Colosseum
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Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33462
Printed Date: August 09 2025 at 22:22
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Topic: Colosseum
Posted By: kisu
Subject: Colosseum
Date Posted: January 20 2007 at 17:55
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Any Colosseum -listeners here? I couldnīt find any threads concerning them
------------- Reaching the snow In the days of the cold Casting a Spell out of Ice |
Replies:
Posted By: andu
Date Posted: January 20 2007 at 18:00
There is very good JazzRock thread, and from the third page on there was an interesting debate on Colosseum. Here's the link: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30047&PN=3 ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!" 
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Posted By: kisu
Date Posted: January 20 2007 at 18:04
Thank you! ------------- Reaching the snow In the days of the cold Casting a Spell out of Ice |
andu wrote:Posted By: NotSoKoolAid
Date Posted: January 20 2007 at 22:07
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Yes, Colosseum is amazing, especially live. Rarely will you find conversations about them.
We may refer to it as prog here, but in the real world it's just another great band. How many Led Zeppelin and Doors conversations do you see here? |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 20 2007 at 22:11
| More of a C ll fan myself, but Jon Hiseman is terrific either way. |
Posted By: Harkmark
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 06:07
| I only have "Daughter of time" (vinyl). Some very good songs on it. |
Posted By: Fassbinder
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 06:35
Incredible group. Being acquainted with their four first albums (three studio and one live) I may say their music(ianship) is just amazing. Not too easy for perception yet always fascinating. 
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 07:40
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Colosseum's Jon Hiseman is master jazz drummer - just been relistening to his contribution to the 1968 recording, Jack Bruce's Things We Like, also with John McLaughlin and Dick Heck Heckstall-Smith. Tempest (Hiseman's band between Colosseum and Colosseum II) was a now neglected but major rock jazz group, first with Allan Holdsworth on guitar, overlapping with and then being superceded by the legendary Ollie Hassell - i.e. Jon Hiseman has always associated with the very best (not forgetting Gary Moore). Might be worth trying to track down the Holdsworth/Bruce/Hiseman demos of 1979 or 80's , which have become known as The Sherwood Tapes, indicating a possible third phase of a Colosseum-like band. much of the 80's and 90's Hiseman played in his wife's band, the saxophonist Barbara Thompson's Paraphenalia.
------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: oracus
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 07:45
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One of my favorite bands. Hiseman IMO is the most overlooked prog drummer in history. ------------- 
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Posted By: bsurmano
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 14:43
Agreed ! Their primal period (1969-1971) is absolutely incredible, but their second incarnation as Colosseum II was a disappointment for me because of heavier direction taken. ------------- 'Sundown,yellow moon, I replay the past I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast..... Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.' Bob Dylan |
Posted By: oracus
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 14:54
I agree. I like some songs though :) -------------
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 15:01
I've got all three CII albums, as I am a major Gary Moore fan (he's my fav guitarist along with Blackmore). I also have "Valentyne Suite", which is a great album indeed (I have a double CD version including both the British and the American edition) - I'm planning to get the others too. And Hiseman is one of the greatest drummers - too often forgotten in favour of all the Portnoys of this world.  |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 15:20
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I like Colloseum a lot. Sure, now that I've got more experience in jazz classics, they are winded up artists, but music's nice, feeling's great, at all times. Valentyne Suite is a masterpiece, the blues factor they've put on later is interesting or just...familiar.
About Hiseman, yes, great drumming. An example is his solo in the Colloseum Live - The Complete Reunion Concerts (CD to hear, but DVD to really see!). Fans should really love his solo there, it's quite exciting.
Feel bit sad that Colloseum did few works and lived even shorter than the echo of their sound. Their bio, I think, mentions they would have been overshadowed by some other figure of that time, but I actually believe they went on a "slow metabolism" - or, actually, on a fast consuming one. ------------- 
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Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 16:33
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I don't feel Colosseum II owed anything to the original Colosseum. Apparently Gerry Bron, when they signed to Bronze, told Jon Hiseman sales would be better if he called it 'Colosseum something'. I feel CII's sound is far more akin to acts like Return To Forever, or maybe, what Jeff Beck was doing then due to the pronounced synths. But great albums nevertheless.
Colossem are a fave band of mine too, yes. Three great original studio albums and a cracking live album to boot. Not heard the reformation albums but they have been recently reissued. |
Posted By: polyrythmic
Date Posted: January 21 2007 at 23:22
| Jon Hiseman is so underated! A great drummer! |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 00:35
And Moore really shines on those records, his best work I think. |
Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 00:56
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Great music, have problems with the voice however.
Hiseman is brilliant. ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 05:26
Loved James Litherland's* voice (in my top 5 of the so-called blue-eyed blues vocalists), but always felt Farlowe couldn't resist unnecessary vocal gymnastics to the detriment of some songs (ditto Ian Gillan).
* but pity about his mid 90's middle of the road rock album full of instantly forgettable tunes. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 06:13
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20532 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20532 ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 10:41
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[QUOTE=Dick Heath][QUOTE=Witchwoodhermit]Great music, have problems with the voice however.
Hiseman is brilliant.
Dick Heath: Farlowe couldn't resist unnecessary vocal gymnastics to the detriment of some songs (ditto Ian Gillan).
Could not have said it better myself.
 . ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: bsurmano
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 14:26
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Loved James Litherland's* voice (in my top 5 of the so-called blue-eyed blues vocalists), but always felt Farlowe couldn't resist unnecessary vocal gymnastics to the detriment of some songs (ditto Ian Gillan).
* but pity about his mid 90's middle of the road rock album full of instantly forgettable tunes. I've tried to find some Litherland' releases but without success. What'd be the name of this mid 90's album ? ------------- 'Sundown,yellow moon, I replay the past I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast..... Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.' Bob Dylan |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 22 2007 at 17:26
Fourth Estate - released at least 12 years ago on a UK label. I do believe he was playing guitar as part of the pit orchestra for pop and rock musicals around that time - sure I saw his name in the programme for a Gary Glitter musical at Nottingham. Also recall James Litherland appears of the Alexis Korner Memorial Concert triple CD set (recorded 1995 and released by the UK-based Indigo Label), specifically Volume 2 (IGOCD2051). Sings one song and then backs (ironically) Chris Farlowe on 3. BTW the of the AK MC is worth checking out for who's on it. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: bsurmano
Date Posted: January 23 2007 at 04:14
Great !! ; thanks for the info, the hunting starts !! ------------- 'Sundown,yellow moon, I replay the past I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast..... Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.' Bob Dylan |
Posted By: kisu
Date Posted: January 24 2007 at 15:59
I was so surprised when I realized that it really was Moore! How different music he used to do way back in 70īs... but you can recognize his way of playing. Strange New Flesh was amongst my first prog-records, I really listened to it a lot. ------------- Reaching the snow In the days of the cold Casting a Spell out of Ice |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 01:21
| Yes, he was really amazing-- a true metal god, years before Eddie Van Halen and a huge influence on fellow Irish guitarists. His later solo stuff ('Victims of the Future', etc.) wasn't great and seemed to be geared toward selling records, but for awhile in the mid-70s there were few better. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 02:40
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Hiseman is one of the best prog drummers without doubt.I saw Colosseum at the Swindon Arts Centre a few years ago and it was a privilege to seen Hiseman,Greenslade,Farlowe and Babs Thompson.Quite funny as well to see them all bumping into each other on such a small stage!
btw Hiseman said he was inspired to write Valentyne Suite while watching the moon landings on TV in 1969.
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 02:55
Well, I used to dig Gary Moore's Eighties stuff as well. Perhaps not all of his albums were up to scratch, but the live "I Want Moore!" really cooks, and I really love the album he cut with Glenn Hughes singing on part of the tracks ("Run for Cover"). I'm not very well acquainted with his later, bluesy stuff, though I've been planning to get a few of his albums. My favourite Moore guitar track of all, though, is one that is not to be found on any of the albums he has recorded with his own name, but rather on drummer Cozy Powell's second solo album, "Tilt". The track is called "Sunset", and it's absolutely beautiful - Moore used to dedicate it to Randy Rhoads when playing it live. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 03:01
| Wow, Raffaella, I'm a HUGE Randy fan, I didn't know this. I haven't heard 'Tilt', the Glenn Hughes or the live, maybe I'll check my local Amoeba for them. |
Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 04:45
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Colosseum were one of the few bands that steered me towards Prog and Jazz-Rock in my formative years. They remain much loved and their reunion performance was truly professional. Dave Clempson on guitar remains highly underrated, despite his exceptional skills that leave many better known names rather embarrassed. There was a thread on him not long ago.
Colosseum II was ambitious, but perhaps trying too hard. Hiseman is a great drummer and motivator, here it's a bit of a flop. Apart from ripping off perhaps the best ever Stanley Clarke tune and recording it for no good reason, Gary Moore does little more than what he did in his earlier band Skid Row. Playing fast and loud - without a certain feel. Jeff Beck did a much better job at his forays into Jazz-Rock.
I have not kept any of the CII albums, but all of the original band's are still cherished.
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 04:50
| If fiery jazz-rock that completely blew away other bands of their time (even Mahavishnu had already peaked) was trying too hard, I'll take it. 'Electric Savage' is one of the tightest, most intuitive live/studio performances in fusion history. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 05:28
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This DVD is one of the best I've seen
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11382 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11382
Everything you need to know about the band is there.
I have post about Colosseum II, but it seems a lot of people are missing on Tempest (Hiseman's band between the two Colosseum).
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 05:37
| Tempest was a solid band. For their time they were very good, they just haven't aged so well, imo. Hearing early Holdsworth is quite interesting on that first record, though. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 10:07
Personally I think Gary Moore peaked on Skid Row's 34 Hours album when I think he was still in his teens, (in other words, I don't hear Moore play with greater and innovation on later recordings)- listen to the complexity of Love Story.
BTW wasn't Rory Gallagher the first great Irish rock guitarist? ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 10:11
The competition would have been Isotope and Brand X in the UK. Talking of Isotope, check out the second Gary Boyle album Electric Glide where he plays duets with Gary Moore.
 ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: January 25 2007 at 11:07
I have Tempest's two albums- good stuff but I don't find them to be anywhere near Colosseum (especially their 2nd album). But then in my mind neither were Colosseum II, really... 
Would I be right in saying that Tempest were perhaps more hard rock than jazz rock? I don't really see them as a jazz rock band, myself, despite having Allan Holdsworth and Ollie Halsall in the line up... |
Posted By: bsurmano
Date Posted: January 27 2007 at 17:20
You're absolutely right ! ------------- 'Sundown,yellow moon, I replay the past I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast..... Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.' Bob Dylan |
Posted By: mrgd
Date Posted: February 05 2007 at 01:13
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I agree with SEAN TRANE, that the COLOSSEUM LIVES [Live in Cologne] DVD is a must have. Just great performances throughout and as I've mentioned on other threads, an important piece of memorabilia for fans now the masterful Mr. Heckstall- Smith has sadly shuffled on.
On another note, I really enjoy 'BREAD AND CIRCUSES' and really find only one track [two at the very most] sub par. A particularly underrated album imo. altho I accept some may be put off by some of its not so prog , not so fusion rockier elements. From where I am , it aint bad......[Love that Steely Dan type groove on the Dick Heckstall-Smith tune, 'Big Deal'] ------------- Looking still the same after all these years... mrgd |
Posted By: mrgd
Date Posted: February 05 2007 at 01:44
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Also, just checked out SEAN's earlier COLOSSEUM thread. Excellent stuff for any enthusiast. Great work. ------------- Looking still the same after all these years... mrgd |
Posted By: ozzy_tom
Date Posted: February 05 2007 at 12:47
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I have their 2 first albums and they are quite good but titled suite on "Valentyne Suite" is just amazing. -------------  
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