Nic Potter
Encyclopedia
Nic Potter is a British bassist
, composer and painter, best known for his work with the group Van der Graaf Generator
in the 1970s.
, Potter from a very early age (1968) played bass in The Misunderstood
, and that's how he met Guy Evans
who played the drums. He had left school at age fifteen to become a bass-player.
In 1969 Potter and Evans both left The Misunderstood to join Van der Graaf Generator for the recording of their album The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
. Halfway during the recording of the following VdGG-album H to He, Who Am the Only One
(1970), Potter left VdGG, leaving the a-side of the album with his bass-guitar-sounds (tracks: Killer, The Emperor in his War Room and Lost) and side b with the organ-bass-pedal sounds by Hugh Banton, which would become one of the signature sounds for Van der Graaf Generator.
In 1971 he played bass-guitar on Peter Hammill
's first solo-album, Fool's Mate
, on Colin Scot's album Colin Scot and with the band Magna Carta
. In the 1970s he also played with Jeff Beck
, Chuck Berry
, Rare Bird
and Steve Swindells
. In 1973 he collaborated on The Long Hello
project. His playing can also be heard on Peter Hammill's album Over (1977).
In 1977, after Hugh Banton
and David Jackson
had left Van der Graaf Generator, Potter was asked to re-join. He plays on both The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
(1977) and the double live-album Vital
(1978). Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Potter continued to record and tour with Peter Hammill, including being the bassist for the K-Group (from 1981–1985), and with the Tigers (in 1980) and Duncan Browne
(in 1984).
In 1983 he started a solo-career, and released a number of albums with mostly electronic music. In 1995 Nic produced and played the bass on the posthumous album Songs of Love and War by Duncan Browne. In 2008 Nic Potter published the live album "Live in Italy", together with many musicians like David Jackson and Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme
).
All Nic Potter's solo albums have been published remastered in 2009.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, composer and painter, best known for his work with the group Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
in the 1970s.
Career
Before joining Van der Graaf GeneratorVan der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
, Potter from a very early age (1968) played bass in The Misunderstood
The Misunderstood
The Misunderstood were a psychedelic rock band originating from Riverside, California in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging...
, and that's how he met Guy Evans
Guy Evans
Guy Randolph Evans is an English progressive rock drummer, percussionist and composer, and a member of Van der Graaf Generator....
who played the drums. He had left school at age fifteen to become a bass-player.
In 1969 Potter and Evans both left The Misunderstood to join Van der Graaf Generator for the recording of their album The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other is the second album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970. The album was reissued in re-mastered form, with two bonus tracks, in 2005....
. Halfway during the recording of the following VdGG-album H to He, Who Am the Only One
H to He, Who Am the Only One
H to He, Who Am the Only One is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970.During the recording of the album, Nic Potter quit the band. Organist Hugh Banton offered to play bass guitar on the two tracks that had not yet been finished. In...
(1970), Potter left VdGG, leaving the a-side of the album with his bass-guitar-sounds (tracks: Killer, The Emperor in his War Room and Lost) and side b with the organ-bass-pedal sounds by Hugh Banton, which would become one of the signature sounds for Van der Graaf Generator.
In 1971 he played bass-guitar on Peter Hammill
Peter Hammill
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano...
's first solo-album, Fool's Mate
Fool's Mate (album)
Fool's Mate is the debut solo album by Peter Hammill of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. The title is both a chess and tarot reference. It was produced by Trident Studios' in-house producer John Anthony. The album was recorded in 1971, in the midst of one of Van der Graaf Generator's...
, on Colin Scot's album Colin Scot and with the band Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. In the 1970s he also played with Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Rare Bird
Rare Bird
Rare Bird was a progressive rock band founded in 1969. They were formed in England, but had more success in other European countries than they did at home. They are mostly remembered for the haunting, organ-based track "Sympathy"...
and Steve Swindells
Steve Swindells
Steve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
. In 1973 he collaborated on The Long Hello
The Long Hello
The Long Hello is a studio instrumental album by David Jackson, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans and Nic Potter recorded in August 1973 and released in Italy in 1974...
project. His playing can also be heard on Peter Hammill's album Over (1977).
In 1977, after Hugh Banton
Hugh Banton
Hugh Robert Banton is a British organist and organ builder, most widely known for his work with the group Van der Graaf Generator in the 1970s.-Career:...
and David Jackson
David Jackson (rock musician)
David Nicholas George Jackson , nicknamed Jaxon, is a British progressive rock saxophonist, flautist, and composer. He is best known for his work with the band Van der Graaf Generator and his work in Music and Disability...
had left Van der Graaf Generator, Potter was asked to re-join. He plays on both The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, was Van der Graaf Generator's last studio album before their 2005 reunion. The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late '70s solo work.For this...
(1977) and the double live-album Vital
Vital (album)
Vital is Van der Graaf Generator's first live album. Except for one-off reunions, it marked the end of Van der Graaf Generator as a band until their 2005 reunion. The album was credited under the truncated name Van der Graaf...
(1978). Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Potter continued to record and tour with Peter Hammill, including being the bassist for the K-Group (from 1981–1985), and with the Tigers (in 1980) and Duncan Browne
Duncan Browne
Duncan Browne was an English singer-songwriter.-Career:Browne attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, studying both music theory and drama. He chose to become a musician when in 1967 he met Andrew Loog Oldham, and signed with his Immediate Records label...
(in 1984).
In 1983 he started a solo-career, and released a number of albums with mostly electronic music. In 1995 Nic produced and played the bass on the posthumous album Songs of Love and War by Duncan Browne. In 2008 Nic Potter published the live album "Live in Italy", together with many musicians like David Jackson and Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme
Le Orme
Le Orme is an Italian progressive rock band formed in 1966 in Marghera, a frazione of Venice. The band was one of the major groups of the Italian progressive rock scene in the 1970s...
).
All Nic Potter's solo albums have been published remastered in 2009.
Solo
- Mountain Music (1983, LP, reissued on CD in 1993)
- Sketches In Sound (1986, LP, reissued on CD in 1993)
- Self Contained (1987, CD/LP)
- Dreams In View 81-87 (1988, compilation CD, reissued in 1997)
- The Blue Zone (1990, CD/LP)
- The Blue Zone Party (1991, limited edition cassette tape) live on 29 May 1991 in London, The Dome
- New Europe-Rainbow Colours (1992, CD)
- Dreamworld (1997, CD)
- Live in Italy (2008, CD) with a.o. David Jackson, Tolo Marton and Tony Pagliuca
- All Contained (2009, CD) box set of remastered CD's of the Zom-Art catalogue
Van der Graaf Generator
- The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each OtherThe Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each OtherThe Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other is the second album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970. The album was reissued in re-mastered form, with two bonus tracks, in 2005....
(1970) - H to He, Who Am the Only OneH to He, Who Am the Only OneH to He, Who Am the Only One is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970.During the recording of the album, Nic Potter quit the band. Organist Hugh Banton offered to play bass guitar on the two tracks that had not yet been finished. In...
(1970) (lp a-side only) - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure DomeThe Quiet Zone/The Pleasure DomeThe Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, was Van der Graaf Generator's last studio album before their 2005 reunion. The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late '70s solo work.For this...
(1977) - VitalVital (album)Vital is Van der Graaf Generator's first live album. Except for one-off reunions, it marked the end of Van der Graaf Generator as a band until their 2005 reunion. The album was credited under the truncated name Van der Graaf...
(1978)
with Peter Hammill
- Fool's MateFool's Mate (album)Fool's Mate is the debut solo album by Peter Hammill of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. The title is both a chess and tarot reference. It was produced by Trident Studios' in-house producer John Anthony. The album was recorded in 1971, in the midst of one of Van der Graaf Generator's...
(1971) - Chameleon in the Shadow of the NightChameleon in the Shadow of the NightChameleon in the Shadow of the Night was the second solo album by British singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. It followed in the aftermath of the breakup of Hammill's band Van der Graaf Generator, although the other members of Van der Graaf Generator all perform on the album, blurring the distinction...
(1973) - The Silent Corner and the Empty StageThe Silent Corner and the Empty StageThe Silent Corner and the Empty Stage is the third album by British singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. It was released on Charisma Records in 1974, during a hiatus in the activities of Hammill's progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator...
(1974) - Enter KEnter KEnter K is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on the Naive Records label in Oct 1982. The label was owned and operated by Gordian Troeller, the former manager of Hammill's band Van der Graaf Generator...
(1982) - Patience (1983)
- The Love Songs (1984)
- The MarginThe MarginThe Margin is a live album by Peter Hammill, documenting early nineteen-eighties concerts by his K Group. Hammill was K , Nic Potter was Mozart , Guy Evans was Brain , and John Ellis was Fury . The album was originally released as a double album on Foundry Records in 1985...
(1985, live) - Out of WaterOut of WaterOut of Water is an album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990 and subsequently re-released on Hammill's own Fie label...
(1990) - Room TemperatureRoom Temperature (album)Room Temperature is a live album by Peter Hammill, originally released on Enigma Records in 1990. On its initial release, the album was only available in North America. It was subsequently re-released on Hammill's own Fie! label....
(1990, live) - FireshipsFireships (album)Fireships is an album by English singer and songwriter Peter Hammill. Originally released in 1992, it was the first release on Hammill's own Fie! Records label. It was reissued in remastered form in 2006....
(1992) - The NoiseThe Noise (album)The Noise is an album by the English singer and songwriter Peter Hammill.As the title implies, the album is a collection of uptempo rock songs, in sharp contrast to Hammill's previous album, Fireships, which consisted mainly of ballads...
(1993) - Offensichtlich Goldfisch (1993)
- There Goes The Daylight (1993, live)
- Roaring Forties (1994)
other Collaborations
- Songs From Waistes Orchard (Magna Carta) (1971)
- The London Chuck Berry SessionsThe London Chuck Berry SessionsThe London Chuck Berry Sessions is a studio/live album by American rock and roll icon Chuck Berry released by Chess Records in October 1972. Side one of the album consisted of studio recordings, while side two featured three extended live performances recorded at the Lanchester Arts Festival in...
(Chuck Berry) (1972) - Colin Scot (Colin Scot) (1971) - uncredited
- Epic Forest (Rare Bird) (1972)
- Somebody's Watching (Rare Bird) (1973)
- The Long HelloThe Long HelloThe Long Hello is a studio instrumental album by David Jackson, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans and Nic Potter recorded in August 1973 and released in Italy in 1974...
(1974) - Savage Music (Tigers) (1980)
- Fresh BloodFresh BloodFresh Blood is a 1980 album by the English singer/songwriter Steve Swindells. Swindells is backed on this album by guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton and drummer Simon King, both from Hawkwind, and basist Nic Potter from Van der Graaf Generator....
(Steve SwindellsSteve SwindellsSteve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
) (1980) - The Long Hello Volume TwoThe Long Hello Volume TwoThe Long Hello Volume Two is a studio instrumental album by Guy Evans and Nic Potter released 1981. It was recorded and mixed at Hidden Drive Studios.-Track listing:# "Surfing with Isabelle – 4:12# "Elsham Road" – 3:35...
(1981 Potter/Evans) - Travelling Man (Duncan Browne) (1984)
- Final Adjustments (The Pool Sharks) (1987, released on CD in 2010)
- Songs of Love and War (Duncan Browne) (1995)
- Mistaken Identities (Steve Hyams) (1997)
- Bloodlines (Spirits BurningSpirits BurningSpirits Burning is a musical collective that has released a combination of ambient, jazz and full-on space-rock with input from many of the genre's luminaries, most notably Gong's Daevid Allen and members of Hawkwind. Spirits Burning is overseen by American composer/producer Don Falcone.-History:In...
& Bridget Wishart) (2009)