Band with the most literary references? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Metropolis View Drop Down

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Joined: December 20 2004
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Posted: December 23 2004 at 08:12

frenchie wrote:

blind guardian wrote a song called lord of the rings

They also wrote an album call Nightfall in Middle Earth

We Lost the Skyline............

Syzygy

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Posted: December 23 2004 at 15:28

BebieM wrote:

Camel: Snow goose (hmm, it's based on a book, im sure, but i forgot which one )

By Paul Gallico, but they had to take his name off the album sleeve after Gallico objected. I don't know if this is still the case - anybody got a recent CD copy?

Been listening to my battered old copy this afternoon, I'd forgotten how good it is.

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom

Blacksword View Drop Down

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Joined: June 22 2004
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Posted: December 23 2004 at 16:22

Reed Lover wrote:

Blacksword wrote:

Rush, for there work inspired by Ayn Rand, Coleridge, Twain, and the guy who wrote the poem that inspired 'Red Barchetta' cant remember his name..

http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/fosternicedrive .htm

Richard S Foster, dear boy! Wink

Yeah, I knew that. I was just testing you

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

BebieM

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Posted: December 23 2004 at 16:56

Syzygy wrote:

Been listening to my battered old copy this afternoon, I'd forgotten how good it is.

Yup, it is awesome, just like all the early camel stuff

James Lee

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Posted: December 23 2004 at 17:52

Why would Gallico object? I daresay more people have come to his work through Camel than vice versa...maybe they should have done the soundtrack for "The Poseidon Adventure" as well.

maani

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Posted: December 23 2004 at 18:04

As Peter is fond of noting, Tolkien's works are almost without question the single greatest source (even more than Shakespeare, and possibly even more than the Bible) not only of prog references in lyrics, but of prog group names. I have counted at least 20 prog (or quasi-prog) groups with names from Tolkien works.

Peace.

Syzygy

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Posted: December 24 2004 at 09:13

James Lee wrote:

Why would Gallico object? I daresay more people have come to his work through Camel than vice versa...maybe they should have done the soundtrack for "The Poseidon Adventure" as well.

I think the objection had to do with the band not asking for his permission first, and also Gallico wasn't into rock music.

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom

Alucard

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Posted: December 28 2004 at 06:27

maani wrote:

I must agree with Rob, Cert and Ivan: Genesis and Marillion (i.e., primarily Gabriel and Fish) probably use more literary references than any other prog writers. Most are overt, but some are extremely subtle (especially with Fish).

Gentle Giant also used myriad literary references, including (admittedly indirectly) the name of the band.

Peace.

The name Gentle Giant is a reference to the french writer François Rabelais and his book Gargantua and Pantagruel a very funny story about a family of giants mostly interested in sex and food. Beside of the name of the group you got the songs Pantagruels nativity on ATT and the advents of Panurge on Oct. which are directly linked to the story. Memories of old days on MP is a reference to a George Orwell novel.

Edited by Alucard