Soft Machine

[Staun]

The Machine will be coming my way in support of their 50 year anniversary in October. A ways out but I can't resist. Thoughts?

[Phlakaton]

Sounds like a good night out to me.

[Steve F.]

The Machine will be coming my way in support of their 50 year anniversary in October. A ways out but I can't resist. Thoughts?

Not much point in holding out for their 100th anniversary, sez I.

[Zappathustra]

I saw them Athens, Greece, 2008, in a basement of 200 capacity. Which was not even full. Completely no advertisement, I found out about the show by accident some hours before it took place. I had only followed them then up to Softs 4, so the only one I recognized was Hugh. A very sensitive and fragile man he seemed. The stage was some 2 feet higher than the audience. It was a very good show. If anyone knows the line-up at the time, I'd be glad to know.

[Lino]

Not much point in holding out for their 100th anniversary, sez I.

No kidding. I will go see them anywhere in a half decent travel zone. Back in the day, I discovered Fusion SM before the original SM. iirc, Softs and 7 were the first two albums I had by them. Everything changed when I snagged Triple Echo in a delete bin, and the family tree included became my record buying bible for a years after. lol So yeah, I always thought John Marshall was a cool drummer ...only wish Elton was still alive, but Theo is as good a replacement as any!

[Scrotum Scissor]

They really shouldn't call themselves that. Seriously.

'Soft Machine songbook' or 'Legacy' or whatever, but not the mint name. That monumentally -legendary- band dissappeared decades ago, IMO.

[kenschwartz]

They really shouldn't call themselves that. Seriously.

'Soft Machine songbook' or 'Legacy' or whatever, but not the mint name. That monumentally -legendary- band dissappeared decades ago, IMO.

not disagreeing - and don't mean to hijack the thread - but how do you feel about gong calling themselves gong without any original members? or, perhaps more importantly, without Mr. Allen?

[Facelift]

They really shouldn't call themselves that. Seriously.

'Soft Machine songbook' or 'Legacy' or whatever, but not the mint name. That monumentally -legendary- band dissappeared decades ago, IMO.

You're absolutely right. This tour is a disgusting joke and despite being as huge a SM fan as there is, there's no way in good conscience I can support this.

[Zappathustra]

They really shouldn't call themselves that. Seriously.

'Soft Machine songbook' or 'Legacy' or whatever, but not the mint name. That monumentally -legendary- band dissappeared decades ago, IMO.

What offensive crap that is. I called my lawyer and he said they have every right to use the name. Legal = moral = right = good, as we all know from Plato's Republic onwards.

[Staun]

You're absolutely right. This tour is a disgusting joke and despite being as huge a SM fan as there is, there's no way in good conscience I can support this.

I just love the music too but let me say two words here. "Musical Box"?

[Mister Triscuits]

I just love the music too but let me say two words here. "Music Box"?

I love the music, too, so I will also say two words here: "Goat Vacation." Thank you.

[Staun]

I love the music, too, so I will also say two words here: "Goat Vacation." Thank you.

Thank you sir.

[Steve F.]

They really shouldn't call themselves that. Seriously.

'Soft Machine songbook' or 'Legacy' or whatever, but not the mint name. That monumentally -legendary- band dissappeared decades ago, IMO.

They do it to get asses in seats.
Simple as that.
That's exactly the purpose of using 'the mint name'.

May be a shame that they have to do that, but that doesn't change the fact that they do have to do that, and that 75% of the current lineup did play in Soft Machine during an excellent (if not 'legendary') period of the band's life, and it would be 100% if Elton hadn't died (damn that death thing, anyway).

IMO

[Steve F.]

You're absolutely right. This tour is a disgusting joke and despite being as huge a SM fan as there is, there's no way in good conscience I can support this.

So, don't go. They won't notice or even miss you. I guarantee it.

[DocProgger]

This thread has turned into a "Yes" thread, lol.
If I can I'm going because I have never seen any version of the band, and 3 key members is fine by me.

[Steve F.]

This thread has turned into a "Yes" thread, lol.
If I can I'm going because I have never seen any version of the band, and 3 key members is fine by me.

Excellent reasoning.

I'm going because I expect the music to be good!

[Rick L.]

I'm gonna go, but say on Progressive Ears that I didn't go.

[Steve F.]

I'm gonna go, but say on Progressive Ears that I didn't go.

Sig worthy!

[DocProgger]

Excellent reasoning.

I'm going because I expect the music to be good!

Absolutely, that too.

[Steve F.]

Look - for some people (not me, but I don't think it's a crazy thing to feel that way) - the pinnacle of the band is the band with Holdsworth.

I saw that tour. Two of the four people touring as Soft Machine in a few months in the USA for the 1st time in 44 years were on that tour.

That's pretty good, imo, 44 years later.

[regenerativemusic]

[Zappathustra]

I'm gonna go, but say on Progressive Ears that I didn't go.

I would also go but that's not the point. The discussion of whether they are entitled to use the name was valid some 40+ years ago. Particularly in their case, possibly because of the magnitude of personalities of the original line-up. To have the same discussion in 2018 seems completely irrelevant - except from the very small corner of the world that PE comprises.

[Facelift]

So, don't go. They won't notice or even miss you. I guarantee it.

They probably will. And they'll miss the people I'll make certain don't attend - in the NYC area, anyway. People should know the truth about this sad-sack bunch of false advertisers glomming off a name....

[DocProgger]

They probably will. And they'll miss the people I'll make certain don't attend - in the NYC area, anyway. People should know the truth about this sad-sack bunch of false advertisers glomming off a name....

You have control over some kind of Army of Facelifters that follow your commands? Wow, what a frightening thought...

[Steve F.]

They probably will. And they'll miss the people I'll make certain don't attend - in the NYC area, anyway. People should know the truth about this sad-sack bunch of false advertisers glomming off a name....

The only sad-sack here is you, Nestor.