Added: 5 years ago
From: bazonics
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  • besides lean-luc ponty john goodman is one of the best progressive jazz violinists ever!

  • one of the best drummers of all time one of my influences

  • I want this video on my 2720 fold unit.

  • You want to learn about dynamics? Watch this video.

  • 1972-1974 King Crimson were definately inspired by this band.

    that's why fripp got himself a violinist

  • Reminds me of King Crimson

  • wowwwww

  • This video is a favorite on Lesotho

  • I definately know where Brand X got at least some of there ideas and sounds

  • part of the reason for the drum set is to protect the other musicians!

  • The bassist must have been so bored playing this song...

  • Saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 70ies. Like the music from that time to today....

    and i like The Mars Volta since i heard at the first time "Deloused in the comatorium". One of my sons told me from that Band and it brings me back in my own youth, i`m 59 now.

    Fine, that are Bands like that, and better than the daily casting shit from radio and TV.

  • Yrs biker boyz. Used this as an intro. Only good thing about that movie. I just can't get enough of this song

  • mars volta is winey garbage, just checked'em out. no comparison

  • damn Billy C. is killing it.... Mahavishnu's music just sounds better as the years pass.... COMPARING MUSIC FOR THE SAKE OF WHO IS BETTER IS FOR LOSERS, one love to all

  • mos def - kalifornia brought me here

  • cliff burton on the violin.

  • Jon Theodore, the first Mars Volta drummer, has been quoted as calling Billy Cobham one of his strongest influences. I'd love to know how many of you who are calling Volta incompetent and their fans ignorant 19 yr olds have actually listened to anything from TMV. Honestly and objectively listened. I'm sure it's close to none. And seriously, why is it a bad thing that one band influenced another and that there are similarities?

  • The song that caught my attention

  • Mahavishnu orchestra sure did influence Mars Volta and I don't see why is that so bad? You can't compare fusion band with prog-metal band. I find them both good and enjoy them both. Mars volta explored some things that Mahavishnu didn't and vice versa. Calling Mars Volta fluffgressive because MO is technically more sophisticated is something that can be seen when fucking snobs are talking. Fuck all of you fusion jazz pricks who preach about how fusion is untouchable, you fucking children.

  • @skutratufahija seriously. i dont get how fans can be so sensitive sometimes.

  • Returned to see this 4 years later...always breathtaking.

  • I actually think that a lot of Between the Buried and me's mellow parts and a lot off there colours album sounds more like this than the mars volta

  • So much hate for Mars Volta, I hate pride sometimes, people act like they're these guys girlfriends defending their mates honor or something. Get over it. Enjoy both, enjoy one, or none but it's not as important as some of you make it out to be.

  • Mahavishnu are communicating in a language that Mars Voltards can't even learn how to say "hello" in.

  • M.O. - the only cool band with a violinist.

  • A friend of mine (Marcus) introduced me to John Mc back in 1973. I didn't get it at the time. I understand and SO appreciate this astronomic talent now. I was lucky to see the Mahavashnu Orchestra at Long Beach California around 1974. Jerry Goodman, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, and John on the double neck. A Magical Eveving I will never forget.

  • thumbs up if you think Biker Boyz is the best movie ever ;)

  • Jam Hammer is surely one of the most interesting and talented keyboard players, I've ever heard.

  • In short: The Mars Volta, while the leaders of the band are ambitious to produce pompous sounding, high energy rock, their musical style is more closely related to punk rock, psychedelia and the avant garde then jazz or fusion. The only comparison I see, is the jazz-rock influenced drumming with "energy" and "speed" on some Mars Volta arrangements, an energy and speed that Billy Cobham had, though Cobham was more musical and expressive drummer, thus a jazz drummer

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  • Hmm Mars Volta is an avant garde noisy hard rock band, who really lack in the melody department and Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-fusion band who played melody after melody and smoke the Mars Volta in sheer musicianship between every member in the group. People who understand the musicianship related to melodic improvisation in jazz and "sophisticated" "classical-like" musicianship opposed to avant garde noisy arrangements where the musicians jam in repetitive "rock riffs", would understand

  • Mos Def - Kalifornia

  • it seems like all phenomenal guitar players, specifically progressive ones, from that era seem to all favor jeff beck as their favorite guitar player

    not my favorite but i can certainly understand why, his wide playing style and musical technicalitly go without question

    mclaughlin may not consider himself on beck's level, and he may not be on beck's level, but he's certainly in the same ball park as beck

  • @Guitarplaya668 Don't forget Allan Holdsworth :)

  • @Moog168 love holdsworth, very hard to come by now though, guitar great that goes completely unnoticed

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  • Damn.....that violin is soooooooo sweet!

  • @7:35 MooG! xD forever RIP Bob Moog.. Billy, you da man.. forever brotha will I admire YOUR drumming skills.. the kids these days, have NO clue.. Churrrrrch!

  • Say what you will about Mars Volta; you don't have to like their songs, you can completely dismiss the talents of their guitarist and vocalist, but the fact of the matter is that those two hire top notch musicians to form their live group that could easily compete with with the technical prowess of any member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

  • This was absolutely amazing.

  • The vocalist for Mars Volta has the most annoying voice...

  • Hmm I find it rather unintelligent when people talk down about one band to bring up their preference... There are much better ways to make your point.

    In my opinion both Mars Volta and Mahavishnu are fucking great, but in their very own ways.

    I definitely understand the comparison between the two bands mentioned above.

    For instance around 3:40 the song becomes very noisy not unlike TMV.

    Anyway both groups have great talent and inspiration.

    Stay positive and keep on loving music \nn/

  • ljzhddcvb alsnv laskn vlkcnj alù vòSKJ::big::big::big::

  • OCTOPUS ON DRUMS DAMNIT!!!

  • dear god YES!!!!!!!!

  • Violin solo is seriously the best solo I ve ever heard

  • 4:50 dimebag lead haha

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  • Dopest violin player everrrrrrr.

  • Another fine Rick baseline (even if John told hm to play it, which i'll bet is the case)

  • and then the sharp object lodged up owlandtree's ass fell out and he/she realized all music is the essence of the soul and transcends human rationalism.

    All music is a gift and should never once be looked down upon.

  • Yea, ... That's MR. Jerry Goodman on violin!

  • @longboarder1960 Glad you mentioned it. While people talk about Mars Volta (what??) and whatever what stood out for me in this performance was JG - he set the tune on fire! And you could tell that Billy was lovin' it!

  • I'm sorry, but just because mahavishnu orchestra is amazing music does not mean that bands such as the Mars Volta are not also making amazingly technical and complicated music. I myself am a drummer, and i consider jon theodore, their first drummer, to be a phenomenal and inspirational drummer. If you haven't listened to deep cuts such as cassandra gemini, concertina or C. Part III, then you can't comment on that band. Great playing isn't limited to one style or band

  • @simonefrein I'm with you on this dude. I appreciate both bands for what they have brought to music. I think the Mars Volta are brilliant and while extremely different from MO their are slight similarities. Jon Theodore of the Mars Volta even said that Billy Cobham was his all-time favorite drummer, and that he was really into his work with MO. And trying to deny the fact that the Mars Volta has some crazy technical stuff going on is just ignorant. They're all great players leave it at that.

  • Jerry Goodman...WOW!

  • Please don't compare any band to MO its just not they same

  • Prog Rock is a 98% British thing, with the exception of 3 or 4 American/Canadian bands, American prog bands are shite

  • @SexyYfronts I think Steve Howe would disagree. All his influences (only THE guitar player when I think of Prog. Rock guitar players) were from Americana roots music, like most guitar players of the late 50's-early 60's. Nice National rally cry. There is a whole world music scene for Prog. rock; Italian Prog. bands like Amon Duul, etc. Now, the CANTERBURY scene was all British, but even the best band to come up out of that scene; GONG was multi national. England has good crumpets.

  • @owlandtree - Just to throw in the McLaughlin is British (from Bradford), played with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the early line-up of the Graham Bond Organization (before being replaced by the late Dick Heckstall-Smith, who went on to John Mayall and Colosseum), and - by his own admission and visible attempts to mimic him on the Crossroads 2007 DVD - his favourite guitarist is Jeff Beck. Hear the two together on 'Django', from McLaughlin's album, 'The Promise'. Beck wins that round.

  • @MrCherryJuice Yes, McLaughlin is British and I'm not sure what your point is. I'm going to sip a nice tall back fat milkshake, lace up some beef-fit on my heels and scope some slime trails at the hick n' spit.

  • You have all missed the point entirely concerning The Mars Volta. If you would take the 5 minutes to watch or read an interview with Omar you would realize that they admit to writing songs in the pop format. They also don't claim to be a fusion band, or a prog band, or anything but a rock band. There are similarities, if you can't hear them you are deaf; probably from having your head too far up your ass.

  • Dear Mahavishnu Orchestra line up 1 members. Whatever you do, please do not re-unite and perform MO line up 1 numbers. The beauty of this music can not be recreated - and part of the endearing appeal of Mahavishnu is that music of this quality is not going to be performed again.

  • Mars Volta? Really? Here we go again. Like comparing Tool and King Crimson or Slipknot and Cannibal Corpse or anything "weird" to Frank Zappa. Mars Volta may be a "Blah-ha-Ginsu-Octopus", but they are NOT to be put in the same category as anything John or Billy Cobham have breathed on. Mars Volta is fusion karaoke, Rubin sandwich, Top 40 retro prog rock. Like singing "Blue Suede Shoes" in Japan..a caricature fluffgressive rock band.

  • @owlandtree <------------ Are you Lester Bangs illegitimate sexual conquest or what?

  • @ABiasOrangatang No, I live in Detroit; he wasn't liked much around here. Sorry I shattered your world by ripping on YOUR band The Muddy Volga.

  • @owlandtree how about theyre just a great band who took some influences from the mahavishnu orchestra?

  • @dapunkof1975 I here John Frusciante loves Zappa, he still sucks.

  • @owlandtree and?

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  • @owlandtree The Mars Volta is musical genius. Mahavishnu is fun,

  • @unDfynedKris Mahavishnu Orchestra IS fun to play. Anything from 71-74', esp. first lineup is great fun! I couldn't see any of the Volta kids accurately reproducing the proven genius of John McLaughlin, Jerry Goodman, Billy Cobham and Jean Luc Ponty (74). The Mars who?? Ga Ga, I just don't get it or know, MTV, top 40 neo hipster fluff. Sorry, no comparison. You are not a musician, huh.

  • @unDfynedKris I just checked out your channel..Rihanna?!!!! and....Maroon 5 as favorited videos?!!! BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHA, oh shit, ahahaha. Sorry, shouldn't have wasted time answering you. You can't even think outside of half 4/4, let alone critique outside of if. You love cute, trendy pop. Too many notes here for you, TROLL.

  • @unDfynedKris - I think you've got it the wrong way around. When Mahavishnu hit arrived, they blew away any and all limitations of what a band could do. Now I'm no fan - no, not at all - but in retrospect I must admit that they were one helluva daring and capable unit. I know Billy Cobham, and though he's a ferocious, drummer, he's also a really down-to-earth, fun, but serious kind of guy who helps out underprivileged children in Central America. Yes, the MV are fun, but the MO were genius.

  • @MrCherryJuice you still know Billy? i need him to sign some records!

  • @jprev912 - If you can make your way to Switzerland, where he lives, he may be willing to do that for you.

  • @owlandtree @CaptainCavemaan goddamn, why are you guys getting so pissed? cool your jets, at least he listens to good music. fucking pussies, "oh no someone compared mahavishnu to mars volta imma cum my pussy blood all over my keyboard cuz im a faggot!" wow. that was crass. thanks for tainting my mood assholes.

  • @MenAmongPoodles Colorful, I like it! You are now the "gurgling bloody cum-bubble guy."

  • @MenAmongPoodles Clearly you're the fucking pussy seeing that YouTube comments (that aren't even directed at you) taint your mood. It's hilarious and ironic that you're questioning anyone getting so pissed when you're the fool who's acting like an upset bitch on the rag over meaningless words.

  • @laylalaylady um, so what are you doing...

  • damn this shit is hip.

  • I saw mahavishnu open for Jeff Beck at the LA shrine. Beck had both bands come out and do 3 encores together. Beck and McLaughlin swapping riffs with Jon Luc Pontys violin...freaking awesome!

  • @awickedtribe - I saw Jeff Beck (w/Rhonda Smith, Jason Rebello, and Mahavishnu's post-Cobham drummer Narada Michael Walden) last week, and he played 'You Know You Know' in tribute to John McLaughlin celebrating his 70th birthday. Beck was hugely influenced by Mahavishnu (he would have know of McLaughlin from his days with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the early line-up of the Graham Bond Organization) and that is evident on his 'Blow by Blow' and (especially) 'Wired'.

  • @MrCherryJuice I saw Jeff beck live last night!! It was totally totally mind-blowing! He and his band are brilliant!

  • @BongHooitz I want to go see him so bad, even moreso for 1974 era

  • dear mahavishnu orchestra: please reunite with this lineup and come play a show in vancouver so that i may have the privilege of witnessing a miracle of musical genius.

  • Mos def uses this riff Jill scott uses it

    (see: Mos def kalifornia and jill scott the real thing)

  • Phil Collins on Keyboard!

  • man mcglaughlin is a beast!!!!!!!!!!!!! this song is deliciously tasty!!!

  • Amazing! People who can actually play their instruments!? What a concept! Instead of having your stuff fixed in a studio, timing pitch and all. The Inner Mounting Flame is pure magic!!!! Check out Gong's, "Expresso II" or Hawkwind's, "Space Ritual" for further enlightenment...but you already knew this. Enjoy......

  • Amazing...

  • Man, I love YouTube! I grew up listening to (and still listen to) this band. I've seen Cobham about four times but never have seen McLaughlin or Mahavishnu. The audio is even not too bad on this cut.

  • 16 people are just overly pissed that they cant play like that...even though nobody without supermahavishnu powers could

  • @cduffy624 - I think they're pissed because they were misled by the term 'Orchestra'... likely thought it was a type for the Minneapolis Orchestra. I know I have a difficult time telling people that the Orchestra isn't and orchestra.

  • he's really excited at 3:52 great moment!

  • Hey! These guys are pretty good. Prettyyyyyy, pretty good.

  • i had the priviledge of experiencing MO on 2/27/72 at the old guthrie, mpls. nearly 40 years later...i'm still awe struck.

    John McLaughlin - guitar

    Jan Hammer - keyboards

    Jerry Goodman - violin

    Rick Laird - bass guitar

    Billy Cobham - drums

  • @grandpre1952 Very, very fortunate - I'm not surprised at your memories of the MO.

  • @4:00 Classic JLP. I'll bet his elementary school violin teacher is rolling over in his grave saying, "Non, non, ce n'est pas la façon dont Charles Auguste de Bériot l'aurait fait." LOL. Hands down, the answer would be, "Dang, Skippy, bébé."

  • @VidConcepts

    The only problem is: it's NOT Jean Luc Ponty--looks like Jerry Goodman, the first violinist in MO. JLP came later, but both of those cats could play.

  • how does he get his effect to sound almost identical to the violin player (or vice versa)? in meeting of the spirit they're almost indistinguishable.

  • without a doubt the most technically skilled band ever secound best drummer, top ten guitarist, great violinist, amazing organ player

  • fukkk yea i very much agree with the caption

  • jan the man!

  • @daftweebrush

    Indeed.

  • most excellent vid, I've seen a few that were unwatchable, this is amazing, just as pristine and head-spinning as their studio work was. wow wow wow thanks for posting this on Youtube

  • Violin solo beats all guitar shredders as well.

  • One of the best drummers ever! Thanks for postin this .

  • In agreeance with Ro Ross. When I heard Mos Def's song I immediately liked it and went searching for the original sample. Really like the song but I LOVE this performance!!!

  • Kalifornia!

  • "Billy Cobham is hitting those skins as if his very life depended on it"

    not disrespectful in any way:

    but his life were actually depending on it, it was his living! Lol!

    i am a former drummer, i listened a lot to MVO and Billy at the time back then.

    thank´s for the clip! - all the best - Levi

  • @SuperPlectrist Technique is everything! Until you have technique, you have nothing! So, cultural expertise means nothing without the technique that you enter their domain! If you walk into Harlem, you'd better speak their language!

  • anybody know if jerry still plays, what a great musician, saw this band years ago, along with weather report, wow, couldnt listen to the radio for weeks

  • everybodys lives depends on billy cobham hitting those skins.

  • Sampled by Jill Scott and Mos Def

  • Its all a farce until Jerry and Billy get together!

  • @SuperPlectrist You must not know many asinine statements. Being Irish I know very well the history you speak of and how the English viewed the Irish. It seems you determine to disqualify everything I say from one "little" point of disagreement. So be it. Pride always cripples the character.

  • double neck guitar awesome

  • SSSSSSSSSSssssssso Strong, j really like this song, raide dingue de cette musique,

  • jazz through pumped marshall stacks,violin with a wahwah,cobham, man ,this ruined me 40yrs. ago,and i'm still not right!!!!(primus,anyone?)

  • @trinitybluesman

    If you closer look at their links you will see that the violinist playing the violin like a guitar. wonderful

  • If someone after this has something against black people, he should be shoot in the head yesterday. The drummer is insane and the band is perfect.

  • Jerry and Billy shine together in this masterpiece performance. Why? Both the Jews and Africans were slaves for many years in their history. When you hear their groove together, give a sense of the centuries of their mutual oppression; and watch how their deliverance and freedom is explored together! Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Hammer, nor Mr. Laird could unite the way Jerry and Billy did in this grand demonstration of deliverance from tyranny. This is why men listen to Jesus Christ for His promises.

  • F*** YES!

  • Best fusion band of all time.

  • An interesting bunch to say the least.

  • @MichaelPalinFan2008 I have no doubt they will be relieved to know you consider them "an interesting bunch."

  • Amusing that the caption comes up "John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra", as that incorrect title was one of the factors that caused tension in the band.

  • @maqster Yes, Gibson EDS-1275

  • I hope when Billy Cobham departed Mahavishnu that it was on good terms. I mean c'mon....and then from Cobham to Michael Walden. Incredible time period

  • @69torus And btw, some of that "art" created with Walden (Narada) and Ponty is too awesome to be refused, as well...

  • @dkofva Oh I'm certainly not refuting anything post Cobham. Mahavishnu took another leap with Ponty and Michael Walden. I meant that replacing Billy would not be easy. 

  • Awesome! Cobham is a beast.

  • The way they played this song is in 12/8 time signature.

  • Awesome, how can I get this version on my ipod?

  • Whoever hit the dislike button obviously has no idea what music is.

  • OK, now I consider Jerry Goodman the equal of any Electric Violinist. Up till now I've always thought Didier Lockwood and L. Shankar were better but Goodman is just mastering the format here. Swing, Fire, Fight, and Flight.......and Billy is right there burning perfectly along. Damn........this was dreamlike?

  • @spiritwind2 Jean-Luc Ponty and Eddie Jobson are worth a look, too.

  • Haha he said mos def

  • can anyone verify if john is playing a walnut gibson eds-1275? that would be sweet! thanks for the upload

  • Mahavishnu cleans the mind.....and there is Only 1 "Billy Bad-Ass" on the planet !

  • Glad to see all of the enthusiasm about MO! For those wanting to know more, I humbly suggest you check out the book I wrote 5 years ago called "Power, Passion and Beauty - The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra." Many of the questions asked in these comments are answered :-)

  • The most epic comment is the uploader's description. Thanks for sharing <3

  • When and where was this, please ?

  • Not only was Mahavishnu Orchestra a technical band, but they played with so much heart and passion. All of the musicians were fully committed to their instruments. Plus, they were way ahead of their time. Listen to those incredible progressive passages. Truly marvelous composition.

  • Jesus on violin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!1

  • @TyrannyInOil

    Guthrie Govan on violin

  • what the hell kinda unbelievable masterpiece i need to mop up my brains from the floor

  • wow

  • Okay John, Jan, Jerry, Rick and Billy. Why did you split up? Fantastic!

  • @thegerrie19561 ... shit happens - between people, particularly of great talent & ego ... or non-ego ... or whatever

  • Never in my life have I cheered so hard for a person wearing an Ohio State shirt.

  • @sawahbuttfuck He could never play [insert]

  • Fuck me that clip gets me every time!

  • makes me sad that people think justin bieber has talent, he could never play drums like this

  • @sawahbuttfuck why even mention him?

  • @pfive ... yea, mentioning that is inappropriate, unless in some culturally analystic context I think is missing....so, sawahbuttfuck----go back to what it is you do best (at yourself more than likely....keep trying)

  • Great source of inspiration!

  • Fuckin Billy Cobham ¬¬

  • Man I need a band like this one!!!

  • 4:42 'til 5:05 : that's just orgasmic.

  • 5:10

  • The Original Mars Volta!!! lol

    I'm 19 and discovered this amazing band!

  • @yondaime17 wait til u start masterbating!

  • @yondaime17 Fuck you I'm 8, and don't compare this to that Mars Volta piece of trash

  • @yondaime17

    Implying that the Mars Volta and the Mahavishnu Orchestra have anything in common... The level of musicianship here and the technicality of the music is in another realm that the Mars Volta hasn't even glimpsed. OH I'M 19 AND I'VE SEEN TWO BANDS THAT SOUND WEIRD TO ME THEY MUST BE THE SAME THING

  • @CaptainCavemaan Exactly! haha!

  • DRUGSSSS

  • Tele van a tököm, hogy ide csak angolul írnak. Tehát: ez a csapat egyenes folytatásaként az 1971 utáni jazzrock/underground bandáknak az akkori legprogresszívebb-intuitívabb zenét játszotta a Világon. De csak ebben az eredeti felállásban! A cserék után lágyult ill. más irányba módosult a dolog. Hiába jött J.L.Ponty, az már nem ugyanaz volt ! És csak most ugrik be: a Syrius legalább ilyen jó volt, ugyanakkor. Ez nem provincializmus, tessék visszahallgatni !

  • you don't know you don't know what the fuck just came out of those instruments

  • Instrumental virtuosos and musical visionaries, the Mahavishnu Orchestra was a band that soared to new heights and burned out much too soon. I would love to see new fusion bands playing this style of music with the intensity and passion of MO. Recently I have seen two bands that are taking this material to task: one is New York’s Mahavishnu Project and the other is New England’s Birds of Flame. Both have great players and a love and feel for this music.