How did early prog bands finance themselves? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

SteveG

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20503

Posted: October 28 2015 at 11:47

On average, My Dear.

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: October 28 2015 at 12:52

emigre80 wrote:

Dean wrote:

...hang on, so the consensus is prog fund-raising was prostitution and selling cookies door to door...

isn't that how most of us got our start in life?

Which is why I learnt to cook Ouch

What?

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:12

Kati wrote:

At that time most early prog bands the members came from upper class didn't they? Genesis for instance, the only member who was not upper class was Phil Collins. Or am I mistaken?

Middle class, (though I think there is a baron or something somewhere in Gabrel's lineage but I seem to recall that his father was an engineer), but yeah, fairly posh, but not exactly rolling in money. They got a reputation for being aloof on tour and the jokes about them having a hamper of food in the tour van (no bus in those days) persist to this day, however I believe this was because they hadn't any money to go out partying with the other Charisma artists on the tour and the food-hamper was cheaper than eating in cafés and restaurants.

What?

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:17

Dean wrote:

Kati wrote:

At that time most early prog bands the members came from upper class didn't they? Genesis for instance, the only member who was not upper class was Phil Collins. Or am I mistaken?

Dean, that's so good the way you described it all here

you have a beautiful way with words to describe things. Save what you wrote here its really good, approachable yet very clever, nice and clear.

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:18

Very likable and approachable to anyone reading this.

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:21

you have a way to romanticise things so well, making you want to be there lol more prettier than reality :)

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:34

I have to say that Dean is the most grumpiest collab here on PA but once you get to know him he is actually kinda sweet.

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:48

Philately will get you nowhere, but thanks just the same Sonia, compliments are always welcome. You've made a happy man feel very old.

What?

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:58

Dean wrote:

Philately will get you nowhere, but thanks just the same Sonia, compliments are always welcome. You've made a happy man feel very old.

Aww I absolutely did not mean you to feel old, stop it, don't be silly you look hot and you make the picture perfect cake too, what was that Christmas tree shape dessert cake you made for your wife, I can't remember if it was for your anniversary or your wife's birthday, the "cake" you made those balls with filling inside each one ontop of another? You even added that sugar confetti! wow! That is not normal really, too perfect!

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 13:59

Feel old? Ha! I am not falling for that one! Umpft, try a better excuse :)

I need to edit this it feels too sweet and friend lol

Ok you do not fool me, thus stop it!

Edited by Kati - October 28 2015 at 14:00

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:15

dum dum dum bass like feet tapping here waiting for the Christmas tree discussion

verslibre

Forum Senior Member

Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 15007

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:16

Who here actually buys a little tree for the shelf?

eBay

cstack3

Forum Senior Member

VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 6754

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:17

It is well known that these chaps held costs down in creative ways. Many of them shared flats in London (Ray Bennett of Flash roomed with Chris Squire, and Peter Banks and Bob Fripp also shared a flat).

Quite a good interview with Peter Banks, who discusses his tenancy with Fripp: http://www.themarqueeclub.net/interview-peter-banks-yes

I'm not sure how any of them were able to swing a Mellotron in the early days, but perhaps the manufacturer lent some out to give exposure to the instrument?

Kati

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 10 2010
Location: Earth
Status: Offline
Points: 6253

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:21

verslibre wrote:

Who here actually buys a little tree for the shelf?

I don't buy I have a fake small one, it's my mom who can't stop giving me ornaments, so many it's enough to fill up the city centre square tree.

SteveG

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20503

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:22

verslibre wrote:

Who here actually buys a little tree for the shelf?

A Charlie Brown style emaciated Christmas Tree can be bought on Amazon for around $20. Less S&H of course.

This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: October 28 2015 at 14:30

Kati wrote:

Aww I absolutely did not mean you to feel old, stop it, don't be silly you look hot and you make the picture perfect cake too, what was that Christmas tree shape dessert cake you made for your wife, I can't remember if it was for your anniversary or your wife's birthday, the "cake" you made those balls with filling inside each one ontop of another? You even added that sugar confetti! wow! That is not normal really, too perfect!

Croquembouche - a tower of profiteroles covered in caramel... no, that's definitely not normal. Clown

...anyway, moving swiftly along...

Some musicians back then financed themselves just like they do today - by hiring themselves out as music teachers, Fripp did this. Rick Wakeman financed his career by doing sessions work for £20 a session, Bowie's then manager once paid for him to attend a session even though there was nothing for him to do just so Rick could pay his rent that week.

However, as Steve said earlier - Bands got signed and the record label financed them.

What?

Svetonio

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 20 2010
Location: Serbia
Status: Offline
Points: 10213

Posted: October 28 2015 at 15:16

Meltdowner wrote:

Svetonio wrote:

Their parents gave them a money for equipment.

Not early Prog, but on Spock's Beard's first album, they thank their parents for financing them.

Early prog musicians, the middle class teens and mostly the art schools students, also had to practice some songs on the instruments before some good natured papers-pushers noticed them.

emigre80

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 25 2015
Location: kentucky
Status: Offline
Points: 2223

Posted: October 28 2015 at 18:20

Dean wrote:

emigre80 wrote:

Dean wrote:

...hang on, so the consensus is prog fund-raising was prostitution and selling cookies door to door...

isn't that how most of us got our start in life?

Which is why I learnt to cook Ouch

a wise move on your part.

Hercules

Prog Reviewer

Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
Status: Offline
Points: 7024

Posted: October 29 2015 at 06:05

Guldbamsen wrote:

Fellatios down on the docks would be my first guess.

Which docks?

I need to get down there.

A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.

deafmoon

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 24 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 462

Posted: November 02 2015 at 12:14

C'mon...all real musicians know that you don't get into music to make money. There is no money in real music. What do you think all that funny lyrical crap Zappa wrote was for? Do you think he really thought Valley Girl was a great song?

You sweep floors, you flip burgers, you become a brick layer or a house framer.

And if you stay in music long enough...you play weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and Parties only to one day realize this isn't what you got into music to play.

So you burn your tuxedo and start building your own instruments, telling yourself you are still involved.

Then when you are lucky enough to buy a Go-Pro you film yourself playing and post it on Youtube for sharing. That's the business!

Enjoy it as I have over my 43 years of being in it.

Deafmoon