I've never heard another band like them. It's great to see this. It's almost like Derek has no idea how good his band were. The talent on show... just incredible. After all these years, my jaw still doth drop.
Dear Mr. Shulman..I'm sorry for my english..I don't write very well. Anyway... Let me tell you a litlle history. To change my life. I'm from Sao Paulo-Brazil. In 1978 I walk in the street. And see a music store.. In that time I expect to buy a music record. The King Arthur..from Rick Wakeman, In the front door of the music store was a cover....A King Of Spade...And that moment I was thinking...The King Arthur...kkkk I call the salesman and buy this album,....When I heard...Proclamation....Aspiration...I think...I became another person ...You are my idol for all those years...Thank you so much...The Gentle Giant lives in me forever...until I die.....
I was introduced to Gentle Giant by my boyfriend at the time, along with many other amazing bands. It was around 1970-l was 18. I immediately fell in love with GG. I was blown away by the brilliance of their talent, every song incredible. I had the good fortune of seeing them in concert in Massey Hall in Toronto, 3 times and once in London England in 1975 at the Rainbow Theatre. They’ve always been my favourite band.
I wasn't born yet when Gentle Giant was touring. I discovered them in the mid 90s and they have been my favorite band ever since. Much love to Derrick and the rest of the band. You have been my biggest influence!
Went to a Humble Pie concert in Roanoke VA and had no idea who was opening for them. The lights went down and this announcer with a heavy English accent says "For their first tour of America ...welcome Gentle Giant" Then there was this explosion of music I had never heard before. They were so awesome in concert ...I could care less if Humble Pie performed. They have continued to be one of my all time fav bands ...boundless talent !!
One of the most fascinating anecdotes of the prog-rock era: Derek went on to become a senior A&R vice president at PolyGram records, signing very middle-of-the-road but soon-to-be famous rock bands. He helped sign Bon Jovi, Cinderella and Zep-ripoffs Kingdom Come. He went on to become CEO of Atco Records, signing . . . .yes. .. seriously Dream Theater and Pantera. Then, in 2010, he became President of Roadrunner records, signing. . . . wait for it. . . Slipnot and Nickleback.
@@markwoollon It's not all bad, Dream Theater put out some pretty great stuff, but looking at that list nothing else there can compare to the might Gentle Giant
Well the point there is that he mostly signed bands that sold a lot of records. Not acclaimed for quality but bought up by the masses. The exact opposite of Gentle Giant which is ironic indeed.
Wow, Glass House was and is one of my favorites. I have two copies of the vinyl. I've never stopped listening to it and, as I get older, find myself appreciating it more and more.
How did I miss this interview the last 10+ years? So good to see and hear him speak about GG. Funny story about a reunion, I was enjoying Gary Green's "Three Friends" and contacted the drummer - suggesting playing Keswick Theater in PA. Well, they actually added the summertime show and wouldn't you know it the crowd turnout was less than half the theater. Indoor summertime shows in the Philly area are tough because everyone is at the shore. I was embarrassed about the turnout, and apologized for the lame crowd after suggesting they play there in the first place. But they insisted they enjoyed themselves.
Pete Wilder I was there and I loved every note of that set. Probably the closest I’ll get to seeing GG live. The band played though songs passionately and Gary and Malcom were incredible. Thanks for helping to make that happen for us.
My stepbrother's old band Prism opened for Gentle Giant in 1977 at the Electric Ballroom in Dallas. They actually remained friendly for years afterward, in fact Derek worked with Prism (actually their name changed in late '77 from Prism to Hands due to the Canadian band with the same name) in 1980 producing some demo recordings. The story goes that Derek recommended to Hands NOT to continue playing progressive rock! Fast forward decades later and Hands music has been released and almost unanimously every review compares them to Gentle Giant. I just find that very ironic...on so many levels. The Electric Ballroom show was recorded for posterity and several tracks are available now on the Prism Live 75-77 CD released on ShroomAngel Records out of Houston. There are tentative plans to release the entire concert. Gentle Giant's soundcheck at that gig was also recorded and remains in the vault.
I must admit that I wouldn't have thought that Eddie Trunk would know about Gentle Giant or like their music. And he asked reasonable questions. Nice job.
I am a huge gg fan and thank all of you for your love of what you do.. TRUELY.. this comment is to the makers of this interview.. the background music is such a distraction.. every word from Derek we hold on to..we need no distractions.. peace
I agree with Derek on the reunion thing. It is nice to see bands get back together and all that, but rarely does the reunion music capture the same sound and feel of the original. That is why there is a such thing as recordings, so we can experience that feel over and over again. With that being said, sentimentally it is good to see bands do reunions.
very rad!!!! this was just about the year i got into Gentle Giant. I worked at my moms market and was listening to Camel one day. At that time i was the only person in the world i knew who lied camel. and they only reason my friends like them now is because of my influence. .. anyway. listening to camel when this older women comes and and says " oh you like camel hu" i shit my self. I had to pic her brain. so what i got out of her was G G .
My favorite Gentle Giant album was and still is "Acquiring The Taste" the drummer that played the first 2 albums really rocked I could never quite get interested in John weathers drumming!
I love Gentle Giant. When I interviewed Derek Moore ( bassist ) from Nektar , he said the same thing after so many years about hits . Even though GG and Nektar are totally different bands, after listening to their own music after years,both DEREK'S said...THIS IS PRETTY DAMN GOOD.I guess after so many years ,,you realise that the music your band created ,means so much more. It's creative how GG influenced the new proggers.
"Give It Back" from the album "Interview" is the song with the strangest rhythm I have ever heard. It was the day of my drafting. Afterwards I strolled a bit through Traunstein. In a record store I was listening to Gentle Giant's latest record, "Interview". I bought the LP and took the train home. I was like hypnotized and listened to the song in my head all day. "Just how much can you spend Give it back in the end And the time of your season Was no use, had no reason ..." There is no definite favorite song from this band, but if I had to choose one, it would be this.
Very good interview. Enjoyed the variety of questions. I could ask many more for example inspiration for the themes of each album. Favorite album, tour, performance? How did the wives cope with the time touring? Surprised by the height difference. Background music was distracting.
The Business of Music needs to harbour more "cocooning" bands/ artists because it naturally results in original concepts and Gentle Giant were nothing if not a fantastically original group who yes the moniker "progressive" only hints at their breadth and scope. (the last 3 albums notwithstanding).
Firstly why do we need and background music ? pearls of wisdom from a genius do not need any distractions, that said great to hear one of the stalwarts of Gentle Giant musing over what is now 50 years of magic .
Is Eddie a Gentle Giant fan? That would be incredible. I’ve always been aware that his music “fandom” is pretty complete but this is another level. I’ve been under the impression that it’s been me and about 20 other guys who still dig them haha It’s always funny to think of the career that Derek went on to have. The names he’s responsible for bringing to the public eye are shocking no matter how many times you read them. These old prog guys have had such a greater influence than the general public realize. Look at what Peter and Phil did in the 80s for godsake. They DEFINED that decade’s pop music sound and no one denies it. People can goof on prog all they want but at the end of the day, these guys were smart. The music you know and love wouldn’t be the same without them
Gabriel was influential in sound and vision in the 80s, he used aaardman production before anyone knew who Wallace and gromit were and won awards for sledgehammer vid, Phil and peters music has always been in my life , same goes with GG as well.
I'm far more used to hearing Eddie Trunk talk about hard rock, metal and glam metal (he despises the term "hair metal") so I'm blown away to see him talk to Derek Shulman and discuss things Gentle Giant and prog. I'm more used to him interviewing the likes of Dee Snider or Michael Sweet of Stryper. But then I was listening to posts of Trunk Nation on RU-vid where he emphasizes hard rock, metal and glam metal.
1:29 Columbia wouldn't release "In a Glass House" in the US because they didn't think it was commercial enough? You'd think they'd never heard of Yes or Tull, which might not have been quite as innovative, but close enough.
Wow....I actually see The Bee Gees Mr Natural on vinyl in the background. They should have played that in the background instead of the slightly obnoxious stuff as loud as Derek speaking...... Yes, I love the Bee Gees and I LOVE Gentle Giant too! Wish I had seen this interview when it aired....but amazing that VH-1 would have had something like this on. Steven Wilson's remix of Freehand is sublime!!!! Long Live Gentle Giant!!!!!
I don't want to add to all the people complaining about the background music, but dam. It's like someguy thought that freestyle jazz rock would make the guest more into it talking about stuff, instead it's more like pop music in stores; just want to do what you gotta do and then gtfo.
1 - Please turn off the unnecessary out of context background music 2- Give Sir Derek a proper chair Recommendation: play the clip at 1.25 or 1.5 speed to undermind the background
The great problem for those great formations, like GG, is that insistence of weak musical journalists to align them with rock formations, like DT, Yes or similar, when they only tried to develop contemporary chamber music, pushing it's limits, as best as possible. Derek is clear at this point.
One of my two favorite bands ever. Bought "In a Glass House" when I was 15. Saw them play in Cambridge UK. But I hear a note of sourness here, and not a spark of pleasure and pride. That's sad. Going"commercial" was the worst thing the band could have done. What were they thinking? Was the music not from the heart after all?
I kinda refuse to believe that they wrote all of Aquiring The Taste only by going into the studio with a click track. I mean that shouldn't be humanly possible, even for Gentle Giant's standard. Yes, while it isn't their most intricate and complicated work, it's still one of their best imo. That just blew me away...
I have seen you and the band several times in Brussels, you were so great and so educated. I have met people in possession of you records in the least remote and unexpected places. You don't seem (let's split it) to fully realise, Derek.
Background noise-music so annoying.... ..Keep interfering with interview... ...real noise bulimia/anxiety management. Why is that someone thinks it is adding to the interview? Pervasive and sad trend.
This is just an upload of a tv program and anyone can easily see that the poster didn’t add the music himself. I hope you got the attention you were looking for 🙂