Peter Hammill

Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill (born 5 November 1948, in Ealing, west London) is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of sixties underground (often described as progressive rock) band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano. He also acts as a record producer for his own recordings, and occasionally for other artists. Hammill's solo career has coexisted with Van der Graaf G... more

Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill (born 5 November 1948, in Ealing, west London) is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of sixties underground (often described as progressive rock) band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano. He also acts as a record producer for his own recordings, and occasionally for other artists. Hammill's solo career has coexisted with Van der Graaf Generator's activities. The band was offered a contract by Mercury Records in 1968, that only Hammill signed. When Van der Graaf Generator broke up in 1969 he wanted to record his first solo-album. In the summer of 1969 Hammill had a residency at The Lyceum and played weekly solo-concerts there. Eventually the intended solo-album was released under the Van der Graaf Generator-banner as their first album (The Aerosol Grey Machine). Hammill's first real solo album was Fool's Mate (1971), containing songs from the early (1967/68) Van der Graaf... less