music in the shed

See # 1253....!.....

Steve Hillage and Mike Howlett from Gong plus Clive Bunker do Donovan`s " Hurdy Gurdy Man " ....

Built my first synth in 1972, all i ever wanted in the day was an ARP Omni, soon as this song started it reminded me of "string synths" could be an ARP on this clip, of course these "string synths" were nothing at all in common with proper string'ed instruments, mostly synth oscillator with dividers feeding a comb filter producing the wavy "phased" sound of massed strings.... yes i know, how interesting... or no, grin. j
 
Built my first synth in 1972, all i ever wanted in the day was an ARP Omni, soon as this song started it reminded me of "string synths" could be an ARP on this clip, of course these "string synths" were nothing at all in common with proper string'ed instruments, mostly synth oscillator with dividers feeding a comb filter producing the wavy "phased" sound of massed strings.... yes i know, how interesting... or no, grin. j
So, did you like this, Jon? It was a huge influence on Stevie Wonder.
Tonto's Expanding Head Band
 
So, did you like this, Jon? It was a huge influence on Stevie Wonder.
Tonto's Expanding Head Band
Somewhat new to me Hamish, the underground scene in the UK, actual information into Australia at the time was limited, tah for the link, Very interesting.

The UK had the actual synth performing all to yourselves, the USA had the hardware grunt to support the visionary performances in the day.

UK had hardware of course, just not the broad range of the USA. These days still have a Kurzweil EGP and rack string synth module. Performing wise have a stage rack with Korg M3, Korg Radias, Roland VB-99, Roland VG-99 all can be rotated on the pole axis, used a Roland PK-5 to trigger the M3 romplayer and 2 oscillator Radias with my feet. Not to be thought a half arse clever lad ( restrained grin ), play flute in the left hand and Synths with the right hand ( the PK-5 is not conducive to chords, unless i set the M3 for touch pad chords ). Photo of my "portable" stage setup... over the top is hardly enough...grin. The vertical cabinet is a portable on wheels "coffin" for on stage access, Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, straight Sop Sax, C flute, Alto Flute, Bb Clarinet, Roland equipped guitar, 6 String fretless bass. Suppose you could say all goes back to the very early 70's, the music, the hardware, the DIY....j
 

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I can see what state of mind some were back in the day, Steve Hillage and his L band!
Gong with Pierre Moerlen is this to me....
 
Notables in the day, all sorts of diverging musicians, modern era for me that has very high standards and modern era currency. Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten, and the notable, not quite same class era, Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg. j.
 
Somewhat new to me Hamish, the underground scene in the UK, actual information into Australia at the time was limited, tah for the link, Very interesting.

The UK had the actual synth performing all to yourselves, the USA had the hardware grunt to support the visionary performances in the day.

UK had hardware of course, just not the broad range of the USA. These days still have a Kurzweil EGP and rack string synth module. Performing wise have a stage rack with Korg M3, Korg Radias, Roland VB-99, Roland VG-99 all can be rotated on the pole axis, used a Roland PK-5 to trigger the M3 romplayer and 2 oscillator Radias with my feet. Not to be thought a half arse clever lad ( restrained grin ), play flute in the left hand and Synths with the right hand ( the PK-5 is not conducive to chords, unless i set the M3 for touch pad chords ). Photo of my "portable" stage setup... over the top is hardly enough...grin. The vertical cabinet is a portable on wheels "coffin" for on stage access, Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, straight Sop Sax, C flute, Alto Flute, Bb Clarinet, Roland equipped guitar, 6 String fretless bass. Suppose you could say all goes back to the very early 70's, the music, the hardware, the DIY....j

I used to be part of the crew that unloaded this lot out of the truck on to the stage and, later back into the truck. In Glasgow's Green's Playhouse (later Apollo) we had to hump it all, including the Grand Piano 10 feet up on to the stage from the pit. There was a lift, but it was glacially slow. I think it was originally built to raise the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Oh, the heady days of youth!


Rick's Gig Set.jpg
 
I used to be part of the crew that unloaded this lot out of the truck on to the stage and, later back into the truck. In Glasgow's Green's Playhouse (later Apollo) we had to hump it all, including the Grand Piano 10 feet up on to the stage from the pit. There was a lift, but it was glacially slow. I think it was originally built to raise the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Oh, the heady days of youth!


View attachment 68582
Am seriously impressed Hamish, as roadie and being in the place and the era, sorry about the lugging duties.. only the few can know, was in charge of a six man crew and two 8ton pantechs for sound and light company, we know what we know.. first in, last to leave, 19 hour days... did you get to have a stage side position in the performances? Hope you did... Rick was an icon and showman, provided others did the fetch and carry..good man you are... not many of us left is there, a wry smile..j.
 
Am seriously impressed Hamish, as roadie and being in the place and the era, sorry about the lugging duties.. only the few can know, was in charge of a six man crew and two 8ton pantechs for sound and light company, we know what we know.. first in, last to leave, 19 hour days... did you get to have a stage side position in the performances? Hope you did... Rick was an icon and showman, provided others did the fetch and carry..good man you are... not many of us left is there, a wry smile..j.
Assisted the Lighting Director during the gigs, so was always ringside. Yes, Rick was a blast to work with: generous, good-natured and very amusing to be around.
If we meet, one day, remind me to tell you about the 'Dog of the Tour Award' on the 'Myths and Legends' tour?
 
I used to be part of the crew that unloaded this lot out of the truck on to the stage and, later back into the truck. In Glasgow's Green's Playhouse (later Apollo) we had to hump it all, including the Grand Piano 10 feet up on to the stage from the pit. There was a lift, but it was glacially slow. I think it was originally built to raise the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Oh, the heady days of youth!


View attachment 68582

Rick could have dumped that lot and just used a Stylophone ( see below ) ......as popularised by the likes of David Bowie , Kraftwerk , and , er .....Rolf Harris......would have saved you an awful lot of hard work Hamish......2022-12-22.png
 
Rick could have dumped that lot and just used a Stylophone ( see below ) ......as popularised by the likes of David Bowie , Kraftwerk , and , er .....Rolf Harris......would have saved you an awful lot of hard work Hamish......View attachment 68589
Rick played Mellotron (that definitely didn't fit in your pocket!) on the Album version of 'Space Oddity'. Marc Bolan had suggested the Stylophone.
 
Rick played Mellotron (that definitely didn't fit in your pocket!) on the Album version of 'Space Oddity'. Marc Bolan had suggested the Stylophone.
He also played piano on Life on Mars ! Have been two a couple of his evening chat and play gigs - great story teller

He hated Tales of Topographic Oceans - so I made a point of listening to it the other day - he’s right 🤣 Relayer a far better shout !
 
Never worked on a Melotron, know the theory, Gezzer Butler had a couple on early Sabbath adventures, no idea when or on what. King of the glued to floor out here, Fender Rhodes 88, followed by B3 and A127 Leslie rotosound speaker, hard to describe, Hamish can describe i have little doubt, a smile here.

In the Rick of keyboard land photo, there is a GEM he is playing, worked on those, highly unusual functions or group of functions. Repaired one and the performing player said it was still not correct, knowing the technology inside his description of "not correct" had me alerted...."ever read the operating manual???" No was the reply, thought not, i have and you do not know or have ever known the correct way to setup this instrument, after some years ( many ) of use.... most of the time i only engage one sort of working ear when a performer tells me whats not correct... more ramble than ought to be so...

Of minimal equipment, not for just one time, had guitarist turn up, guitar in one hand, smart cell phone in the other with programs ( "apps" do not exist ) that emulated 50 years of stage equipment.... one of the few times being old and actually being around at the time of what these programs attempt to emulate. "Plug me into a speaker....usually no please added.... plug yourself in, am not your roadie.... yet these people can play with some level of skill, just stunted at the farm gate by what notions are modern and what is deemed old and worthless....

Love the stylaphone, and the mouth operated keyboard by Hohner i believe, the Melodica and similar.

Project i redesigned a few years back, Beautiful Lass whom played Trumpet, had one lower partial leg limb with three toes only, played trumpet better than her pro father. Electric solenoids on the trumpet, with a bit of glue logic managed to invoke the D slide on combination of keys, made a standalone support system with power on off control ( previous someone had to setup the trumpet then take it down on her custom support frame ).

Was a world competition sail boat champion, many aspects she took on, including driving a car. Work with what you got... a mantra that has no limits. j *** video of Ame taking driving lesson, hope it has the desired effect, does for me.

 
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Anthem.... absolute.... Power Trio, my very essence...
Ace of Spades tour .... I was there Birmingham Odeon 23/11/1980! even jumped on stage... well i was only 15.. !
few years later i ended up know the guy that operated the Bomber lighting rig!! apparently.. Fast Eddie told him you ever drop that on my head i will kill you!!
if you have the Vinyl version of no sleep!!! he's picture is one of the ones on the inner sleeve... sitting on a chair... ! but years since ive seen it
 

More keyboards , this time from Dusseldorf......Kraftwerk wait patiently for someone at British Gas to answer the `phone......or maybe they`re trying to get hold of an ambulance.....( topical reference England and Wales only ) ........

Nice tape recorder.....Telefunken ? .......
 
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