Steve Hillage - It's All Too Much

[drj602]

CLIVE ! ! !

[captainsibtv]

fantastic to see this, I met Steve last year for an interview, such a great guy, cheers for putting this on, peace out...SIB

[crabshaw]

from the record 'L'  produced by Todd Rundgren

[SAHBfan]

1976?

[tuscanod2]

is that Clive Bunker on drums?Who is the bass player? I did apply for that job (in '77)

[p4ul1w4uli]

I wuz there too, that's me on the right just behind Basil... I still have one of the paper plates with a Gong poem on it. Somethin about a cup of tea?

Classic Hillage riffing at 7'45"!

What a weird gig, with Kiki (yawn) Dee and Queen (who were shite).

Was Nico on earlier that day or did I just imagine that?

[posh1961]

@p4ul1w4uli any chance you send me picture of paper plate!?

[p4ul1w4uli]

@posh1961 ....sorry mate, just got it down from the attic, and a photo is on its way

[fussylistener]

@p4ul1w4uli You definitely imagined Nico. There was a band called Supercharge (or something like that) who did p**s takes of other bands. I also remember Kiki Dee singing Don't Go Breaking My Heart with a cardboard cutout of Elton John. Disagree with you about Queen though - I loved them.

[p4ul1w4uli]

@fussylistener ...thanks, you are right about Nico- I googled and found that she played in 1974 on the same day as Gong, Kevin Ayers, Kevin Coyne and GT Moore etc... (but how about Toots and the Maytals, which one was that??) happy days :)

[BigMoe96]

This song was off his album "L"..........from the looks and sounds of it the "S" and "D" were missing from the album title.

[kurtizzyflush]

@BigMoe96 I was in college when 'L" "SD" came out so I'm right there with ya. This is very good schtuff!

[DAVWAVE]

@BigMoe96 Is that a joke or an inside joke?

[doubleotwentyone]

Love it! Thanks for posting...

[mashtones]

"L" (the album this song is from) was produced by Todd Rundgren and released in 1976 the same year Rundgren's own album "Faithful" came out with his own two spot on covers of Beatles songs of that period. Members of Utopia played on both albums.

[glorfindello]

I never overlooked this , it was always great!

[kingofthekop100]

yes i was at that gig also, got there early to make sure i was 1st in the que(and i was), of all the gigs iv'e been to over the last 30 yrs this was the highlight, a musical genius up there with jimi without doubt, i only wish he would release a new album and tour it, perhaps the bbc may release the full unedited rock goes to collage gig one day too

[ginsingian]

Hillage as allways been a legend..

[1966rubblerouser]

Forgive my ignorance, but I'd never heard this song before...now I can't stop playing it!

I've just started following Gong (better late than never) and saw him at Manchester this year. What talent!!

[scallyhunter]

mate, i tried to get to that show but it was sold out. i was absolutely gutted. probably never get the chance to see  the steve hillage band again :(

gary numan was playing in the bigger hall at the academy so they couldn't move the gig. damn 1980's electro-pop artists!

glad you enjoyed it tho! *sniff*

[pixiewilson42]

Gong literally tour all the time,Steve Hillage is still doing stuff with Miquette Giraudy+System 7 ,so you def should get to see him.That was his 1st live tour with Gong for years+I'm sad you missed out

[scallyhunter]

yeah, ive seen gong a couple of times, years ago, and seen system 7 play over the years... but the hillage band is a different story!

that, to me, is the holy grail!

i met hillage a few years back and he was the very warm hearted man i always thought he would be.

[pixiewilson42]

great. night..have wanted to see Gong+Hillage play together for 25yrs+it was brill!! This song is the Beatles originally,very psychedelic,notice the way he goes into playing Master Builder+Rainbow Dome towards the end

.Hope you had a great nite in rainy Manchester,I was totally straight+felt off my head .!!.....great music+projections.David Allen's white pixie suit was the best,just think he is 71+Gilli Smith space whisperer is 76 yrs old.....we we're privildged I reckon.love+peace

[pixiewilson42]

I've seen System 7 in Glastonbury [think it was 95?] great gig+Daevid Allen was on stage too for a bit....I got his hat in exchange for a joint!!! Haha...shook Steve Hillage's hand+he seemed like a really lovely , warm HUMAN being .

Cheers for your reply,take care L

[ArkanTheClean]

@1966rubblerouser Its from the Beatles Yellowsubmarine

[minty448]

He looks like Tiny Tim!

[myownservant]

It's a real beauty this performance

[telekid349]

saw him last night at exeter he was amazin gbut there all so ol

[ozrics62]

went to see him on the open tour in sheffield england superb

[scallyhunter]

i think this is the best video on youtube

[1966rubblerouser]

I'm inclined to agree....

[pazzensutra]

This is a cool version of this Beatles' song. I have always dug this song. I like the slight delay on his voice, too. Very nice.

[dilli118]

check out more hillage from the 70s, everyones a winner and gong, live the dream.

[dilli118]

"dude" that takes me back, when i really didnt give shit. "thanks"

[54spiritedwill54]

This is just the best!!!

[McMunchy]

I like the dude clapping at the beginning XD

Dude,this is brilliant, I love it!

[FatherTiresias]

(late reply but...) the "dude" clapping at the begining is Basil Brookes. If you look way back in the comments (2 years ago) for this clip you'll see he gives a detailed list of players etc. He is a great bloke. I had the pleasure of working with him (not music, sadly) many years ago. Go Basil!

[thebeatles4ever]

Wow, I never knew that "It's All Too Much" was covered before! Quite a terrific song; an oft overlooked gem in the Beatles' stockpile.

[TheSanityInspector]

It's amazing: this song would be a career best for so many bands, but for the Beatles it's a minor album track. Kinda scary, how good they were.

[lazlocarreidas]

scary, lol

but what you say about the song is true

[OrpheusIsThe1]

@thebeatles4ever It was also covered in the 70s or maybe early 80s by a band called The Loving Awareness Band. They were promoted a lot by Radio Caroline. If you can hunt that version down it is absolutely awesome, blows this into a cocked hat I'm afraid. But then again that is only in my opinion. But give it a whirl and you may be pleasantly surprised. Good hunting.

[WhiteNacho]

Who's Steve Hillage?

[pmf598]

well he's a guitarist . . . innit . . . he was pretty good at an outdoor gig like this

[jongreek]

His tuning sounds off- drag. I liked his version of the tune on record.

[sonofcy]

Spot on mate, always loved this track!

[NickDuvet]

This was filmed at the free concert put on by Queen in 1976. Hillage's performance sticks in my mind because at one point a fight broke out at the front and Hillage got VERY ANGRY (for a hippy) and threatened to stop the show. The other notable thing about the support acts that day was Supercharge's bald and burly front man Albie Donnelly came on wearing a white leotard, a la Freddie. And Kiki Dee appeared with a cardboard cutout of Elton.

[scrumpymanjack]

Nice anecdotal detail, nickduvet. Your comment really adds value and gives a flavour of what the concert was like. Thanks.

[FredDude27]

Not too bad a cover!

[fmsoundman]

This footage looks like Deeply Vale Festival 1978.

Any offers?

[Berleb]

Too bad he is out of tune . One of my heroes.

Seriously you couldn't getme playing without an echo chamber. A True MORON

[famulous]

Before pitch transposers, Britney Spears and "live" albums sent through the wash before release, people used to go out of tune occasionally during live performances. It's a real shame you seem to have never been to a live concert.

[Berleb]

Just little misunderstood.i've seen him live numerous times....i the moron

[javpanda]

Would you believe i seen them last year as Mirrorsystem and i sat through it thinking who's that old cunt and bird using all the old steve hillage and gong samples.

[nbelsky]

Better then the Beatles original.

[stuartpotty]

good beatles cover

[ixnayanday]

My first Steve Hillage show and what a show it was. What a joy to see this so many years later. Wowza.

[daughtystreet]

>Boy could he play guitar. Who is that on drums? Swear to God it looks like Clive Bunker...

He used to have this amazing Brazilian drummer, but he's not on these videos..

Saw him many times, best gig 1976, Planet Gong, Manchester UNI...

[FatherTiresias]

Clive Bunker, yes indeed. If you look back at the earliest comments Basil Brookes has supplied the full personnel list - including himself. It was my great pleasure to have worked with Basil (way back), but sadly not in the music industry. A great character - I never knew about his dancing ability!

[freenoiseuk]

Saw him play last year in Amsterda at the Gong Fest - still incredible actually. This stuff and some of the new techno trance with wife Miquette Giraudy as System 7. Wickid. Hello Dawn. xxx

[ahorwood]

Steve was a real star. I was once in a pub band in York and Steve Hillage and Fred Frith came and watched us. We were shite. After our beer break it was obvious no-one wanted to hear us again. So our guitarist, Fred and Steve sat down and played a set of pop standards. (Including Hurdy Gurdy Man). One of my best ever performances. ;-)

[Brockasuk]

Saw them in 75/76 at Newcastle City Hall a couple of times. Used to fancy the keyboardist

(M Giraudy?).

Dont know why I did..but I was 15 and ver very d r u n k

[twinneck1]

Yes this was the Hyde Park gig, Sept 18th 76. I had never heard of Hillage before. I remember in one of his very long solos a couple of hundred bikers started fighting near the stage and after a few minutes he shouted "hey you boys, stop that F****** fighting" and they just carried on. In the next very long guitar solo it was still going on and he shouted again "If you don't stop that F****** fighting I will never play live again". About another two hundred people dived into the fight.

[mellotrongirl]

That synth...sounds like Rundgren meets New Trolls Atomic System. Hey, anyone have any Arzachel/Uriel-era Hillage footage?

[harrynicholas]

I didn't know this was on and was wandering through the park - this came wafting over the wind and 'blew my mind'. One of my all-time-favourite tracks (Beatles) but on the day this was goose-pimply. Thanks for posting this - it's what 'tube' is best at. Where are you now Wendy?

[burgersoft777]

We stayed up all night and then hitch hiked to London, by the time we got there it was already pretty difficult to get close to the stage. At the time the material was fresh and L was a reasonable constantly good set. It is not supriseing that it sounds a little rundgren influences as he produced the LP. Also those EMS synthy a's have a certain sound like no other synthesizer produced before or since.

[terrysteward]

crikey ive only just spotted, this WAS the hyde park gig i saw !!

[burgersoft777]

I loved Hillage live his gigs were always really amazing. On record I find the Lyrics a bit to silly a lot like gong great music crap lyrics. The Live LP "live Herald" is well worth buying though.

[harrynicholas]

I imagine you know, but in case you don't this is a beatles song, and it always sounded very George Harrison to me...

[hypnotekk]

Hillage is still extremely celebrated.

Go to this years Glade festival, and watch System 7.

Hillage rules.

[beagleheadfred]

Steve is still going strong is he?? aw God Bless him!

[donestoring]

Steve is now part of system 7, go to google type "system 7 hillage. "

[15chipshops]

If you want to hear another ridiculously underrated guitarist then check out a band called 'Be Bop Deluxe'. The guitarist is Bill Nelson from yorkshire. My number 1 guitar solo of all time is by Be Bop Deluxe on the song 'Crying to the sky' and 'Axe victim' is not to far behind...Well worth a purchase.

Would like to hear feedback...

[burgersoft777]

When you say underrated do you really mean forgotten ?

Both Hillage and Nelson where certainly celebrated during their hay days.

[15chipshops]

Yes, certainly forgotten but i also feel they have never received the recognition they truly deserved. When was the last time you saw either mentioned in a list of the top guitarists (say top 20, top 50 etc...)by the so called experts? Never. Ok! neither enjoyed a HUGH amount of commercial success so do these experts feel they can only mention household names in these lists? If so it's very wrong...These are not the only two guitarists that have fallen foul of this wrong doing.

[15chipshops]

I would say for starters the likes of Danny Gatton, Leslie West, Michael Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, Tommy Bolin and Greg Koch fall within this category.

[johnnybacardi]

You are right sir. Nelson's solo on "Crying" is one of my absolute favorites.

[terrysteward]

That happens to be one of my favorite bill nelson bb deluxe solo,s too, as for steve hillage, i saw him twice, once at the kursaal in southend on sea essex uk, and he also when he appeared on the bill with queen when they did their free concert in hyde park

[beagleheadfred]

An aquaintence gave me a be Bop Deluxe greatest tape I've since misplace it but it was really great and yes the lead solos were cool.Have to try downloads some or should I try find the vinyl? oh choices.

peace!

[15chipshops]

Ridiculously underrated guitarist. One of my favorite Hillage songs. Best album for me is 'Motivation Radio' which includes one of my all-time Favorite guitar solo's on 'Hello Dawn'.

[lanclad56]

had to be around 76....check out his album "L" which is a classic....he was truly a GOD of his times.

[TheSanityInspector]

I love this song, but have never hear Hillage play before now. Wow! Please, when was this performance? TIA.

[burgersoft777]

This is the Hyde Park free gig of 1976. I was there and Queen was the top of the bill act. We only went to see Hillage and left before queen came on. This was his first gig as a solo artist. I caught Steve live a number of times the Album "live Herald" is well worth buying BTW

[beagleheadfred]

This was his first gig? you;re kidding me.I remember when I lived in England I was always catching clips on Mr Hillage on telly even like BBC 2 very late at night before they went to sleep,lol

Peace!

[burgersoft777]

It was his first gig as a certified solo artist. Of course you could claim that fish rising was his first solo album and so a lot of the late gong gigs were Steve Hillage band gigs. In fact Fish rising is more of a PARAGONG recording. I bet the clips you recall were around 75-77 when he was really quite a big draw.

[beagleheadfred]

Yeah burger,I can't even remember the titles,but vids with loads of dry ice and Steve had the longest hair,it looked very spacey and heavy at same time.I like his music,but have to get more familiar with it.Cheers!

[burgersoft777]

I recall that he did a set on the old grey whistle test. I believe he did his version of hurdy gurdy man written by Donovan and then another track from L and was still playing as they closed the show.

[beagleheadfred]

Gosh I used to love wathcing that on a Sunday eveing before I went to bed(I think),on BBC 2?.Way before I moved to Canada,ahh the good old days and good old music!Do you know of a Brit band once called 'Sky" same type of genre?

[burgersoft777]

Yes sky was something of a super-group, maybe a little to M.O.R. for my taste, ex- curved air members and a classical guitarist if I recall correctly.

[burgersoft777]

Yes I recall Sky a super group of sorts with a ex-curved member and a classical guitarist of some reputation as a serious musician. I found Sky just a little to M.O.R. for my taste , but they certainly could play.

[beagleheadfred]

I just remember catching them once again on telly in the UK,have never found a thing about them over here.I found their tunes were really moving and spacey,atmospheric,I loved them.

I used to love Sad Cafe too a band you also hear nothing about over here.Canada has missed many great bands.

[wattienz]

Hey Burger - Are you sure it was the OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST? I have the TV footage of ROCK GOES TO CLOOEGE but dont recall if there was an OGWT. If there is - I would love to grab a copy.

[burgersoft777]

The Steve Hillage band was on the old gray whistle test on 02/11/76 , the tune was Hurdy gurdy glissando from L. I did a little research to confirm this.

[FatherTiresias]

This is right, I went to see them on or around this time and remember the OGWT appearance as you describe. Strange how I can remember this 5 or so minutes from 30 years ago but have no idea where I've left my car keys!

[31stevieP]

This is just the best!!! I was there and wish I could have a tme machine to go back. Now it realy is all tooooooooooo much!!

[PATTISMITHROCKS]

i cantbeleive im not the only one who has this album-i forever love this song but steve adds so much to it-i actually bought the lp just because this song was on it(never heard of him before the lp)thanx thanx thanx for this video truly amazing!

[gilbertgreene]

yes I was there, aged 13, me and my mates had filled an old dettol bottle up with whisky. hillage supporting queen, kiki dee also played with a cardboard cut-out of elton john doing don't go breaking my heart. i went on to see hillage a few times after this. great to see.

[RickTransit]

Fantastic - I was there! I don't remember him being so out of tune, but there may have been a reason for that... He was my hero in the late 70s - glad to see that there are other people who feel the same about him. Thanks for posting this.

[stevehillen]

Love it

[buddhastalin]

one of my favorite steve hillage songs. thanks for the upload!

[Sailawayraymond]

interesting design of username, buddhastalin !

this should be called Steve Hillage record of George Harrison song :)

[hafstrat]

Takes you back doesnt it.... aaahhh... always loved his notes and vibrato...

[johnnybacardi]

Boy could he play guitar. Who is that on drums? Swear to God it looks like Clive Bunker...

[shroomangel]

I've had an unwatcheable copy of this complete show for years but it's amazing to see it like this! More please!

[andyhairbear]

Mega! Why wasn,t I there? At Reading instead living in a tent and drinking beer!

[theproffet]

Marvelous! I recall when the L album came out, back when I was quite young--thanks!

Oh, had to add this to my Youtube progrock group--I know many Hillage fans who had been searching . . .

[tpatgod2007]

this is knebworth 1977 so i believe

[canterburyscene]

"It's All Too Much" was written by George Harrison, not John Lennon. It was after hearing it on the sound system of Frankfurt's Zoom Club where he performed with Khan in 1972 that Steve decided he had to cover that song.

[thejahlion]

good tidbit...he tell you? you read an interview somewhere? is there a good book out there on him?

THANKS

[quantise]

Lovely bloke, fluid guitar player, great band. I had a teenage crush on Miquette.

[aprilinbloom]

I saw him three times including this concert, but my faverite time was at deeply vale 78

[griffex]

Thanks Boojum.

Anybody going to be at Gong un-reuniun,Amsterdam,Melkweg,n­ext week?

Three evenings of psychadelia.I am really looking foreward to it.

[TonyHendrix7]

Saw him at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow many moons ago,sheer genius.

[CFR206]

Great stuff. Saw Hillage and Gong loads of times. A truely great innovative guitarist who was also into one of my passions at the time : ley lines!

[dodd4721]

Like water in the desert! One of the most underated and innovative guitarists this country has ever produced, couldn't agree with mindflightonline more.

'Palm Tree Love Guitar' on video would be a dream come true.

[IzzyMorphiis]

Steve hillage is thE greatest prog guitarist ever even tho he fucks this John Lennon cover song up a bit.And please upload more Steve Hillage.THanx!!!

[TheGent2]

Actually - I think it is pretty true to the original. Another good version is by the original (pre Steve Perry) Journey. Oh...John Lennon didn't write or sing this....it was George Harrison.

[Stratocastermagic]

I saw Steve Hillage a couple of times with his own band and once with the Shamal-era Gong. Even spoke to him once...

[tanhouse]

This is great, thanks for posting it !

[cyggy]

Always great to see Hillage (certaily no guitar ZERO) , I saw him live twice , I didn't know Pierre Moerlen had passed away , sad!

[cyggy]

Always great to see Hillage (certaily no guitar ZERO) , I saw him live twice , I didn't know Pierre Moerlen had passed away , sad!

[ladyjeans]

Saw Hillage at the Rainbow and the Venue in Victoria. Just a great guitarist... anybody got any footage of him doing tracks from "Green" especially "Unidentified"?

[pipps9]

thank you gong and steve hillage were a big part of my life i wish i could be there in november

[NoelGrassy]

Thanx for this! Hillage was so far ahead of his time. When he opened for ELO in SF 1975 I think , they boo'ed him off before the first song was done. But this is tasty! Please post more Hillside-Village!

[JOYDIVISION111]

motivation radio made my trip a real trip,opened up the corridors that night

[23arkan]

Could never understand why he wasn't more popular.I know there is more Hillage footage out there somewhere.I remember seeing a British TV show in the 70's with 3 complete songs from Motivation Radio - Searching For The Spark, Not Fade Away, and Radio. Would love to see those again.Can't remember name of show they were on, but it was a weekly show.Also if anyone is unfamiliar with his early material you should check out "Arzachel" and "Khan - Space Shanty" amazing albums.

[FatherTiresias]

This may have been 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' the only real BBC outlet I can imagine playing SH. I seem to recall an earlier performance on that show of Hurdy Gurdy Man/Hurdy Gurdy Glissando from L. I saw them at Exeter Uni in '76 promoting this album.

[OriTheEep]

Reply a little late but...

Hillage did a Sight and Sound performance at about the time of Motivation Radio, I think. The audio recording certainly still exists because Windsong brought out one of their unsatisfactory mish mash CDs of live performances where they "blended" this gig with another In Concert performance missing out quite a lot of each. It would be nice to see the whole thing out on DVD.

[Spillage66]

Oh dear! Sub Marine Captain Spillage with his guitar badly out of tune! Poor fucker didn't know what to do there. A shifty semi tune up mid way nearly sorted it. But the mix was shite.

Still good to see him again. Pity there's no Pierre Moerlen *RIP* on here. Only footage I've seen him with is Oldfield, live and Knebby.

[aliensporebomb]

BASIL!  Hello mr. synthesizer! Oh my God, amazing. I'll be checking that out if I can. Amazing this footage even exists, never got to see Steve/Gong/System7 live so this is as good as it gets for those of us stateside. Thanks for posting it.

[phlebetamon]

"Oh no! Steve Hilliage!" more please^^

[basilbrooks]

Steve & Miquette will be playing in Gong, Steve Hillage Band and System 7 at the Gong Unconvention in Amsterdam in November. Basil will be playing with Zorch.

For more details see: http://www.planetgong.co.uk/ga­smains/fly.html

[basilbrooks]

This was actually at a Hyde Park free concert supporting Queen, this lineup's first gig.

Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig): Drums

Colin Bass (Camel, 3 Mustaphas 3): Bass

Basil Brooks (Zorch): EMS Synthis

Miquette Giraudy (Gong, System 7): ARP 2600 Synth

Phil Hodge: Mini Moog, Keyboards

Christian Boule (Clearlight): Guitar

Steve Hillage(Gong, System 7): Guitar

[FatherTiresias]

Basil, Good to see your presence here. What a dancer! See your messages to find out who this is...

[neviatha]

Cheers mister.... i'm always trying to get personell information for bands like this.... but it's not always.

Kudos, well done for being part of a pretty good band. I never got into gong untill a few years (i'm 28 so this video predates me a little)... and since then i've been blindly staggering my way through various side projects and solo albums....

Everyone seems to be down on system 7 as it's a techno based outfit, but i'm reckoning that it's actually a prett natural transition for hillage!

[mindflightonline]

Wonderful - thanks for posting this. I wish he'd make another album like Green or Fish Rising instead of his new beat boy stuff.

[tormato1985]

oh man i thought i never a video from steve hillage thanks boojum

[Captainjjb]

yo! Great stuff from a great guitarist.More please! Sometimes I think I'm the only guy who listens to the old albums.

[trigunaii]

I'm listening to his records since the Gong period up to this day. Last time this morning "Open": What a great artist (and Miquette, too). Thanks very much for this video