Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant
(l-r): John Weathers, Ray Shulman, Derek Shulman, Gary Green and Kerry Minnear, in 1977.
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresProgressive rock
Years active1970–1980
LabelsChrysalis (UK), Vertigo (UK, US), Columbia (US), Capitol (US), One Way Records, Alucard Music, DRT Entertainment, Major League Productions (MLP), Road Goes On Forever (UK), Terrapin Trucking (UK)
Past membersGary Green
Kerry Minnear
Derek Shulman
Phil Shulman
Ray Shulman
Martin Smith
Malcolm Mortimore
John Weathers
Websitegentlegiantmusic.com

Gentle Giant was a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. They were known for the complexity and sophistication of their music and for the varied musical skills of the members. All of the band members were multi-instrumentalists. Although not commercially successful, the band did achieve a cult following.[1]

The band stated that their aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular",[2] although this stance was to alter significantly with time.

Gentle Giant's music was considered complex even by progressive rock standards, drawing on a broad swathe of music including folk, soul, jazz, and classical music.[3] Unlike many of their progressive rock contemporaries, their "classical" influences ranged beyond the Romantic and incorporated medieval, baroque, and modernist chamber music elements. The band also had a taste for broad themes for their lyrics, drawing inspiration not only from personal experiences but from philosophy and the works of François Rabelais and R. D. Laing. In 2015 they were recognised with the lifetime achievement award at the Progressive Music Awards.[4]

  1. ^ Bruce Eder. "Gentle Giant - Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. ^ From the sleeve notes of the album "Acquiring the Taste"
  3. ^ Luhrssen, David; Larson, Michael (24 February 2017). Encyclopedia of Classic Rock. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-4408-3514-8.
  4. ^ "Singer Steven Wilson crowned prog rock king". BBC News. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.