glampunk
Crab On The Rampage
gloompunk; glitter goth: disciple of Rikki Nadir: demonik in disguise, etc.
Posts: 61
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Post by glampunk on Mar 28, 2008 17:36:13 GMT
Great moments from GLAM: Jethro Tull!Ian Anderson - you spawny get! I know, I know. It's stretching it a bit to cite them as a 'glam' band, but there was certainly a theatrical bent to Tull and they even went through a glam parody phase (prior to, and after, their prog-rock parody blow outs on Thick As A Brick and the disastrously received Passion Play - still one of my favourite JT albums). Front-man Ian Anderson carried off the creepy street-bum-in-a-codpiece look better than anyone before or since and spent much of the 'seventies hopping around on one leg with a flute super-glued to his face, but if you were up for hard rock stormers with ace lyrics and melodic, folkie ballads commemorating Wimpy Bar romances then Ian and the boys could certainly oblige. Career highlight was unquestionably headlining over Pans People at the Rainbow on their Warchild 'come-back' tour circa 1975, but albums like the aforementioned, Aqualung, Living In The Past and Stand Up run it close. Here's Ian frothing at the fangs in a brilliant promo for Sweet Dream, 1969 (?). They've even worked in a few clips from The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari giving it a Basil Copper- Amber Print feel. Watch it here, but get in quick as these things have a habit of being pulled!
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Post by carolinec on Mar 28, 2008 21:11:27 GMT
Well, I know Tull are difficult to categorise, but I've never heard them described as "glam" before! Even if you don't like Tull, you'll love this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHsxmjpkeFI&feature=relatedThis is a clip from their tour the year before last. They had a young American violinist called Lucia Micarelli playing with them. She'd done a special arrangement of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir for violin and flute, and this is her and Ian Anderson in action. It's amazing! It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. I'll be seeing them on tour in a couple of months - twice in the space of one week, at two different venues. I can hardly contain myself ....
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Post by franklinmarsh on Mar 28, 2008 21:16:54 GMT
Saw that version of Kashmir at Basingstoke last time - amazing! Sold out this year - and I ain't got a ticket. Looks like it'll be a Pink Floyd tribute at Aldershot (sob!)
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Post by carolinec on Mar 28, 2008 23:16:06 GMT
I feel for you Franklin - but I'm really glad I've got my tickets! Did you see the acoustic tour last year too? That was brilliant too of course. I'd not heard their acoustic set before. It gave them the chance to play some songs they rarely play on tour. But I do think they're better "plugged in". Honestly, when it gets to that time when I'm going off to their concerts, you won't be able to get any sense out of me! (so, what's new? - I hear you all ask)
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Post by franklinmarsh on May 12, 2008 13:50:33 GMT
Go on then, Caroline - what was it like? Whimper. I didn't even get to the Floyd tribute. But (gasp) I may get to see Gong (with Steve Hillage!) and Stiff Little Fingers next month (Here's hoping...)
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Post by carolinec on May 12, 2008 15:58:31 GMT
Go on then, Caroline - what was it like? Whimper. I didn't even get to the Floyd tribute. But (gasp) I may get to see Gong (with Steve Hillage!) and Stiff Little Fingers next month (Here's hoping...) Well, I wasn't actually going to mention it on the forum in case you were jealous, but since you ask what it was like - in a word, wow! I'm going to see them again in another town, another venue on Thursday too. Lot's of stuff from their early albums - some bluesy stuff from "This Was" and even before they'd released an album, when they used to tour the jazz/blues clubs. Tracks from albums like "Stand Up" (eg. A New Day Yesterday, Bouree, A Song For Jeffrey and We Used to Know). The obligatory Aqualung and Locomotive Breath. And my particular favourite - one which always sends a shiver (a pleasant one) down my spine when I hear it - Heavy Horses. I've never heard that live before and it was wonderful. Plus many more, of course. Ian Anderson seems to be leaping about on stage more now than he was a few years ago - I don't know how he manages it! It was also extremely hot in the theatre last night - I was hot and knackered just watching - so lord knows what he felt like after over 2 hours on that stage! Looking forward to Thursday again now ... Steve Hillage, eh? That's a name I haven't heard for ages. Made me feel like getting out my old "L" vinyl album now! LATER EDIT: Ooo, forgot to mention - during the show they were projecting onto a screen behind them some old footage, old photos, newspaper cuttings, etc, with it being a sort of retrospective, with the 40th anniversary and all that - fascinating!
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Post by franklinmarsh on May 13, 2008 11:59:41 GMT
Brilliant! Glad you enjoyed it. I am jealous, but have only myself to blame for not booking early. Enjoy the next one!
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Post by carolinec on May 16, 2008 12:19:36 GMT
Here's an update for you Franklin - and anyone else who's interested! The second Tull concert I went to in a week was probably better than the first (if that's possible). They varied the playlist a bit, so there were some things (eg. "Reasons for Waiting" and "Sossity: You're a Woman" from the Benefit album) that they didn't do at the first one. But the big bonus was the fact that they had a special guest - their first drummer (or was he the second? definitely the best anyway!) Clive Bunker. He did a great bongo duet with their current drummer, Douane Perry, on "Fat Man", and an amazing drum solo on "Dharma For One". Perry had done a solo at the earlier concert which was really good, but Bunker's was incredible. He can make those drums sing! Made me realise that it was his influence on albums like Stand Up and Benefit which got me wanting to learn to play the drums (which I did, at one point - though rather unsuccessfully ). I'm soooo glad I got to see him play. Also, with my liking for autographs, I got some fantastic ones at the stage door after the show. Perry and Bunker signed my ticket, Martin Barre (their guitarist for some 30+ years, who I've never managed to get to sign something for me in person before) signed the album cover for Thick As A Brick , and Ian Anderson himself signed my .... wait for it .... harmonica cover. Yes, you heard right, I now have a harmonica with cover signed by my musical hero. Mind you, he gave me a really funny look when I asked him to sign it - like I was crazy or something. I don't think it's that odd a thing to get signed, do you ...?
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Post by franklinmarsh on May 16, 2008 13:07:57 GMT
Caroline - what can I say? I'm so glad it worked that way - the second improving on the first. But now the question must be - where can they go from here?
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Post by carolinec on May 16, 2008 14:09:55 GMT
Caroline - what can I say? I'm so glad it worked that way - the second improving on the first. But now the question must be - where can they go from here? Well, I did tell my hero a few years ago when I first had the opportunity to speak to him that his music just keeps getting better and better - and it does! But I must admit to feeling a little downer now that this might, indeed, be the last time I see them live. After 40 years, I wonder if he's thinking of calling it a day with live tours. They're doing a HUGE worldwide tour this year - Europe, the States, etc - so I expect they'll be having a rest next year. I don't think he'll be giving up music - it's in his blood, so I'm sure he'll be back in the studio - but I'm not so sure about touring ...
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Post by dem bones on May 16, 2008 21:12:22 GMT
Glad you enjoyed yourself, Caroline. I hope you said to Ian: "'ere, you know that bloke on Vault? He reckons you're well glam!"
Personally, I reckon Ian Anderson will tour til he drops, be it with Jethro Tull or without. Like you say, it's in his blood, and I reckon a guy who could most likely have comfortably retired a quarter of a century ago wouldn't still be doing it unless he had no say in the matter. It's Keith Richard's syndrome, if you like. They couldn't stop even if they wanted to.
Did they play anything from the much maligned A Passion Play? That was the first album of theirs I ever heard and I worked backward through their career from there rather than forward. I still listen to Aqualung and Stand Up whenever I've a record player in working order. Dunno where War Child has gone though - that one had its moments.
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Post by carolinec on May 16, 2008 22:31:50 GMT
Glad you enjoyed yourself, Caroline. I hope you said to Ian: "'ere, you know that bloke on Vault? He reckons you're well glam!" Don't think that would have gone down to well, Dem! Personally, I reckon Ian Anderson will tour til he drops, be it with Jethro Tull or without. Like you say, it's in his blood, and I reckon a guy who could most likely have comfortably retired a quarter of a century ago wouldn't still be doing it unless he had no say in the matter. It's Keith Richard's syndrome, if you like. They couldn't stop even if they wanted to. You could be right - I hope so anyway. After the first concert I saw this week he was clearly totally knackered and looked like he was just about ready to give up. The venue was extremely hot, and it must have been unbearable on stage. But last night he looked much better and was his usual self chatting to fans at the stage door afterwards. I think you're right - he enjoys it too much! Did they play anything from the much maligned A Passion Play? That was the first album of theirs I ever heard and I worked backward through their career from there rather than forward. I still listen to Aqualung and Stand Up whenever I've a record player in working order. Dunno where War Child has gone though - that one had its moments. No, nothing from Passion Play - I'm not sure they ever play anything from that album live nowadays. It probably brings back too many bad memories with the criticism that album gained, and the links to their famed "Chateau d'Isaster" fiasco. They did quite a lengthy extract from Thick As A Brick though - think I forgot to mention that one. I must admit, A Passion Play is one I played a few times and then put to one side thinking "Hmm, but no thanks". However, you've just prompted me to possibly try it again ... You ought to try working forward through their albums too, Dem. They've done some pretty good ones since too (although there are some which aren't quite as good - I wouldn't recommend Under Wraps for example). Particular favourites of mine from later are Heavy Horses and Songs From The Wood (when I'm feeling folky!), and The Broadsword and the Beast and Stormwatch (when I'm feeling agressive or cynical!).
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Post by PeterC on Oct 18, 2008 10:23:51 GMT
I'm a big (well, 5' 10'') Tull fan, although I discovered them a little later than most. My fave albums are Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses. The Beast and the Broadsword is pretty good too. Some of the anti-religion songs on Aqualung are a little tasteless but the others are great. I went to see them at the NEC in 1989 and was deaf for three days afterward. Not only that, but I don't think they played a single song I knew! But I bear no grudge.
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Post by carolinec on Oct 18, 2008 11:13:14 GMT
Ooo, lovely - another Tull fan! I'm their biggest fan, Peter - and I'm only 5'5"! I must confess, as I'm an oldie, my love of Tull goes right back to Living In The Past (the original release of the single), and I've been following them ever since. It was only in the 90s that I started going to concerts though. Totally agree about Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses being their best albums. I adore these! Funnily enough, I've just bought their most recent autobigraphical DVD and it misses out these albums completely. Apparently they're not particular favourites of Ian Anderson. And I'm not at all keen on Aqualung - not because of any religious connotations, but I just don't like the music on it much. In fact I reckon "My God" is probably the best track on it. I see it more as a savage attack on the follies of mankind rather than an attack on religion per se. I've recently been rediscovering their very early blues period with the 40th anniversary edition of This Was - absolutely amazing! I'm begining to think that my love of Tull isn't so much due to Ian Anderson as it is to their early drummer, Clive Bunker - he is just superb! Also, I guess, that's the reason why I love the Stand Up and Benefit albums so much too. Oh no, Peter, look what you've done! You've got me going on about Tull again. The rest of the board will be most annoyed with you for starting me off on this one. Dem will probaly tie me up and beat me again ...
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Post by dem bones on Oct 18, 2008 12:18:22 GMT
Oh no, Peter, look what you've done! You've got me going on about Tull again. The rest of the board will be most annoyed with you for starting me off on this one. Dem will probaly tie me up and beat me again ... Nah, i'm obviously too merciful so i'm leaving it to one of the bride's VAT grrrls. i'm surprised at this minor Aqualung backlash. Certainly didn't find anything distasteful about the religious stuff - it's surely just a pop at the worst excesses of the English church as seen through the eyes of a very young Ian Anderson who clearly hadn't much enjoyed his schooldays. My only criticism is that he doesn't always sound as comfortable with the material as he does the first six tracks. He sounds like he's trying to remind you how angry it all makes him rather than just going ahead and blowing his top. I reckon he gets it right on My God, though - that's excellent.
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