"Let's form a band!" "OK, how many instruments do you play?" "Five." "Are any of them weird?" "Yes." "And can you sing both lead and crazy harmonies?" "Of course." "You're in."

How could I have lived 50 years and never heard this. I want to go back in time and add them to my life.

@frenchvinyladdict

Ай бұрын

It's never too late to turn to become a prog nerd

@jackbotsford8688

29 күн бұрын

I believe Gentle Giant must be the physical manifestation of creativity, skill, and wackiness. It doesn't get much better than this when it comes to live performance

@SoftwareManiacLSM

28 күн бұрын

I must have seen GG about 4-5 times (with Tull) in Europe. Best talented folks, really tight, and after meeting them found them to be amazingly nice. Seriously fun to watch them perform. One time the zylophone amplification system failed and their roadie, Frank, ran out with a wired mic and laid down below the Xylophone (large size, btw) and followed Kerri's hand movements.

@TheLightAhead

27 күн бұрын

In return, we can be jealous that you still have the discovery of this great music ahead of you.

@frankconte467

27 күн бұрын

One of the greatest progressive rock bands. Mind-blowing!

The technical virtuosity required to perform this music off live is off the charts. Whenever anyone tells me a musician or group is "underrated", I think of Gentle Giant. I can't name a group of better musicians who are almost unknown and largely unappreciated today.

@martinbrodie8507

7 ай бұрын

I was blessed to be introduced to Gentle Giant as a high-school sophomore in 1972, when a new schoolmate friend dropped the needle on Octopus. The best progrock band of all time IMHO.

@Pembolog

4 ай бұрын

I think CASIOPEA are on the same level but there's literally no other band that are this tight at this level of virtuosity.

@emptycloud2774

3 ай бұрын

I only became aware of them because of the band Haken rate them as a major influence. Gentle Giant are incredible once you give them a chance.

@spriggan3935

3 ай бұрын

Are you kidding? GG has always been reckoned as one of the best group EVER, and in Italy they even topped the charts. They had always been a real icon of prog, and the Giant's face featured on sleeves of books about prog. Definetely NOT underrated.

@axelclaussen5580

Ай бұрын

They have always been appropriately appreciated and rated, though not by mainstream audiences, because it isn't mainstream music. The term 'underrated' has a history of being wrongly used.

This gives me chills. Nothing like it in today's world. The music industry killed it. Incredible talent showcased here.

So ridiculously complex music and how much fun they are having. It is a miracle.

@ARoadd

Ай бұрын

Never have seen them before 😂 it's fantastic music and performance art❤ thanks for posting of this miracle 🙏😊

I was lucky enough to see them twice in Rome in 1972 and 1976. The first time as opening act of Jethro Tull. Those were hard times for opening bands, they were booed almost every time. GG were the first opening band to be recalled on stage by people's enthusiasm. The most amazing of virtuosos in history of Rock. They played cultured music while dancing, laughing, swapping instruments. A joy for everyone, unchanged after so many years

@user-ft5ex9xo5y

Ай бұрын

Ho visto anche io quel concerto del 72, a Bologna. Fecero fare una brutta figura ai blasonati Jethro Tull...

@TinusTegenlicht

Күн бұрын

You were one of the lucky ones! I sadly never saw them live, bcs they disbanded when I was only 10.

So great and perfect. This is the absolute highest art in music. Unfortunately, there will never be anything like it again. What a pity. Its a Dream!!

They’ve played this so much it doesn’t matter if it’s in 4, 7/8, 11/16 etc. Time signature changes, key changes, polyrhythms, whatever. They play it perfectly, musically, and with feeling. Amazing.

R.I.P. Ray!!! A cog in the cogs of musical genius!!!

I love how much the individual band member's personalities stand out here in these live recordings. Derek being the big pop star singer, Kerry being the disciplined classical musician, Gary being the grounded, bluesy guitarist... and ALL of them being big, goofy nerds of course with enough talent to fill 100 lesser bands.

@martinbrodie8507

7 ай бұрын

All are multi-instrumentalist, progrock virtuosos. Blessed to have been introduced to them as a high-school sophomore in 1972, when a friend dropped the needle on Octopus. RIP Ray.

@crhkrebs

Ай бұрын

And not to forget the brilliant rhythm section of John and Ray.

I've always considered you guys the most musically educated band there is. I loved the challenge of listening to the unpredictable music. The complexity and tightness is remarkable but the fact that you performed it live without missing a beat is extraordinary. I had the privilege of seeing you guys live in Central Park, NYC on 6/18/1976. It was an evening of musical magic that I'll never forget. Thank you for all the wonderful music. Gentle Giant will always be queued up and ready to play at a moment's notice at my house. 🎼🎶🎵💖

@bernardoknoppernisa3917

Жыл бұрын

"unpredictable music" is a great way to describe Gentle Giant, I love it

@cactusbro1527

Жыл бұрын

I learned about Gentle Giant in 1980 aprox through a friend who apparently sold out later... but thanx to him I heard Octopus and a little while after wondering around in Mexico City I found in one of two imported record stores in the city Playing the Fool in LP, bought it and everything changed...I still worshiped Pink Floyd, Traffic, Ten Year After, but always knew there was something else out there (Gentle Giant)!!! So about 30 years later I told one of my daughters that there was a band that was better than Pink Floyd...she immediately (at 20 years of age) proceed to disinherit me oppositely!! So now ten year later having found this recordings, warmly amazed that your comment (Josh S) is only a month old, I feel that it is the time to share this vid with my two amazing daughters, hopefully they bring along their corresponding boyfriends, and expect them to at least listen to 30 minutes or an hour to understand why I said what I said ten years ago

@dbc7772011

7 ай бұрын

It must have been an honor and daunting challenge to be Gentle Giant. Also fortunate enough to see them live, Civilian tour. So talented so incredibly tight!

@marcusstreets9887

3 ай бұрын

Kerry is the only one with a degree. But Mr Shulman senior was an Army musician - so required to be a multi-instrumentalist. The marching band also provides the string quartet in the officer's mess, and the dance band for other ranks. So he passed that onto his three sons. Ray's sister also wrote some of the songs.

@canadianclaude

3 ай бұрын

unpredictable music.....I wish I had known this term 50 years ago. I used to call it mediaval rock. Can you suggest any other unpredictable music? The more obscure the better.

I can't imagine rehearsing all these songs they are just so complex. Fabulous talents all.

@MoeJoe974

7 ай бұрын

I saw them multiple times in the early 1970’s. One night a member would play melody lines and parts and the next night it would be a different member playing the same parts with different instruments. So much fun

@BH530711

Ай бұрын

I had the same thought, but took a walk down the ‘how does one even compose music like this?’ path and was just left shaking my head in awe and amazement. WOW!

Lucky young audience sitting casually close to these MASTERS.

It simply doesn't get any better than this

@martinbrodie8507

7 ай бұрын

No it doesn't, and it never will. RIP Ray.

One of the most unique bands of the 1970's era. Gentle Giant was in a class all by themselves. Their music was all over the scale, but Shulman and his bandmates knew how to pull it off with their own unique style. Watch this music resurface about 500 years in the future as futuristic rock! They will honor Shulman and the team as Classical Music Masters and Composers! The cool thing about this era of history is that will all the electronic video documentation we have, they will be watching what our music was like, what clothes we wore, what hair styles we had, and what we did during our time for thousands of years into the future.

The sound quality on this is amazing! Thanks!

Gentle Giant live in concert is something else. These guys are from an other planet. What musicianship !

@beatenbeats

Ай бұрын

💯 I still remember the first time i saw them live on youtube ... I was like WHAT???? anyone who has performed live knows that things can go wrong easily... but these guys just flow through the most complex, ambiguous passages while smiling? In awe...

@spieltfender8544

Ай бұрын

Absolut, ist perfect

@MattyExtrordinairIndeed-rp1mk

29 күн бұрын

I had the pleasure of having mind altering experience attending three different shows during 1976/ 1977 tours. The show at Swarthmore College Gymnasium , General administration. Tripping my balls off having a life altering mind fuck within 2 feet of the stage. I was 16 years old. Now 64 and this music still puts goosebumps on my other goosebumps... lol😅 I have friends I always try to enfluence. Always and never deviation from saying Aquiring the taste.

0:05 Experience 5:53 Features from Octopus 19:02 Proclamation 23:55 Funny Ways 32:26 Experience 38:49 Features from Octopus 52:27 Funny Ways 1:03:04 Two Weeks in Spain 1:05:15 Free Hand 1:13:52 On Reflection 1:19:40 I'm Turning Around 1:23:49 Just the Same 1:28:45 Playing the Game 1:33:33 Memories of Old Days 1:40:57 Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It 1:45:23 Funny Ways 1:54:07 For Nobody 1:58:42 Mountain Day 2:02:31 I Lost My Head

@PoopVintner

Жыл бұрын

I love you

@idratherbefishing7753

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting Playlist 👍👍

@psychesoap

6 ай бұрын

@riosidneifotografia A pin on this comment would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

@user-td4do3op2d

Ай бұрын

Free Hand doesn’t start at that time

@davidkyle2073

Ай бұрын

Almost the same set list as is found on the sonically superior, completely awesome “Playin’ the Fool” live album. 😊

I'm glad that I got into this band back in the 70's & still be able to say that I've have a few their albums on vinyl. 1 of the greatest progressive bands ever.

John weathers is a beast!

There has never been another progressive rock band that could match the talent Gentle Giant had.

@grouchomarxist666

Ай бұрын

Sure there was. Yes, King Crimson and Renaissance included virtuoso players/singers.

@richbailey8174

Ай бұрын

nor more annoying...:)

❤ gracias

Ray Shulman. What an incredible musician!

If not the best, one of the best prog rock bands ever between Yes, Genesis, Van der Graff, Jethro tull,King Crimson and others!!!

una chicca di insuperabile musica creativa e interpretazione strabiliante, vi ascoltavo dagli anni '70 e continuo ad ascoltarvi sempre

The fact that the majority of their music is THROUGH COMPOSED, and that they are able to execute it live and remain so tight is just astounding...

The only time I saw the Giant was on their 1976 tour that produced the tour live album. They played a club where I worked and I was mesmerized by them. They were so good. I stood at the back of the dance floor where I got the biggest benefit from their quad system, with the music bouncing around the room. The beauty of working at this club (Agora Theater, Columbus OH) was that I could screw off and watch the shows. Took pics of lots of shows, but not this one unfortunately. What a great band.

@Babs3353

Жыл бұрын

Omg yes! Do you recall which song had Ray's violin echoing him all over the room? I saw them several times in Philadelphia and unfortunately I haven't found videos of those concerts you speak of with the crazy sound system. I hope more live video are released. I can't get enough. I always tell people I left their concerts exhausted by their brilliance and with my cheeks actually hurting from smiling the entire show. What a joy this band was live. 😂 RIP Ray.

@Babs3353

11 ай бұрын

I have since found audio of Ray playing the violin piece with the quad system. It was a recording from Dusseldorf. I saw them in Philadelphia and the audience was freaked out with Ray's violin playing looped, in the round from all corners of the theater. I love this download! TWO HOURS OF GENTLE GIANT! Better every time I watch. The 3 times I saw them I was close enough to see the hysterical facial actions of Ray, Gary and Weathers in particular while they totally enjoyed themselves. They were my favorite live show...and I saw most of the biggest. I was at Woodstock, Atlantic City Pop festival. Was fortunate to be around at the peak of incredible music and see bands live from Hendrix to Cream, King Crimson, ELP, Yes Zappa, Chicago...you name them, I most likely saw them yep, Joe Cocker, Ian Anderson...etc. I saw the biggest bands, but unfortunately didn't get to see the Beatles. I was only 11 then. Had to wait til McCartney first toured to see my favorite Beatle several times. I am so grateful to have grown up with musical friends during such a profuse time of live music. But......Gentle Giants live shows were my favorites. Thank God for video ... I can relive some of my favorite times of my youth.

God forbid, if I was a musician and ever had to deal with Gentle Giant! YOU-CAN-NOT! Closed topic. 🤦‍♂

In our laboratries for audiosocialdevelopmentresearch in Litouania, we have discoverd thay they rehearsed.

This is just mind-numbingly complex at the highest level....

Me reía solo, al escuchar esta musica impresionante, es tal el gusto para el espíritu y la mente. Y es increíble como tocan en vivo los temas de los álbumes en estudio, parecía tarea imposible. Para mi fueron la mejor banda de los '70, paradójicamente no fueron conocidos masivamente (bueno, su música no es fácil de escuchar a la primera).

I saw these guys several times while in high school in the early 1970’s. What a treat. They were so original and innovative and the musicianship was top notch.

Prog Funk! One of my very favorites!

Very Groovy when they get to it.🎶🎶🎵

Passados que são 40 anos... ouvir esta música continua a ser um prazer incrível, pela qualidade dos seus interpretes e tudo aquilo que nos deixaram: Virtuosismo, empenho musical e melodicamente autenticas obras primas. Gentle Giant FOREVER AND EVER!!!

Tra i più mostruosi in assoluto! ... Grandissimi!!!

It's always incredible to see this group live. And as far as music is concerned, there are only 3 groups that reach this size: YES, King Crimson & Van der Graaf Generator

@AugCorreia

27 күн бұрын

Jethro Tull live, in the seventies, was unbelivable. Hear “A new day yesterday”, from Bursting Out. Never heard anything better palyed in any studio album, let alone live!

@wiremuwifebash

20 күн бұрын

Swap out Van der Graaf Generator for Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Then we'll talk.

GREAT BAND/QUINTET, and so is this remastered video and music

The MOST Various Band ever✊️. " The MASTER" ZAPPA the appreciated GG...-THAT SAYS EVERYTHING !!❤🙏💥

A huge thank you for putting this on here. What a great series of videos. Nothing new, but the sound is much better and it's just a pure delight to watch this awesome band and how they managed to do their think live. One of my favorite bands ever. For sure.

Breath-takingly good fun! Thanks for sharing.

Without Kerry Minnear we cannot enjoy this unique music.He is the brain boss.

@wsc1955

8 күн бұрын

You are right. If he wasn't there, there would be no GG.

@1359401

7 күн бұрын

Definetly kerry plays a huge role but so does ray shulman who also composed of their music.

@1359401

7 күн бұрын

More like 3 brain bosses add derek and ray shulman.

Thanks for sharing. So good. What a band. 👨🏽‍🦰👈🤘

seen in Turin live 1976, the entire concert...fantastic..the best singers of the world

I was fortunate to see them many times during the 70's, until their farewell tour in 1980, and every single time they so completely blew my mind with their virtuosity, musicianship, complexity, and compositions I had to regroup and rearrange my conception of what was musically possible. The fact that they made it look so easy just added to the incredible respect I have for them as musicians at every level. My FOAT and, IMO, the GOAT!

Real giants ❤️

Very disappointing that an exiting and genius level band such as this wasnt a hit... Glad we can still appreciate it nowadays

Amazing musicians, formidables!!! Thank you GG for that you have created. Unforgettable Ray RIP!!❤

It's great! Thanks a lot!! From BRAZIL!!!

Incredibile! Likes the First time i listen to them! Thanks for posting

I had an album of theirs when I was 14….Octopus

the timing of the crash hits at 1:49 are so satisfying

First saw these guys in 1971 at the Palace Theatre in Southend. Went straight out and bought the Giant album, and almost every one that followed. And they were the support - the main act was Uriah Heep! An epic night - what a great time to be a teen. Thanks Jon Paul.

@rickspence979

3 ай бұрын

I saw them a few years later at Leeds Uni. after having been into Status Quo (!) ...really set me on a new path. As you said great time to grow up - Focus, Genesis, Yes, Zeppelin, Floyd. We were lucky mate.

That dueling acoustic bit 9 minutes in made me feel quite happy. I had no idea they were so happy like that

Idk know how they get so tight?? And how these great songs get put together…amazing..you can thank Mystery Science Theater 3000 for having me look this up and now I’m a fan..I can’t believe I missed them in the late 70’s

Great musicians

Me gusta muchisimo esta banda 👏👍

Eles podem não ter conseguido o sucesso que queriam na época, mas Gentle Giant, acreditem, vocês foram gigantes!!

Music with gentle giant is travels

This band never got the acclamation and success that they deserved. If you watch concert footage from the later 70's you can see the discouragement had settled in..

Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa. Same levels of creativity and innovation, and playing dexterity. Loved Giant since the very first listen. In '72-'76 they played in >10,000 seats venues in Italy

@joeheadblues

24 күн бұрын

Yeah, and Gentle Giant is the only prog band that got love from Zappa.

Excellent excellent excellent 💖

@thevoid902

Жыл бұрын

Yes yes yes!😂

Love the energy

If i close my eyes i hear “ yes” til the singer starts . Tight, tight band.

No limit.,. So Strange so nice

What an amazing mix of all the separate intruments and vocals.

Gentle Giant é formado por músicos viscerais! Eles vibram como cristais esvoaçando ao vento suas incríveis e únicas sonoridades: magnífico!

The greatest !

Rest In Peace Ray Shulman April 30th 2023

@Babs3353

Жыл бұрын

March 30th 2023

Thnkyu very much for posting this

du génie ! tellement cool pour les yeux et les oreilles, i love the GIANT ♥

Man I love these guys back in the 1970s! I haven't played them on the radio in 1976 as an FM DJ. Who wouldn't? Yes it was Gentle Giant and other folks like Weather Report. It was the time of that season. Before computers and software became a thing. You had a practice to become this kind of good. Without the help of a computer or video game. They had no video games. They had pinball. Some British guy was a Wizard. I think his name was Tommy. Who? Tommy. Tommy Who? Right. One needs some LSD to listen to these bands with. If you have none? You can substitute with marijuana and beer. I won't tell a soul. You only had pot and beer. And not the good stuff. To match the character of Gentle Giant. This actually makes me feel as old as I now am. Almost 69. Holy shit! Where did the time go? How did we get here so quickly? 2024? OH MY GOD! I'M A FOSSIL! Is there anybody still alive from Gentle Giant? I can't imagine many? It's been over 50 years. RemyRAD

Amazing, Thanks for this upload.

...and EXPERIMENTAL VIRTUOS BAND EVER

Den sanften Riesen Sound habe ich schon immer gemocht. Gruß aus der Jazzfabrik Schaumburg, DE

Time is Space

Música y musicazos de otro planeta. Esto es nivel musical con MAYÚSCULAS

RIP Ray Shulman.

I always considered GG one of my favourite prog rock bands but after watching this they are my favourite !

Thank you so much for this collection! The sound is perfect, and their music is absolutely fantastic

And when the 80s came they said fu❤️k this we’re off total respect ❤️❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿✌️✌️✌️👍👍👍💘

I have the DVD, and I still kind of forgot about how great GG is... what amazing talent

As good as, if not better than Genesis, Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson etc etc......totally and completely underrated and ignored by the awful \British music press and BBc radio..

@charlytaylor1748

Жыл бұрын

So were the bands you mentioned. Popular the world over but as if they didn't exist in their home media.

Il prog in persona i gentle giant ❤

«Simply» ... GIANT ! ;-)

more is impossible... simply

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Una de mis superiores bandas preferidas, grandes recuerdos, una banda que se codeaba con superbandas del progresivo, Yes, Genesis, UK, etc, entre los grandes, y excelentes musicasos!!!!

The best period

OUTSTANDING Many thanks for posting

Sensacional, belíssimo, grandes músicos!!

Fantástico . Brillante . Maestros de la música. Gigantes !!!!

One of my buddies made the mistake of dropping acid before attending a Gentle Giant show......

Sad but true,specially in their country,almost unknown.

Grupo de genios musicales, todos los intengrantes fuera de serie felicidades!!!

Bouhhh!!! Quelle claque ! Grandiose !

¡Qué maestros! Te dejan sin palabras...

Timeless chamber rock! Best ever!

ray (bass) in the reunion show is just so much fun to watch, what great steez not even to mention that outfit. him bouncing on his knees makes him look like a marionette

unici ed insuperabili