Memory:Carsten Schaefer
Here's a story about the day that I first saw (and heard) Gentle Giant - a day that changed my life forever! It was 1974 or 1975 (which at the time made me 14 or 15 years of age). I sat at home watching a youth TV programme. It was Sunday morning...noon...the programme I had watched was over...it was about lunch time...my mum called us...I said, "Be there in a minute"...I was just about to switch off the TV, because "my" programme was followed by the "Sunday Concert", which was always classical music - and to be honest, I never really liked classical music all that much. So, the announcer said, "And now one of the premier rock groups"...I pricked my ears..."Gentle Giant!"...???...Who?...Never heard of 'em...I left the TV on - and what I saw was a "live-in-the-studio" performance of Gentle Giant. It was not too long before the release of "Free Hand" (which ultimately became my first-ever Gentle Giant record). I can't remember much of the show...I was just too taken aback...what I heard was the GREATEST MUSIC I'D EVER HEARD (and I already was a fan of bands like King Crimson, etc.). So, after a totally exciting hour of Gentle Giant live (my mum even let me watch it, as show saw how much I liked it!), I had lunch. Then - as every Sunday - I met two friends of mine who would always walk their dogs at that time in a park opposite our house. I scarpered off to meet them. We entered the park AT THE SAME MOMENT from three different directions. When we met, we all said simultaneously, "Have you just watched TV?!"...We then talked ecstatically about the concert which we'd just seen...all three of us have remained Gentle Giant fans ever since!