Always amazed me how Kevin wasn't massive...great songs, witty incisive lyrics -a bit of Lou and a bit of Ray Davies in there....Steve Hillage is great on this bit of film too...marvellous
He went over their heads. Not because Ayers was insanely complex and clever, the common man just likes his music real ABC. They like jim morrison poetry.
I read an appreciation of him somewhere which contained the line (I misquote): "Every time he appeared on the verge of major success he would disappear to somewhere that sun and good wine were plentiful supply".
Absolutely. Hillage's reach is so wide, yet tailored tightly around the groove ALWAYS. A shame Hillage doesn't have a rootsy set outlet like this currently. Especially with today's technological advantages he's so good at employing in all his ventures. Saw Kevin with Daevid Allen, mid 90s in Glasgow's King Tuts. Kevin providing a wonderful soulful folksy ground setter for Daevid's very psychedelic godess invoication that night. Very beautiful. Also unofficially starred a Paisley crusty who handed out copious fungus when or if required. Daevid showed skill in facillitating that so dam well.
@@deejannemeiurffnicht1791can you remember the year? Seen Ayers a couple of times and used to go to King tuts all the time. Think I missed a special night there!
In December 1972 Kevin Ayers went on an extensive French tour (with Archie Leggett, Eddie Sparrow and Steve Hillage, playing as 'Decadence'). He was in Paris or nearby on December 1st, 8th to 14th, 17th and 21st. The performance on the 8th was recorded for a radio show ("Pop Club"), and the one on the 14th at Nanterre was filmed for the "Rockenstock" TV programme on the 30th. Only two songs were broadcast : "Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes" and "Why Are We Sleeping". This then must be from the Nanterre gig on the 14th.
It can't be the Nanterre gig. I was there, They played normally on stage, fronting the audience, not like here in circle with the drummer facing him and his mike stand. I also remember they came on stage late, the claim being they had to borrow instruments as the band's gear was still going thru custom from Belgium.
Wow thank you for posting! I finally got to see Kevin live purely by accident, when he played ‘oh what a dream’ at a Syd Barratt tribute gig at the Barbican, london. Such a hidden gem. Could have been massive but somehow wasn’t - I guess for us fans that makes him seem even more special - our hidden secret
that is not correct - Kevin was only on the first Soft Machine LP and Daevid Allen did not play on any Soft Machine LP. He was on the very wonderful single 'Love Makes Sweet Music' and there are demo recordings of variable quality and aborted recordings for prospective releases ('Fred the Fish' and 'She's Gone').
@@igorbielinski9718but that wasn't a 'proper' LP - it was demos recorded in 67 and released on Charly records in the mid 70's - it was a cheap and shoddy release as an example the cover picture showed the line up of Wyatt, Ratledge and Allen but with Elton Dean instead of Kevin Ayers!! (The songs had also previousy been available on the BYG label). It has its charm - Robert Wyatt's voice is especially good and it is interesting to hear early takes on later official releases but the songs are un-developed and some of Daevid Allen's guitar playing is pretty terrible. I would have loved there to have been a properly recorded / produced LP with that line in 1967.
Love it.......fantastic footage Kevin Ayers wow......and i have always been a huge fan of Mr.Hillfish and his guitar playing from KHAN to GONG and also his solo stuff....thanks for this...
We don't get to hear much of Kevin Ayers, here in the USofA. He reminds me of some aspects of Lou Reed. This is cool! Thank You very much, indeed, Steve!
Like the Velvet Underground, Kevin's band The Whole Earth included modern experimental sounds, and just as the Velvets had earlier worked with Lamont Young, Kevin in the Soft Machine days had worked with Francois Bayle (French electronic and misique concrete pioneer); also, in 1974 Kevin would connect with Nico and John Cale for a historic recording - making your analogy spot on indeed!
@@wholeworld399 *Kevin also worked with guitarist Andy Summers before Summers joined The Police. Kevin should have been massive, but most people simply don't have good taste in rock and pop music. Also, his drug and alcohol abuse didn't help the situation. RIP Kevin.*
@VladDImpala / I'm a Bowie, Gabriel, Eno, fan. .as well as K. Ayers, Oldfield, Hillage, etc. .I had a chance to meet John Cale back in the early 80s. .and several of my other heroes. .thanks for your comment. .
I have heard that Steve Hillage was not happy in this combo largely because alcohol was also a prominent member of the band. Anyway he would soon jump ship and join up with Gong. He must have been drawn into the Gong circle partly because of (relative to Ayers song structures) musical freedom they offered and the associated psychedelic drugs. Gong's 'The Flying Teapot' LP was released in May 1973. The recording must have been done in the first quarter of 1973 [quote from wiki] 'According to Daevid Allen, "Steve Hillage arrived eventually, but there wasn't a lot of space left. He played some rhythmick wa wa [sic], some jazzy chords and a spacey solo on 'Flying Teapot'."
Well of course Ayers himself had been far more experimental in Soft Machine (thanks for spotting my idiotic Soft Cell error). Ayers next guitarist was Ollie Halsall and then Andy Summers toured with him. Mike Oldfield played both bass and guitar at different times. You would hardly say that Ayers was short of excellent musicians.
@@markfarmer979 and he remained experimental (with the emphasis on 'mental') on his LPs up to and including 'The Confessions of Dr Dream'. Also Kevin Ayers himself had briefly joined Gong in 1971. [by the way I'd like to hear Kevin Ayers with Soft Cell!!! ahem!!! - of course when / if you do correct your post my little hint won't make any sense at all]
bass player Archie was from Glasgow. It was a hard drinking city and he looked like a drinker. Kevin, of course was very very fond of booze. The drummer would've been into a drink too, maybe, if he kept company like that.
Pretty much what Velvet Underground and 13th Floor Elevators had already been acheiving from the mid 1960's. Nice to see UK and Aussie guys ''get' it. Such a pity psychadelic rockabilly R&B never got given much of a chance outwith Creadence copy-cats.
Kevin always attracted the best musicians to play with him . . . including it seems King Charles II and the b*stard lovechild of Ronnie Wood and Lovejoy.
Hillage was pretty good by then, but he was a mis-match for this band. A bit overkill really; a bit too proggy for Kev and the guys. Ollie Halsall was perfect
What an insane thing to say after watching this. I love Hillage's playing, but Kevin Ayers is amazing in this video... it could've been almost anybody on lead guitar amd this would still be an incredible show.
