Podcasts · Word In Your Ear

Peter Hammill, Van Der Graaf Generator and what makes them unique

29 Dec 2025 · 34 min · Episode 856

Peter Hammill has spent nearly six decades building the most devoted following imaginable – Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Mark E Smith among them. ‘Rock And Role’ tells his invigorating story, beautifully illustrated with photos, cuttings, artwork and memorabilia. Author Joe Banks looks back at his life, impact and captivating way with words, and stops off at …

… the value of looks and charisma in the days when labels hadn’t the faintest idea of the future

… how Hammill “created a world to live inside and broadcast from”

… psychedelic cabaret with wolf masks and blood capsules

… meeting Hammill’s muse and former girlfriend Alice: “50 years later, each still think the other one left them”

… “songs that ask the big questions about life”

… discovering VDGG in 1984 (via Marillion) and piecing together their story in the days before the internet

… public school, Gilbert & Sullivan and the Hallelujah Chorus

… the influence of A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers on Genesis’ Supper’s Ready

… his plans with Mark E Smith and how Bowie had every new album delivered to him all his life

… Charisma, Tony Stratton-Smith and the freedom to experiment

… the intensity of his following in Japan and Italy: “there’s no such thing as a casual Hammill fan”.

Order ‘Rock And Role’ here: https://burningshed.com/store/kingmaker

Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Links in the notes 3

• https://burningshed.com/store/kingmaker
• https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear
• https://acast.com/privacy

The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)