Neo-prog and Twelfth Night

Been talking with progbethyname about Twelfth Night lately so thought I'd make a thread about it.  I kind of break Twelfth Night into 3 eras.  First as the instrumental band that released a few early cassette only live releases.  Second as the Geoff Mann fronted version - which is my favorite and the one I want to focus on here.  Third as the Andy Sears fronted version after Geoff left for divinity school - and an untimely cancer caused death. 

Well damn you Mr. Crimso for being so interesting. You make me wanna be a better PA member.

As my wonderful friend, Dennis had pointed out Twelfth Night is definitely a band that stretches far and deep with in the influence of many many 80's Neo Prog or as some like to call it, modernized symphonic prog rock.
This is an area of discussion, I feel, that is very important.
I primarily like to talk about stage 2 in regards to Mr. Crimso's topic of conversation.
The what if?? I believe if Geoff Mann a) didn't die and b) rightly stayed with The band Twelfth Night would have made more of an impact on progressive music in general than they already had.
2 things really bother me. #1 not many people know about this band. Lets face it. It's true and they are very important as well. #2 is Geoff's untimely death. When ever I listen to the live version of live and let live's 83 marquee special of LOVE SONG it makes me ponder such regretful things sometimes like 'why can't you stay and solve your differences with your band mates' or what if twelfth night made just one more album with Geoff?? I think about these things because the whole definitive version of live and let live hits me pretty hard. It envokes a lot of different feelings of emotion, but is such a wonderful teacher at the same time.
Many bands owe a great dept of gratitude to twelfth night by helping them get a starting or reference point for what kind of sound/music they want to be known for. In my opinion, the infamous Neo acts like Pallas, Galahad, IQ, Arena, Pendragon and even some crossover Prog bands like big big Train all have the Geoff Mann era of Twelfth night stamped all over them. I hear it a lot.

Of course even before all this Genesis are the holy grail in influence for all those bands mentioned even Marillion.
It's amazing to think about, but I now know why Twelfth Night has drastically flows under the radar of most people or major music appreciators and that is because Mann's Twelfth Night is very short lived, but what an incredible short lived time it was.

* Tom Orzic. Get out those vinyls buddy or call Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden to fly your collection over to you this Christmas.    wouldn't that be something.

Lastly, love is an open door and we should all take a tip from the carpenter every now and then.

well the fabulous Twelfth Night the `80`s neo-prog band,  Geoff Mann R.I.P that's my personnel fav era...   

Of the early '80s bands that materialized on the UK 'prog scene' Twelfth Night (pre-Andy Sears) is without a doubt my favorite. Live at the Target is a great instrumental album, and I do love my instrumental music. With Geoff Mann, however, they became complete, and between the songs found on Smiling at Grief, Fact & Fiction and Collector's Item (home of "Deep in the Heartland" and the epics "The Collector" and lyric-enabled "Sequences"), Twelfth Night is a band unlike any other in the subgenre. Geoff's lyrics were incredible, he was a true poet. His lyrics never felt forced nor "oh-this-is-so-prog" or any of that.

I love Twelfth Night, in the phase with Geoff Mann as a front man.

I wonder if Geoff knew of Hammill ?? He comes across just as intelligent and intense as PH.
Funny that now reading this thread, I wanna listen to Fact & Fiction NOW.
Creepshow is a blow-out. And I love how the bassist (Revel or Mitten - I forget off-hand) doubles on keyboards, and is great on both .

^ I won't be able to listen to this for another 5 weeks.
.......I do want my cake and eat it as well......(the things I sacrifice for a holiday.....)

Tom Ozric wrote: ^ I won't be able to listen to this for another 5 weeks. .......I do want my cake and eat it as well......(the things I sacrifice for a holiday.....)

Oh man, you'll either have to call Bruce Dickinson or hitch a ride on Santa's slay.
Which do you think is more likely??
Might have to sacrifice some quality and SPOTIFY that sucker.

Moogtron III wrote: richardh wrote: Slightly off topic but Geoff Mann was a friend to another important neo prog band namely IQ. His sad passing was I think a reason that Pete Nicholls returned to the band partly to honour his good friend specifically for a live gig ( my knowledge is a little sketchy on this so it would be good if anyone knows more).  They recorded this nice little tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQLnUIfqmT0 No, Pete Nicholls was already back to IQ before Geoff Mann passed away. I remember that because I wrote a letter to Geoff Mann once I knew he was terminally ill. I remember that I visited an IQ concert with Pete Nicholls in that time, and mentioning that in the letter to Geoff. Sadly, when the letter arrived, Geoff was already dead. Geoff and Peter got along well, Peter also contributing to Geoff's solo album Second Chants (from that album is also "Apathetic And Here I", but Pete didn't contribute to the original track, but to another song on that album) Ever was released 1993, the Geoff Mann tribute in 1994. You see, me and my friends were heavily involved in IQ and Geoff Mann in those days