About Me
This is the official MySpace page for "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", a 317 page biography on the legendary British rock group.
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Van der Graaf Generator were one of the most unique and important groups to emerge from the British 'underground' music scene of the late 60's and early 70s. Between 1969 and 1978 they created a body of work which in turn excited, overwhelmed, electrified, bedazzled, frustrated, and moved fans and critics alike. With their records and extreme live performances, they earned an intense international cult following, creating music which was considered brilliant by some and inaccessible by others. Over the years, straight through to their 2005 reunion, the music of Van der Graaf Generator and lyrics of Peter Hammill have continued to exert a widespread, powerful influence.__________________________________________________
__________The inside story of the band is revealed for the first time. It includes up-to-date commentary from all surviving past and present members, input from over sixty others (including celebrity admirers, associates, former employees, friends, and family members), and is illustrated with over 300 photographs and images (many previously unpublished). Van der Graaf Generator - The Book delves into the intense but humorous, bizarre and often difficult inner-workings of an uncompromising rock group.______________________________________________________
_______"It's been fascinating to find out so much that I didn't know about the band I'm in." - Guy Evans
5 Star review in Record Collector
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"Backed up by an abundance of documentation, photographs, and trivia... this thorough history balances the gravity of VdGG's music and their mostly difficult tale with a narrative of considerable exuberance."
-MOJO (4 star review)
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__"The Book is a glorious romp for both the initiated and newcomer alike... a remarkable, informative tale."
-RECORD COLLECTOR
(5 star review)
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__"An entertaining account of Hammill and co's byzantine history... it's a rollicking good read."
-THE WIRE
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__"An immense amount of information is presented clearly and respectfully, without ever descending into obsequiousness, or becoming mired in details. The Book will obviously be of interest to fans, but it also provides fascinating insights into the culture of the times."
-GUITAR PLAYER
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__"Manages the quest of tracing, with great precision, the artistic path of one of the most dark and original bands in the history of rock... A grand work unbeatable in terms of accuracy and graphic quality."
-JAM (Italy)
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__"The writers yield a very strong story... an extraordinary opus which immediately becomes the absolute reference point on the subject."
-ROCKERILLA (Italy)
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__"Christopulos and Smart did the job right. The text is clearly and intelligently written, making copious use of old and new interview material; the layout and design are crisp and colorful. It's everything any VdGG fan could want, and everything a book like this should be."
- UGLY THINGS
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Van der Graaf Generator - The Book is only available through www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk & various European Amazon sites, including the British www.amazon.co.uk (either site will take worldwide orders).
