VdGG 1967-1972

The band originally formed in 1967 while its members were studying at Manchester University. The three-piece was composed of Peter Hammill, Nick Pearne (organ) and Chris Judge Smith (drums).

When the band turned professional in 1968 Pearne was replaced by Hugh Banton. Tony Stratton-Smith became the band's full-time manager and through him the band acquired a bass guitarist, Keith Ellis. Drummer Guy Evans joined soon afterwards. This line-up released a single - 'People You Were Going To' b/w 'Firebrand'. Judge Smith left the band, amicably, shortly after the recording.

Although the four-piece line-up toured successfully in 1968, performed on BBC Radio 1's Top Gear radio show and supported Jimi Hendrix at the Albert Hall, it briefly broke up during 1969. Pressures leading to this included the theft of the band's gear in London. In July 1969 Hammill went to record his first solo album. Banton, Evans, and Ellis joined him as session musicians and the resulting 'The Aerosol Grey Machine' was subsequently released as the first VdGG album, on Mercury.

Tony Stratton-Smith formed Charisma Records in 1970 and signed the band as his first act. Before recording their second album, 'The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other', Ellis left and was replaced by Nic Potter, and David Jackson (saxophones and flute) was added to the line-up. 'The Least We Can Do...' was swiftly followed by 'H to He, Who Am the Only One'. Potter left midway through that recording, and the band decided to carry on without a bass guitarist, with Banton on organ bass pedals.

The Hammill/Banton/Jackson/Evans quartet that resulted from 'H to He' - often considered the 'classic' line-up - went on to record 'Pawn Hearts' in 1971. It contains just three tracks, 'Lemmings', 'Man-Erg' and the 23 minute concept piece 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers'. The album proved highly successful in Italy, topping the chart there for 12 weeks. The band toured extensively from 1970 to 1972, but fatigue and finances caused the band to implode and Hammill returned to his solo career.

First Reunion, 1975-1978

Banton, Jackson and Evans all contributed to Hammill's solo work at various times. By 1975 the band were ready to work with each other again, and three new albums were recorded during '75 & '76 - 'Godbluff', 'Still Life' and 'World Record'.

At the end of 1976 first Banton and then Jackson departed. Nic Potter returned on bass, and Graham Smith joined on violin. This line-up, with the band's name shortened to Van der Graaf, produced the album 'The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome'. Charles Dickie then joined the band on cello for live work, documented on the live album 'Vital'. But by the time Vital was released, in the summer of 1978, the band had already split.

Second Reunion, 2005

In 2003, Banton, Jackson, and Evans joined with Hammill during his solo concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall to perform the song 'Still Life'. Following the performance, discussions between the band members led to writing and rehearsal of new material in mid-2004. A double CD, 'Present', containing this material was released in April 2005. A reunion concert took place at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on 6 May 2005, followed by several European dates in the summer and autumn of 2005. A live double CD of the complete Royal Festival Hall concert was released as 'Real Time'.

Since September 2006 the band have recorded and performed as a trio of Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans. The first trio recording 'Trisector' was released on 17 March 2008. Live concerts were played in Europe in March and April, and in Japan in June.