Van der Graaf Generator

761,348 plays (68,548 listeners)

progressive rock, art rock, progressive, rock, classic rock… see all

Van der Graaf Generator is a seminal 1970s English progressive rock band.

The band first formed in 1967 while its members were studying at Manchester University. The three-piece was comprised of Peter Hammill (guitar and vocals), Nick Pearne (organ) and Chris Judge Smith (drums and wind instruments). They secured a record deal, but only one single (‘The People You Were Going To’) was released before they split up in mid-1969. Along the way, Pearne was replaced by Hugh Banton.

Later in 1969, a new Van der Graaf Generator – Peter Hammill (guitar, piano and vocals), Keith Ellis (bass guitar), Hugh Banton (keyboards) and Guy Evans (drums) – formed during the recording of an album that was originally intended to be a solo effort by Hammill. This album, The Aerosol Grey Machine, was initially only released in the United States.

Further changes in personnel preceded their second album, The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other. Ellis left and was replaced by David Jackson (saxophone and flute), while Nic Potter (bass guitar) was added to the line-up. A new sound was established, leaving behind the psychedelic influence of The Aerosol Grey Machine in favour of darker textures influenced by jazz and classical music. The album was well received, and was swiftly followed by H to He, Who Am the Only One. Potter left mid-way through the recording, and the band decided to carry on without a bass guitarist, with Banton substituting with the organ’s bass pedals. Robert Fripp of King Crimson contributed guitar to ‘The Emperor in His War-Room’.

1	Killer	308
2	Man-Erg full track	266
3	House With No Door	247
4	Lemmings (Including Cog) full track	222
5	The Undercover Man full track	200
6	A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers	196
7	Refugees full track	195
8	Scorched Earth full track	189
9	Arrow full track	158
10	Pilgrims full track	156
11	The Sleepwalkers full track	155
12	Still Life full track	143
13	Lost	128
14	Afterwards	127
15	Out of My Book full track	126

Top Albums

Pawn Hearts
Van der Graaf Generator
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The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
Van der Graaf Generator
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Still Life
Van der Graaf Generator
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The Aerosol Grey Machine
Van der Graaf Generator
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Goryvlad wrote:
Tuesday evening

I've just heard the album The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other for first time in my life, and I must say they're music deeply impressed me. The're simply genial... What a wonderful music...

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charleyave wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

She is amazing. I love her songs so much. If you want to get more songs, try here http://lavamus.com/Search/?bg=Van+der+Graaf+Generator

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Hellequin53 wrote:
last month

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome is actually my favourite VdGG album, even if it is more of a Peter Hammill solo album than a true VdGG album. Then comes H to He Who am the Only One, Pawn Hearts and Godbluff. Hell every album they did was gold. Peter Hammill is a god.

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radio_1146 wrote:
last month

COLA :)

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sophteonal wrote:
last month

Incredible music. La Rossa is so amazing. Also, The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome is such an underrated album- so what if it doesn't sound like their other, 'proggier' stuff, the quality of the songwriting (and playing) is really great. Listen to Cat's Eye/Yellow Fever (Running) if you haven't yet...

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ilmeryeah wrote:
last month

VdGG is such a fantastic prog. band! They sound like no other bands. They definitely found their own style.

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Honky-tonk5 wrote:
last month

A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers!

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hearfm wrote:
last month

vdGG-electrelism

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turnstone wrote:
July 2008

Pawn Hearts can still clear a room in five minutes but only the people you never want to see again anyway.

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DandyWalker7 wrote:
July 2008

Midpart of nine-feet underground = miam :bave:

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Tenozuma wrote:
July 2008

Soooooo good.

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Mag6g wrote:
July 2008

grandi...grandissimi...anzi no...IMMENSI

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rdx_TP wrote:
July 2008

their music is too lyric based in my opinion,its hard to understand the meanings of the songs with musical way,you need to read lyrics beside the song,maybe even before you listen...

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Never-ending wrote:
July 2008

Presence of the Night/Kosmos Tours = one of the very finest moment in (prog) music

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CraiGORE wrote:
July 2008

Godbluff>all

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lykofws wrote:
July 2008

I've got to get to the bottom just to/ get to the top, I've got the dark/ alleys and the open skies, I got/ the yellow fever from the cat's eye...

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Gilaventi wrote:
June 2008

Are Van der Graff Generator one the greatest bands Britain has ever produced? Join The British Rock Artists League and vote for them in Band Qualifying to get them in the final tournament. Spread the word!

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VanDerCamel wrote:
June 2008

i am so glad that i saw them live ^^

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dAJaro wrote:
June 2008

an average playcount of 11 is not enough people! listen to more VDGG and introduce others to this wonderful band.

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-273C wrote:
June 2008

Their new album is great; why is its playcount so low? "Over the hill" is out of the top at all...

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Recent Activity

freddy48, jamesdingo8, Julioke and 47 other people added Van der Graaf Generator to their libraries. 5 hours ago
DarkSide73 tagged Van der Graaf Generator with ‘progressive rock’ and ‘art rock’. last month
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