From: Mike De Lang <>
What's there to say about Gentle Giant that hasn't been written already. As far as I'm
concerned, they are progressive rock at it's finest. The band consists of six fine
musicians all well versed in thier instruments. Besides having a bass, guitar, drums and
the usual arsenal of analog keys, they also put to good use, violin, cello, trumpets, sax,
recorder, breaking glass, you name it. Their sound has a baroque,medievil feel to it but
with many time changes and vocal harmonies. They definitly have a sound of thier own.I
know a few people who find them difficult to get into but like all good prog give em a few
listens and they'll definitly grow on you. Thier first seven studio albums (Gentle Giant,
Three Friends, Aquire the Taste, Octopus, In a Glass House, The Power and the Glory, Free
Hand) and thier live album, Playing the Fool, are all essential in any prog collection. I
haven't heard any of thier later albums except Missing Pieces and to my disbelief, it was
terrible. Avoid that one at all costs!
From: Tony Kennedy <>
A friend of mine worked on a Gentle Giant tribute CD that was done by people over the net.
He wrote an article for the January 1998 edition of Keyboard magazine if anybody is
interested. Or go to http://www.blazemonger.com/GT/
for more info
From: Brian Phraner <>
I was "soured" a little on them by an experience I had seeing (Starcastle)
live, but I did learn a valuable lesson. They opened for Gentle Giant at the
Paramount in Seattle, I think around 1976 (I'm still looking for the synaptic
paths to those particular memory brain cells). They held the opening of the
inside doors for a long time because the bass player did this incredibly long
sound check so everybody (who were there for GG of course) were already a bit
miffed when they finally came on stage. Once they finally did, they sounded
terrible because all the guitars and bass were so loud on stage that the PA,
such as they were in '76, couldn't keep up (I thought during their set...). Add
that to the remarkable resemblance to Yes, including furry booted, ricky playing
bass player and very, very Yes sounding songs, and well... Needles to say, the
crowd wasn't kind. Then Gentle Giant came on. The stage was cleared of big amps.
Every one had little white guitar amps tucked back out of the way. The biggest
thing on stage of that type were the two white Leslie's on the keys. When they
started to play they were WAY louder than Starcastle, but they sounded great.
The stage volume was really low but the PA was kicking and GG rocked! I actually
fell out of my seat during the vibe solo in Funny Ways (which is hard to do in
the seats at the Paramount). Oh the lesson I learned that day... Keep your damn
stage volume down!
From: cosmos <>
in a glass house will be re-released in the beginning of 2000 officially. see
for more information about in a glass house etc. http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/
From: "Surjorimba
Suroto" <> Subject: Re: In a Glass House
>Does anyone have the new remaster of Gentle Giant's "In a Glass
House" >with the two bonus tracks? I've just ordered it on Amazon.com.
Yes, I have that one. I bought it directly from GG. I really loved the
package. It's really exclusive, much more exclusive than CDs with cardboard
sleeve. You won't regret it.
From: "Joe Funk"
<>
> David, It is my understanding that you are a big-time Gentle Giant
listener, and I'll bet you even had the opportunity to see them in concert once
or twice. It has been my experience that no matter what group you see
live, whether they're hard rock or not, they almost always end up sounding like
a metal band. The sound engineering of live shows is to blame for that, but what
can you do when your own engineer isn't behind the mixing console? Anyway,
what would you say about a Gentle Giant concert? Didn't they also sound a little
metal on stage? -RAM
Well, I won't answer for David, but I will tell you Gentle Giant did not
sound "a little metal" during their live performances. If anything,
their "live" sound was subtly textured - varying from 5-man percussion
ensemble to recorder ensemble... Not to say they didn't "rock-out" at
times.. But there weren't any Marshall Stacks on stage....
From: "Mochaen"
<>
I agree. The only time GG sounded metal was when they wanted to. Check out
the live albums for proof.
From: David Eric Shur <>
I saw Giant twice- during their Three Friends tour, and during their Free Hand
tour. At no time were they metal. The paragraph as stated above says what the
group sounded like perfectly. Thanks to Wade for stepping and volunteering to
change my attitude with the gift of a CD ROM.
From: "Grant Penton"
<> Subject: RE: Gentle Giant
> Gentle Giant did not sound "a little metal" during their live
performances.
But they did- listen to 'Playing the Fool' & 'Free Hand' live- instead of
delicate Kerry vocal and/or keyboard interludes, you'll hear an aggressive Gary
solo instead. But this wasn't so much an attempt to blast the listener or
promote Gary, but rather to fill in for what the technology of the day could not
provide, a clear live amplification of Kerry's soft tenor voice and mellotron,
although maybe Derek & Co. decided to deliberately emphasize the 'Giant'
over the 'Gentle' sound for the 'Free Hand' live arrangement. Kerry was
certainly given ample opportunity to shine during his xylophone solo in 'Funny
Ways' into 1977. The 'heaviest' sound they achieved during their live shows was
when they were all playing percussion