VAN GENERATOR DER GRAAF
Between 1969 and 1971, again between 1975 and 1978, and from 2005 and still counting, Van der Graaf Generator (commonly abbreviated to VdGG) were, and still are, responsible for some of the most challenging, formidable and absolutely enthralling albums of the British rock age.
Formed in 1967 by guitarist Peter Hammill and friends, the band were rebuilt three years later by Hammill, drummer Guy Evans and keyboardist/ bassist Hugh Banton; and, though there have been comings and goings since then, the same trio are still together today, preparing to tour, perhaps considering a new album… and, the reason why all three are gathered here today (figuratively, at least), celebrating the September release of The Charisma Years, a 20-disc box set that comprises everything they ever released for the titular label.
Which is — the studio albums The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, H to He (Who Am the Only One) and Pawn Hearts from the band’s early ’70s incarnation; Godbluff, Still Life, World Record and The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, from the other end of the decade; the 1978 live album Vital, a host of outtakes, live and BBC recordings, modern stereo and surround sound remixes of three of the albums, a Blu-ray of television appearances and a behemoth of a book to tell the story of it all.
Absent, then, are the band’s debut album for Mercury, (recently given
