Memory:Dave Astley
The first GG tune that hit my ears was PROLOGUE from 3F, I heard it on FM radio sometime in 1972 when decent interesting music was the format. I can clearly remember my reaction on hearing it, just like 10 years earlier when I heard LOVE ME DO by the the BEATLES , It was listening ecstacy, nothing less. The hunt for 3F was on. I was used to searching for obscure stuff, but was pleased to find it was a domestic release. Listening to the complete album, I realized these guys were something very special, and it wasn't too long before I began preaching the gospel of GG to my music loving friends. Seeing GG for the first time was an EXPERIENCE I will never forget. They toured Canada & the U. S. in 1973 in support of the domestic release of OCTOPUS, which I now had and was very familier with, and in fact, was and still is, my favorite. They played Massey Hall in Toronto, about 3500 capacity, and the place was packed, probably because the headliners were Wishbone Ash, a take it or leave it band in my opinion, but none the less very popular at the time, as you can imagine the majority of the audience were their fans[but not for long]. The opening act was Vinager Joe, a UK band, straight ahead rock & roll, never to be heard of again[not that I know]. GG came on next and it was like instant dynamite, they blew everyone in that hall away that night, hearing those incredible complex pieces, almost totally rearranged, played with so much ease but with oh. so much energy. The performance they put on that night was second to none and for me, will remain that way forever and I'm sure most other fans that attended. The only thing on my mind after the show was how soon I could see them again.
After the show at Massey Hall, I bumped into a friend of mine, a bassist with a local prog. band [one of the few] & discovered his lady friend knew Kerry Minnear, and informed me that GG were playing at a local university, the next night. It was a general admission show & tickets were available at the door. We didnt get very good seats, but were happy just to be able to see them again. When the show was over I headed for backstage & who was there but my bass player friend & his lady, waiting for his chance to enter the dressing room, this was my opportunity. Very soon the door opened & to my suprise let a few people, including yours truly in. There they were, THE BOYS IN THE BAND, Icons in the flesh, as can be expected I was very excited. I have very little recollection of our conversations, but I do remember meeting Ray first & then Kerry & thinking how approachable & accomodating they both were. I said a quick hello to Derek, & then Gary & John, they were both very friendly & full of humor. I took a few snapshots of the boys with my 110 camera, 35mm was out of reach for me in those days. The snaps turned out quite good, not so much the quality but the candidness, I managed to include myself on a couple, just to prove to my friends I was really there. While there, I also got to meet the roadies, the one I spoke to the most was Frank, of "tell Frank to order me" fame, he was the senior roadie, been with GG from the start, a wonderful person & was to be my ticket to meeting the boys on future tours. God bless him.