Memory:Pier Calderan
I'm an Italian GG fan (41 years old). I saw GG in concert at "Teatro Garibaldi" of Treviso on October 17th 1973. The concert was simply great... The hall was in a total obscurity and the people were screaming... after a while the strobo-lights began to flash syncing with a broken-glass sound at a high volume... the people were shocked by the first notes of "The Runaway" (we didn't know yet it was from the new album)... then Derek introduced the group and the new album and began to sing the popular songs from Octopus ("The advent of Panurge" and a stunning version of "Knots"). Then they went on singing a fantastic "Funny Ways" and a medley from "Acquiring the taste", ending with some songs from the new album "In a glass house" just released. I also spoke with Derek on the backstage after the concert, I've shaken his hand and given him all my affection. I was a timid teenager 15 years old and I remember my mother hits when I went home late at night (it was a foggy night and I made auto-stop to get home). But from that night I decided to begin studying music in order to play their music one day. Really! Ok, I never had the possibility to see them later, but I still listen to their great music and play it too. Gentle Giant is alive!