Steve Hillage OGWT 2/11/76

[@SteveWattse]

Hillage was and is an unsung hero of British music. Love his work in Gong, System 7 and Mirror System. Huge respect!

[@hugovandermeer1566]

And the Ozrics...🌌

[@neworiginal9902]

I had System 7 in the seventies. Much more expensive than a conventional boiler.

[@alanslade2319]

Steve Hillage system seven bloody brilliant, great days and and I went to see gong at Brixton Academy12 hours on stage and what a 12 hours they were Alan from Luton England 🇬🇧💯🍻👍👍👍👍

[@ashaquila]

I was in Calgary, having come over from england when i was 8. Not many people probably bought Fish Rising in that city. Became my headphones album almost immediately. Ah, i love its holy mystery.

[@titouyou1]

An english friend of mine, played the L album and I never left Hillage since, I still play this music at home.

[@smkelly1970]

this is great!! the first 2-3 minutes of glorious atmospherics immediately reminded me of what the late Manuel Göttsching was doing with Ashra during the same period, but the rest is pure Hillage. Whether with Khan, Gong, Kevin Ayers' Decadence, System 7, and beyond, Hillage is a true master.

[@paulmckeown5672]

I stayed up late to watch this. I'm glad that over the last 5 years I been able to watch him play this.

[@randlerobbertson8792]

My wonderful favourite unashamed hippy guitarist.

[@powerplantplanetuniverse5945]

Now you know why I became a fan of all about Steve Hillage...and it lasts for 40 years now! He is a legend on guitar,but his friends are simply as talented as him! Incredible band,isn't it?😉😝😂🫂

[@strictlynorton]

Miquette and Steve are cosmic soul mates... together in Gong, Steve's solo albums and of course System 7, partners in life and music.... real pioneers of electronica!

[@clouddog2393]

The band Khan which Steve played with in the early 70's made a solitary great album" Space Shanty" with Dave Stewart of the fine band Egg guesting on keyboards . Saw him a few times with he's band , the "Green" and "Open" albums being favourites out of the brilliant L.P.s he made under he's own name . The recordings he made with Gong stand out too . A real hippie pot head pixie , a great guitarist and one of the best musicians from that great decade the 1970's .

[@thischannelhasnoname5780]

Wow the days when music like this was on TV, people with this kind of talent rather than the pathetic puffed up jokers we get now

[@crozwayne]

daft bugger, go listen to the stuff he does today, massive electronic dance music, thank god he saw the error of his ways doing this electro hippy crap and changed direction

[@SophieW-z9r]

Just saying exactly the same thing on a Gong on French tv vid..I worked out that Gong / Hillage & Hawkwind ( a little less so) have been my fav hands for 39 yrs!! I wonder even in 9 yrs who will remember the b@llocks they pass off as music today ?lol Shit I sound ancient..lol.ancient with a decent taste in music though !.lol.

[@bernardoconnor5512]

@@crozwayne Crap ?¿ It's more than you've done to further the music universe

[@crozwayne]

@@bernardoconnor5512 sorry mate, just my opinion, prog rock is utter shite and what Steve and Miquette are doing now is fabulous.

[@Meddled]

Interesting that Steve embraced progress in electronic music, but his videos attract old codgers who think his early guitar stuff is his peak output. Anybody who can't praise a musical performance without having to denigrate another form of music elsewhere has failed, pretty much. It isn't a competition. The music made when boomers were in college is not the best music ever created.

[@thelightingpro8111]

This is great to see. I was probably the only high school kid in Denver Colorado listening to GONG and Steve back in the '70's but the music is still incredible. When Steve came through Denver supporting ELO I was ecstatic to have a chance to meet my favorite guitarist and my favorite reed instrument player, Didier Malherbe

[@randygodsey9115]

I Know i was the only one in Ashland va and thats the center of the universe they say

[@nyckhampson792]

Sweet man

[@2wayplebney]

Lucky you. Pretty sure they were both pleasant.

[@written12]

I have to still I don’t doubt one but you were the only kid in Denver in the 70s who was a Gong enthusiast.

[@thelightingpro8111]

@@written12 at 16, i was working at Casa Bonita restaurant next door was independent records. I bought anything that came out on Virgin label at the time, including Gong and other prog rock, but Gong was my favorite. I also bought Kraftwerk imports before Autobahn as well as Tangerine Dream. That record store saved my life.

[@granhellosyan]

I miss the days of quality hash and good music.

[@FredShatta]

Yes Moroccan black was my favourite. I laughed and laughed !!!!!!

[@xaxabogbart]

It's still about, but hard to find unless you know someone. A friend of mine gets good import from Lebanon and the like, and top quality acid is about too which we did a load of the other night

[@marianocuevas363]

🤫🥴🤐

[@oldwomanwithacasket]

I miss the days of quality H

[@hugovandermeer1566]

Red Leb and oil...73 now... I remember not being there and still am...💫

[@scrumpymanjack]

LOVE Steve Hillage! What a sound.

[@mickclare83]

Steve, and Bill Nelson would make a superb band.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

Christ, I'd forgotten about this. Last time I listened to this was at university. These guys will take you on a head trip and, after all, that's what you're at university for.

[@timbrookes7150]

We were lucky to enjoy such creative genius and musical dexterity, these were great times the likes of which I doubt will be seen again unfortunately

[@thirddandave]

Have a listen to Dream theater. Start with a track called The Count of Tuscany

[@ByronWerner-qw5sh]

Under under under appreciated!! He spawned legions of trippy guitarists! Hell, Ozric Tentacles have made a career off of the teachings of Brother Hillage!!

[@uncleambient]

The great Clive Bunker on drums.

[@nicholasbell9017]

For such an ethereal band, he was the powerhouse. I saw this band live in 1976, and have their albums, L, and Fish rising. Love to Steve, Miquette, Gong family and System 7. All started with the Canterbury scene.

[@nicholasbell9017]

Steve Bunker. Fuckin' powerhouse!

[@warvandal3443]

Just wonderful. Back in '77 I was a teenage hippie wannabee - the cheerful hairball, obsessed with Gong and Steve & Miquette. When I wasn't scouring fields for shrooms, I would try to make every gig poss. One such was the Manchester Uni Students Union around this time. I remember hanging about for the soundcheck etc in the afternoon and being gobsmacked at the synths - especially Steve's guitar set-up... Great memories! Fantastic upload mate

[@jurgenstenhouse9975]

A mate of mine saw them in Leeds the same year.He got chatting to the band afterwards, and sort of came down in the back of the band's van a couple of days later after the Manchester gig. He's not got much memory of the intervening time. He told his mate to let his Mum know he'd be late home - but she didn't think he meant two and a half days later. I saw them several times around then. Always a great gig.

[@melbman43]

I used to go to UMIST on a Saturday night in the late 70s

[@Lee-nh5bb]

Okay ,so mind officially blown! Steve Hillage on The Old Gray Whistle Test?!?!?! You lucky so and so's! I had to make do with a few albums that were available in Australia, circa '82. Mind you, one of those albums was GREEN , which my friend introduced me to while under the influence of two tabs of very strong acid; I'm sure you can relate! But to think of someone so avant guard and psychedelic, on tv! Did you notice in the credits that Peter Grant and Led Zep were on the same show?!?! While you're all eating your dinner on a Sunday night!!!!

[@steelyman08]

@leslie graham That's common enough. I wouldn't be too harsh. I'm sure the wise, little entheogens wouldn't be offended (-;

[@turnerthemanc]

@@melbman43 Same here....Barnes Wallis Building Saturday Rock disco 1980. Rubber ink Stamp on the back of your hand (RUSH). After 7.00, the Boddingtons turned into piss. Best years of my life. Met the wife there. Still together.

[@malcwhite]

One of the greatest guitarists of all time IMO. I have Live Herald, For To Next And Not Or, Open, the Khan album and a lot of Gong.

[@Syd4510]

I highly recommend Green!!

[@gustavosoto4343]

Genio . Me encanta el disco con músicos de renombre llamada khan . Tengo el cd gracias a dios

[@fleetcomm1]

All the while Americans were stuck watching American Bandstand listening to the likes of Debbie Boone & Shaun Cassidy.

[@suzycreamchez123]

Not all of us. I was listening.

[@Dave-xc7cj]

I come back to this time and time again; The nostalgia is incredible. I missed very few OGWT , not only is the music unbelievable (given the sound engineers had to cope with the many different musical divergencies in short time live) but every time I watch I feel myself anticipating watching a new show this week! (knowing I watched them a 'few' years ago lol).

[@deitchphillip3773]

Love this Guy! Another of my 1970's " Gurus!"

[@charlesnolan7602]

I saw this Steve Hillage line up open for ELO, on the US tour, winter, 1977. I was at that gig to see Steve Hillage, and CLIVE BUNKER, EX Jethro Tull drummer, extraordinaire!!

[@thomassummerhill6357]

CHARLES NOLAN Thought that was the Clunker .

[@stevecoppin6396]

oh my god ...i'm sooo old ...20 when this was on tv ,loved it then , still love it

[@leecromer3289]

Same here…tommy Vance and the Friday night rock show..

[@Drew-qp3pu]

Saw Hillage twice at the Glasgow Apollo back in the 70's. Happy Hippy Days.....

[@danielblanchet7577]

Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy, Christian Boule, Colin Bass, Basil Brooks, Clive Bunker and Phil Hodge. Somewhere in 1976 I guess.

[@Fexobs]

2nd of November at the BBC in London

[@youngchool]

Colin Bass? Of Camel fame? Wow, didn't have chance to identify his eyebrows...

[@keithf_]

I saw you mention Colin Bass (subsequently long time Camel bassist). So I looked more closely and ... Yup, there he is playing bass. Wow ! Thanks for mentioning him cos I would never have noticed him here.

[@adrianopieretto609]

he is a real hippie a transcendental guitarist a free open mind guy a genius peace and love from munich

[@deitchphillip3773]

Mr. Psychedelic " Space Guitar!" Love it!

[@norwichnorfolk1584]

My favourite is All too much I was introduced to him in late 70s by my late friend

[@illanh2586]

Tellement sublime les années ont passé mais toujours un vrais bonheur.

[@donnarawlinsfrench220]

OMG this is an aural/visual treat. When was the first and last time you saw a hurdy gurdy in a rock video clip? Mr Hillage is a great unsung hero in the annals of contemporary music - a feast for the eyes and ears, regardless of whether you've had a spliff (of two...or three!).

[@jeanlouisvilleret8246]

très bonne musique et (ascenceur efficace qui grimpe vite!!)magnifique guitariste très doué. BRAVO!!

[@dorjon5334]

Them were the days, my friends. Bless you, 'Whisperin' Bob and powerful wishes from here for a good recovery from your illness

[@dodibenabba1378]

Miquette! Oh my goodness! 😍 as usual top work from Mr Hillfish...

[@samanthalovecock6835]

i still listen to this at home and his system 7 stuff to ..love it all

[@2wayplebney]

I saw Steve and Gong many times, and they were always fun. This vid illustrates that.

[@jmwbrinckmann7309]

I love meditation of the Dragon.

[@johncoxy2112]

Brilliant ! Thanks so much for posting ! My first Hillage album was L Blew my mind .

[@Hyperplaterine]

John Cox My first was Green. 😊

[@steelyman08]

@@Hyperplaterine Mine was Motivation Radio, but Green is my absolute #1 🛸

[@steelyman08]

All respect to the good man, but I miss hearing that incredible guitar playing, his unique voice, all backed by class musicians. I respect all who enjoy System 7 & the more recent years of ambient music, but I'd love to hear him put out another band album. How could you not miss his zany vocals & lyrics along with that brilliant guitar work??

[@norfzerbutin]

Gong has put out a new album with Steve and is touring too with the Steve Hillage Band.

[@steelyman08]

@@norfzerbutin Thank you!

[@keep_it_tidy56]

Pity this didn’t make any of the OGWT DVDs. They must have loads of music they could put out on another volume. We are so lucky to have had OGWT.

[@philippecirse4872]

I saw & heard fountains of chocolate milk gush from her paradise, without laughing the stars began to chat and ceased to scroll and we to grab hold of their golds at dawn. The sun was dizzy and the moon, stirred, hid behind a section of clouds in the shape of a barbapapa 🦄🌺

[@j.d.jdthinktankersorg.asa.4237]

Brilliant Mind and the Music he has Produced is truly Brilliant.... JD

[@anyoldorion]

First heard Steve on an LP called Clearlight Symphony ~ Cyrille Verdaux~ Fab intro to his music..

[@andylakessmartworkingchann5891]

Great stuff - saw them at Cambridge Corn Exchange about this time in 1976. And bout the album from 'Andy's Records' stall in the market place. Fine memories, excellent music!

[@daunrussell]

Wonderful performance! So inspiring.

[@ditdacoms]

This was my gateway to all things "Gong". Thanks for posting.

[@maxmad4357]

ditdacoms 🍄🙏🏻😎🕴🏻🎶🥁🐇💃

[@motnosniv]

great to see this done live

[@deanthurmankingham]

Underrated musician my first live concert at De montfort hall Leicester

[@karrot101]

was lucky enough to see him a few times , he was an absolute different experience (at the time especially)

[@spaceprogger4441]

genius guitarist!

[@johnroberts3723]

Me and my late brother saw him at the kursal southend in 77 and whilst helping the roadies carry out the bands equipment after the gig I helped myself to a pair of Clive bunkers drum sticks which I still have somewhere.

[@Rossynth]

Hi Steve, fantastic quality video. Thanks for posting this. Amazingly I''ve been watching Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy as Mirror System at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge just this afternoon. Steve showed some of his guitar techniques and they played tracks from the Green album

[@Fexobs]

You're very welcome. I had a prior engagement, but was at last year's Hebden Bridge concert where they did `Rainbow Dome'...

[@marianocuevas363]

Recuerdo el año que se publico el Lp y lo pude comprar. Un gran placer en mis oídos produjo.🎶🎵🥂

[@RichardW001]

I saw Steve at Newcastle City Hall on the Live Herald tour. A great concert :-)

[@Fexobs]

I was there !

[@RichardW001]

@@Fexobs I remember taking home a huge monster of a poster. Steve and his guitar and a rippled reflection of both. Sadly left behind when I moved house

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

Magnificent guitar player.

[@j.d.jdthinktankersorg.asa.4237]

Just simply Brilliant*. JD

[@barly8344]

Still going strong with system 7 keeping up the vibe nice one stave

[@simongosling2689]

This was the band in it's first touring incarnation I saw (may have been some before) such technical genius and timing, so many time signatures in a set. Awe inspiring today, not sure anyone could so this now.

[@youfools]

Damn, what a smokin' hot band!

[@harrywix]

Steve's touring the UK March/April 2023 playing material from the early solo albums (including 'L' and my favourite 'Green').

[@althepalno1164]

Yep. I'm hoping to see him in Cambridge. It should be fun 😁

[@harrywix]

@@althepalno1164 😁

[@chain8847]

Saw him last night. The whole band were awesome. Hope it’s not his last tour.

[@harrywix]

@@chain8847 🙂I saw him with Miquette pre-covid playing Mirror System stuff at Camden Cafe. Alex from the Orb played with them too. They did't look like they planned stopping! I reckon Steve's far from finished, even if he is a year older than me ;)

[@johns7272]

This is fucking off the scale genius. What a band! Clive bunker? you gotta be kidding me - talk about the worlds most under-rated drummer. I tell you man - me and my pals at the time loved all the punk thing coming through and we were all part of it. But THIS was the true spirit of 76/77, Eddie van halen may well have been the guitarist the world was talking about in 78, But in 1976 we were all talking about STEVE HILLAGE man!!!!!!!!! if i am still alive in april 2023 i will be at that London gig NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

[@jean-jacquessaussey5697]

une pensée émue pour Christian Boulé que je reconnais sur cette scène au coté de Steve Hillage... Christian est parti top tôt...

[@charris939]

Clive Bunker - ex Jethro Tull on. Drums I see.

[@inglepropnoosegarm7801]

Superb drummer.

[@jaycee30865]

@@inglepropnoosegarm7801 not Andy Anderson? Of the Cure? Wait never mind. He played with Hillage elsewhere.

[@iangelling]

It is indeed Clive Bunker but the bloke out of Utopia was on the album.

[@dorengarcia7925]

Ah yes, early Gong fan... and yes there are still great bands out there you just have to spend the time to find them. For example... Kavus Torabi is currently Gong's guitarist, formerly played with the Cardiacs... the greatest band of the 90s you've never heard of. There will ALWAYS be great new bands, always. If you have the patience, and the ears, try Major Parkinson... try their Solitary Home... or The Wheelbarrow.

[@karrot101]

just too good to comprehend, i've been stuck on it for days lol

[@crowcroftj]

pretty fancy timeing and bass/drums for a bunch of "stoners" - i always like the mix of precision and relaxed tuniness of hillage's various outings

[@steelyman08]

Thank you so much for posting this rare gem (-:

[@marktaylor4287]

Many thanks for posting this - I saw it on the night it was broadcast and remember being gobsmacked by it. Great to see it again !

[@Fexobs]

Glad to help, and glad it brought back 40 year old memories...I didn't see it originally, but did get to see Hillage and National Health live in Redcar in 1978 and many times subsequently

[@robertelston7608]

@@Fexobs 3t2

[@tappy72]

stunningly good

[@essexchillis2980]

Wonderful stuff! Thanks for posting! :)

[@VelvetKills]

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Hard to believe it but it’s true! Steve Hillage was just one of the guitarists the music papers considered as the one to replace Mick Taylor in the Stones

[@davidgarione2206]

I think Steve Hillage by 1976 never took his multicolored wool cap off since the broadcast of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells on a TV special BBC from 1973...

[@AnthonyPoetica]

Back in the day when there was still Hope.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Don’t you mean DOPE

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

when incredible rock and jazz musical talent is mixed with mushrooms and other stuff

[@NicholasFurbear-ry7td]

Lets face it he is a kick ass guitarist and he gets top musicians to keep up with him, blast away steve 😅😮😊❤

[@neilpearson2921]

Saw Steve at Leeds University in the 70s on acid, what a trip.!

[@markbarnes2238]

How about a field in Harwich excellent day in the 70s very lucky people that day love from Suffolk England

[@krisscanlon4051]

I think he learned so much from Daevid Allen and vice versa...they were much like a mentor and protégé relationship...Steve fleshed out his ideas with Daevid vision...

[@Fexobs]

Good comment, and I agree !

[@maxwellc13]

I haven't seen/heard this since it was first broadcast-thank you! british hippy prog at it's best.....

[@Fexobs]

Funny how it never figured in `Guitar Heroes at the BBC', although Hillage himself preferred to be known as a `Guitar Zero' :-)

[@maxwellc13]

Not sure if I saw that one,although I think I heard of the lineup and it seemed a bit dubious-how about the reaction Dave Evans got when BBC 4 put him on recently for an OGWT re-run(check out 'stagefright')People were shocked someone that good could be simply passed up so casually....and I still haven't figured out what the surgical instrument that plays the glissando actually IS.Perhaps Steve could tell us after all this time listening to it?

[@thecamerons11]

Steve Dinsdale

[@dannykeen4047]

Its the trem arm from his guitar :)

[@jonathaneves5847]

maxwellc13 at its best is correct, the best music programme on tv 👍🏼☺️

[@kevinhodgson8508]

Clive Bunker on kit ... Number one super guy !

[@VicYelding]

Rock on Stevie Hillside!

[@pagancidergod8840]

I love the Laurence Of Arabia bit.

[@tonybraines7172]

Off to see him in March. Can't wait

[@chain8847]

Saw him last night. Amazing.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

Fantastic

[@federicofederico2012]

Stupefacentemente 🌈

[@brit1958ian]

I remember seeing Steve Hillage live at Portsmouth Student Union in 76. I'd never heard of him but went with friends who recommended him. The audience all sat cross-legged (and many probably a little spaced out). But I loved his playing - and got a crush on Miquette Giraudy. Had to go buy "L" album that weekend. Still an amazing album to listen to. Check out the Lunar Musik Suite on same album.

[@Fexobs]

Quite often it's band we see who are unknown to us and who turn out to be the best !

[@brianwilson7005]

Steve Dinsdale i

[@fuzzballzz36]

DINSDALE! Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[@kabali1788]

Excellent stoof !!, and I wonder if he still has that strat' and also his Les Paul ? as he now plays a Steinberger, also glad he still has Miquette !.

[@qdaveq6597]

He sold the Strat. Deirdre Cartwright owns it now.

[@peterbellwood5412]

And Miquette still looks and sounds fabulous .

[@awjm]

That outfit is beautiful. I'd wear it. Also, he's a fucking legend.

[@alisonwunderland9900]

No, he's a fuckin prick

[@pereraddison932]

Alison Wünderland ... did someone put out and get rejected; then, eh? ...

[@kordinia]

Cool ❤ danke thank you - 1969 i was in Amsterdam Paradiso? Oder fantasia ? Oll Bands i have Seen Are written in my Brain Till to day ❤❤

[@patrickmckay307]

Steve and Miquet Yeah.🧘‍♂️

[@mikeynebb]

Love Hillage

[@Transterra55]

Clive Bunker on drums.......

[@rickmartin5132]

Brill....still got a Steve Hillage cassette somewhere.

[@jmwbrinckmann7309]

Awesome.

[@bobgreen623]

Steve just looks so blissed out!

[@robinwatson4282]

I think the fact that Steve's name rarely, if ever (or, let's face it, never) comes up in guitar greats polls is largely down to preferences being based not so much on the player but the band in which they play - I suppose you could say, selection bias. This clip perfectly showcases Steve's outstanding talent as an adventurous composer, more than capable singer, and last but not least, breathtakingly razor-sharp guitarist. I guess his music was too far left-field for many. Oh, well - I think he's up there with the other 'greats' on his very own special merits.