Drummer reacts to "Lemmings" by Van Der Graaf Generator

[@jstock2317]

you got it dude VDGG is sometimes super dark but always playful and so full of energy and emotion and beauty. Plague is their most popular so thats usually first and then they never react to VDGG again 😂 Man Erg is highly regarded by boomers so that comes second, Lemmings comes... later... hopefully lol Pawn Hearts is just a ridiculous album, and then the band took a break before coming back a few years later with Godbluff! Peter and the dudes just create some wild stuff, always great instrumentation. their songs just flow along with seamless changes, like Yes and Jerhro Tull!

[@L33Reacts]

Thanks for this bro, you rock, man. This was so damn good. I needed it. The darkness is palpable, but they always bring it back down to earth. I love it. Peter is a force of nature. Highly regarded by boomers LMAO that one made me laugh. Lemmings Is honestly my favorite track from this album now. Even though I love them all.

[@carlosmachucabustamante2965]

If Lemmings is your favorite song of the álbum, is your favorite VDGG song too?????...

[@PJprog]

VDGG are the perfect mix of Prog and Punk. Not too many bands could be blessed with both qualities I wouldn't think. And Guy Evans deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Phil Collins , Bill Bruford , Carl Palmer as he is up there with the best as a Complete Prog Drumming legend !! No other band quite compares to VDGG... unique , so awesome !! 😍

[@L33Reacts]

They are one of my favorites for sure! They make me feel alive! Lol

[@Rowenband]

We all are allowed to love 70', 60' and every other period. I love Hammill, VDGG, most prog bands but also Primus, Chuck Berry, Georges Brassens and lots of classic music. The more variety the more our brain is stimulated

[@RalphBellairs]

My favourite track by one of my favourite bands! I had the pleasure of seeing them perform this live at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK in 1971. The memory still gives me chills!

[@lemming9984]

Pawn Hearts my favourite album of all time. Jus' saying!

[@L33Reacts]

Your name gives it away! 🤣👍

[@lemming9984]

@@L33Reacts Yep!! I was actually listening to Pawn Hearts when I was setting up my YT account. I also love the 80s video game "Lemmings" on C64!

[@stephenvarty191]

Mine too

[@1183newman]

I like Still Life more but Pawn Hearts is fantastic for sure.

[@jrusso4753]

Can't get more Prog than VDGG. Been a huge fan since I purchased "H to HE" in 1970. They are singular in the world of music. Hammill and the gents have been musical heroes to me since then. Thank you, Lee. Your reaction is very astute and refreshing. Much like mine was in the way, way back. Keep up the great work and I'm wishing you well in all your endeavors, not just here! Peace and love to all here. God bless.

[@jstock2317]

Hammill's lyrics are super esoteric and philosophical.

[@kiramead4133]

Be sure to check out peters Incredible solo career! “A Louse Is Not A Home,” and “in the Black room/The Tower” are tremendous!!

[@L33Reacts]

Whenever I'm free I'm definitely gonna dive into his solo stuff!

[@chefren77]

Black Room was supposed to be on the next VdGG album after this one, but the band broke up after they had their gear stolen in Italy (some of it was recovered) and came back exhausted to the UK only to notice they had hardly made any money from it despite Pawn Hearts selling very well over there. Peter left the band exhausted from the endless touring at that point. The rest of the guys did record the first Long Hello album (not as VdGG) but then also broke up. Fortunately they were back at it with Godbluff a couple of years later :)

[@poggerk]

Undoubtedly the best reactor in my opinion 👌

[@Elvin_Pelvin]

I first heard this when I was aged eleven and the record was first released - it scared the hell out of me. This LP remains in my top ten (well it would if I had a top ten)

[@grahamhowes6904]

Best use of a battery shaver on an album! They placed it on a grand piano to create that spacey buzzing effect. Operatic and jazzy plus prog.

[@Lwize]

Brilliant song on a brilliant album. And Fripp!!!!!

[@ShadowSong634]

This wasn't just something you just hear. It bended me - body, mind and soul. This rabbit hole is unlike any other. I have to hear it again...... feel it again.

[@lindaulloa4786]

At certain points his voice reminds me of David Bowie.

[@sylvanm4216]

Bowie is known to have been a big fan of Van Der Graaf Generator, as well as friends with Hammill going back to their early days as label-mates in the late 60s.

[@L33Reacts]

I can hear it for sure. The unrestrained creativity is there. So is the voice. I still have a long way to go with both artists before I have a real grasp on them. But I relate to Peter's longing and facisnatation with the divine and other mystic things.

[@stephenvarty191]

My favourite song by my favourite band and I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Why not try 'Modern' soon from a Hammill 'solo' album The Silent Corner and Empty Stage .......I think you will love that just as much!

[@maciejkrasuski]

Hard to believe that any band could place only three tracks on one album which all are pure gems, real masterpieces. This album is insanely good - every f*cking note is perfect, every instrument, arrangement, lyrics. Needless to say about vocals. One of the best albums ever. Lemmings is one of the most unique tracks. Cog part (Fripp appears there) is the best music illustration for lyrics I've heard. Main riff of Lemmings is my ringtone.

[@ProgRock1970]

Please react to their album H to He, Who Am the Only One! I would love to see your reaction to this album since its personality my favorite. Youd love it. Try to react to the album in order. Great reaction like usual.

[@Raiderblack]

❤ Awesome....

[@VernonOdom-jw4ko]

OK Time to see you react to some Elf-dom music. Love this music.

[@TrevRockOne]

Van der Graaf Generator is for everyone

[@L33Reacts]

I don't know if you meant to say "isnt" but that would fit a little better I think 🤔 this definitely isn't for everyone haha even though it should be!

[@TrevRockOne]

@@L33Reacts Back in the day, they sold some merch that said "Van der Graaf Generator is for everyone" on it. It's fun to refer to, because it's a nice thing to say and it's also completely absurd.

[@thomasott6184]

you should REALLY try some of PH´s solo work. there is.. a lot! there is a lot of stuff that´s easily recognised as VdGG, not only because on every solo project of PH the line-up IS - more or less- Van der Graaf. of this "VdGG""-like stuff, there are at least 20 pieces that are on exactly the same incredible level on which "Lemmings" and the Pawn Hearts-stuff stands. but working solo, PH also dives into spheres untouched by VdGG. every album he made in the 70s and 80s (i admit that i "lost trace" afterwards") has a complete unique universe, all very much recognisable. i comment only the first 6 records: 1) 1971´s "fool´s mate" is simple, naive and either funny(!) or sad, there is no madness, but a childlike pureness. going the first side´s trip from Imperial Zeppelin - 3:38 Candle - 4:17 Happy - 2:36 Solitude - 4:58 Vision - 3:15 Re-awakening - 3:57 is a roolercoaster ride made by a 13 year old genius 2) 1973s "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night" is a very much VdGG record, culmulating in the majestic "In the Black Room/The Tower insanity 3) 1974´s The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage is a dark, sometimes very outspoken (personal & politically) thing, and anyone who ist familiar with PH sees the "Pawn Hearts"-era-like "A Louse is not a Home" coming... 4) 1974´s "In Camera" is, in my opinion, the darkest of all the dark things PH did. "Faint Heart and the Sermon", by many afficinados rated as one of his best songs, is a perfect and haunting example of what he can do with his voice, and the closing Gog/Magog epic (17 minutes 21 seconds) is the ultimate insane musical nightmare that goes way beyond, even way beyond the usual VgGG stuff 5) 1975´s "Nadir´s Big Chance" comes not as a surprise, but as a shock-therapy: PH dives into this with the title song, which is VdGG´s energy and ruthlessness without prog. which makes it PUNK, before punk was invented. it´s screaming teenage rampage, loud, rude, and naked. not all of NBC is punk, in fact, more songs are back to the naive quality of "fool´´s mate" or little musical nightmares lke "the institute of mental health, burning". if VdGG were ever a mainstream phenomenon, this record would have caused a revolution. as it were, VdGG or PH were just one of the "unknowst best bands" of this planet and the revolution occurred within this tiny hole of aficionados. most of these did not like "Nadir´s Big Chance", because they were not prepared to the "f*ck you"-attitude which came with NBC 6) 1976´s "Over" is the answer to all the questios which appeared with Nadir´s Big Chance. is it really sane that a 31-one-year-old should stay in the state that he invented with his last album, where he declared himself and his audience that he "can stil be nadir", that is: a teenager, who is only here to destroy what has been before and declare himself to be "young again? the title says it: it´s over! this is PH´s most personal and intimate record (he did it almost himself, very few additions of others), and it´s the only "concept album" PH ever made. it follows the different stages of a breaking-up of a love-relationship, obviously not "made-up", but taken from real life, and whirlwinds us to all the stages of such a personal chaos, from rage to grief, from self-loathing to revenge, from not-believing to acceptance, and from "over" to "lost and found". musically, this is one of PHs "calmer" efforts. we do not hear complete chaos and overwhelming shrieks, and the newly-invented punk-attitude is completely gone. instead, we are presented a heartbreakingly honest reflection of who lost everything and tries to come to terms with himself and the world again. many of the songs on this record stands for me as among the best tings PH has ever written. all-in-all, it´s the one thing he frees himself the most from VdGG, and he proves that this is working. there is no single track on this record that is not directly going to very deep and sad places we all know. ...

[@dominicschaeffer909]

You, sir, are very very brave… thank you!

[@L33Reacts]

What a mind fuck huh?? Haha

[@jstock2317]

VdGG is super avant garde! and theatrical! whenever i show someone VDGG they say "this is very theatrical" 😆 like Jethro Tull and also Kate Bush. dissonance is great because it gives so much replayability. the more you know of the song, the more you can anticipate the changes and follow the main thread the whole way.

[@rareearth97]

great video as always, you should check rest of the godbluff since you reacted to arrow, it is their best album Imo!

[@L33Reacts]

Yup we are for sure tackling Godbluff next. I've heard arrow but that's it. I'm excited to hear some more VDGG goodness 😍

[@lw1zfog]

VDGG proggier than the rest.

[@BusstterNutt]

I remember Tommy Vance using theme one for his incidental music on the Friday Rock Show back in the dark damps 70s and I think He use Dixie dregs taking off the top as part of his music as well

[@axolotl8694]

it is filthy, isn't it? that combo of sax / organ / vocals digs deep. I always find the dark stuff makes me feel better. way better than shiny happy music. within reason of course... there's stuff out there that'll warp your brain in bad ways. this makes it work a bit but it's productive.

[@nancymjohnson]

Crap! I missed the premiere

[@thescrewfly]

Peter Hammill's lyrics are generally obtuse at first listen and use various levels of symbolism or recognisable fantasy and science fiction themes. For a simpler, rather moving song check out Refugees from The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other.

[@L33Reacts]

Someone else mentioned that one in the chat. I'll have to give it a listen

[@sylvanm4216]

@@L33Reacts If you listen to "Refugees" (which you should!) I would also strongly recommend the song "Easy to Slip Away" from Hammill’s second solo album - it continues the story of "Refugees" as well as being a great song in its own right, and like most of Hammill’s solo work from that era it features guest appearances by a couple members of VDGG.

[@davidsouth9979]

Not sure if it’s this album but on one about this era Robert Fripp (King Crimson) guested on guitar.

[@neilparnell967]

The best Fripp cameo is on "Emperor in his War Room" from H to He. Fantastic track.

[@DJNE1-RebelliousSounds]

Great choice as always.........have you listened to a British band called Cardiacs - reckon if you like VDGG's time changes and massive anthemic choruses you'll LOVE them!! Many thanks bro.

[@lw1zfog]

Big Ship

[@Andrew-t6z]

That's way dark!

[@webkahmik]

Of course, you got to this one on 3-11. 13 years ago today a massive earthquake caused a tsunami which then led to the nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima. Talk about revealing our dark side to the world.

[@sylvanm4216]

It sounded like the word you were searching for might have been "metaphorical"? :v

[@L33Reacts]

Yup that's the one 👌 thank you 😊