drawer. Perhaps they should have seen if Graham Smith was up for providing a melodic lead instrument as he did back in the Quiet Dome era, I thought that worked rather well...

[Digital_Man]

Couldn't they hire a new sax player just to keep the classic sound? I'm surprised they never thought of that.

[flytomars]

Couldn't they hire a new sax player just to keep the classic sound? I'm surprised they never thought of that.

If this surprises you, then my guess is that you are not really familiar with the band and the band spirit, am I wrong?

[olivetti]

Why did they decide to work without Jackson? I've never read/heard the actual reason. He was such a big part of their sound.

Some thoughts in this thread

http://www.progressiveears.org/forum...exit-from-VDGG

[Trane]

Couldn't they hire a new sax player just to keep the classic sound? I'm surprised they never thought of that.

actually, if memory serves, they kind of thought about Keith Gemmel (sax & flute with Audience), but dropped the idea.

[JJ88]

Posted on Peter Hammill's site about 2 weeks ago. http://sofasound.com/latest.htm

**"Astonishingly, it’s now a full ten years since VdGG has been a trio. Admittedly Guy, Hugh and I didn’t yet know that we had a future together back in December 2005 but we did know that if we did it wouldn’t be with Mr. Jackson. It’s a matter of some satisfaction that we’ve now managed a full decade together in this sometimes wonky & always challenging line-up.

Yikes. Still sounds pretty raw.

[Supersonic Scientist]

almost an auto-buy....good news indeed.

[Progatron]

Fantastic news of course!

[Digital_Man]

If this surprises you, then my guess is that you are not really familiar with the band and the band spirit, am I wrong?

Yes of course you're wrong.

[Digital_Man]

actually, if memory serves, they kind of thought about Keith Gemmel (sax & flute with Audience), but dropped the idea.

Ok, that makes sense. I guess they ultimately decided not to hire any outsiders and make do with what they have. It's not the decision every band would make but maybe they didn't want to make it seem like they were betraying Jackson(assuming there's no bad blood).

[Trane]

Ok, that makes sense. I guess they ultimately decided not to hire any outsiders and make do with what they have. It's not the decision every band would make but maybe they didn't want to make it seem like they were betraying Jackson (assuming there's no bad blood).

My take was that Jaxon was always the most financially-fragile Graaf member (he even had to resort to driving cabs and delivery jobs at a point in his life)

And when he developped his Tonewall instrument in the 90's, he became a teacher is specialized school (highly handicapped kids) by using his invention... So I guess returning to life on tour would've destroyed the spot he'd built for himself

Coupled to the fact that he actually contributed to one of those stinky Story Of DVD serie against the other members' advice is another factor that maybe drove the band not to try to tour during the school holidays instead (provided that these heavily-handicapped kids school have holiday breaks, of course)

[Obscured]

Not a big fan of those who quote themselves, but-

Peter performed his first and only show of 2015 last Monday, solo piano, in Madrid.

He sounds wonderful. I hope to see/hear him/them again in my lifetime.

[adap2it]

Why did they decide to work without Jackson? I've never read/heard the actual reason. He was such a big part of their sound.

I spent some time with Jaxon at Progday a couple of years ago...He more or less said that he just didn't get on with Pete. He was wearing a tee shirt with the late Nic Potter on it, and Jaxon said that " I didn't get on with him either ". So it was personal issue...it had happened before.

[Bucka001]

actually, if memory serves, they kind of thought about Keith Gemmel (sax & flute with Audience), but dropped the idea.

Not in a million years, that one! Never considered. They would never get another sax player because then it, in Peter's words several years ago, just becomes like an assembly line. Guy once told me that Hugh was *the* organist in VdGG and that was that (which is why he wasn't replaced in '77; they just got a bassist and a violinist). Personal feelings aside, Jaxon was *the* sax man in VdGG.

Besides, they just *like* being a trio and have from the very beginning. There were actually really excited and still are.

[flytomars]

Thanks Jim, that was also my impression exactly, but I didn't have any "official" info to back it.

[flytomars]

Not a big fan of those who quote themselves, but-




He sounds wonderful. I hope to see/hear him/them again in my lifetime.

Wow, been watching some more clips on YT, indeed an amazing performance and a nice setlist too.
I have already decided that when another show is announced I am so there (assuming it will be announced more than 2 weeks prior to the event so I could arrange a flight etc...)

[Trane]

Not in a million years, that one! Never considered. They would never get another sax player because then it, in Peter's words several years ago, just becomes like an assembly line. Guy once told me that Hugh was *the* organist in VdGG and that was that (which is why he wasn't replaced in '77; they just got a bassist and a violinist). Personal feelings aside, Jaxon was *the* sax man in VdGG.

Well that rumour seemed credible, because they knew Gemmell, since they were Charisma labelmates with Audience during the early 70's (probably toured together too)

[Bucka001]

Well that rumour seemed credible, because they knew Gemmell, since they were Charisma labelmates with Audience during the early 70's (probably toured together too)

They knew him decades ago and did tour with Audience (mostly in Germany, '71) but the idea of getting another sax player was never on the table. Almost immediately they relished the idea of having a go as a trio. I remember talking about various possibilities with Hugh back then; but he really wasn't having any of it. The trio was always going to be The Thing.

[bRETT]

They knew him decades ago and did tour with Audience (mostly in Germany, '71) but the idea of getting another sax player was never on the table. Almost immediately they relished the idea of having a go as a trio. I remember talking about various possibilities with Hugh back then; but he really wasn't having any of it. The trio was always going to be The Thing.

Also, Audience was back together and touring at that point. (Which seems to have quietly ended-- too bad).

[Scrotum Scissor]

I'm looking forward to this one. I think A Grounding in Numbers was one of the 5 or 6 finest VdGG records overall, and while I generally appreciate free improv concepts - also in much rock music - I'm not altogether convinced about this being the right direction for the band.

[Trane]

Also, Audience was back together and touring at that point. (Which seems to have quietly ended-- too bad).

Which of course fueled the rumour reservoir...

This said, from what I heard (sample in a B&M store), it wasn't very good... or maybe was it the sound of the live album?

[Nearfest2]

Great news!