(Van der Graaf Generator - in a word, intense)

Probably one of the better known of the Prog-rock era of bands, Van der Graaf Generator were probably the biggest influences of that movement in the 1970's. This was a band you could never listen to casually - it was not party music. This track, "White Hammer" off their first Charisma release in 1970 "The Least We Can Do Is Wave At Each Other" is typical of who they were. Intense, lyrical and dissonant with highly dramatic vocals by Peter Hamill - they were never a band you could take or leave. You either loved them from the get-go or you couldn't stand them.

And their music has had wide ranging influence for a lot of musicians over the years. I remember talking with Lars from Metalica several years ago, and the subject of influential bands came up. Without a beat, Van der Graaf was high on his list.

So if you've never heard them . . . . .