Squids Genesis Stories and Photos, Music etc.

[ATS]

..right so I need to have a myspace account and I need to then get listed as one of your friends to be able to read them...

errr...

DSP

yeah it juxst took me a whole 3 seconds (literally) to push add to frieds. errr....

[Squids]

Hi Squids.
I found this thread after following a link from the Nick Davis section of the Genesis forum - very interesting indeed. I've just done a session with Nick D'Virgilio in England and he mentioned that one of his friends had been working with Genesis and had sat in on some of the sessions. I assume that was you?

I'm a huge Genesis fan and was just wondering if Tony has got some Mellotron sounds as part of his set-up? The Mellotron-type sounds he used on later tours were nowhere near as good as the latest samples are. It would be great to hear those vintage sounds again in the context of the older Genesis material.

Best wishes

Greg

Yes, Nick also works for Sonic Reality by the way (guess he forgot to mention that part).

I agree it would be great and I talked about it with him at length... doing my best Squids sales tricks to convince him that the Mellotron Choir is legendary and nostalgic... he just doesn't like it! Brings back bad memories or something. He said "But, I had to do so many things just to get it to sound good!" and I said "Well, yeah, and whatever you did worked well. Why not do it again?". This is where he said he wasn't as attached to the old sounds as we are. Oh well. What can you do? However, he DOES use Sonik Synth 2 and there ARE Mellotron sounds in there so he might even use them and not know "This one sounds good!" (and underneath there's some Mellotron sample in there). You never know. He does like Miroslav Philharmonik a lot and those choirs are at least rich and moody ala Mellotronish. But, he also likes the choirs in the Oasys which aren't IMO. No pun intended but he knows what he likes! It's hard to suggest to him "use this instead"... there comes a point where he could say "dude, shut it" (not in those words... or even in any words but you can tell when you can't go any further with your suggestions).

Also, there's a difference between what they'll use live to "get the job done" and what they'll be using in the studio for anything new (either on their own or together... and no I don't know anything or couldn't say if I did about that). The only thing I can tell you is that I personally LOVE Mellotron sounds and every chance I get I try to push them on him if that makes you feel any better! But, I don't get that many opportunities to influence... lucky to have any really since I too have been a fan since the beginning of time. You know Nick and I played The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (or an hour of it) right? That was one of the best gigs I've ever been apart of... the most fun and biggest challenge.

[Twelve Stones]

Thanks for the reply and thank you for trying to get Tony using the Mellotron again! He's a stubborn man when it comes to the older Genesis stuff. Nick said he talked to Tony about the Battle of Epping Forest when he was recording Calling All Stations, but Tony just felt it was a period piece. Funnily enough, I think stuff like Domino now sounds a lot more dated.

Nick gave me a DVD copy of the Giraffe performance of the Lamb - I assume that's the performance you're talking of? I haven't seen it all yet but the taster he showed me sounded absolutely fantastic. It must have been an amazing experience.

Nick did mention Sonic Reality by the way.

Cheers

Greg

[Squids]

Yes, on the Giraffe gig I did the TB part and Nick did the PC. In our element! Haha. Nick just burned me a DVD of it actually. I was wearing his silly USA flag shirt that I borroed from Nick (should have worn a stripey shirt in retrospect).

Battle of Epping Forrest is kind of a period piece though... I can't see them doing it again any sooner than Return of the Giant Hogweed! Haha.

[Squids]

Gear pics from the latest Farm visit:




The mod on the right hand side is actually a built-in phaser.










This is Tony's old dusty Hammon L102. It was painted white and almost looked like a Mellotron for a sec! But Dale (who by the way has been working with them since the mid 70's) said that this was from an early tour where they painted all of the keyboards white.



Here's one of the double necks leaning up against Tony's Prophet T8.

[Electric Phase]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing these.

[ionized]

Thanks Squids!!!

As a long time Genesis fan, it's awesome to see some of the actual equipment they used from the 70's. Incredible music came from that equipment.

[Squids]

Glad you like them. It'd be cool to sample some of the actual instruments they've used. I mean, I've sampled Ricky 4001s before. Although Mike's, as you can see, was modified quite a bit custom. Also that 6 string flat, that's different! The sampling session we're doing there is mostly going to be drums in that incredible stone room that is that big Phil Collins room sound on Genesis records. Here's a picture of that room through the control room window. Not the clearest shot but you can at least get a glimpse:



Nick Davis will even be engineering the sample session and co-producing it with me. I think we'll use Nick D'Virgilio on the kit but may also invite Phil's son Simon along as well just because it would be fun to do so! He's a great drummer as well plus we talked about doing a groove library for the Studio ProFile series anyway... I like to record in the best studios in the world. This one isn't even open to the public (as are some other studios we use) so it doesn't get any more rare and unique as that for sample collections. That is the kind of thing we look for but are of course very ucky to find the opportunity sometimes.

Here's a picture of Nick Davis and I at the console after auditioning a variety of Genesis tunes in 5.1 surround. He's done such a fantastic job with them. It is really a lot of fun to listen to. When these SACDs come out I hope that everyone treats themselves to having it and listening to it in 5.1 It is just a whole new experience.

[Squids]

Okay, if you are a fan of Genesis, particularly of their music from the mid seventies you might enjoy this. Over on the Genesis forum someone made a challenge to do a lyric replacement for "Broadway Melody of '74" updated to 2007. This is highly esoteric I know but here was my entry and I thought some of you (even just two people will do) would appreciate it. A couple lines I put specifically just for Genesis fans wanting a full 5 man reunion in there... when in Rome. But, the rest is general commentary of the day with, of course, an intentional humorous approach (otherwise there'd be no point really... in fact there's almost still no point! haha).

Broadway Smedley of 07

Echoes of the old days fade away
with all the new Madonnas getting more airplay

Britney Spears, escapes her fears and lifts up her dress
Michael Richards and Mel Gibson get buried in the press

"Blood on the Rooftops" waiting, but there's no Steve playing.
Grouchy Peter's still debating, fans at home with their endless praying.

Black Eyed Peas serve split pea soup and the band raps with a loop
The cheerleader waves to her cyber fans, there's a smell of napalm in the desert sand.

Michael Jackson, truth or dare, denies the charade,
He knows, in his bed, there's no Billy Jean today!

There's Howie Mandel with deals from hell, smiling at the big execs, jokes are gone so what the heck
And as the show "So You Think You Can Dance" begins, the children have an iPhone and enter... enter their pins.



----
By the way, if you know the song and want to take a crack at, go for it!

[janka]

Helsinki, here I come....

[nl3]

Hi Squids,
i'm from Rome, Genesis fan, Receptor owner, light and sound engineer, waiting for 14 July Colosseo-via dei Fori Imperiali gig, that will be a marathon to get a good seat in a 500,000/1million people audience.
Waiting for your next fantastic report and update about Genesis!!!
Thanks a lot for your reports and congrats for your position and rule!!!
NL3
p.s. some weeks ago Peter Gabriel was here at Campidoglio to receive eminent recognition for Man of Peace 2006, from still living Nobel for Peace men and women, when Rome's Major, Mr. Walter Veltroni, the best of so rare italian good politicians (i know for sure he's a big and long time Genesis fan) talked about Genesis music during the official celremony speech...maybe hoping to swap that Peter's recognition for a Rome one date reunion...
see in the photo: Peter, his wife Maebh, Nobel Mrs. Rita Levi Montalcini and Rome's Major Walter Veltoni

[ionized]

Squids - At least one person enjoyed your lyrics. One of my favorites from The Lamb.

Good job - much much better than anything I could come up with.

[Squids]

Squids - At least one person enjoyed your lyrics. One of my favorites from The Lamb.

Good job - much much better than anything I could come up with.

Haha. I was gonna say! I thought it was some creative lyric replacement. But, an esoteric thing I suppose. I used to do it all the time with Kevin Gilbert and other friends. That was mostly to bastardize songs we've heard a million times. It was usually nonsensical though. "My hands felt just like two baboons" (Comfortably Numb) I'd also change the words around to Toy Matinee songs to make Kevin laugh.


Anyway I am going back over to The Farm in April some time. So hopefully there will be more Genesis stories. I am also looking forward to seeing them live and I can't wait to get my hands on those SACDs!

[Squids]

Hi Squids,
i'm from Rome, Genesis fan, Receptor owner, light and sound engineer, waiting for 14 July Colosseo-via dei Fori Imperiali gig, that will be a marathon to get a good seat in a 500,000/1million people audience.
Waiting for your next fantastic report and update about Genesis!!!
Thanks a lot for your reports and congrats for your position and rule!!!
NL3

Thanks NL3. Glad you like the reports. Rule? Or "you RUUUULE dude?" Never mind. I rule nothing though.

[nl3]

Hi Squids,
i was meaning "...for your ROLE" in Tony's sound rig, but i'm sure it's properly said too as "SQUIDS RULE OK!!!!"
Ciao,
NL3