Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill (born 5 November 1948) is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano. He also acts as a record producer for his own recordings, and occasionally for other artists. He has been married to his wife Hilary since 1978 and they have 3 children. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Enter K is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on the Naïve Records label in 1982. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Ealing is a town in the London Borough of Ealing. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Art rock is a term used by some to describe rock music that is characterized by ambitious or avant-garde lyrical themes and/or melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic experimentation, often extending beyond standard modern popular music forms and genres, toward influences in jazz, classical, world music or the experimental avant... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Charisma Records was a record label started by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. ... Virgin Records was a British recording label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative record label in the 1980s. ... This article is about the band. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... This article is about the band. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ...

Biography

Peter Hammill was born in Ealing, west London, and moved with his family to Derby when he was 12[1]. He attended Beaumont College, Old Windsor, and Manchester University, where he studied Liberal Studies in Science. , Ealing is a town in the London Borough of Ealing. ... Derby (pronounced dar-bee ) is a city in the East Midlands of England. ... Beaumont College was a Catholic public school for boys alongside the River Thames in Old Windsor, Surrey. ... Map sources for Old Windsor at grid reference: SU 983 744 Old Windsor is a village in Berkshire, south of the large town of Windsor, Berkshire and near to the villages of Englefield Green and Datchet. ... University of Manchester Motto: Cognitio Sapientia Hvmanitas Knowledge, wisdom, humanity. ...

Hammill's solo career began with Fool's Mate (1971), while Van der Graaf Generator were still active. To some extent it is difficult to separate Hammill's solo work during the 1970s from his work with the band, as he tended to be credited as the sole songwriter on the majority of the songs included on the band's albums, whilst conversely many of his "solo" albums feature all the members of Van der Graaf Generator playing on the recordings – the difference between the two scenarios seemed primarily to be who was paying for the sessions. In general, however, solo Hammill is concerned with more personal matters, while the band's songs deal with broader themes. His earlier work was largely existential in nature and many of his solo album lyrics are literary, poetic and amongst the most sensitive and intelligent and complex expressions of angst and a search for meaning in the history of music. Indeed, his work ranges from short simple riff-based songs to highly complex lengthy pieces. Mainly because of the strangeness of his music, his refusal to make anything resembling middle-of-the-road music, and the general absence of any smooth or glamorous sounds in his music, there is much debate amongst his admirers whether Hammill is to be considered a part of the so progressive rock scene. It appears to be very difficult to categorize his music. In many interviews Hammill has stated that he does not want to be put in the progressive rock music label, or any music label at all. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Riff is also an alternate spelling of Rif, a region of Morocco. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ...

Hammill recorded a series of diverse albums during Van der Graaf Generator's three year hiatus between 1972 and 1974. Among these, Nadir's Big Chance (1975) is notable for its anticipation of punk rock. In a 1977 radio interview, John Lydon of the Sex Pistols played two tracks from the album and expressed his admiration for Hammill in glowing terms: "Peter Hammill's great. A true original. I've just liked him for years. If you listen to his solo albums, I'm damn sure Bowie copied a lot out of that geezer. The credit he deserves, has just not been given to him. I love all his stuff"[2]. Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... John Joseph Lydon (born January 31, 1956), also known as Johnny Rotten, is an English rock musician. ... The Sex Pistols were an iconic and highly influential English punk rock band, formed in London in 1975. ...

Hammill's solo career resumed in earnest after the final demise of Van der Graaf Generator in 1978, and has continued to the present day. Many different styles of music appear in his work, among them avant garde electronic experiments (Loops and Reels; Unsung; Spur of the Moment), opera (The Fall of the House of Usher); solo keyboard accompaniment (And Close As This); solo guitar accompaniment (Clutch); and band recordings (Enter K). The Fall of the House of Usher is an opera by Peter Hammill (music) and Chris Judge Smith (libretto). ... And Close As This is an album by Peter Hammill, released on Virgin Records in 1986. ...

Despite the complexity of his work, Hammill's output is prolific, typically with new albums once or twice a year. His catalogue varies between artful complexity in the late 1960s and early 1970s; raw, energetic new wave in the late 1970s and early 1980s; mature, expansive songform in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and slow, melancholic balladry in the late 1990s and 2000s. There are numerous exceptions to all of these phases, illustrating the difficulty of categorising Hammill's work. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

Hammill's early records, like the VdGG albums, were released on Charisma Records. He parted company with them after pH7 (1979), and then released albums on a number of small labels. A Black Box came out on S-Type, a label run by Hammill and his manager Gail Colson. Enter K and Patience appeared on Naive, Skin and The Margin on Foundry and In A Foreign Town, Out of Water and Room Temperature on Enigma Records. In 1992 he formed his own label, Fie!, on which all his albums since Fireships have been released. The label's logo is the Greek letter phi (Φ), a pun on PH-I. A Black Box is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on S-Type Records in 1980. ... Patience is an album by Peter Hammill. ... Skin is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on vinyl on Foundry Records in 1986 and later re-released on CD on Virgin Records. ... Out of Water is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990 and subsequently re-released on Hammills own Fie label. ... Room Temperature is a live album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990. ... Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative record label in the 1980s. ...

Hammill survived a heart attack in December 2003. He was awarded the prestigious Italian Tenco Prize for songwriting at the end of 2004. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005, Hammill reformed Van der Graaf Generator. They recorded a new album, Present, in April 2005 and played a series of well received concerts. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Present is an album by Van der Graaf Generator, released in 2005. ...

Between 2006 and 2007 Hammill has overseen the remastering of almost all of his pre-Fie! releases, and has also started similar work on his more recent catalogue. The last of the Charisma remasters will be released in September 2007.

Hammill released his new album Singularity in December 2006, and has announced plans for a British and European tour in November as well as gigs by Van der Graaf Generator as a trio (minus David Jackson) in 2007 [3]. David Jackson, nicknamed Jaxon, is a British progressive rock saxophonist, flautist, and composer, and a member of Van der Graaf Generator. ...

The VDGG trio concerts have been very successful and plans for a studio recording are now underway. Solo concerts will continue simultaneously.

Hammill's voice

Many consider Hammill's voice to be the most distinctive element of his music. As a former Jesuit chorister, his delivery is invariably middle class English (rather than Americanised), and ranges in tone from peacefully celestial to screaming rants (which are nevertheless highly controlled). Singing in registers from baritone to high falsetto, he growls, croons, shrieks and shouts in ways that have drawn comparison with the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix. Baritone (French: ; German: ; Italian: ) is most commonly the type of male voice that lies between bass and tenor. ... Falsetto is a singing technique that produces sounds that are pitched higher than the singers normal range, in the treble range. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ...

Lyrics

Hammill's lyrics are another distinctive feature of his work. He has visited a number of recurring themes including: love; human relationships; ageing and death; human follies; politics; self-awareness and introspection; religion; and current affairs. He expresses these themes with a verbal dexterity that is rare in rock. His lyrics often include literary references. For example, the Norse names mentioned in the song Viking on Fool's Mate are characters in the Icelandic Eiríks saga rauða. (Judging by the spelling of the names, Hammill's source seems to have been Magnus Magnusson's 1965 translation.) The Saga of Eric the Red is a saga about Eric the Red. ... Magnús Magnússon KBE (IPA: , (12 October 1929 – 7 January 2007) was a Scottish television presenter, journalist, translator and writer, of Icelandic origin. ...

The science fiction themes of Van der Graaf Generator's lyrics are mostly absent in his later work. In 1974 Hammill published a book, Killers, Angels, Refugees (Charisma Books, London), a collection of lyrics, poems and short stories. This was later reissued by Hammill himself (Sofa Sound, Bath) and was followed by a sequel Mirrors, Dreams, Miracles (1982). Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

Discography

Studio albums

• Fool's Mate (1971)
• Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (1973)
• The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage (1974)
• In Camera (1974)
• Nadir's Big Chance (1975)
• Over (1977)
• The Future Now (1978)
• pH7 (1979)
• A Black Box (1980)
• Sitting Targets (1981)
• Enter K (1982)
• Patience (1983)
• Loops and Reels (1983)
• Skin (1986)
• And Close As This (1986)
• In A Foreign Town (1988)
• Out of Water (1990)
• The Fall of the House of Usher (1991)
• Fireships (1992)
• The Noise (1993)
• Roaring Forties (1994)
• X My Heart (1996)
• Everyone You Hold (1997)
• This (1998)
• None of the Above (2000)
• What, Now? (2001)
• Clutch (2002)
• Incoherence (2004)
• Singularity (2006)

Fools Mate is the debut solo album by Peter Hammill of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night was the second solo album by British singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage is an album by Peter Hammill. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... In Camera was the fourth solo album from Peter Hammill. ... Nadirs Big Chance was the fifth solo album by Peter Hammill, released on Charisma Records in 1975. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Over is a album by the English singer and songwriter Peter Hammill, released on Charisma Records in 1977. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... The Future Now is an album by Peter Hammill, released on Charisma Records in 1978. ... pH7 is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Charisma Records in 1979. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... A Black Box is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on S-Type Records in 1980. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Sitting Targets is an album by Peter Hammill, released on Virgin Records in 1981. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Enter K is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on the Naïve Records label in 1982. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Patience is an album by Peter Hammill. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Skin is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on vinyl on Foundry Records in 1986 and later re-released on CD on Virgin Records. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... And Close As This is an album by Peter Hammill, released on Virgin Records in 1986. ... In a Foreign Town is an album by the English singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Out of Water is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990 and subsequently re-released on Hammills own Fie label. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Fall of the House of Usher is an opera by Peter Hammill (music) and Chris Judge Smith (libretto). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Fireships is an album by English singer and songwriter Peter Hammill. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The Noise is an album by the English singer and songwriter Peter Hammill. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Roaring Forties is an album by Peter Hammill, released on his own Fie! label in 1994. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... None of the Above is an album by Peter Hammill, released on his Fie! label in 2000. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Singularity is an album by Peter Hammill, released on his own Fie! Records label in 2006. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Live albums

• The Margin (1985)
• Room Temperature (1990)
• There Goes The Daylight (1992)
• Typical (1999)
• The Margin + (2002)
• Veracious (2006)

The Margin is a live album by Peter Hammill, documenting early 80s concerts by his K Group (consisting of Hammill, Nic Potter, Guy Evans and John Ellis). ... This article is about the year. ... Room Temperature is a live album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... The Margin is a live album by Peter Hammill, documenting early 80s concerts by his K Group (consisting of Hammill, Nic Potter, Guy Evans and John Ellis). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Compilations

• Vision (1978)
• The Love Songs (1984, compilation of re-recorded back catalogue)
• The Essential Collection (1986, Enter K and Patience collected)
• A Fix On The Mix (compilation EP) (1992)
• The Storm (Before The Calm) (1993) (more aggressive Virgin-era material)
• The Calm (After The Storm) (1993) (Virgin-era ballads)
• Offensichtlich Goldfisch (1993, compilation of songs re-recorded in German)
• The Peel Sessions (1995, BBC radio sessions 1974-1988)
• After The Show (1996)
• Past Go (Collected) (1997)
• The Thin Man Sings Ballads (2002)

The Love Songs is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Charisma Records in 1984. ... Enter K is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on the Naïve Records label in 1982. ... Patience is an album by Peter Hammill. ...

Collaborations and miscellaneous

• Spur of the Moment (1988, with Guy Evans)
• The Union Chapel Concert (1997, live, with Guy Evans and others)
• The Appointed Hour (1999, with Roger Eno)
• Unsung (2001) (Peter Hammill/Sonix, a collection of instrumentals)

Guy Randolph Evans (born 17 June 1947 in Birmingham) is a British progressive rock drummer, percussionist and composer, and a member of Van der Graaf Generator, and Subterraneans. ... Guy Randolph Evans (born 17 June 1947 in Birmingham) is a British progressive rock drummer, percussionist and composer, and a member of Van der Graaf Generator, and Subterraneans. ... Roger Eugene Eno was born in Woodbridge, England in 1959. ...

Guest appearances

• Colin Scot, Colin Scot (1971) - Hammill provides backing vocals on several tracks
• Le Orme, Felona e Sorona (1973) - Hammill wrote English language lyrics for the Charisma Records UK release of the Italian album with the same name
• Robert Fripp, Exposure (1979) - Hammill sings lead vocals on three tracks
• Peter Gabriel, IV (1982) - Hammill sings backing vocals on three tracks
• Miguel Bosé, Bandido (1984) - Hammill wrote two lyrics: 'South of the Sahara' and 'Domine Mundi'
• Alice, Il sole nella pioggia (1989) - Hammill co-wrote and sang the track 'Now and Forever'
• Peter Gabriel, Us (1992) - Hammill sings backing vocals on the track, Digging In The Dirt
• Ayuo, Songs from a Eurasian Journey (1997) - Hammill sings lead vocals on several tracks
• Saro Cosentino, Ones And Zeros (1997) - Hammill sings on two co-written songs, 'Phosphorescence' and 'From Far Away'.
• David Cross, Exiles (1997) - Hammill sings lead vocals on two tracks
• Premiata Forneria Marconi, PFM Live in Japan 2002 (2002) - Hammill wrote and sang one studio track 'Sea Of Memory'

Le Orme Italian Rock band. ... Felona e Sorona is an album by the Italian progressive rock band Le Orme. ... Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England) is a guitarist, record producer and a composer, perhaps best known for being the guitarist for, and only constant member of King Crimson. ... Exposure is the lone rock music solo album by Robert Fripp aka Bob Fripp, the guitarist famous for being the only constant member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950, in Chobham,[1] Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... Security (1982) is an album by the British progressive rock musician Peter Gabriel. ... Miguel Luchino González Bosé (or Borlani?) (April 3, 1956, Aries, Panama), is a Latin Grammy-winning Spanish musician and actor. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950, in Chobham,[1] Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... Alternate cover 2002 reissue cover Us is the sixth studio album (and ninth album overall) by British rock musician Peter Gabriel, originally released in 1992. ... Image:DavidCrossKC1973. ... Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) is an Italian progressive rock band that achieved a high level of popularity in the 1970s, with success in both the British and American charts. ...

Work as producer

• Avalanche (1980 double LP) abridged as Etceteraville (1980 LP); re-released as The View From Here (2001 double CD), for Random Hold (David Rhodes, David Ferguson, Bill MacCormick, Peter Phipps))

Random Hold was a British rock band in 1977-1980. ... David Rhodes David Rhodes is an English guitarist, songwriter, and composer. ... Bill MacCormick (born 1951 in London, UK) is a british bassist and vocalist who was a member of the bands Quiet Sun (with Phil Manzanera, Ian MacCormick aka Ian MacDonald et al. ... Peter Phipps is a rock drummer. ...

References

• Christopulos, J. & Smart, P. (2005) Van der Graaf Generator - The Book (Published by "Phil and Jim") ISBN 0-9551337-0-X

• PH-VdGG Study Group, Fiaccavento L., Olivotto M. (2005) Van der Graaf Generator - Dark Figures Running - Lyrics 1968-1978 (Published by PH-VdGG Study Group [4])

• Mike Barnes, Life Sentences. Wire, March 2007. pp. 34-41.

External links

• Sofa Sound (official site)
• Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator fan site
• Couch Noise (unofficial site)
• A Peter Hammill page in a very complete prog rock database
• A Wiki about the work of Peter Hammill
• Russian Peter Hammill / Van der Graaf Generator Page