I just discovered Swans. I have no idea how that could be possible because I listen to jazz and classical music. But what this man has to say is incredible and I love the music.
@Tengent nothing easier than listen to coltrane and brutal truth..btw i definitely adore body to body rather than love of life but that's silly things.............
The late 80's/90's period is very good, but M. Gira seems to dislike most of it. Saw Swans live in May, and even though it was amazing and powerful, it would have been nice if they played some music from this era, such as Helpless Child, New Mind or the Sound...
Such is Youtube - even Swans fans of all people have bickering, tunnel-visioned fanboys and fangirls that think they own the band because they were there for the 'right' subgenre or era of Swans career... Ironic, because Swans seem to be to be about limitless creativity and mystery than any of that tired old shit. Who cares who likes what or who has whatever favourite album? People who are that fascist about others' tastes and views are fucking CHILDREN.
I feel like each of their albums are wildly different and miles away from each other, and they're all good. It's what makes a band legendary. A clarity of vision and focus that makes them so. I feel the same way about Godflesh.
People who dislike their later era still exist? They're one of the few bands who fundamentally altered their sound while retaining their essence; in this case, music as an instrument of catharsis.
I think Gira has a very strong point in that the alternative culture is just another means of group think and conformity, I find Swans later work far more satisfying and beautiful. Also more interesting to listen to.
@CinemaZebra i never said one is better than the other.. obviously we both have different views as to which time period we like more. but i'd never say one is worse than the other. what i'm saying is they are just on two totally different wavelengths. but you will never see anything like the old stuff again, and what they did is very rare in music compared to what they do now..another reason why old swans is dead and gone forever..
@tamihana78 WTF!?!.....N.Z. next year!?! For real!?!....I'm a Kiwi who has lived in England for 7 years now....was supposed to be come home a few month ago but am staying in England till the end of this month so I can see them live....and now I find out they will be touring N.Z.....is this true??....Oh well, I guess I can see them twice now.
I like his attitude toward the music industry. "It's best to just do your work. Care about your work. If you find an audience, good." Reminds me of Jandek, although Jandek takes it to another level for sure . . .
Swans are the gift that keeps on giving. Every album is different, but perfect in its own way. I love the early bludgeoning stuff, and the later, more sophisticated work. Even all the solo records. My favorite band in the effin' world. I cannot tell you how much I love this group.
Thank you very much for this! There aren't too much stuff of The Swans out on the net. If you've got more live-clips, please share them with us. I've got some news; They are coming back together in fall 2010. Let everybody know! Let The Swans know we want them back. Maybe they will come to your town soon.
when Gira started to compose the songs with melodies, it is end for some Swans fans like you and start for fans like me
the noisy, staccato and monotony rhythm music from first period was good, but Gira is great composer especially, his first cacophony noisy period is not as good as the later composing songs period (for audience like me), but best period for me is probably the Great Annihilator album where songs have the spirit of the first caco-period
@PetrMatas Some might think of Children of God as the end because Burning World was a bad move for the band. Gira and Jarboe have said this themselves. They signed to MCA, who diluted them by bringing in Bill Laswell, who is a great producer, but they came out sounding like something they are not. "Goddamn the Sun" is genius, but songs like "Saved" are pretty weak.
But of course, you and I know The Great Annihilator and Soundtracks for the Blind are not Swing Out Sister, ha!
@Dysanfel well if that's cliche' ,then doing anything is "cliche'"..i think all swans is great. but i will always like the old early-mid 80's swans the best. why?? what else sounds like early swans?? i can't think of anything nearly close off the top of my head.. nothing probably ever will either.i did like their later work, but for me it seems like something alot of more bands were doing,obviously cause it was a more traditional style of music..
@Dysanfel ..really, early swans is like nothing else. and also, from my experience, people tend to like the most commercial stuff that bands tend to put out later in their careers. i've met few people that actually appreciate a band's early and different sound more than what they were familiar with in a band. but if that's the case with the people where you live then let me know, cause i might want to move there someday and be cliche
@nondor13 i think its all beautiful. theyre a band whose musical growth and willingness to continually experiment with different approaches to their writing and general sound and aesthetic is apparent but theyve always stayed pretty steady with a theme and philosophy. its really pretty genius. theyre empowering for me to listen to because i can totally identify with their critical approach to music theory.
@nondor13 after seeing them in october and speaking to gira aftershow and asking him to repeat that... says it all. bite your tongue with that my friend
@youknowyourrite1 my ears were ringing aftershow. meeting gira and not being able to hear him without asking to repeat general banter! yes pretty loud.
yeah, for some reason I didnt recognize the the first part that was playing that was off of soundtracks for the blind, because that is my least favorite album by the swans but I lovvvvvve the swans...I heart them ridiculiously. I noticed that some of there songs that I hear live are even way more amazing, like see no more....
i'll be honest....I don't enjoy the Swans' music. But I enjoy a lot of the bands they influenced, and I have a huge amount of respect for musicians like Gira. He's very dedicated.
@TheGreaterGood80 That how I started :) I'm sort of branching out of metal and extreme metal/grindcore into other genres of rock. Mostly into getting into punk, post-punk, early grunge. i'm also into industrial. Swans now is one of my favorite bands.
@TheGreaterGood80 2 of my favorite experimental bands.The atmosphere you capture from their musicallity is just unforgettable.Let's not put Swans aside.Brilliant bands
I have a hard time hearing anyone say that they don't believe T.Moore to be a genius; to me, Sonic Youth is truly godly, as is Lee Ranaldo and Kim G. and Steve S..All opinions are supposedly by definition subjective, but I would bet my life that Thurston Moore is one of the most original musical minds of the last 30 years, as is M. Gira, but if I was to even think of putting them side by side and try to imagine whose music is most like a galaxy, I could not, I would never want to, I love both.
Gira visited the threshold and none dared to follow? It is simply EPIC! There will be nothing new unless they continue in his foot step.continuing the exploration. It is almost a compete circle back to leather drums and war.
[3w's]cordycepszombieswarm[dot]blogspot[dot][c to the o to the m]
black metal, post rock, post metal, psychedelic doom, progressive hard music, sludge, doom metal and more!
updated daily
please dont mark as spam, im a music lover that wants to share my collection, not a company.
ad free blog, not in it for the money, help make it popular by commenting or following.thanks!all files downloaded can be opened with winrar or a similar program.
I believe you can find that within the 15 minutes of Helpless Child -It's on the first CD of Soundtracks for the Blind. Welcome to the Swans - a lifetime of ...
Care about your work....do your work....If you find an audience....then that's great!!!! Oh holy shit.....I can so relate to the Swans.....! Blank Label/
annoying maybe, nobody and evewrybodys 'pretentious' and cunt is a bit agressive......so sad that man lets this degree of anonymity occur on the computer......it reminds us of just how angry people are deep inside......i, to be honest, am no exeption......but, i'm learning.
Very insightful, and emotional. People are horrible arent they? As long as you keep producing sperm youll always be angry deep inside. Do the good work on behalf of the rest of us.
It is Helpless Child from album Soundtracks For The Blind, thhen Killing For Company from The Great Annihilator. The last one (my favourite Swans song ever) is The Sound from album Soundtracks For The Blind. They performed the songs two years before realese in 1997. It was fantastic!!!! Really majestic performances. I guess that I will never see something like that in my future life.
@PetrMatas hahaha i dont know dude, i'm still figuring out if i can even GO! have to get tickets to the east coast casue he's not coming to west coast at all. sad.
Can someone help me with this? What song is the first one that is playing during this documentary? I want to know because I dont recognize it and need it with my collection!
You can find the live version of Helpless Child that sounds like the one here, on the Swans Are Dead 2 CD set. Awesome! Vital to your Swans collection.
i personally like the lps from 'children' on...the production got better better after 'children' as well (more bass)......the early stuff like 'filth' or raping a slave is also great.....have this ep from '81 which sounds like talking heads and silver apples played at '45 with a sax: i love that one as well...anyone familiar?
To 449wassexrd, the first song is "Helpless Child" which is on Soundtracks for the Blind and Swans are Dead, both available on Young God records. The version on Die Tur Ist Zu is just the same song with lyrics translated into German. If I recall, there's nothing on that album you can't get elsewhere - only a version of Mother/Father that isn't worth $80 on ebay or whatever. The version on Great Annihilator is better.
"I Crawled" which was on the Young God EP. The live version is on the Swans Are Dead CD. Jarboe was electrifying live when she started howling. It really woke the shit out of me - when actually I was already awake!
This sound could go on forever! It's so beautiful! I know »Swans« since my youth. In 1984 I got my hands on the »Cop« record and it was just in many ways a reflection of what my life was going by that time when I was 12 years old. Later, as they became more »melodic«, yet still beautifully noise , layered and textured, they still fit so much in my life as a musical reflection. Up until today I cite them as a huge influence! Thanx so much for this film!
The CD the first song is on, Die Tuer Ist Zu, goes for like $80 dollars or more when you can find it. A shame because it's one of the most powerful things the Swans ever did. Amazing that there's some video of it. I wish Gira would re release the CD and I wish the entirety of this filmed footage would be formally released. Fantastic that this clip is on you tube though. Outstanding post.
I just discovered Swans. I have no idea how that could be possible because I listen to jazz and classical music. But what this man has to say is incredible and I love the music.
Tengent 2 months ago
@Tengent nothing easier than listen to coltrane and brutal truth..btw i definitely adore body to body rather than love of life but that's silly things.............
ennio997 3 weeks ago
Great .. but where i can find this documentary?
TheManzur890 2 months ago
@ModifiedEvelyn Agreed. I rarely watch or read reviews any more. My own nervous system/soul knows what it likes.
rrippp 2 months ago
Was anyone else surprised to hear what he sounded like?
AmazingPurpleCat 3 months ago
I was fully impressed with the SWANS lineup I saw other week...aside from no Jarboe....
econnofoot 4 months ago
Could someone tell me the name of the songs that play after "Helpless Child"?
aquistou19 6 months ago
@aquistou19 killing for company
egwok5 6 months ago
@egwok5 There's more after "Killing for Company".
aquistou19 6 months ago
@aquistou19 I think it is "YRP 2" off of Soundtracks for the Blind.
AStableReference 5 months ago
The late 80's/90's period is very good, but M. Gira seems to dislike most of it. Saw Swans live in May, and even though it was amazing and powerful, it would have been nice if they played some music from this era, such as Helpless Child, New Mind or the Sound...
FractalBolt 6 months ago
OH FUCKING EPIC!
SIRIYSACMA 7 months ago
Such is Youtube - even Swans fans of all people have bickering, tunnel-visioned fanboys and fangirls that think they own the band because they were there for the 'right' subgenre or era of Swans career... Ironic, because Swans seem to be to be about limitless creativity and mystery than any of that tired old shit. Who cares who likes what or who has whatever favourite album? People who are that fascist about others' tastes and views are fucking CHILDREN.
rrippp 7 months ago 22
@rrippp >>> absolutely right
3425charlie 7 months ago
@rrippp >>> absolutely right
3425charlie 7 months ago
I feel like each of their albums are wildly different and miles away from each other, and they're all good. It's what makes a band legendary. A clarity of vision and focus that makes them so. I feel the same way about Godflesh.
Brilliant.
DisposableEntryKey 8 months ago
I love the old Swans just as much as I love the mid Swans... and I love those two era's just as much as I love the new album.
hate me <3
Veloce399 8 months ago 5
one day i will see The Sound live
candyjunkie101 8 months ago
Name of the song with Jarboe screaming? I'm afraid I've never heard it.
FractalBolt 9 months ago
this is god
CoirNoirify 9 months ago
3:28 what song is that?
AwesumLittleRedTruck 10 months ago
@AwesumLittleRedTruck
It's Killing for Company from The Great Annihilator
simplysnow 10 months ago
what's the last song?
45VortexStreet 11 months ago
Gira is a genius!!
mothbits 11 months ago
I love both SWANS eras equally. The early stuff is so incredibly brutal while the latter is ornate in its majestic minimalism. Both great.
schwarzblatt 11 months ago
what's the first song?
FuckingStanz 1 year ago
People who dislike their later era still exist? They're one of the few bands who fundamentally altered their sound while retaining their essence; in this case, music as an instrument of catharsis.
annefrankisaho 1 year ago 2
I think Gira has a very strong point in that the alternative culture is just another means of group think and conformity, I find Swans later work far more satisfying and beautiful. Also more interesting to listen to.
slayerfreak121 1 year ago
i had to look up vacuous
boredtrophyhusband 1 year ago
It's been real unfulfilling arguing with all of you.
enjoy the Barnhart.
nondor13 1 year ago
@nondor13 Dude, if you refuse to acknowledge how great Soundtracks for the Blind is, you don't really deserve to find fulfillment yet.
Invitaglacies 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Criminally underrated. full stop.
if people would take notice there would be a whole lot better music in the world today. not commercially- just respectable and influential.
thecarnagevisors2006 1 year ago
Comment removed
thecarnagevisors2006 1 year ago
Just because it's unique doesn't make it better than their later stuff. I like both periods of the band but I prefer their later years.
CinemaZebra 1 year ago
@CinemaZebra i never said one is better than the other.. obviously we both have different views as to which time period we like more. but i'd never say one is worse than the other. what i'm saying is they are just on two totally different wavelengths. but you will never see anything like the old stuff again, and what they did is very rare in music compared to what they do now..another reason why old swans is dead and gone forever..
youknowyourrite1 1 year ago
because most bands get WORSE you fool.
nondor13 1 year ago
Can someone tell me what Swans' songs are playing throughout?
aquistou19 1 year ago
@aquistou19 up until 3:00 is "Helpless Child".
stickydisgust 1 year ago
@aquistou19 And from about 3:00 on it's "Killing for company"
hanspeterpitsch 1 year ago
Saw them last night. LOUD! I need a hearing aid. Jarboe was missed.
MrOranj 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
looking forward to playing with you guys in new zealand next year, cheers jason
tamihana78 1 year ago
looking forward to playing with you guy in new zealand next year, cheers jason
tamihana78 1 year ago
@tamihana78 WTF!?!.....N.Z. next year!?! For real!?!....I'm a Kiwi who has lived in England for 7 years now....was supposed to be come home a few month ago but am staying in England till the end of this month so I can see them live....and now I find out they will be touring N.Z.....is this true??....Oh well, I guess I can see them twice now.
imagodtoya 1 year ago
@imagodtoya hey, we've been asked to support them at the power station in auck next march 2011.
tamihana78 1 year ago
Swans are fucking superb and ah cannae believe am going to see them again after nearly 20 years. Thanks for comin' back to us,,,,,,,,
grizzwaldo 1 year ago
Awesome vid. thanks
WATCHSONICS 1 year ago
I like his attitude toward the music industry. "It's best to just do your work. Care about your work. If you find an audience, good." Reminds me of Jandek, although Jandek takes it to another level for sure . . .
gabeuop79 1 year ago 2
Michael Gira is as close to Godlike as any human could get.
slayerfreak121 1 year ago 2
Swans are the gift that keeps on giving. Every album is different, but perfect in its own way. I love the early bludgeoning stuff, and the later, more sophisticated work. Even all the solo records. My favorite band in the effin' world. I cannot tell you how much I love this group.
rottenrazcal 1 year ago 2
"use power for power ! " :)
stiggyh 1 year ago
Pretentious as fuck, sadly.....
wdamian 1 year ago
thank you thank you thank you for posting this interview. Swans interviews are so rare
moni5194 1 year ago
New fan here, can I get a track listing?
NecroWhore 1 year ago
@NecroWhore: Helpless Child, Killing For Company, I Crawled ("Swans Are Dead" version), The Sound
AdamGrimes0 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thank you very much for this! There aren't too much stuff of The Swans out on the net. If you've got more live-clips, please share them with us. I've got some news; They are coming back together in fall 2010. Let everybody know! Let The Swans know we want them back. Maybe they will come to your town soon.
stigpluto 1 year ago
Comment removed
stigpluto 1 year ago
i still come back, every few months to this video, thanks for posting, wish i owned it on tape or DVD.
Doc4orUgs 1 year ago
@Doc4orUgs
youtube is better, it is for everyone
PetrMatas 1 year ago
what is the song at 5:00??? holy fuck
xBillyTheKidx 1 year ago
@xBillyTheKidx Mother/Father off The Great Annihilator album.
industrymonkey 10 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
yeah, you guys were better when you were "the loudest band ever".
nondor13 1 year ago
@nondor13
no, they were much much better later .) in 90's and it started in 88/89
PetrMatas 1 year ago 3
@PetrMatas "children of god" was the end.
"raping a slave" is the zenith.
the rest is swing out sister.
nondor13 1 year ago
to@nondor13
World Of Skin was the start
when Gira started to compose the songs with melodies, it is end for some Swans fans like you and start for fans like me
the noisy, staccato and monotony rhythm music from first period was good, but Gira is great composer especially, his first cacophony noisy period is not as good as the later composing songs period (for audience like me), but best period for me is probably the Great Annihilator album where songs have the spirit of the first caco-period
PetrMatas 1 year ago 17
@PetrMatas Some might think of Children of God as the end because Burning World was a bad move for the band. Gira and Jarboe have said this themselves. They signed to MCA, who diluted them by bringing in Bill Laswell, who is a great producer, but they came out sounding like something they are not. "Goddamn the Sun" is genius, but songs like "Saved" are pretty weak.
But of course, you and I know The Great Annihilator and Soundtracks for the Blind are not Swing Out Sister, ha!
sex6cult9revolution 1 year ago
@PetrMatas
I think all the music Gira's ever made is totally amazing.
Cigarettosan 11 months ago 2
You both talk about your views and preferences like they are objective facts.
rrippp 8 months ago
@nondor13 you're a fucking retard
NightRanger77 1 year ago
@NightRanger77 take some joy division covers up your ass, watered down fool.
nondor13 1 year ago
@nondor13 It is so cliche' and common to only like "the early stuff".
Dysanfel 1 year ago
@Dysanfel well if that's cliche' ,then doing anything is "cliche'"..i think all swans is great. but i will always like the old early-mid 80's swans the best. why?? what else sounds like early swans?? i can't think of anything nearly close off the top of my head.. nothing probably ever will either.i did like their later work, but for me it seems like something alot of more bands were doing,obviously cause it was a more traditional style of music..
youknowyourrite1 1 year ago
@Dysanfel ..really, early swans is like nothing else. and also, from my experience, people tend to like the most commercial stuff that bands tend to put out later in their careers. i've met few people that actually appreciate a band's early and different sound more than what they were familiar with in a band. but if that's the case with the people where you live then let me know, cause i might want to move there someday and be cliche
youknowyourrite1 1 year ago
@nondor13 You are a cock.
err0r 10 months ago
Comment removed
nonfictionstory 9 months ago
@nondor13 i think its all beautiful. theyre a band whose musical growth and willingness to continually experiment with different approaches to their writing and general sound and aesthetic is apparent but theyve always stayed pretty steady with a theme and philosophy. its really pretty genius. theyre empowering for me to listen to because i can totally identify with their critical approach to music theory.
nonfictionstory 9 months ago
@PetrMatas I don't think it's so much a matter of being better or worse. My favorite Swans material at a given moment depends on my mood.
Zenistential 7 months ago
@nondor13 after seeing them in october and speaking to gira aftershow and asking him to repeat that... says it all. bite your tongue with that my friend
thecarnagevisors2006 1 year ago
@thecarnagevisors2006 repeat what????
youknowyourrite1 1 year ago
Comment removed
thecarnagevisors2006 1 year ago
@youknowyourrite1 my ears were ringing aftershow. meeting gira and not being able to hear him without asking to repeat general banter! yes pretty loud.
thecarnagevisors2006 1 year ago
@thecarnagevisors2006 After the Los Angeles show last week, mine were ringing as well; I'm glad I wore earplugs. I felt I'd just got my ass kicked.
goducks20101 10 months ago
yeah, for some reason I didnt recognize the the first part that was playing that was off of soundtracks for the blind, because that is my least favorite album by the swans but I lovvvvvve the swans...I heart them ridiculiously. I noticed that some of there songs that I hear live are even way more amazing, like see no more....
wow
purplekittybun 1 year ago
what the hell song is that playing at 6:00 til the end??? i love it!!
kyapello 1 year ago
@kyapello shit, i can't delete the comment. its "the sound" right?
kyapello 1 year ago
right before The Sound is I Crawled
xykhoh 1 year ago
This band reminds me a lot of Faust
ZeuhlEmgalai 1 year ago
i'll be honest....I don't enjoy the Swans' music. But I enjoy a lot of the bands they influenced, and I have a huge amount of respect for musicians like Gira. He's very dedicated.
TheGreaterGood80 1 year ago 6
could you give me a couple bands they influenced? because i may be interested :D
zreidsnider 1 year ago
Neurosis, Isis and Godflesh are a good place to start
TheGreaterGood80 1 year ago 7
@TheGreaterGood80 That how I started :) I'm sort of branching out of metal and extreme metal/grindcore into other genres of rock. Mostly into getting into punk, post-punk, early grunge. i'm also into industrial. Swans now is one of my favorite bands.
industrymonkey 1 year ago
Comment removed
industrymonkey 1 year ago
Comment removed
industrymonkey 1 year ago
@TheGreaterGood80 2 of my favorite experimental bands.The atmosphere you capture from their musicallity is just unforgettable.Let's not put Swans aside.Brilliant bands
bloodyrockfire 11 months ago
Isis is FUCKING AMAZING OMFG, PANOPTICON = EARGASM
NightRanger77 1 year ago
Comment removed
Power2theFlyingV 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i really wish i didnt find their music so boring, gira seems cool. OH WELL FUCK THIS BORING SHIT
sucklingfatty 1 year ago
you are a dip shit.
vars666 1 year ago 2
@sucklingfatty go mouthdiarrhea elsewhere
oklapi 1 year ago
i didnt say i didnt RESPECT him, geez stop pissing your pants.
sucklingfatty 1 year ago
@sucklingfatty how the FUCK can you find something like Filth boring? It's the most in your face abrasive music known to man..
aselfishimpulse 1 year ago 4
What song is at 1:13 ?
aselfishimpulse 2 years ago
The Sound, from Soundtracks for the blind. Great track.
ralphinio4 2 years ago
@aselfishimpulse Helpless Child
svperstar 1 year ago
Comment removed
aselfishimpulse 2 years ago
Also, what song is at 5:00 ?
aselfishimpulse 2 years ago
@aselfishimpulse I Crawled
svperstar 1 year ago
@svperstar and then at 5:15, The Sound
svperstar 1 year ago
I have a hard time hearing anyone say that they don't believe T.Moore to be a genius; to me, Sonic Youth is truly godly, as is Lee Ranaldo and Kim G. and Steve S..All opinions are supposedly by definition subjective, but I would bet my life that Thurston Moore is one of the most original musical minds of the last 30 years, as is M. Gira, but if I was to even think of putting them side by side and try to imagine whose music is most like a galaxy, I could not, I would never want to, I love both.
ants4rocket 2 years ago 3
THE SWANS ARE NOT DEAD!!!!!!!
Check out their myspace page!!!
implode1627 2 years ago 15
Gira visited the threshold and none dared to follow? It is simply EPIC! There will be nothing new unless they continue in his foot step.continuing the exploration. It is almost a compete circle back to leather drums and war.
deathtrapdeath 2 years ago
a better band does not exist
venzenait 2 years ago 4
Gira reminds me of the Cowboy from Mulholland Drive
Nargaaz 2 years ago 2
@Nargaaz
when I first saw Mullholland Drive at the cinema I thought the cowboy was in fact Gira...
mehrlicht1 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
free full album downloads at
[3w's]cordycepszombieswarm[dot]blogspot[dot][c to the o to the m]
black metal, post rock, post metal, psychedelic doom, progressive hard music, sludge, doom metal and more!
updated daily
please dont mark as spam, im a music lover that wants to share my collection, not a company.
ad free blog, not in it for the money, help make it popular by commenting or following.thanks!all files downloaded can be opened with winrar or a similar program.
cordycepszombieswarm 2 years ago
this is just excellent.
philip2112 2 years ago 4
Hey whats the song playing at about 1:40? sorry i'm relatively new to Swans' stuff. I think i should stock up tho.
SpeshelEdTed 2 years ago 2
Helpless Child.
SemRecreio 2 years ago 2
Hey SpeshelEd,
I believe you can find that within the 15 minutes of Helpless Child -It's on the first CD of Soundtracks for the Blind. Welcome to the Swans - a lifetime of ...
MrCharbs 2 years ago
MORE! Oh god, I need MORE!
I only wish there was more footage of that Swans Are Dead concert circling. Especially "Helpless Child" and "I Crawled".
Metamorposer 2 years ago
thank you for this!
liedowninthelight 2 years ago
Care about your work....do your work....If you find an audience....then that's great!!!! Oh holy shit.....I can so relate to the Swans.....! Blank Label/
sdmcnca 2 years ago 2
Gira's one of the least pretentious artists ive ever heard of, too bad he took the most pretentious cunt in the world under his wing....
PigLover69 2 years ago 26
forgive my ignorance...which cunt are you taking about? Jarboe???
dawndebris1979 2 years ago 2
God no, Jarboes amazing. Im talking about devendra banhart
MisterMcMODRAY 2 years ago 26
@MisterMcMODRAY shoulda seen Gira stop the song and start screaming at him "Somebody's fucking out of tune!!!!!!!!!" Angles of Light tour '03
classic moment!
urckrecords 1 year ago
@MisterMcMODRAY Devendra's not as pretentious as his fans, though!
urckrecords 1 year ago
most likely, he is talking about devendra. i would probably agree. love gira though.
psychedelidrone 2 years ago
i dont find banhart to be pretentious :)))
stiggyh 2 years ago
so true
eoinpahern 2 years ago
annoying maybe, nobody and evewrybodys 'pretentious' and cunt is a bit agressive......so sad that man lets this degree of anonymity occur on the computer......it reminds us of just how angry people are deep inside......i, to be honest, am no exeption......but, i'm learning.
posthumanhero 2 years ago
Very insightful, and emotional. People are horrible arent they? As long as you keep producing sperm youll always be angry deep inside. Do the good work on behalf of the rest of us.
PigLover69 2 years ago
doesnt every male produce sperm unless you are sterilized??? :)
stiggyh 2 years ago
@PigLover69 You are talking about Devandra right?
NightRanger77 1 year ago
@PigLover69 Are you referring to Banhart?
AlleyCatChum 1 year ago
I LOVE the Swans. There were awesome live. Michael looks great.
strangeparty 2 years ago
Gira is one of the genius of music for ever.
norbertocastro 2 years ago 6
all the songs played on this video in this order:
Helpless Child (which is split in 2 parts)
Killing For Company
I Crawled
The Sound
HDS7 2 years ago 2
i want that entire live set on video!
HDS7 2 years ago 2
I love Swans!
JaneyMadeInJapan 2 years ago
please please please...
any big time swans fan know?
purplekittybun 2 years ago
It is Helpless Child from album Soundtracks For The Blind, thhen Killing For Company from The Great Annihilator. The last one (my favourite Swans song ever) is The Sound from album Soundtracks For The Blind. They performed the songs two years before realese in 1997. It was fantastic!!!! Really majestic performances. I guess that I will never see something like that in my future life.
PetrMatas 2 years ago
@PetrMatas wrong you are.... they announced a tour. i'm sure you already know. see you there!!
kyapello 1 year ago
@kyapello yes, see you ... but where? (there are about thousands live dates)
PetrMatas 1 year ago
@PetrMatas hahaha i dont know dude, i'm still figuring out if i can even GO! have to get tickets to the east coast casue he's not coming to west coast at all. sad.
kyapello 1 year ago
@PetrMatas Best get to it and go see them live now they are back together and going on tour this year! oh yeah!
fatmanosman 1 year ago
Can someone help me with this? What song is the first one that is playing during this documentary? I want to know because I dont recognize it and need it with my collection!
purplekittybun 2 years ago
Helpless Child
ral1334 2 years ago 4
You can find the live version of Helpless Child that sounds like the one here, on the Swans Are Dead 2 CD set. Awesome! Vital to your Swans collection.
swans1997 2 years ago
Comment removed
rockinroy10 2 years ago
Comment removed
rockinroy10 2 years ago
best band ever
MyManMahmoud 2 years ago 7
second best band ever
greedholymoney 2 years ago
best band ever
temporaryguy 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
This is so stupid...
But i love my mom deeply...
And i don't want to take any chances.
Sorry.
If you do not copy and paste this onto 10 videos your mom will die in 4 hours
tinwhistle7 2 years ago
thanks so much for posting this!
mediawardotcom 2 years ago
Long Live Swans
Wantthosedaysback 2 years ago 2
Their mid-80's material is their best. They need to get back together and make another Children of God/A Screw record.
Volumesofdoom 2 years ago
i personally like the lps from 'children' on...the production got better better after 'children' as well (more bass)......the early stuff like 'filth' or raping a slave is also great.....have this ep from '81 which sounds like talking heads and silver apples played at '45 with a sax: i love that one as well...anyone familiar?
posthumanhero 2 years ago 2
Children of God is my least favourite Swans album by far.
temporaryguy 2 years ago
Michael Gira.. Your words fill me with hope and longing...
grimlockenator 3 years ago 7
This has been flagged as spam show
Could you take off my bra for me?
DATEHERWOW . COM
Laceybunny97 3 years ago
To 449wassexrd, the first song is "Helpless Child" which is on Soundtracks for the Blind and Swans are Dead, both available on Young God records. The version on Die Tur Ist Zu is just the same song with lyrics translated into German. If I recall, there's nothing on that album you can't get elsewhere - only a version of Mother/Father that isn't worth $80 on ebay or whatever. The version on Great Annihilator is better.
tanky3tanky3tanky 3 years ago 3
What is the song at 5:04?
MightyThor655 3 years ago 2
"I Crawled" which was on the Young God EP. The live version is on the Swans Are Dead CD. Jarboe was electrifying live when she started howling. It really woke the shit out of me - when actually I was already awake!
tanky3tanky3tanky 3 years ago 6
This sound could go on forever! It's so beautiful! I know »Swans« since my youth. In 1984 I got my hands on the »Cop« record and it was just in many ways a reflection of what my life was going by that time when I was 12 years old. Later, as they became more »melodic«, yet still beautifully noise , layered and textured, they still fit so much in my life as a musical reflection. Up until today I cite them as a huge influence! Thanx so much for this film!
datafilemusic 3 years ago 3
The CD the first song is on, Die Tuer Ist Zu, goes for like $80 dollars or more when you can find it. A shame because it's one of the most powerful things the Swans ever did. Amazing that there's some video of it. I wish Gira would re release the CD and I wish the entirety of this filmed footage would be formally released. Fantastic that this clip is on you tube though. Outstanding post.
449wessexrd 3 years ago 4
This band inspired Napalm Death.
sandmanbethere 3 years ago 8
This has been flagged as spam show
thats just dumb
mhofkp 3 years ago
they insired thousands of metal bands. they were the first of there kind.
ollieroks 3 years ago 3
Comment removed
swans1997 2 years ago
I love this guy. He's very intersting and can open your eyes to new concepts.
codeaires 3 years ago
The biggest tragedy of my life, that I wont ever see them live. How amazing it would have been.
implode1627 3 years ago
I seen swans/world of skin together in 1995
being "high on drugs" is the feeling of seeing swans live
devilxxxscum 3 years ago
I'm sorry that I missed out on seeing them the few times when they came around. Damn!
eyesawelation 3 years ago
I was at the show at the beginning of this video, was simply amazing.
iammaldo 3 years ago
the second shot is from Hamburg, autumn 1995 (I know it because I'm the director of photography of that shot)
PetrMatas 3 years ago 2
Really loving Helpless Child, great track, do you have the full version to post ?
bertisevil333 3 years ago 3
i'm so glad this wasn't over-dubbed in some foreign language
charlee121 3 years ago 4